How are your spark plugs and leads? They can cause some really big problems.
I never used to like looking at my motor at night. All the pretty blue light on the outside of my spark plug leads.
A loose lead can cause backfiring and starting problems. Not the most likely candidate, but it only takes a minute to check they are all plugged in.
Like its been said, carby rebuilds are dead easy. And can be very worthwhile. You could have clogged jets, crud in the float bowl, a leak somewhere etc.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
Hope it all goes well.... I hate the feeling of losing power while driving in traffic or feeling like it's going to conk out at the lights.... only happened a couple of times. Sorry no great words of wisdom after all the advice you have been given by the others on the forum.... If you have a digital camera, a couple of photos of your areas of concern never go astray...
All the best😉
063bug wrote:Hope it all goes well.... I hate the feeling of losing power while driving in traffic or feeling like it's going to conk out at the lights.... only happened a couple of times. Sorry no great words of wisdom after all the advice you have been given by the others on the forum.... If you have a digital camera, a couple of photos of your areas of concern never go astray...
All the best😉
Thank you, I hope all goes well too!
Not that I like having things wrong with my Beetle, but I prefer them to be obvious things that are gradual.... not sudden things and everything still looks fine!
😉
I could take photos (and I am a self confessed photo-taking junkie) but since all looks as it should from the outside..... :duh
Dasdubber wrote:If an aircooled vw engine runs lean for a long time you may drop a valve seat which means you'll need a head rebuild ($$).
exactly what i think happened to us, but i dont think the heads have ever been looked at. Currently she is sidelined, lacking in power and now even backfiring.
Best of Luck with Your Beetle....
the clutch etc should last virtually forever as they don't slip like a normal clutch...... its either in gear or out of gear.... depending on when You move the gearlever...
which is when the clutch is disengaged....
Your carby probably needs blowing out with compressed air and a kit put thru it or just cleaned..... by a mechanic..
VW engines don't like even very small air leaks in the carburetor or exhaust system.....
Lee Noonan
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
good luck with it - I'm sure you'll let us know about it *looks at watch* today!
...and Robert's ya father's brother...
I reckon they could make a soapie episode about my Beetle dramas of the past couple of days! 😀
Yesterday when I left work at 5pm, my Beetle started fine and got out onto the road with no backfiring or anything. But 50 metres later, it was a different story! No power and heaps of backfiring, so I manage to roll her into some office's carpark. I checked the engine, and it all looked fine still.... so I ran back to my mechanic to see if there was anything I could do to make her last the 40min drive to my bf's place. There wasn't much I could do by the side of the road, so I had to get her towed!! 🥲
After waiting for a while, I saw three towtrucks go by.... the third one did a U-turn and came back about 15 mins later, so I waved at him and he was there for the Beetle. When the dude got out of his truck, I didn't even get a hello, just "You're not a fat chick!" He showed me what the lady I spoke to wrote down... and I couldn't stop laughing! I told the woman on the phone to get the driver to look out for a 'hippy chick' (I was in my work clothes) and she'd written down a 'big fat chick'!! So I hope the dude tells her the 'fat chick' was only 5ft tall and 45kgs!!! Hahaha :P
It was a sad sight seeing my pretty Blue Bug on a towtruck, but she'll be getting all fixed up and would want to behave like the 35 year old woman that she is! 😉
The only good thing about last night was getting a lift from the mechanic to my bf's place by a lovely girl in her Mum's old Beetle. She was picking it up after it's service, so thank you for the lift Magda! :kiss
It will be interesting to find out what's wrong with my Bug, as long as it is something stupidly simple and not much $$!! 🙂
Well, how did it go with the mechanic.... what was the problem???? and how's your purse.... hope it's not smoking.
Can't wait for the next episode of "Blue in Melbourne"🙂
063bug wrote:Well, how did it go with the mechanic.... what was the problem???? and how's your purse.... hope it's not smoking.
Can't wait for the next episode of "Blue in Melbourne"🙂
Hahaha, so my mini-saga has a soapie name! :P
My Beetle is still at the mechanics.... will call them tomorrow and find out the verdict..... :alien
I called the mechanic this morning.... and there was something inside the carby that had moved and was facing the wrong way (but I couldn't understand what it was) so it just had to be moved back. Simpler than simple, so yay for that!
And they're half way through working on the clutch, and will also put my torsion bars in today.
😁
Well that's good news!😵💫
...and Robert's ya father's brother...
Looks like I spoke too soon. 🙁
Drove the Beetle home last night from Eden's house (30min drive) and she was purrrfect. Rear end is a lot firmer, clutch all good, no backfiring at all....
And then driving it this morning, all was good until she'd been going for 15-20mins.... when the same problem happened again: sudden complete loss of power, backfiring big time. We pulled over, couldn't see a problem, started her up and all was good.... for another 100 metres, and then she completely died and wouldn't restart at all. Lucky I got across the huge Wellington Rd/Princes Hwy intersection! :o
Eden's Dad towed my Bug back with his Kombi, where we pulled carby off and checked it all, but it looks fine. There's still fuel getting in.
???
Took off a spark lead to see if there was a spark when trying to start her up, and it doesn't look like there is.
So.... could it be the coil? Or something else? Any ideas appreciated.... as she's going back to mechanic on Monday. D'oh!
Dear PBB,
If it's a new Bosch mini coil then they fry themselves in the heat, best the traditional style and without resistor if you have points ignition. (this from bitter experience):cry
Ok... verdict from mechanic is that it IS the carby.... one of the jets is turning around and blocking itself off.
I want my Beetle back! 🥲
aaaaaaaargh
Shouldn't the jet be spring loaded so that doens't happen? Times like this you just wish you could buy a brand spankin new carb or go FI 😉
...and Robert's ya father's brother...
oval TOFU wrote:aaaaaaaargh
Shouldn't the jet be spring loaded so that doens't happen? Times like this you just wish you could buy a brand spankin new carb or go FI 😉
Yep, it is spring loaded, but I think the whole thing is turning around? I'm not quite sure, EgeWorks knows more than I do! But I'll interogate him and post the findings on here...
😉Far out!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! 🙁 🙁
Driving home yesterday after getting car from mechanic's AGAIN and she still has the same problem (sudden loss of power coupled with backfiring and spluttering big time). It's really random when it happens too. She backfires a little bit when idling, but whether I'm accelerating doing 30m/ph or 50m/ph, or backing off accelerator, she starts acting up. Not good in peak hour! 🥲 Atleast she didn't die on me completely like last week.
The points were replaced yesterday, as well as the carby gasket as that was worse for wear. Also got a new jet.
So what could it be?? I'm taking her back again tonight...
Sounds like you need a new mechanic! Have you described all the problems/symptoms to them?
I've never had jets that turn themselves around. Fall out maybe if they're loose!
...I hope you get it sorted out PBB ..... it must be getting frustrating to say the least 😢
ACE_76 wrote:Sounds like you need a new mechanic! Have you described all the problems/symptoms to them?
I've never had jets that turn themselves around. Fall out maybe if they're loose!
It's all weird huh? They'd better find out the problem today or I will have to find another mechanic. Usually these guys are awesome, and very reasonable $$ (not that this has been costing me additional $$) but still... lets hope it's third time lucky!
And yes Jen, it's frustrating but I'm so over it. I just want my bug fixed so she drives how she used to.... only now she has a better rear end and new clutch/pressure plates!
It's more the inconvenience of all this that's getting me down, as she's my daily driver and I love driving....
😢I am not sure if this has been changed already but I really think it is worth putting a new condensor in. My 40hp beetle left me stranded a couple of times due to the condensor, but then it would go again....then stutter and run okay, only to break down again. For the sake of a part that is under $20 (I think), I think it willl be worthwhile - if it turns out that it is not the problem, at least you have a spare then for down the track.
Dasdubber wrote:I am not sure if this has been changed already but I really think it is worth putting a new condensor in. My 40hp beetle left me stranded a couple of times due to the condensor, but then it would go again....then stutter and run okay, only to break down again. For the sake of a part that is under $20 (I think), I think it willl be worthwhile - if it turns out that it is not the problem, at least you have a spare then for down the track.
Thanx Das for that info, I had a u2u from someone saying the same thing... I'm about to call the mechanic and see what's happenin'!
🙂a condenser shouldn't cost more than 10 clams shouldn't it? but yeh, it's well simple to replace... good luck - I know how frustrating it is to have ya bug snarf you around...
...and Robert's ya father's brother...
😀
Just got off the phone to my mechanic....
They replaced the ignition points on Friday as they were badly burned.... when he checked them this morning they were starting to get that way again. He replaced the condensor and also the coil. Some of the wires going into the coil weren't that great either, so he replaced those too. He's just going through now checking fuel liines to make sure all is good and the pump too. So this problem would want to be erradicated and all shall be good! I can't wait, as I know she's a wicked 'lil Beetle and it's making me sad not being able to drive her.
I really appreciate everyone's suggestions, and would hug you all to say thanx if I could!
But this will have to do: *hugs!*
We can't stand the suspense any longer!... Is it OK now?
So far so good!! 😉 I don't want to speak too soon though.....
She has a couple of shiny new bits in her now though.... and since she behaved for the mechanic, I found some gorgeous little chrome pretties to adorn her with! Tehehe 👍
off to the swap meet with the convoy then?
...and Robert's ya father's brother...
If Eden doesn't have uni work to do, we'll try to be there! :P
even if he does - make him come 🙂
Tagedeezee Heezy
yeh, you're a chick, crack that whip! Or do what you girls do that makes guys do thier bidding.. I haven't figured out what it is yet..
...and Robert's ya father's brother...
