Hiya All,
I have an AutoStick related problem that is driving me nuts. Can you help?
My AutoStick has always (since I've had it) shifted rather abruptly. Most of us are familiar with the "shift - thunk - lurch" syndrome. Pretty common in cars of this age with the control valve being unrebuildable and often unadjustable (as is mine).
However, over the past two weeks my shift has "softened". As of today there is no thunk or lurch at all. Shifting into gear from a dead stop is now as smooth as silk. Nice problem, hmmmm?
But I'm concerned because, to my knowledge, a VW is not a self-healer. Which means that this condition may progress to the point where I cannot shift at all. I'd like to know what's causing this.
Anyway, does anybody have any idea what might be going on to cause this softening of the shift?
Hi Mike,
From one of My 10 Manuals - actually its an Australian Repair Manual - :
It is important that the clutch does not engage too slowly, as slow clutch engagement will result in increased heat & rapid wear of the clutch friction material..
It is NOT UNCOMMON for the clutch engagement speed to alter after the vehicle has been operating for some considerable period, as the clutch friction material wears so the contact pattern improves...
cheers Mike
Lee --
Also all My manuals say that when the clutch arm hits the housing.. the clutch plate is worn out...
cheers
Lee
PS.. Can You scan a few pages on adjusting the clutch from the Bentley manual for Me? vk2lee@qsl.net
I made a little special tool from aluminium 40mm between hole centers- holes 8mm to help align the clutch arm... I made one on Thursday and fiddled late in the afternoon with it... Friday.. Couldn't find the tool, so I made another one.. and used it on Friday afternoon when It was too cold to stay outdoors I went to put the 2nd special tool away.. and there where I was putting the 2nd tool.. was the first :):) Lee
Hiya Lee,
Well, the problem is that this whole situation is just developing too darned fast to be a clutch adjusment problem. I'm thinking that I might have a leak or some other problem inside the control valve. Would being low on ATF cause something like this? Just looking for ideas right now.
I'm not sure on that one Mike...
tell Me- where did the ATF go?? leaking somewhere??
Hopefully, it isn't anything Major..
The SVDA distributors are very expensive over here..
actually all I ever see for sale is 009's and they are expensive...
maybe the SVDA are no longer imported into the country....
Best of Luck..
Lee -- 68AutoBug --
Mine has always been as yours is described so maybe it did have a problem that was causing the thunk but, possibly if it was a dirty contact or something was impeding it's movement, it has been knocked or blown off.
Just keep checking your oil levels and stick a tray underneath it to monitor leakage, there isn't much more you can do.
You gotta remember, despite being old VWs are pretty robust so you may be ok, could have been something as silly as your gearshift gate fouling and it was forcing or slipping into position hence the original difficulty.
done 400 miles in mine now btw and it is still (touch wood) running ok :D
rgds
Hiya All,
So, I get out my trusty Bentley and my (even better) 1500 VW Repair manual and check on the old AutoStick. They both say that to adjust the Control Valve and "sharpen the shift" turn the Control Valve adjusting screw one fourth to one half turn anti-clockwise. So I do that, not really expecting anything to happen. Last time I tried adjusting this Control Valve I got absolutely no response. Besides if my current problem is a leaky Control Valve or a leaky Clutch Servo, adjusting the Control Valve should have little or no effect.
Lo and behold, after I do the adjustment the shift sharpens right up. Now I'm really mixed up. Any ideas out there now in light of my most recent adventure? I'm thinking that something (maybe something good) is going on inside my Control Valve. Whatever this is, it is certainly "in front" of the clutch.
I think You have a Good Guardian Angel looking after You Mike....:):)
and Your 1500 Beetle.....
[Can I get a lend of Him/Her???]
Lee -- 68AutoBug --