ATF Light Test

[NOVA Ghia Owner]

Is there a way to test the ATF light on the AS?  I have driven up some very steep grades in high gear and have never had the ATF light come on.  I want to make sure the light is working properly.

Thanks.

[Cobey]

The stall speed test is what is recommended, IIRC.

[68AutoBug]

I don't like doing the stall test to see if Your light works...
Crawl under the car and on the Right hand side of the gearbox close to the engine..there is one or two sensors, depending on what year model You have...
With the ignition on.... pull the wire off the sensor and touch it to the gearbox.... the light should come on......  You won't be able to see it laying under the car so someone else will have to look at the speedo for the light....

The stall test... with the emergency hand brake fully on....
You rev the car in top gear until the ATF gets too hot..... 257F degrees...
then the light will come on....

Lee Noonan   -- 68Autobug  --  AUSTRALIA  --

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

[Cobey]

If you don't actually heat up the ATF to check the light, doesn't that cut the sensor out of the picture?  You could have a bad sensor and not know it...

[bookwus]

Hiya Guys,

I thought I'd throw my 2 cents worth in on this thread...........

The stall test puts a big strain on the torque converter.  IIRC correctly, Bentley even advises care when doing this test.  I HAD to do a stall test on my car because I thought the torque converter had gone south and I had to make sure that was the problem (it was!)

Given that, I think I'd go along with Lee and do the short thing to see if I got a light.  Cobey, you are right on - that will not eliminate the sender as a possible cause.  And that means more work.  But, to tell the truth, I think I'd be more comfortable doing that than possibly stressing out the system.

Just me.

Mike

1970 AS Bug