gots me a leakin trans end cap.

[8v-of-fury]

On my 84 if I loosen the front and back engine mounts, and take the bolt out of the driver side mount.. Can I lower the trans enough with the axles still connected to pry the old cap off and knock a new one in properly?

[ORCoaster]

I didn't have to do any of that.  I used a very thin screwdriver and slightly pried under the edge to roll the lip up a bit off the transmission.  Then using a pair of needle nosed pliers I worked the cap off a little bit at a time mostly by going back and forth under the cap and getting it to pull off and out.  Do remember to drain the transmission and be prepared to get some fluid out of that cap area as it doesn't all seem to drain back into the transmission even if you jack the car up on that side.  Trust me, I have an oil print on the drive for proof.  

I found that if I turned the wheel in or took it off all together there was more working room to get up in there.  I used the same cap over again after hammering the flange flat again on a vice with a sheet metal hammer I have.  No I can't loan it to you.

I refilled the transmission through the speedometer cable.  Clean that area good, 11 mm nut and a little twisting of the keeper and pull out the gear.  Filled by measuring the volume not by checking through the plug on the side.  Oh yeah, have to smear the RTV on it upon re install or it will weep on you.  Just can't get it to be perfect fit without it.

That's it.  Simple as pie.

[8v-of-fury]

This is a reused cap, that I poked a hole in upon removal and siliconed back up. Seems after 5-7k km it has started to weep. When I replaced it the first time engine still in car I couldn't get the top of the cap to seat properly..

And then when I had the trans out in June to do the clutch I also checked the throw-out bearing and arm as well as drain it and fill it back up through the speedo hole as well.

I figured to get it on there any good I'd have to lower the trans out a bit...

[rabbitman]

Huh..........I've reused mine a couple times with no issues, I've done it without dropping the tranny at all too.

[R.O.R-2.0]

Huh..........I've reused mine a couple times with no issues, I've done it without dropping the tranny at all too.

x3

just be careful, and smear some RVT around the edge of it before ya stuff it back in..

never had to drop the trans (mk2)

idk if the front ant rear mounts are enough to support the whole engine and trans..

the side mounts take most of the weight of the engine.

[Powered by Spearco]

No offense, but why do you guys do chintzy repairs to your cars.

Just go buy a new $3.00 end cap, jack the car up on the drivers side, pull the wheel off and gently pry off the old cap, clean off all the oil and tap in the new end cap.

Sorry, just tired of reading about shotty repairs.

[8v-of-fury]

Yeah but how do you get the top of the cap to seat fully? its not like you can get a hammer in there.. or anything to pry on it with.. I tried the last time.

How would supporting the engine on the front and back mount help me lower the trans end of the assembly? I was gonna remove the front and back mounts, and then put a jack, remove the driver mount bolt, and swing it down pivoting on the passenger mount bolt.

I mean to ensure a proper seal it almost seems worth it to me to remove the mounts..

[8v-of-fury]

No offense, but why do you guys do chintzy repairs to your cars.

Just go buy a new $3.00 end cap, jack the car up on the drivers side, pull the wheel off and gently pry off the old cap, clean off all the oil and tap in the new end cap.

Sorry, just tired of reading about shotty repairs.

Isn't the point of owning an old POS to do POS BS repairs?? Chintzy repairs on a nice vehicle is different.. I own this sihtty vw so i can do cheap sihtty repairs.

End caps here are $20, and I was talking of replacing my cap anyway.. so what are you on about?

Also if anything, I think I might actually be considering doing it the way it would be done by a vw technician. To ensure i get the cap seated straight and properly all the way around.

[ORCoaster]

Maybe some own POS cars because that is what they can afford.  Others own them to turn them around into what they were prior to becoming a POS.  That means somewhere along the line the cheap repair will no longer do the job. 

If I can understand your trouble you just can't get the top of the cap to get nice and tight to the transmission and seal up.  I found that I could get a flat piece of steel that would cross both sides of the cap with enough to extend out to where I could tap on it and it did the job of getting the cap on as it should.  You might be able to do the same with a 1 by 4 of wood.  I can't remember if there is enough room for a pry bar to go up there and push the cap on using the body of the car to push against.

I think the real seal came from the RTV I smeared on the cap and not so much of a flat tight seal.

[Patrick]

Your dealership is ripping you off, last time I bought that cap cost me about 6 bucks, and I'm in the same province you are. big piece of flat steel (1/4 X 4?)  and a hammer will push it back in square. I aviod the problem when I can by removing the end of teh trans instead of messing with that cap.

[8v-of-fury]

Sure are ripping me off.. But what can you do right?

Thanks for the help.

Just the last time I tried to put one in fully in the car it did not go in fine..

Guess ill try harder this time.

[R.O.R-2.0]

No offense, but why do you guys do chintzy repairs to your cars.

Just go buy a new $3.00 end cap, jack the car up on the drivers side, pull the wheel off and gently pry off the old cap, clean off all the oil and tap in the new end cap.

Sorry, just tired of reading about shotty repairs.

only time i re use things, is when i HAVE TO, or where i see fit to do so.. and this time, i had to re use it, and i saw no reason against doing so.. the cap was still in fine shape..

i extracted the cap VERY CAREFULLY, and had to WELD some clutch actuator parts (the finger that pushes on the throw out bearing)

atleast i dont re-use stretch bolts and head gaskets like my grandpa does!

my repairs are never really chintzy.. but may be out of the ordinary..

[ORCoaster]

Out of the ordinary?  As in when directed to use special tool  1040-554-A for this specific job I used ?  A bottle opener held on an angle with a 13 mm wrench?

That might acutally be a good thread to start.  Your most out of the ordinary repair.  We might all learn from that.  I might have to think a bit to come up with the best weird trick used when I didn't have the specific tool to do the job.  I know there is a listing of special tools and the home brew verison on some sites.  Some are very creative.

Have to be in a pinch right?