Help with Finding Someone who knows about VW Beetle

Milly33

Hi

Just wondering if anyone knew of anyone in or around Cork who would have any notion about VW Beetle, well it is mostly the heating pipes which I dont think they are even there and the fumes... Ive had my bug for 4 years now and well the fumes part comes and goes but it has got bad recently again, and coming into the winter she always gets damp..Was hoping to perhaps get it sorted before it gets rather chilly..

PaulK_CCI

Sounds like your heatexchangers left and right of the block, are well and truly gone, allowing exhaust fumes to get into the heating circuit....

Changing them isn't a major deal...

As a quick fix, I would urge you to crawl underneath and remove the platic hoses on both sides, running from the back of the heatexchangers into the area left and right under the rear seat area. That way, at least no exhaust fumes are being directed into the cabin, which can be very, very dangerous on a long trip, as you are essentially gassing yourself !!!

Milly33

Hi

Yep defianlty gasing myself in there have to drive most times with the window down...That sounds about right I might have a go at the weekend or will ask one of the lads to

It is really annoying me as I brought her to a mechanic who charged me a fortune (well enough for not doing anything) saying he had fixed it all and he did in his arse I pulled him up on it and he got a bit ratty and stormed off...

trevorbrady

there are plenty of members from the Cork area on www.type2ireland.org and www.eircooled.com . Ask your question on those sites, someone might be able to call round and have a look...

Milly33

Great stuff thank you , i just signed up there with type 2 and hopefully someone will be able to help...Thanks for all the replies

dillontobin

Milly33 wrote: »

Great stuff thank you , i just signed up there with type 2 and hopefully someone will be able to help...Thanks for all the replies

were in cork are u im in fermoy my self

Milly33

Hi

Im out in Ballintemple or just outside Cork City..Will bring her anywhere though if anyone was intersted in taking a look at her

dillontobin

Milly33 wrote: »

Hi

Im out in Ballintemple or just outside Cork City..Will bring her anywhere though if anyone was intersted in taking a look at her

u have my num

Milly33

Ah great thank you so much...Cula Ill give you a call tom evening if that is ok..Thank you

dillontobin

Milly33 wrote: »

Ah great thank you so much...Cula Ill give you a call tom evening if that is ok..Thank you

ring any time after 4

Mr. Presentable

Mate, take your number off or you'll have every weirdo in the country calling you..........

dillontobin

nipplenuts wrote: »

Mate, take your number off or you'll have every weirdo in the country calling you..........

thanks mate i didnt think about that

carchaeologist

Hope the heater channels arent gone too,thats a big job.
http://www.ramva.org/dragenwagen/heaterchannel.html

Hiow do you mean it gets damp?What type beetle is it?

Milly33

Oh now you are scaring me I didnt think it would be that awkard to change them..Mm I dont want to say it but then that could be it too, she leaks in water lets say if you drive through a big puddle on the passengers side floor through where the heat should be coming out.

And she gets damp in the winter I was thinking as the heaters arent working that was it, just well the windscreen you would nearly have to clear them all before you start driving to see properly and i always drive with the window down to keep it clear

PaulK_CCI

The fact that a beetle mists up in damp weather is almost unavoidable, even in water tight beetles . They simply do not have sufficient airflow to demist the windscreen effectively... you just have to have a cloth handy to wipe your windscreens at all times, standard equipment in a beetle (or use you ventwindows open all the way, to deflect the outside air onto the windscreens, that sometimes helps too, but it will be cold.)

There are many reasons why a car lets in water, but the beetles are prone to
heater channels rusting through. Mind you, in a lot of cases it is just the inner wing rotting through in the bottom corner sections, allowing water to seep in either into the heating channel or straight into the cabin. Take away the carpets in the footwell, and that should give you an idea of where the problems are. If it is just that area, there is no need to replace the entire heating channel (but then again, if water got into the channel, the rust would have started to get hold there without seeing anyting from the outside...

Another notorious spot is if you lift the rear bench, and look very closely at the corners, where the wheel arches connect with the heater channels and floor area. Mostly this area is very, very poor. also. The floor section under the Battery is usually also bad.

If your windscreen rubbers are bad, the water would also seep in through there and drip onto the floor....

Just a few pointers to 'cheer you up'

Milly33

Hi

No your great thats loads information, it is great to get the feedback at least then i know where i am suppose to start with her...I will take a look at the weekend properly when we have a bit of sunshine and see if I can notice anything there, id say there is at this stage with the water coming in..Id never be that lucky that it didnt make its mark there..

It is funny (yes I am a girl) but I have a rubber duck in the front on the floor and when the water comes in if it is a deep puddle there is enough for that to float in so

Milly33

Hi

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the info, it was great being able to get a straight answer and no oh your a girl you wouldnt know what I was talking about anyway.

Anywho, I got a number for a chap who is just up the road from home (thanks p0x) so dropping her off next Tuesday for him to work his magic on her will let ye know how things go...

Thanks again

bugsntinas

good luck with her and sorry to hear ya got no where with the mechanic.
owning a beetle is a fun way of life.:D

carchaeologist

If there is that much water getting in id guess the channels are shot,though if the duck floats,the floors must be good?!strange!!

Milly33

I just wanted to update on this one...I got my wagen back last week and she is rockin...Would recommend RPM Motors to anyone.. Richard the chap working up there was great..Put the wagen up on the lift and showed me everything that was wrong and what he was going to do...The spot where the water was coming in at the side was just gas the old mechanic who i paid a small fortune too, had filled in a huge hole (only a small bit) with some expanadable foam stuff cant think of the proper name for it so that ecplains all the water...

Anywho she is flying it now running like a dream...Thanks for all the help again and for passing on the name for the mechanic..

Hope everyone had a Great Christmas All the best for the New Year

245

Glad to hear that it all worked out and that you're enjoying it.

Keep an eye on www.eircooled.com - the forum is a good source of knowledge and there's a good few Cork members to help out when needed.

carchaeologist

Milly33 wrote: »

The spot where the water was coming in at the side was just gas the old mechanic who i paid a small fortune too, had filled in a huge hole (only a small bit) with some expanadable foam stuff cant think of the proper name for it so that ecplains all the water...

Yes..a quality repair if ever there was:rolleyes:....Good to hear all is well now.

kadman

Sure 90% of the last 15 years housing stock is held together with foam and mastic.:D:D:D

kadman

Milly33

I am afraid the wagen trouble continues..I must have the worst luck with mechanics..She has been running like b**** since Christmas I though the last mechanic I had her with was great So I trip before christmas which I though would sort the problems turned into 4 - 5 more trips to same man around €1,000 later and she has more problems..Really dissapointed in him he done the bare basic and fixed the fumes and turned on the heater (which was on constantly) never filled up the hole so water still leaks in..When I got her back the last time I gave up with him. She gets choked or the petrol stops getting through to the engine so we would have to get a pump to pump it through all the time, then she started stoping in 1st gear which is fixable u would think. She would do this, then wed get her started she would fly for a week until it happened again..Brought her back to the older mechanic I used and still the same story he hasnt even called to tell me what he done to the car...At my end with her now I dont want to sell her but it might come to it :(:(

dillontobin

hi i would be able to fix your car for you if you want at a small coast
ill pm my number to you im 15 miles out side cork city but restor cars and have a good few vws of my own let me no if your intrested would be intrested in buying the car off you if you dont want to get it fixed

carchaeologist

Sorry to hear the bad news, could be dirt in the petrol,or is the fuel line bad/blocked/rusty,i think it runs through the centre spine on beetles and is quite awkward to change?
How do you mean it stops in 1st gear? As in when you try to drive away?

245

Try posting on www.eircooled.com - lot of help and knowledge there - plenty of it Cork-based as well

Milly33

Oh man the temptation of selling her, If only I didnt like her so much I would do I am determine to have all the money I put into her worth something..Thaks dillion I got your pm I shall be in contact...

With the fuel that is what we have been saying al along (thats a year now) there was a new tank fitted which was left fun down three times so they could check to see if there was dirt and nothing came back...I have said this to the mechanics and they have said the same thing oh must be the lines, but yet the same problem always happens..When she broke down this time twas on the way back to work after lunch so didnt have the time to check. But when we did it turned out fine she had run out of juice but the filter in the back was full of little bits of crystalised (cant spell) petrol Haha a breakthrouh you think it would have been spotted by two mechanics

carchaeologist

What year is the car,and what engine has it?

Milly33

She is '73, so there's a fair bit of age on her. And she is down to a 1.2 now

Abelloid

Milly33 wrote: »

I am afraid the wagen trouble continues..I must have the worst luck with mechanics..She has been running like b**** since Christmas I though the last mechanic I had her with was great So I trip before christmas which I though would sort the problems turned into 4 - 5 more trips to same man around €1,000 later and she has more problems..Really dissapointed in him he done the bare basic and fixed the fumes and turned on the heater (which was on constantly) never filled up the hole so water still leaks in..When I got her back the last time I gave up with him. She gets choked or the petrol stops getting through to the engine so we would have to get a pump to pump it through all the time, then she started stoping in 1st gear which is fixable u would think. She would do this, then wed get her started she would fly for a week until it happened again..Brought her back to the older mechanic I used and still the same story he hasnt even called to tell me what he done to the car...At my end with her now I dont want to sell her but it might come to it :(:(

Beetle engines are very basic, for €1000 I'd expect the entire fuel and ignition system replaced.

Sign up on eircooled and post your troubles, see what suggestions come back..

Milly33

I have signed up alrite with them, they are great..I havent been on in a while because things have been so bad with her, I didnt want to depress myself hearing about great shows etc...

I will have a look this evening see if there is anyone there..

Milly33

She must have heard me mention the sell word. I was just driving home for lunch, and she started to kick off again. I was slowly down to let some joggers past and she just cut out. Tried starting her and nething happened so put my foot down on the accelerator for a few turns then she backfired (huge so embarassing) and then flew off she didnt stop once when I slowed down or changed down to first. I am going to see what she is like for the rest of the week and if she starts again Ill get in contact dilliontobin

Abelloid

Sound like a fuel delivery problem alright, there really shouldn't be this much hassle in getting it sorted.

bugsntinas

sorry to hear you're back to square one with the bug.does she tick over ok?if you get totally stuck i'd have a look at her i'm not a mechanic but i do tinker around with cars(including bugs)i'm just outside mallow.don't sell her you'll only regret it later.

kasper

sounds like a fuel pump or vapourisation

kadman

Dont sell it:eek:.

Sounds simple enough. Beetle engines are simple and straight forward to work on. Carb and fuel pump are easily accesible, and it should be a quick process to pinpoint your problem, for any experienced beetle enthusiast.

It would be a shame to sell it, as it sounds like a fuel problem.

kadman

kasper

i agree dont sell it

Milly33

Oh I really do not want to sell her either that ye for understanding..Everyone I talk to tells me to get rid of her..Drove her into work thismorning and she was going great I forgot how nice they are to drive when working properly..

Yes all the comments regarding the fuel makes sense I jsut cannot see how two well qualified mechanics have missed this for more or less a year. We have said it to them, haha I was laughing at one stage there is a second filter in her and one mechanic told me that he took this out fine, then when she went to the other one he said that he cleaned out the secound filter ?? How could he if it was taken out tis still there...

kadman

There could be 3 filters on your engine. One in the tank, maybe one inline between the fuel pump, and the carb. And another in the fuel pump if its an early type, before the sealed units.

It could also be dirt lodged in the main jet of the carb, if it fails at revs over 2000. Or in the idle jet, if its cutting out at lower revs. If you drove it to work recently, and it was fine, then its something very small.

kadman

Abelloid

I think I know one of the mechanics you are referring to, he was recommended at one point but I have since learnt of another club member having a very poor (and expensive) standard of service with him.

It's a shame that you have just missed an Eircooled workshop (I did too), basic servicing was covered and everybody reported a good laugh whilst learning a little more about their cars.

kasper

i wonder also was the car laid up for a long spell because if it was sometimes the petrol goes thick and gummy at the bottom of the tank and it could be flaking off now and blocking the line ,but my big money is still on fuel pump or vapourisation but it is very hard to diagnose these things from afar all my guesses could be wrong

si_guru

Fuel pump diaphram is going or the accelerator pump on the carb is blocked.

kadman

kasper wrote: »

i wonder also was the car laid up for a long spell because if it was sometimes the petrol goes thick and gummy at the bottom of the tank and it could be flaking off now and blocking the line ,but my big money is still on fuel pump or vapourisation but it is very hard to diagnose these things from afar all my guesses could be wrong

All our guesses could be wrong.:D

My money is on the carb, partially blocked inlet needle jet, or main jet.:)

kadman

hi5

Too many filters could be restricting the flow,the bigger the filter the better.

Milly33

Hi thanks you for all the advise with this. With the tank she was never laid up for that long (i couldnt do it to her) and we only put a new tank in mm I suppose around a year and a half ago, which has been checked to see for debris and all that goes. It must be between these filters, ahh and three man I thought two was the max in them and the lines. Im really gutted that I didnt say more to the last mechanic chap, i explained all to him that I had gone through a fair share of crap ones and all i wanted was honesty which didnt go to far id say.. Hopefully I will get her to the mechanics this week and will report back with details...

kasper

best of luck with it , let us know how you get on ?

kadman

Well Milly33 did you get your beetle sorted. Hope it worked out for you.

kadman

Milly33

Hello

I am back, now I have not got her back yet but I am picking her up this evening..

I have it on good authority that the wagen is running beautifully and is back to normal. It was my manfrieds cousin and friend that finally sorted it for me I cant wait to pick her up this evening.

The big ?? what was the problem (I am really pissed about this) he said that you could tell what the probem was the minute you looked into the tank and took a good look at the carburator. Someone had sealed the tank with Silicone, I think the extra pipe at the side of the petrol tank and had done some sealing on the carburator he said he couldnt belive it. The silicone was gradually wearing away and it was getting lodged in the fuel line, the tank was an awfull mess. The Flushed the tank out twice and cleaned out the fuel lines and said they drove her the last few days with no hiccups..

So, ok this is costing me €200 quid which i honestly now do not mind at all I dont mind spending money on the car once the work is done, but man I am so going back to the last mechanic starts with R and asking him what I paid him close to € 1,000 euro for, Im asking for at least half of it back because he wasted my time...

Abelloid

Milly33 wrote: »

Hello

I am back, now I have not got her back yet but I am picking her up this evening..

I have it on good authority that the wagen is running beautifully and is back to normal. It was my manfrieds cousin and friend that finally sorted it for me I cant wait to pick her up this evening.

The big ?? what was the problem (I am really pissed about this) he said that you could tell what the probem was the minute you looked into the tank and took a good look at the carburator. Someone had sealed the tank with Silicone, I think the extra pipe at the side of the petrol tank and had done some sealing on the carburator he said he couldnt belive it. The silicone was gradually wearing away and it was getting lodged in the fuel line, the tank was an awfull mess. The Flushed the tank out twice and cleaned out the fuel lines and said they drove her the last few days with no hiccups..

So, ok this is costing me €200 quid which i honestly now do not mind at all I dont mind spending money on the car once the work is done, but man I am so going back to the last mechanic starts with R and asking him what I paid him close to € 1,000 euro for, Im asking for at least half of it back because he wasted my time...

That's shocking. Name and shame.

Milly33

Im not going to name yet, I will give him fair chance to see what his come back is about it and see what he says, I doubt it will be very good. Ill be back