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Author: Subject: a couple of kombi queries...
Memberdanboy
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posted on March 27th, 2003 at 11:37 AM
a couple of kombi queries...


Hello all,
Just bought my first kombi and am about to embark on a tour of the eastern half of oz. I was hoping that some of you guys could advise me on a few tips to keep the beast running smooth for the next three months or so. Its what appears to be a 1976 vw campmobile. 2litre automatic transmission job.
Are there any special things i should do to look after an automatic engine?
How do i know if the engine is getting too hot, i can't see any kind of temp gauge/warning light..?
Anything i should know about taking it through the red centre? And through mountain ranges?
Should i get a few spares to take with me? Useful tools?
Oh, its only got one battery, any idea how much it would cost to get another one fitted, wired up to the fridge etc...?

hope you can help me, just dont want it to die in the middle of knowhere!
cheers,
dan

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posted on March 27th, 2003 at 11:44 AM


I am going to do what you are doing in July , there are really a lot of questions & answers & most of the answers & opinions are in the technical section it would be best to wade through them, I think:)

Sorry sounds abrupt but not mean't that way
I will be cruising 100kph, have fitted temp guage, rev counter, volt meters etc to monitor every thing

my opinion is wherever you are now, source a VW specialist recommended through through the forum & pay them to check the thing over, far far cheaper than
than getting stuck in the middle of nowhere :)

[Edited on 27-3-2003 by kombikim]
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posted on March 27th, 2003 at 12:24 PM


As Kombikim said, wade through the tech. section.

They are a good reliable vehicle. The best advice is to give it a good, thorough tune up, brakes, suspension, running gear and engine. You can do it all yourself if your mechanically minded (get a good service manual), otherwise take it to a reputable VW mechanic and explain what you plan to do, most are willing to check it all out for you.

As far as spares, nothing special to look for other than what you would normally do for any car, oil, alt. belt, ignition parts, cables, fuel filter etc.

About the only other advice would be REPLACE ALL THE FUEL LINES, and check the brass tubes they attach to are secure. They tend to be never replaced, and on a 20-30 year old vehicle will cause an engine fire, which unfortunately happens too often in VW’s.
As far as gauges are concerned, I have fitted them to mine, but most Kombi’s have survived 30 years without them, and if driven without over working them will continue to do so without any gauges.
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posted on March 27th, 2003 at 01:12 PM


I would suggest getting a temp gauge fitted and some 'elephant ears'.
Go for a Berg Dipstick Sender- they seem most reliable and accurate
And I am not sure where to get the ears, depends on where you are
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posted on March 27th, 2003 at 01:28 PM


Oh YEAH-Andy just reminded me with the fuel line thing- FIRE EXTINGUISHER!!
:)
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posted on March 27th, 2003 at 03:36 PM


I've been talking to my local trans-specialist, and the consensus was that my 2L auto (if I choose to use it) will last a lot longer with a tranny cooler fitted.

I expect this would apply even more so in a heavy camper. :)




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posted on March 27th, 2003 at 04:50 PM
right so far


i have been the victim of a kombi engine fire so yes REPLACE ALL THE FUEL LINES i have just started wrecking a 74 camper and i reckon it would not have gone much further the fuel line split when just yanked slightly and get a big arse fire extinguisher and a good service ,if you dont know what your doing dont touch the motor ,(thats why i got the camper i have as the guy tried to tune it up and he stuffed up all the valve clearances timing etc etc and cooked the motor dont carry to much weight in the auto they put a lot of stress on the motor and bang ,and dont travel in the high high temp for long periods apat from that they are the greatest vehicle for travelling in oh yeah keep an eye on the oil level they dont hold much and change it regular and go slow oh and have a great trip oh yeah dont take it to a non vw mechanic unless absolutely nessesery they know jack shit about them
dave:o:o

[Edited on 27-3-2003 by david]
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cool.gif posted on March 27th, 2003 at 04:57 PM
me also


:bounce me and my (lovely) new wife will also be crusing up the coast of queensland in may, on a mission to make it round the country. so might see you allong the way
:beer
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posted on March 27th, 2003 at 04:58 PM


oh yeAH AND I WON'T FORGET THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
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posted on March 27th, 2003 at 08:22 PM


also have a look in the "help out a dubber section" at the bottom and take their numbers as well as the numbers of the reputable vw mechanics on the way so if you do get into trouble you'll have somewhere to turn to
marcel
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posted on March 28th, 2003 at 08:03 AM


Quote:
with a tranny cooler fitted.


Excuse my ignorance but what is one of these?
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posted on March 28th, 2003 at 08:12 AM


automatic transmission cooler, looks like an oil cooler, most automatic transmissions have them & they are normally built into the bottom tank of the radiator & available as an external cooler as an accessory - the types fitted to aircooled VW did not have them & don't normally require them, they are desirable though, they are not used for cooling transister radio's used by Hippies

[Edited on 27-3-2003 by kombikim]
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posted on March 28th, 2003 at 12:03 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by kombikim they are not used for cooling transister radio's used by Hippies


Or men who feel they have been born in the wrong body?

[Edited on 28-3-2003 by azz]
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posted on March 28th, 2003 at 12:04 PM


So how do you know if your transmission is too hot now? Are there temp guages for that too?
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posted on March 28th, 2003 at 12:18 PM


I really don't know what too hot is, officially they tell you that if the oil is brown & has a burnt smell it has run too hot, it is also too late S'pse you could put a sensor in the sump but I think the running temp is much hotter than engine oil & one major heat generator is the torque convertor slip ei, to keep it cool do try not to increase revs relevant to road speed, easy with a tacho

Sorry, more time now eg engine is connected to transmission through the transmission fluid in torque converter, if you place a cup of fluid on a rotteserie (the tranmission) & stir the fuid hfater & faster with a teaspoon (the engine) eventually the cup & rottiserie will start spinning, slower of course than the teaspoon is stirring, the more drag on the rotteserie the faster you will have to stir the spoon to keep things moving
IN an auto for example you can be 100ks downhill at 2500revs 100ks on the level at 3000 revs, but uphil at 100ks might be 3500 revs .
SO uphill or with a load eg lots of kids or a trailer the engine is way ahead of the transmission trying to keep it it the same speed this causes friction & friction produces heat.In aircooled Auto's most of the heat is also expelled by the torque convertor, unfortunately the same place most of it is generated


[Edited on 28-3-2003 by kombikim]
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posted on March 28th, 2003 at 01:00 PM


The person to talk to on Elephant Ears is Alec Brown


His email is :
kimbest1@bigpond.com




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posted on March 28th, 2003 at 02:29 PM


The problem with Kombi gearboxes getting a bit hot is more a problem with the auto boxes, not the 4-speeds. The manual boxes are pretty bulletproof.

The auto boxes used in Kombis came from the VW 411 and 412 sedans and are very similar to the Type 3 auto as well. They work hard pushing a big heavy Kombi, but handling the engine power is not a problem as the 411 /412 sedans had more powerful, higher compression versions of the same 1.7 and 1.8-litre engines.

Road tests of the time mentioned that the shift points would come a bit earlier when the box got hot, but that was the only symptom. Slip did not seem to increase. If you have an auto box, make sure there are no fluid leaks and the level is correct. A new fluid install is 6 litres, while a change takes 3 litres. The diff is separate; it still takes normal gearbox oil.

I looked at fitting a ATF cooler to my auto box when the engine and box were out, but I have no idea where you would plumb the hoses into the box. Or how you would rig up a pump to drive the fluid out and back. In the end I didn't worry about it and decided to trust VW's usual over-engineering for normal driving.
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posted on March 31st, 2003 at 03:29 PM


Cheers for the pointers so far.....

Fire extingusher is purchased.....

d
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posted on March 31st, 2003 at 06:25 PM


ive been told that i cant put a tranny cooler on my auto. i was pretty cut :cry but what can you do. im now haveing auto troubles again for the third time, mabye the auto cant take the power from my subercharged mr2 import motor. any comments or ideas would be graetly appreciated
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posted on March 31st, 2003 at 07:11 PM


1800 or 2000 auto?



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posted on April 1st, 2003 at 09:12 AM


If you have a powerful non-VW engine attached to your stock VW auto gearbox, then obviously you might have some problems.

The 411/412 auto box was designed for the sedan's higher compression 85 hp engine. A stock Kombi has about 71 hp so that isn't a problem. Goodness knows what a supercharged MR2 engine is putting out.

My auto box was rebuilt by Bruce Geddes Automotive at Peakhurst. They have been a VW specialist since 1966, and also specialise in automatic transmissions. Give them a ring - 02 9533 3040.
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posted on April 1st, 2003 at 09:51 AM


apparently my auto transmission was rebuilt a month before i bought the van so hopefully nowt too much to worry about in that department..

just gonna take it nice and easy.. there's no rush

hey, I'd really like a proper VW spare wheel cover, at the moment i've got some ridiculous 4x4 cartoon covered thing on. Can they be found anywhere..? Is it a matter of scouring vw conventions...
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posted on April 1st, 2003 at 10:12 AM


I would like a wheel cover too, but I am wary of it being stolen
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posted on April 1st, 2003 at 10:14 AM


4AGZE is about 120kW on stock boost. They can put out around 160kW with just a boost and intercooler change.



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posted on April 3rd, 2003 at 03:38 PM
dont forget about replacinf ALL your fuel lines


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posted on April 3rd, 2003 at 04:53 PM


Yeah, I want a wheel cover too! Does anyone know where to get one?

I've also bought a fire extinguisher as a result of this topic, thanks guys. I can't believe I hadn't thought of getting one before - doh!




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