Caravelle VR6 Auto - can it be converted to manual or replaced with Sharan auto/manual

[flying fish]

Hello

I have a '97 long wheelbase caravelle VR6, which is great in every respect except for the automatic gearbox. I had the gearbox rebuilt which cost a lot soon after buying the van, and it went back a few times and although better and perfectly driveable most of the time afterwards, it was never quite right. Now just 3 years later it has gone again, and needs another rebuild. Reluctant to go through the same again, I would prefer to change the gearbox altogether this time.

Ideally I would love to convert to manual (I wanted a manual originally but settled for auto after 18 months searching (i need the long wheelbase, which combined with VR6 and manual is virtually non-existent!) Can this only be done with a manual donor vehicle? If so this would be even harder to find than a running VR6 manual??

Is it possible to use the VR6 sharan's auto gearbox? They are so much cheaper and more available, I can buy a whole VR6 sharan in good condition with MOt and tax for less than the cost of a gearbox rebuild, just to put costs into perspective - so if that gearbox can be used it will be a lot cheaper and easier to find.

Better still, can a manual gearbox be taken from another VR6 sharan, golf, corrado etc, or can a non-VR6 transporter/caravelle manual gearbox be fitted?

Any help will really be appreciated - many thanks

[bora(ing) nick]

Have you got the gearbox code???

Welcome to the forum! Unfortunatly, i can't help, but I think i know just the man to steer you in the right direction.....

In the meantime, if you could post you engine code and gearbox code. This will help determine what (if anything) can be done.

Thanks

Nick

[Crasher]

PM sent.

[flying fish]

Thanks for asking, the engine no. is AE5006851, Reg No. is S502JLM, where would I find the gearbox code?

[Crasher]

Your vehicle has an AES engine (there is an error on your log book) and the gearbox code is DNE and is of the 01P series. By the fact the vehicle was registered 9/98 and built 04/97 I presume it is an import and left hand drive. The Sharan 099 series box is similar to the 01P used in yours but I think there would be problems adapting it and they are pretty unreliable anyway. I would recommend a VAG exchange box but these are a rather stiff £2.5K. Converting to manual could be done but it is a hell of a task and you would need to find a donor vehicle with a manual box (AFL is one suitable code) of the 02G series and these were only used on the T4 VR6.

[flying fish]

Thanks - the VW exchange box is much more money still than the gearbox rebuild, so really would like to investigate other ways around it. Any idea how much work/cost the sharan auto, and the manual conversion might involve?

The Van is a right hand drive. It was bought new from a UK main VW dealer in '98 although it had been shipped to Gibraltar, where it was destined for export to Singapore, but instead after hanging around in Gibraltar, it was shipped straight to the London main dealer where it was sold from!

It is a long wheelbase which I need so not easy to just find another. I really hope I can sort this out. All help much appreciated.

[flying fish]

Hello

Does anybody know if the DNE 01P auto gearbox, (in the Caravelle VR6) was used anywhere else at all? Looking for replacement gearbox but so few VR6 caravelles about. Alternatively would any other gearbox work in my VR6 Caravelle, perhaps another transporter engine's gearbox, or a golf etc VR6 auto gearbox?

[Crasher]

97 to 99 Transporter VR6 only, super rare and £2.5K from VW although the later EQE may be compatible.

[flying fish]

could any other gearboxes be adapted to fit?

[Crasher]

They have to be from a VR6 T4 as the software is specifically calibrated to the engines ECU and the bolt pattern to the block is specific to the VR6. There are also DNF and EQH boxes that it may be possible to adapt.