A couple of weeks ago I bought my '73 Super Bug L and am wrapped with it.

Today though, I drove to work (about 30km) in pouring rain - the car was garaged all the previous night - and left it in a car park all day also in the rain. When I came to go home it wouldn't start. I called the RACQ who came out and blew dry just about everything and it still wouldn't start, so I had to get it towed home.

At home I garaged it, sprayed the engine with RP7 and put a fan on it for 2 hours. Low and behold, it started first time. When it did start a whole lot of water and black stuff sprayed out of the exhaust pipe. It has been suggested to me that some water probably got into the carburetor.

Can anyone help me ?

- Is this common ?

- How can I stop water getting into where it shouldn't ?

- I think I have seen some black guard type things over the rear grills on beetles. Is that what they are for ?

Any help would be appreciated, I am frantic - it could rain for days !

[Edited on 24-2-2004 by kertho]

cover the bootlid holes with a garbage bag folded in half, and close the lid on it. worked for me. but remember to take it off before you do. more [dedicated] ppl get a vinyl sleeve made up which fits over the top for parking in the rain, or yes, you can get the black scoopy covery thing.

What have you got for an air filter? dude!

Do you not have rain collectors on the inside of your decklids over there?

Curse you and your dry climate

Chris

It SHOULD be ok.

I will guess that by the water out the exhaust bit you have water pooling on you carb some where and when you start it, it sucks a gob full.

I would guess yuo dont have a standard filter

yeah chase up a internal rain deflector/devertor

Is it a stock 1600 engine with stock air filter and intake? if it is, i would say it ain't wwater getting in the carbs. Even with webbers I don't have any problems. Could it be something else effected by water? coil? dizzy? some form of electrics?

May be a severe case of condensation.

I had the same problem as you yesterday. Just started luckily. I have twin webbers.

Water is definitely getting into the carby. What you should do is dry the entire engine with a rag and leave it in the rain for a 1/2 an hour. Then put it under cover and check where the rain is trickling down from.

Many thanks to everyone who gave me a tip.

Paul