|
Post by anthill on Jun 24, 2014 19:08:22 GMT -5
Hi all,
From the VW Vanagon Syncro forums I've read that lock-up in a viscous coupling depends on the temperature. At around 90C a stock coupler will start locking up.
VW Vanagons have their viscous coupler in the front differential case, which warms up as you drive. Justys (and my Subaru Domingo microvan) have the viscous coupler in the transaxle, which is heated/cooled by the engine.
My 4WD has become very 'grabby' since replacing my 85C thermostat with an 88C. Wondering if I should try to fix it by switching again to an 82C thermostat to keep the transaxle cooler and stop premature viscous coupler engagement.
The real fix is to service the viscous coupler but that sounds insanely expensive...
|
|
|
Post by blacklight on Jun 25, 2014 0:40:04 GMT -5
First gen Domingo's and Justy's don't have a viscous coupling, no...
|
|
|
Post by indkid87 on Jun 25, 2014 9:13:02 GMT -5
What do you mean by 'grabby'? What is the 4wd doing?
|
|
|
Post by sp0ngebob on Jun 26, 2014 13:48:15 GMT -5
nowhere does it say its a first gen.
if a manual transmission, theres no viscous coupling. not sure about an automatic.
|
|
|
Post by nipper on Jun 28, 2014 23:20:54 GMT -5
Neither does an auto.
If your 4wd is being grabby it is mismatched tires or your using it when your not supposed to.
|
|
|
Post by sp0ngebob on Jun 30, 2014 16:05:09 GMT -5
fair enough, but the manuals have no viscous coupling. Im not sure for automatics since i dont have one.
|
|
|
Post by anthill on Jul 2, 2014 0:17:04 GMT -5
I'm almost certain that mine has one. FA8 Subaru Domingo, Japanese Domestic Market. 5-speed manual transmission with no 4WD pushbutton. By 'grabby' I mean that, when warm, the van can't do anything more than a 90 degree turn without the tires scrubbing. I've checked tire pressure, and even measured height with a ruler (they're within 1mm of each other). I'm really suspecting that it's because the viscous coupling is slightly burned and is engaging at the 88C engine operating temperature. Supposedly it should engage at just over 100C, but mine is getting old... Getting it out of the garage is easy - parking it again leaves rubber in the laneway.
|
|