just kind of inherited a 1971 super beetle-which has a 1972 engine and trans. the trans is a 4 speed automatic stick shift and before I screw it up I am trying to find the shift pattern for the 4 speed. All the books only show a 3 speed pattern and when I have driven it where I think 2nd should be "bogs" it down..any help would be appreciated. thanks cathy
There isn't a 4spd that I know of. Here is the stock pattern:
R- R1
|_|
| |
L R2
You can start in driving in any gear, though, L or R1 are best. L will give you more off the line power, while R1 is the "per the manual" method.
definately a 4 speed looks like an H with the reverse off to the left and down;
now you said r1 what is that please-don't mean to be such a newbie but this is the first autostick I've ever had. what i tried was following a normal manual 4 speed pattern with 1st up, 2nd down, 3rd up and over and 4th being I guess normal drive??? if you start with it up to the left it seems ok, but then when you shift it down to second it bogs real bad-then up to 3rd and it is ok but engine really revving and 4 seems ok once you get there...when you go to what i think is 2nd it almost feels like you're missing a gear-you know that feeling...thanks for the help. cathy :oops:
Hmmm. Doing some digging, the only thing I could find that was auto and referred to a 4spd is the rare Saxomat, which I don't think they installed after 67 or so...
Now, for an autostick, there are three forward gears. L (low, towing, 0-30MPH), R1 (Range 1, 0-55MPH), and R2 (Range 2, 30MPH+). L is where 2nd would be in a manual, R1 where 3rd would be, and R2 where 4th is. Typical, by the book, driving is to just use R1 and R2.
Reading what you said about the gears, it kinda makes sense. If you tried to shift up and left (1st in a 4spd), the stop plate will force the stick over to the right and into R1. When you tried to come down to lower left, you would hit L and the car would really want to slow down. Back up to the upper right you would be in R1 again, and then move on to R2.
Any chance you can take a snap of your pedal assembly and transmission?
Hiya J&C,
Your description of the shift pattern leaves only two possibilities......
1. A previous owner has replaced the AutoStick shift knob with a manual shift knob, or
2. You have a manual transmission
There was no such beast as a 4 speed AutoStick. In all the production years (1968 through 1975) and all the changes the AutoStick system went through, the number of ranges remained constant - 3 forward and one reverse. The "R"s refer to ranges (the exception, of course, is the R in the upper left hand corner which stands for reverse), the proper AutoStick term for gears. Cobey's diagram of the shift pattern is dead-on.
Take a look at your pedal cluster. If yours is an AutoStick you should see only a brake pedal and gas pedal. Any more pedals indicates that you have a manual transmission. Only two pedals? Then your AutoStick is sporting either a manual transmission shift knob or a manual transmission ashtray (with shift diagram).
only two pedals-brake and gas. definately four forward gears and one reverse gear, that is why I am having such a problem-have tried starting out in various places but does not seem "right" if you do not start out in what I perceive to be first gear (upper left corner of H). Shifter knob is definately for AS as if you try to leave your hand on it (like you naturally do with a manual) it messes up and then tries to "chug" (like starting out in wrong gear), would definately appeciate any more help....cathy
Hiya Cathy,
Hmmmmmm...............For the life of me, I don't know what to tell you. I'm trying to reconcile what you have described (it's a 4 speed) versus what I know (there is no such thing as a 4 speed AutoStick). I checked with Garfield's Car of the Century (THE bible for the restoration of a VW), the following are direct quotes..........
"Nuetral was located between speed ranges two and three. Driving range one (later called Low) was located in conventional transaxle's second gear position. Driving range two (later renamed Range One) was located in the conventional transaxle's third gear position. Driving range three (later renamed Range Two) was locted in the conventional transaxle's fourth gear position. Reverse driving range was located in the conventional transaxle's first gear position. It, like conventional reverse, had the lockout feature requiring the lever to be pushed into the floor first, before making the shift."
Throughout all the production years, Garfield makes no reference to a 4 speed AutoStick. Indeed, when one considers what an AutoStick is and how it operates, a fourth forward range is really pretty useless.
Cathy, I'm not trying to convince you that you don't have a 4 speed AutoStick. You need to believe what you believe. What I am trying to say is that all of us on this end don't have the wherewithall to help you with a four speed AutoStick. We've never seen one and yours is the first we've heard of.
A possibility? Say, for the time being that you do have a regular old 3 speed AutoStick. Is it possible that your shift plate, shift rod, shift rod bushing, and shift coupler is so out of whack as to give the impression that you may have a four speed? I know that problems with the above parts will affect the shift pattern. It might be something to check out.
Do you think that someone could have fitted a Porsche Sportamatic box? They came as 4 speed at some point.
k, i'm not an expert, but i'd bet money (if i had any) that you have just enough play to make it seem like you have 2 gears up top, but you are starting in 1, then shifting to L, then to 1 again, then to 2. there's really no other possibility. shift plate or bushings or something need replacing. i have enough play in mind, i could pretend to have a 12 speed autostick if i wanted. wow, that would be neat...
John & Cathy:
Could you post some pics of your shifter, engine area, etc? This really is a mystery.
Thanks.
Nova
Hi John & Cathy
Yes, I believe You have a loose shifter too...
there was another stickshift which had a PARK feature..
I believe it may have only been made in the last year of the autostick.
I didn't know Porsches sportomatik was 4 speed, interesting...
I don't think there are any of those in Australia..
All My books have Low - Drive 1 and Drive 2
which are where normal cars have 2nd-3rd-4th
If it takes a while for the clutch to engage, engine revving...
You can adjust the electromagnetic control valve on the LHS of the engine compartment.
if the small vacuum hose going from the Control valve to the carburetor has a leak or isn't attached, it takes quite a few seconds for the clutch to engage...
My Wife complained to Me today, that the engine kept revving when She took off... I think She tries to accelerate too fast... after changing gear..
Lee 68AutoBug Australia
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
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Lee said:
Quotewhich are where normal cars have 2nd-3rd-4th
I like to think of my AS as normal. In OZ it sounds like it may be an abnormality! :D
Quote from: NOVA Ghia OwnerLee said:
Quotewhich are where normal cars have 2nd-3rd-4th
I like to think of my AS as normal. In OZ it sounds like it may be an abnormality! :D
I may have used the wrong wording there Nova Ghia owner.. :D :)
Down here they are rather rare....
although Karmann Ghia cabriolets are being imported from the USA and most are Auto Sticks...
but definately Not abnormal... :lol: :lol: :) :D
Lee -- 68Autobug --
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
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Yes, a poor choice of words - abnormal.
Cheers,
Nova