Whiney gearbox.

[Antwells]

Hi guys I stumbled on this site while searching the net and what a great site is is, so this is my first post on here so here it goes. I have a 1968 stick shift bug that whines in third gear. It pulls ok and doesn't do it in any other gear  does anyone have any ideas as to what is causing the noise and should I start panicing? Also when I stop at traffic light etc after a long run on the motorway the oil warning light comes on but goes off if I take it out of gear checked the oil in the sump under the right rear wing and thats seems fine although i did check it without the engine running is this correct. Thanks for any help

[Cobey]

First things I would do:

1.) Change trans hypoid oil (not the atf) to a good synthetic.
2.) Flush and change ATF
3.) Check CV boots for cracks/tears. If you find some, you should probably rebuild/replace the CV joints at the same time.

Now, for the oil light problem.  It could be a lot of things.

1.) Oil pressure sender no longer functioning correctly.
2.) Too light an oil being used
3.) Motor getting too hot, causing oil to thin.
4.) Motor wearing out.
5.) Oil pump is wearing out.
6.) Oil level too low (you checked that, right? LOL)

Honestly, most folks consider it "normal" if the oil pressure light come son when you're idling after a long run.  The important part is that it is not coming on when you're actually driving.

[Antwells]

Hi Cobey thanks for the reply mate.  How do I change the Hypod oil I didn't know I had that LOL  :oops:  I had new Cv joints fitted when the engine was rebuild last year. As for the oil yep checked that and all seems well, the light  doesn't come on while driving so and goes out when I take it out of gear while idling. I have noticed that when I coast down a long hill and then idle with it in gear it doesn't do it. I'll just keep and eye on itm my main worry is the noise its making.

[Cobey]

The hypoid oil is pretty easy to change.  There are two for AS trans that I know of.  Both types need a 17mm plug socket (http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D7165).

Now, as I said, there are two type of AS trannys.  One type has two of the 17mm plugs.  One for draining and one for filling.  The other type only has the fill plug.  For the frist type, you just use the tool I mentioned above to drain and fill.  For the second type, you use the above tool on the fill plug and remove the pan from the bottom of the trans to drain.  Use form-a-gasket stuff to make a gasket to reinstall the pan if you can't find another NOS gasket.

Take the car for a spin to warm up the hypoid oil which will help it drain faster.  Pull off the rear driver's side tire and get the car as level as possible.  On the side of trans, you should see the fill plug.  Loosen that one up first, that way you don't end up with an empty trans an no way to fill it.  Put a catch basin under the drain plug/pan and then remove the plug/pan.  Go do something for 20 minutes while the oil drains.

Once the oil is drained, replace the drain plug/pan.  Then, using a hand pump, pump the new oil in.  It should take 2.5 quarts IIRC.  Just keep pumping the new oil in until it starts coming back out of the fill hole.  Go do something for 5 minutes, then come back and SLOWLY pump more oil in.  She is full when the oil comes out of the fill hole whenever you pump more in.  At this point, replaced the fill plug.

Drive her around for 300 miles and then get back under there and check to make sure the oil level is still correct.

The oil you need is 90 weight gear oil.  Personally, I used 85/90 synthetic.

[Antwells]

Mate thats great thanks very much for your help sounds like a job for sat. I'l let you know how I get on. Thanks again.

[Cobey]

No problem!  It's one of the first things I do when I get a new VW, as most have never had the oil changed..

[Antwells]

Yes opps! had the car for over a year now I've changed the atf fuild regually but to be honnest never thought about changing the gearbox oil hopefully it hasn't damaged it too much or I'm looking at £££££'s to fix it. :?

[Cobey]

IIRC, the spec is something like ever 30k miles or so.  Most folks ignored it and never changed it, so the oil has been in there for 20+ years.  LOL.

[Antwells]

oh man. When I brought the car it has been sitting on someones drive for a year or so. So yeah you're probably right its still running on it original oil. Gotta do it this wekend cos I'm hoping to drive it to Scotland next week that should be fun.

[Antwells]

Hi mate just emptied the gearbox oil and  well it took about 20 seconds for it all to drain out so you can imagine how little was in there. I've brought 3 litres hopefully that will be enough to fill it up if not ill get some more thanks for all your help mate.

[Cobey]

So, did it come out all gooey and nasty?  Which reminds me, I have to check the level on mine too, as I think it's starting to whine.  Could be the speakers though, as I have a crappy ground on them.  LOL.

[Antwells]

Hi mate yeah it was just gunk and it stunk. Around the magnet on the drain plug the oil was like grease god know how long it had been in there. Next is too sort out the piant work, Its never ending lol. Hope you sort yours out

[68AutoBug]

I hope the whinning stops.....
Mine whines all the time the throttle is used....
Foot off the accelerator and the noise disappears....
I don't have any insulation in the cabin... I pulled it all off....
I have been restoring My beetle for over 9 years.....
I have driven it on the road and it goes OK....
apart from the gear noise......

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

Mike, I ended up buying a Bentley manual for $15 on ebay....
in Australia too....     Lee

  [/color][/b]

[bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

Outstanding!

After you've had it a while you'll wonder how you ever got along without it!