T25 1986 automatic gearbox problem

[maxstu]

That sounds like a cracked or damaged flexplate. Or a bolt is missing. Or it it loose. There is an access hole where you can check all three bolts are secure. It is left side behind the plenum.

Three bolts hold the flexplate to the torque converter. It's is like a large doughnut full of ATF fluid. The turbine inside the torque converter rotates faster
as you press the accelerator. This causes the torque converter pump to spin faster increasing ATF fluid pressure. In turn this spins the flexplate which is connected to the engine crankshaft and the vehicle starts to move.

[LittleNik]

Thank you! Will look into this!

[silverbullet]

If you haven't already got one, get a Haynes manual to live under the passenger seat. It contains most of what you'll need to know. Gearbox internals are glossed over as they both need specialist tools but the basics are covered.

[maxstu]

What's the latest with this issue?

[DevonAid]

Great videos!
Helpful and nerdy in equal measure

[LittleNik]

Sorry, been a busy week in work so only just catching up. We have the Haynes manual, it came with the van. Still wish I understood more about all of this. Glad the videos went down well though.

So... Update...as mentioned, the van has been looked at by ATL who also confirmed it's likely to be differentials. We were then recommended a further three local mechanics with VW experience. One took a look and said he wouldn't be able to work on it but was very helpful and sent us to another guy who sadly didn't have the parts and didn't think he'd be able to source one (we've definitely established that the automatic gearbox was rare ). Then, a stroke of luck (fingers crossed), another recommended VW mechanic knew of someone who has the gearbox. He can fit it for us. Quoted £1000 for the gearbox and about £350 to fit. Just in the middle of getting in touch with all the relevant individuals to try to get this sorted. Then today, another recommended VW mechanic has said he can take a look at it next week to see if it needs a complete new gearbox or if it can be repaired. So, looking more positive than last week! My only concern is how will we know the gearbox we buy works?! What's the usual situation with buying big parts like this? Paying such a lot of money, surely it has to be in full working order or they'd be selling something that's unfit for purpose. And the work itself... Would a mechanic guarantee it? Sorry if I'm being naive with these questions but I don't want to pay all this money for it to break down in a month's time again!

[cobblers]

If you buy a second hand gearbox, you just have to take the word of the seller on its condition - there's no guarantees with used parts, and truth be told the seller has often not tested the parts all that thoroughly. If the replacement gearbox doesn't work to start with, then the seller might try and help you out in some way but don't count on it. There's no way anyone could run a business while offering a warranty on 40 year old complex mechanical parts.
If you want something with a warranty, your only option would be to get the gearbox fully reconditioned which would be at least triple the price.
So basically, If it fails completely after a week, you're back to square one again.

With the mechanic, you're paying for their labour - that is all. If they fit the gearbox and it's no good, you still need to pay for their time, and then again for removing it and fitting another gearbox that does work.
The £350 quote for removing and reinstalling a replacement box is reasonable, as is the £1k for a good used automatic gearbox.

Unfortunately if you can't do your own mechanical work, owning an old van like this often requires deep pockets.

[R0B]

I got fed up of buying "Good" auto boxes, three in all over the years. I decided to have the last one rebuild.

[LittleNik]

Thanks for the replies. As I suspected really, that all makes sense and I suppose it would be difficult to guarantee such an old part. That said, £1000 is a lot to ask for something that you can't show is working. Is it really just 'take a chance'... so we could pay £1000 for something that we fit and it doesn't work? The fitting fee from the mechanic seems reasonable, we are happy with that price. I agree though, if we'd thought it through we may have realised our lack of mechanical know how would be a problem but I've always loved the T3 and imagined myself driving around the country in one! Sadly, we don't have deep pockets. We had hoped to get a good few years out of it. Still going for this tbh...

So, a rebuild... How does this work?

[R0B]

You have to take into account how old these gearboxes are now. And unless it can be shown it has been rebuilt at some point its a lottery how long it will last. The last "good one" I paid £900 for it and was told it had been rebuilt by the seller. It lasted about a year before dying on me. The guy who rebuild it said there was no way it had been rebuilt in its lifetime. So good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[maxstu]

Is the 1000 pounds for diff and transmission or just
a replacement differential? If just for the diff transaxle l would consider getting your lame one fixed as a grand is well over the top in my opinion. And have you confirmed it is the correct code for your engine?

It's the transmission that is the real expense and particularly rare to find a qualified competent person to do a good job.

But differentials' are far easier to repair, providing the worn parts are available.

[Mocki]

Let’s be honest here , £350 to swap a auto gearbox is cheap , its four and half hours at garage price and unless they are used to these vans , i doubt they will complete it in that time , so if you go for that , find out if thats a fixed price …….

You do need to be aware that the 1.9 and 2.1 have different drive ratios , either will work, but they are quite different . Get the correct one!!!

[LittleNik]

Thanks again for the helpful replies. Just as we thought we were getting somewhere, the guy who is meant to have the spare gearbox is not picking up his phone. The other guy who said he'd take a look next week if he could fit us in is also not picking up. Really feels that nobody is interested or wants to touch it with a barge pole. It's so difficult when you're not mechanically minded because thus far we've just had people take a glance underneath and listen to the engine and say 'probably differentials', 'probably gearbox'. We really don't know if it's a complete replacement needed or it can be repaired and if so what with and where do we get it. Feeling very deflated at present. My husband is now thinking that even the recommended VW mechanics might see us coming and we'll be throwing good money after bad and be left with a van that doesn't work properly. Buying the van for £6000 a year ago and having it re-carpeted etc inside (it looks fabulous) and bits of work done in the meantime brings us up to close on £10000 spent. My husband is starting to think we should sell it before we spend more money on it, throwing good money after bad that we really don't have. I'm saying we need to give it another chance as we wouldn't get our money back as it is and this has been a long standing dream for us to own a T3. Just at a bit of a loss tbh. Need someone trustworthy who knows what they're doing to give us a definitive answer as to exactly what's wrong so we can make an informed decision. What would you do? Any advice? Anyone recommend someone in the Liverpool area who can help us? Thanks, you've all been amazing so far.

[maxstu]

Sell it! You're just getting started with the joys of T25/T3 ownership. There is a price to pay for owning an iconic VW camper. Besides, a camper with a dodgy diff? 3k if immaculate bodywork.

If l chalked up how much money l have spent on these brilliant campers/vans since 2007, l would probably end up sobbing into my daily pint of zero Guinness.

My latest camper, bought from an elderly meticulous owner (sound familiar to you?) in April 2024 lasted four months before the engine blew up. Must be me?

As l have mentioned before, you will gain a lot from getting a pro (even a mobile mechanic) to drop the oil from the differential and taking a look for colour and debris.

Meanwhile, a quick google gave this company.

https://www.nwtgearboxes.co.uk/

[LittleNik]

Gutted... Paid £5775 for it 12 months ago. Spent £2000 on the interior. It's a beautiful van, in really good condition other than the current issue. The thought of it only being worth £3000 stinks! Feel frustrated as I'm imagining selling it for a song to someone who knows what they're doing and then they have it running like a dream a few months on.

Thanks for all your advice though. Will check out the link. Ideally, we'd love someone mobile who knows what they're doing to come and have a look for us. Can't bear the thought of giving up on it so soon...