Skip to content
Aussieveedubbers

recommended manual for L Bug (1303)

0 likes
Share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Reddit
Log in to reply

mikey ok Learner Dubber

4 posts · joined Sep 2006 ·

#537309
Can anyone recommend a service manual for a 1973 L Bug? I can find a few for Super Bugs of the era (or multiple year ranges/models), but none that have body/wiring details for this Bug with the full plastic dash/round windscreen...

Any suggestions? (Publishers, etc)

- m.

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#537366
bump!

When you find one, let me know... I want one too
Pay your debts, CxxT

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#537516
there is a scientific Publications one for S and L bug
and its printed in aus too so none of the over seas model crap
i picked one up years ago at the markets
it looks like this

still see them around every so often

plus ive got the other SP vw manuals for Kombi, type 3 and golf and theyre pretty well done for the age
i've got some other ones too that just cover beetle 54-79
but superbugs are covered in them
one is the Haynes with the blue 63 on the front and the other is an old intereurope one

-Joel

[ Edited on 24-9-2006 by DUB74L ]

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#537531
Hi

the best one is the Bently publications one, it is biased towards US cars but is pretty useful.

Steve

mikey ok Learner Dubber

4 posts · joined Sep 2006 ·

#545229
I've got a copy of the Gregory's book - not too impressed... more info for Supers than L specific. Really interested in finding out more about the L. stuff like - The extra fan (demister?) in front of the windshield near wipers, switches for this fan/heater dials in the dash, drainage from the front box that houses the wiper motor and the demister fan.

Currently I have a few empty holes in my dash where switches/knobs for something should be, water leaking on my feet... when searching out the water leak, found the fan I didn't know was there...

Now we've got the dash out, found out this front box is rusted out (and roughly patched up) and need to find the best way to fix the box, restore the drainage and hopefully get this other fan working.

While taking out the dash, I finally found out how the windshield washer works ;-) ... I originally thought that the washer release squirter thingy could have been simialr to the early bug style fitting somewhere in one of those spare holes in the front of the dash. I was wrong.

This is the stuff I want to know. Any suggestions? Was there a manual that would have come with the car when originally sold? These manuals that cover 10-cars-in-one don't have much to offer the lonely L owner. (sigh) Ha, ha....

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#545290
I have the original hand books scanned in PDF - the small drivers ones. They will tell you all the info on switches.
there is
Operation and Data
Driving Car Care - Do It Yourself

I scanned then in fairly hi res - so they are 6 and 4 meg respectivley

The drainage goes down a grey/black plastic tobe you can see if you put your head under the dash and at the top of the service centre hump.
I have a pic some where.

that dash box is a pain. It is VERY hard to seal that front plate water tight. Water leaks there and onto the petrol tank and into the car.
I have a piece of fridge magnet that i cover the grates with as my car lives outside 24/7 and this stops a lot of water coming in and leaves.

reckon if i was doing a rebuild i would weld this up and not have a cover on the box.

best info is from Super specific sites

http://www.superbeetlesonly.com/forum/index.php?s=34e866195e1a1a4dd4aad41185b04d62&act=idx

http://www.superbeetles.com/welcome.htm

Tell us if you want me to send the manuals.
If your email wont take it i can burn it to CD and post if you like.

barry (1303 fanatic)
Futue te ipsum!!!

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#545312
lol.. yes, that drain pipe running straight over the fusebox and into the front footwells, instead of out through the boot/luggage area in L-Bugs is THE single dumbest thing VW EVER did!
Pay your debts, CxxT

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#545345
Hi Mikey OK,
and I have never owned a 1303 Super beetle, but have heard about the metal water trap behind the dash...
it really sounds stupid, as the Non Supers had a plastic piece that fits under the bonnet vents .. 1302S had them too..
I have 12 beetle manuals... all different...
Chiltons Haynes InterEurope Gregorys AutoBooks Bentley
and other Service & Mantainence Books written especially for Volkswagen owners..

Best places to buy are ebay.au and - http://www.amazon.com in the USA..
where You can buy New or used books at bargain prices.
I believe you need more than one manual.

I have found Haynes books great, also the Gregorys is Ok on some subjects and the Bentley [VW of America] is good for showing You exploded views etc, only problem, is they use all the VW special tools to dismantle anything,
where the other books don't use those special tools unless its absolutely necessary.
Most Manuals are written for the USA market, even the Haynes books that were printed in the UK...

You will also need a Mantainence/service manual which shows you all the things the VW mechanics used to do at every service... like oiling the hinges on the doors. bonnet , engine lid , carburetor linkages and pedal pivots.
Petroleum Jelly on the bonnet/engine lid locks, door catches and seat runners, so if it gets on your clothes its not too difficult to clean..

Best of Luck

Lee -- 68AutoBug --

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

[ Edited on 17-10-2006 by 68AutoBug ]

2 attachments · Log in to view

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#545356
Here is the Haynes manual for beetles up to 1978...
a lot of info on 1303s..
How to pull the dash apart etc..
4 pages of 1973 beetle circuit diagrams..

VW changed the format of circuit diagrams in 1973...
from the 'normal' easy to read diagram to their New type of circuit diagrams....

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

1 attachment · Log in to view

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#545529
the fresh air system on Lbugs is nothing but frustrating
dont worry to much about getting ur fan working they dont do real much cept drain power
the smokers windows turned towards the windscreen do a better job of defrosting
i used to get water leaking out of my fuse box and onto my feet in heavy down poors before i did it up, it took me ages to get all the leaks sorted

i've got heaps of dashes and bits and pieces so if ur having trouble finding anything or working out what goes where let me know

good luck
-Joel

mikey ok Learner Dubber

4 posts · joined Sep 2006 ·

#546276
Cool. Thanks for that. Looks like the Haynes manual is the one that would best suit an L, I'll check it out.

Hmmm dig the idea of sealing that grill up - it's only there for fresh air for the fan isn't it? Maybe they thought putting a demister there would save getting wet with open quarter vents... but the alternative of water leaking above the fuse box is hardly a better option! Plus I LOVE quarter vent windows. ... I'm thinking these water leaks I've been having is the cause of the burnt wires under the dash that I found.

Thanks for the link to the drain thread. I get it now. Is there a cover that's supposed to go over the fuses? I have the housing around the fuse box, and currently hang a bit of rubber over the front of the fuses to hide them. Works and looks alright, but I did notice once that a couple of my fuses had been kicked out of place - not good for avoiding short circuits!!

I might just take you up on the tour of missing dash bits Joel, when I get it back together, I'll chase you up on it!

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#546455
no probs mikey

covers are just clear and clip over the fuses
they go brittle and shatter eventually
i got a few kicking around most of them are abit ratty where blown fuses have melted them but ill see if i can dig up a good one

the fresh air fan isnt really needed
some states may jump up and down coz theres no demister fan but only lbugs and 76standards had them so it shouldnt be a problem
they were only put in so u could get fresh air circulating thro the car in slow traffic on wet days when windows are up
if u do fill over the grille i;d drill some holes in the black panel under the bonnet tho to let some fresh air to the wiper motor

-Joel

2 attachments · Log in to view