[0]-[0] volkswagen Chat - Mods and Repairs: September 2009 //////\\\\\\

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Top Gear vs Fifith Gear.?

Question 1
Top Gear vs Fifith Gear.?... Whats your favourite?

Answers
1) Top Gear best for entertainment.
Fifth gear better for more down to earth cars and Vicki Butler Henderson.

They are two different types of programme united by the fact that for part of them they deal with cars. I do not see them as competitors, just different. Not even on at the same time. On UK Gold they are often on one after the other! - Timbo is here

2) Top Gear by a country mile. - bob m

3) Top gear is my favourite car magazine. Don't know much about fifth gear. - ANITA S

4) There are bits I like in both programmes and I find it difficult to make a realistic choice. TopGear has started to annoy me because of the boring interaction between the three presenters for it is the cars I want to see not them. - roger.williams20@btinternet.com

5) Top Gear - they give 'information' about cars in a fun way. My Mum can follow what's going on.

Fifth Gear is dry and very very very boring. - k

6) Top Gear all the way funny and up front,love it. - bobbage

7) Top Gear FTW! - djaca70

8) fifth gear all the wayyyyyy, top gear hey just mess around, fifth gear actually informs you - lambo11293

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Question 2
How to find a good mechanic?... I have had the same mechanic for years. I have a Volkswagen and that is what he solely worked on. I thought he was fairly reasonable price wise but I learned he had been ripping me off. I then went to another that was recommended to me, but they seemed a little out of it as well and there were several problems with their service to say the least. It's hard because I don't trust a lot of people with my car because Volkswagen's are backwards. Anyhow how can I find a good mechanic I can trust?

Answers
1) hmm u should just look around your area and google some places read some reviews before you actually go. - Scribbles and juicy

2) Get a free estimate from the dealer and compare it to what the different garages tell you.

You are right to be leary, car maintenance is one of the biggest scams out there. - rayo_ca

3) Talk to other VW owners. You may want to join a forum like VW vortex, and ask the same question. VWs are not "backwards," they are just engineered better than a dime a dozen GM product. - djaca70

4) Talk to other VW owners.
Dealers tend to be pretty good.
Go ask an insurance or road side assistance agency, they might be able to help.

One tip I can personally give you for sure, the best cars will require the best mechanics.
Which means the best VW in your area, will more than likely be only worked on by a few selected good mechanics. So go hunt down a r32 or a heavily modified GTI that is babied.

My GTI 337 edition is my love and I take her to Clarkdale Volkswagen in Vancouver where Rob and ONLY Rob gets to work on or drive my car, no one else. For performance and aftermarket stuff I bring it back to Kinetic's Motorsports in Surrey, and the normal stuff I do all on my own, including water pump and timing belt. I AM the technician I trust the most and I can tell you that for a fact. - Rdwong

5) That's the same as asking how to find a good husband. Its often a matter of seeding out the obviously bad ones, doing some research on the rest, and then trying out the surviors on small tasks before you opt on the final choice.

Check with your friends or, since it is a VW, check with other VW owners that you meet or know.. dont forget that, even if they can not tell you about GOOD mechanics they often can tell you about BAD ones and that narrows your search down if you accept their review.

Bottom line.. you try and trust.. a little at a time.

Oh.. and for the guy (?) that said to get a fFREE estimate at the dealer,.. you and I obviously do not live in the same world, because around here (California) dealer estimates run from $25 to $50 which will be applied to your repair IF you choose to pay their rates. - ca_surveyor

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Question 3
What is the Kelly blue book value of a 82 VW Rabbit?... Ok so I am looking for the Kelly blue book value of a fuel injected 2 door 1982 volkswagen Rabbit in fair condition. I really need some help here. Does anyone know?

Answers
1) your car is too old for KBB!!!
depends how many miles it has on it and what "fair" condition means to you. Probably no more than like $800. - Viktor D

2) Fair condition? Probably $500-1000, aim towards the low side. Rabbits aren't worth much unfortunately (ask me how I know, haha). - Red

3) nothing - crystal

4) The two on autotrader are $500 and $4000 - the cheaper one needs work and the other has 37000 miles and is one owner; your falls inbetween these - not 2 B fooled

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Question 4
What Are Good Lowering Springs For a Volkswagen Rabbit?... 2006-2009

Answers
1) H&R, Eibach, FK,

you are going to want to do upgraded shocks at the same time, as your new lowering springs will prematurely wear out your stock ones.

or you can go with a coil over kit which comes with adjustable ride height. People have been having good luck with the FK's and Vmaxx on those and they are reasonably priced. sub $600 - edizzle

2) from my experience H&R CUP KITS give a great performance increase over stock and don't ruin the ride quality very much.

http://www.namotorsports.net/detail.cfm/part_cd/HR31043-3

and by the way it's worth it to get a nice suspension system. your car will feel a lot more stable and you will be able to take corners faster. whatever you do don't chop your stock springs. - Viktor D

3) I have had bad experiences with Eibach springs because they tend to take a "set" and you end up with coil binding which translates into a harsh ride. As far as the shocks wearing out prematurely,wear is not accurate,damage is. Because you have lowered the car without changing the shocks they are now in a position where they can bottom out easily. If your shocks bottom out before hitting any kind of bumper or stop,even one time, they will suffer valve damage and will be rendered useless. Proper shocks for lowered suspensions repositions the shock piston in the bore so this will not occur. Very few aftermarket companies manufacture their own springs,the operation is cost prohibitive,so they use spring manufacturers to manufacture springs for them. I would check with the companies you may be interested in and see who the manufacturer of their springs are,Rockwell is the number 1 manufacturer of top quality springs in the world,all US automotive and truck manufacturers use Rockwell springs,and for a reason,they have no peer. - wilson h

4) Eibach are ..... good from what i hear people say......
I'd never get Eibach, hows that.

Get something german.
H&R are pretty good.
Bilstein I love.
Neuspeed I also love.

I suppose Eibach, the good good stuff, is good, but they sell mostly the cheap springs that just lower your car and not good for any performances.... So its just for looks.... but if your car is built for looks, wouldn't you want those yellow and blue and red shocks and all that from the other companies rather than plain old black?

H&R is definitely a company I've never heard bad things about. Remember, you get what you pay for.

Keep in mind, no matter what you do to your suspension, your car is only as good as the co-efficient of friction between your tires and the ground you are on, also known as traction. - Rdwong

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Question 5
what is the right spark plug gap for a 2.0L 1999 vw beetle?...

Answers
1) you shouldnt have to gap your plugs they come pre-gapped - mirrpr96

2) autozone.com

and look it up ? - martinmm

3) The platinum plug required for this engine comes pre gapped. - pbleek

4) from what i remember when working on my friends mark III 2.slow liter the gap was 0.8mm. however you might wanna google it as im not 100% sure. - Viktor D

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

How can I have a key made for a 97 Jetta vw. If I don't have one to copy?

Question 1
How can I have a key made for a 97 Jetta vw. If I don't have one to copy?... I asked the dealership if they could make one, and they said it needed to be a 99 or newer

Answers
1) dude i have a 97 jetta too mate, i'd just get a new ignition put in the beast, what color is ur jetta? email me and i might buy it off ya. email me 1st tho. - STi

2) Contact any locksmith and they can make a key for you. They will have to come out to the car, but they can easily make replacement keys. - fire4511

3) Locksmith can come to you and make key,i lost mine once and they made me 2 for $120. - JOHNNY C

4) Assuming that all locks are original and one key fits all the locks, if the door is open you can remove the door handle and take it to a locksmith to have them impression a key for you. The cost can vary a lot, so call around.

Removing the handle assembly is easy; on the inner surface of the door facing by the weathersrip is a phillips screw, remove the screw.
Next, pop off the door handle trim, which may or may not reveal another screw. Remove the screw, then normally push the handle assembly towards the rear of the vehicle. The handle should now be loose, though you may have to tilt the handle assembly a bit to remove it from the door. The "wings" on the back of the lock cylinder will need to clear the opening, so be prepared to move it at angle as needed to remove the door handle assembly.

Take the handle assembly to the locksmith and key can cut a key for you; the dealer if they are willing to spend a few minutes can figure out the keycode by removing the wafers from the cylinder and comparing them to those in the master rekey kit. Sorry to say, most dealerships don't want to spend the time it takes to do this.

VW did not record the key codes at the assembly plant until sometime around 2000, so my guess is that in this case you've been told somewhat correctly about it. One thing you might be able to get the dealership to do is to have them go on the VW warranty system and they might be able to determine who the selling dealership was.
If the dealership is still in business, they can call the dealership and see if they were smart enough to record the key tag on the PDI slip that is in the vehicle file. Sorry to say, most places didn't do it.

Hope this helps, a car nut. - a car nut

5) For a factory cut, go to the dealer with your registration and ID. They can order one using the VIN#. - monsieur joy

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Question 2
VW Passat owners. Would you recommend a 3 year old automatic Passat ? Been happy with yours?...

Answers
1) Absolutely. However, with any used car, have it looked at by a VW mechanic, prior to purchase. - djaca70

2) It all depends on what price you are paying and what is the mileage on the car ,passats are a very good motors. - keith p

3) Out of warranty?

No chance. - alfredb1979

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Question 3
Where can I find an old VW Beetle replacement bulb reference guide?... I have a 1971 Beetle. No bulbs are in the turn signal, tail light or license plate light assemblies. Can someone tell me the replacement bulb numbers which are correct, or send me a link to such a guide? Thanks! Eric

Answers
1) Call your local part store or vw dealer they should be able to tell you what bulbs go in it. - Guy

2) Try online in places like this:
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1280180,pgname,Electrical-Lamp%2B%2526%252338%253B%2BSocket,a,www.google.co.uk%2BSearch%2Bfor%2B1971%2BVOLKSWAGEN

edit, this one looks more promising. This should lead to Volkswagen Beetle 1971, and all you need to do there is pick what lights you're after out of the drop down list at the top. http://www.thepartsbin.com/catalog/parts.php?year=4294962403&make_text=1732&model_text=11844 - Tigger

3) Bulb numbers for the 71 are:

Front Turn Signals and Tail Lights - 1034
Rear Turn Signals - 1073
License Plate Bulbs - 89

Eric, you can go to your local auto parts store and pick up the bulbs cheap. - emt.basics

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Question 4
where can i find vw web sites for parts?... like to build a dune buggy out of a old vw

Answers
1) vwvortex.com is like the online trading mecca of volkswagen. - Calvin W

2) try www.thesamba.com - Briano

3) http://www.autohausaz.com/
They carry lots of German parts. Cheap too and no sale tax. - monsieur joy

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Question 5
Spare key for 2001 VW Passat?... I have a 2001 New VW passat which only came with one key. I am trying to get a spare key but i am told i need a special code to order, which obvioulsy i don't have. can anyone give me ideas?

Answers
1) Any VW dealer will help you, the chipped keys are not cheap though. - pbleek

2) If you have a key, most dealerships should be able to cut another key for you using your original key as a master to trace cut the blank.
It wouldn't be cheap though, especially if you want an original "switchblade " remote. In addition, the key needs to be programmed to the auto. Most dealerships have a flat charge to programme the keys, so whether its one key or four, the labour charge is the same. Figure that most dealerships around where I'm at charge between .5 to 1.0 of labour to programme keys, plus the cost of the keys. Each time you add a key to your vehicle, you need to bring all the other keys with you so that they can be re-programmed to work with the car. Any key not programmed at the same time will no longer start the car, though it can continue to open the doors etc.

Some dealerships don't have the machine to cut the keys, so in this case, If the locks are stock, the dealership can obtain the code thru the VW computer information system. But most dealerships that I know of cannot cut the key from code, as the machine to do it is very expensive. Even many locksmiths don't have the machine to do it; most dealerships order the key pre-cut from the facing VW parts depot. Here in the Bay Area, if the key is ordered before the daily order cut off time, in most cases it arrives in the next parts shipment from VW in Compton, Southern California.

You can also take your key to a good quality locksmith; if he has the right equipment, he can cut a blank for you. Most likely though, you'll still need to take it to the dealership to have it programmed to start the vehicle.

Your car originally came with three keys; two "swithcbalde" remote keys, and a valet key that will open the doors, but not the trunk or glove box. In addition, there is "sub master" key that the dealership has that can open all doors, glove box and trunk, but doesn't have the keyless entry remote with it. Usually this key runs somewhere between $60-80 at the dealership cut, which is the way to go if a "switchblade" key is too expensive. You'll still need to have the keys programmed to the vehicle...

Hope this helps, a car nut. - a car nut

3) Vin# and Id. Go to the dealer they will able to order one. Your key code is recorded to the VW database in Germany. - monsieur joy

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Monday, September 28, 2009

What kind of Diesel is in my car?!?

Question 1
What kind of Diesel is in my car?!?... Okay, so I went on holiday, and I just got back the other night, and I need to refill my car.. But I don't remember what kind of diesel I last put in it! Silly, I know, but I went away for almost 2 months. Is there any way I can find out what kind of Diesel I last put in my car? I know it's Diesel :):):) I'm not that stupid, I just don't remember what kind i put in... :(:(

Any help!!! Thanks!!!!

Oh I drive a VW Passat 2009 Diesel

Answers
1) There is only one kind. - Dan G

2) what kind a qustion is that? - E Y E

3) It depends where you live as to what kind of diesel you use. Basically all diesel is the same and if you have a choice, it's more to do with your local excise arrangements such as DERV in the UK which is tax free.

Diesel has a cetane rating in the same way that petrol has an octane rating but this is rarely posted on the pump. To the average user, diesel is diesel and you don't have to get more technical than that. - Jules G

4) you sure it aint petrol. fill it up with petrol then ask what to do. - Malcom M

5) Diesel is diesel. - PoliPino

6) It's euro5 diesel for a 2009 car - just choose the most expensive diesel on offer and you'll be fine. This to avoid euro4, which I'm not even sure they sell anymore - Mark

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Question 2
VW: Bug, Bus, or Karmann Ghia?... What VW would you rather have, and why?

A VW Bug, Bus, or Karmann Ghia?

Answers
1) Everyone knows knows the Bug. Most have the idea of the bus (stereotype hippie van) but nobody has a clue about the Karmann Ghia, so I would take it. - jimanddottaylor

2) I've had many of all 3, and I currently own 6 Beetles, 2 Ghias, and a Bus. I'd have to go with the Beetle because as much as it's not as fun to drive as the Karmann Ghia (the Ghia's a bit sportier, better handling), the parts are a little easier to get. There aren't as many parts on a Ghia as there are on a Beetle that you can get at Auto Zone and Pep Boys. This has a lot to do with the fact that there were 21 million Beetles produced up until 2003, and a lot of Mexican companies still mass produce almost every part. The Ghia stopped production in 1974 and just under a half a million were produced. The Bus isn't the easiest to drive, but when it comes to hauling a lot of stuff, it's bar none the best. - Prime

3) Ghia or the Thing. Either would be cool! - Bob A. Booey

4) Honestly I love them all. I drive a 1999 Silver Volkswagen Beetle and I love it.
I wanted the old bug from the 60s but I do not know how to drive stick shift. - Vegetarian Deadhead Hippie

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Question 3
insurance payments on a VW bug/beetle?... please tell me the year, engine size, your age and the insurance copmany.

i want a beetle but i dont know about insurance payments.

Answers
1) I'm not sure about "other" States, but I have a 1971 super beetle, and I only pay $39 dollars per year to register and about $75 dollars per year insurance. They are the cheapest car to maintain. Nevada. - Nickname

2) Common situation you met like many other people,be patient,and check the resource here

http://www.CarInsuranceTip.info

i found useful. - KEVIN H

3) Depends on your insurance company, your driving record and the amount of coverage you want on the vehicle and the vehicle value. - I no do "NICE"

4) Car- 1973 Volkswagen Beetle (Standard), fully restored, 100% stock
Engine- 1600cc 46hp
My age- 16
State- CT
Car value- $12000 (+/-)
Insurance Company- Geico
I pay- $640/yr - Prime

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Question 4
What are the top speeds of the classic VWs?... What are the top speeds for the VW Bugs, Buses, and Karmann Ghias?

Answers
1) 12 - ken k

2) I had a buddy in high school who had a '57 VW bus, he said going downhill he could get it up to 50 mph. - tunguska

3) Beets can do 90 on the flats, buses can do about the same(depends on the condition of the motor and the headwind and the hill, Ghias are about the same. Handling characteristics get scary at that speed for both the beet and the van. Just not comfortable - I no do "NICE"

4) This is what I've gotten some of my Volkswagens going. They are all completely stock. These speeds are close to or absolute redline, and are a bit higher than in the book.

1973 Beetle- 87mph
1973 Super Beetle- 90mph
1972 Karmann Ghia- 94mph
1968 Bus- 84mph
1957 Beetle- 78mph
1949 Beetle- 64mph (I could have gotten it going faster) - Prime

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Question 5
vw polo 2001 - how do i turn the engine management light off?... Hi,

I need help with my vw polo. Basically everytime i start the car it displays a little sign that looks like a camera and next to it says "check" . I asked this question before and most people said it a engine management light. My question is, why do i get this warning sign and how do i turn it off???

Answers
1) it means there is a fault with a part on your engine like a spark plug or lead - im_lost

2) Every time you turn on your ignition the Engine ECU unit sends a signal to all the engine sensors.
If it does not receive the predetermined value it will put on the engine management light and store a code which can be read with an engine diagnostic reader.
The fault should be resolved and the codes erased.
Some codes can be deleted by disconnecting the battery but I would advise you to get a garage to do a diagnostic check done to be on the safe side. - Black Panther

3) Fix whatever the problem is with the engine and reset the fault... - Michael G

4) you get this fault because( simply put) there is an electrical fault in one of the sensors on the engine
simply take it to a garage and have it diagnosed
find out what the fault is and take it from there
if your cars runs okay 90% of the time its usually 02 sensor
on exhaust which you have 2 of

or if it runs okay just live with it ! - SHAHID

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Sunday, September 27, 2009

Anyone else pissed about the 2010 vw jetta?

Question 1
Anyone else pissed about the 2010 vw jetta?... I just found out that the 2010 jetta will no longer be offered in Laser Blue! i am pissed! that was the best color jetta there was! anyone else upset

Answers
1) no not really - joshman06us

2) I don't like any VW's at all. I stick with japanese cars. Toyota Supra my baby!!! - Anyonumous

3) i don't like jetta... they literally fall apart.
i dont really care about the laser blue. - Bryan

4) Stuff happens, but it is not a deal breaker. - djaca70

5) It's too expensive for what it is. - Prime

6) I didn't hear that!! That was going to be my next VW color when I got another one. Damn, I love that color on the Jettas.

And how is it too much money for what you get? Sit in a volkswagen, and sit in a car of comparable price. You'll never say it's too much money again, these cars come fully loaded. I just got an 08 Jetta with 18k miles for 15 grand. Not a ding on it. All leather, heated seats, sun roof, ipod dock, 6 disk changer, whatever you want, it's there.. - Robby D

7) I really don't care about the VW's color offering or anyone else's for that matter. I like plain black, white, red colors for cars.

I will be pissed if they don't offer the 6 speed trans on the Sportwagen TDi. I'm thinking about buying it next year. - CarCar

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Question 2
I have a Volkswagen Jetta and it smells like crayons, and i've heard this is a common problem. Why?...

Answers
1) Crayola designed the mechanics of the engine - LALALAND

2) If you let black people in your car often, this could be a result of their smell being left behind.. - Robby D

3) While I have never identified it as that, what you may be smelling is either the newness of the fabric material or glues or vinyls combination of the three.
After a few beer, farts, barfs,burgers, pizza, and doggy poo it will smell like "you". - I no do "NICE"

4) That smell wont go away. My friend has a New Beetle thats 10 years ago, filled with crap, and still smells like a box of Crayolas. This is a very common aspect to many New Beetles, Jettas, and Passats. The two most common theories are that its coming from the interior glue (which would make sense, because the wax in it could be also used to make crayons), or that its from some firewall padding underneath the floor.
Some peoples' cars have it, while others dont. Its not bad for your health, and I actually kinda like the smell.
Unfortunately, if you hate, you're just going to have to embrace it. No air freshener will make it go away. - Mr Mister

5) formaldehyde. - jess b

6) its what we call volkswagen smell my 2000 has it you live with it or sell it - Hutch

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Question 3
Why does the 3rd or 2nd gear in my VW Beetle shift hard?... I have a 1999 volkswagen beetle 2.0 automatic transmission. The 2nd or 3rd gear shifts hard while the others are pretty smooth. Is it a solenoid that has to be repaired? whats the problem and how much would it cost to fix it? and would it be cheaper at the dealer or somewhere else?
thanks
:)

Answers
1) Syncros need replace possibly . - I hate yellow jackets

2) you shift hard - Barry

3) it's German...that's why - AmericanPride

4) Do it at the dealer. They know their cars better than "Tom's tranny shop". The dealer can also tell you if that is normal. - I no do "NICE"

5) The VW automatic transmission you have is noted for being something of a rough shifting automatic transmission. There have been a number of "service circulars" dealing with the transmission engagement delays and shifts.

In some cases, software updates to the transmission can help, though this transmission is never going to be as smooth as a US GM or Ford automatic transmission. It could be that there may not be anything wrong with it, I'm not there to road test and advise. It is possible that it could have internal issues with the transmission (i.e., valve body), but a road test and system scan with a pressure check (if needed) can determine this.

I'd suggest taking it to both an independent VW specialist and the dealership for a road test to see what they think. The dealership can run a can with the VAG scanner to also check and see if it has the latest software updates. These updates have helped to make the transmission smoother and improved its life.

Hope this helps, a car nut. - a car nut

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Question 4
Where can i find the diagnostic plug for a '99 VW Jetta?... I have already looked under the steering wheel down above the pedals and there is nothing there from what I could see.

Answers
1) it might be behind some plastic covers under the steering wheel if not then you can try looking on the right side of the car also by the passenger side or behind the ash tray - Brotz

2) look some more...thats where they are...by law... - pedro7of9

3) sometimes there behind the ashtray or behind the little spare key holder down to the left of the steering column. - Desiree

4) Under dashboard,look up left from the brake pedal,pry out a small plastic cover. - Carman Nguyen

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Question 5
WHERE Can I find transmission fluid for my 2007 vw jetta?!?... I damaged my transmission pan and have to get that replaced... It costs only $20 dollars for the part but VW wants to charge me $1100 for the transmission pan and fluid and labor... Its totally ridiculous, but i heard that only VW carry their own fluid so I cant get it anywhere else... Please help me!!

Answers
1) Any auto parts store will carry it. - Anthony

2) walmarts auto zone pretty much any where parts are sold.. dealer wil always tel you they just use their brand of oil and that you cant get any where but from them 1100 bucks id do it my self even if i had to buy the oil from them dealership last place you want to go to - kelly_f_1999

3) As far as I know VW uses their own special brand. and only they sell and overcharge for it. - math problem

4) The fluid can be purchased in the aftermarket, though it is very hard to find. You can get the fluid from either http://www.blauparts.com or
http://www.germanautoparts.com. There may be other places to purchase the fluid, but other than the dealership, these are the only places I can recommend. I seem to remember that blauparts has a change kit which includes the filter, pan gasket glue, o rings and the fluid in one kit. The transmission pan is seperate. You might have to get the pan only at the dealership.

The kit is only parts, you'd still have to have either the dealership or an independent VW or Audi shop install the parts. You have to have the VAG tool or aftermarket equivent and knowledge and skill to follow the routine to install it. Failure to do it right could cause the transmission either blow out the seals or overheat. The labour time is between .5 to 1.5 hours depending upon the temperature of the transmission when the proceedure is started. The fluid isn't cheap, expect to pay somewhere between $15 to $25 per quart of fluid + the labour charge to replace the pan/filter/fluid.

Hope this helps, a car nut. - a car nut

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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Anyone else pissed about the 2010 vw jetta?

Friday, September 25, 2009

Can Diesel engines run on vegetable oil without modifications?

Question 1
Can Diesel engines run on vegetable oil without modifications?... I've heard lots of different answers to this question, but not a definitive one. I've heard that if you took a normal diesel engine and added ONLY filtered Veg oil would it run? I want to know if I just filter the the oil and put it in the tank will the car run? So many people so many different answers to this question. Some say no some say yes. Others say you need to add a surfactant. While others say you need a tank heater and a conversion kit. I would like to refer to an episode of MythBusters where they simply added dirty filtered oil to a diesel car and it ran perfect. But was it a fluke or something? If anybody can answer with authority and Knowledge about this topic I would consider it a great Karmic favor. Thank you.!!!

Answers
1) no you can't. they sell kits to convert to running vegetable oil. - Donut

2) Yes you can!!!! I'm a Volkwagen diesel specialist. As long as it's filtered to a respectible micron level the slop in the bins behind restaurants will run your diesel engine. Performance will decrease slightly because of a lack of cetain (octain for diesels) but your mpg will be the same and your emmisions levels will actually decrease. NO
CONVERSION KITS NEEDED....EVER!!!!. - Serial Stunter

3) yes but unless u live in hot climate u will probably have to add a heater to ur fuel tank......that's y ppl put separate tanks for veggy oil...cas if u heat diesel it can explode...so don't make a bomb.....ideal temp is around 110 (F)....bio diesel is totally different than veggy oil...it has been refined with lye and some other stuff....good luck

also ppl usually have 2 tanks because u wnat to finish running vehicle with diesel and start it with diesel....cas veggy oil sludging in ur fuel lines is a pain in the ass to fix..... - Karle

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Question 2
1998 VW Golf GL 2.0l?... Hey guys, i just bought a 1998 VW Golf GL 2.0l. heres the problem, when the a/c is running, the engine sounds fine, when i turn the a/c off, a humming noise appears, my autoshop teacher says it can either be normall, or the a/c compressor clutch is going bad. I was wondering if anyone knew exactly, or close to what it really is? thanks

Answers
1) You don't trust your autoshop teacher? Then take it to VW and let them have an ear. It is their car. - Lam Sanders

2) If is a/c clutch then should do the same while running,take the a/c belt off and then see if does the same ,if not,then it is a/c compressor clutch. - JOHNNY C

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Question 3
what year of engine will fit in a 96 VW Cabriolet convertible?... I just picked up a 96 VW Cabriolet convertible and it needs a engine.
What year will work and what other VW's can it come out of.
And will the new engine need to be from a auto trans car?
Thanks
Engine in the car is a 2.0 with a auto trans

Answers
1) You can fit a VR6 or a 1.8 turbo and if you wanted to keep it automatic you would have to stick with the 4 cylinder motor.
:o)
L. - Prince$$

2) yeah, if you want to keep the auto transmission then i would just replace the engine with one of the same year and model. I believe you should be able to make most of the MKIII motors work in that car. - edizzle

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Question 4
What are the stock horse power ratongs on a 96 golf?... The car is a 96 golf gti vr6 I would like the stock horse power ratings without any mods

Answers
1) 12 - ken k

2) Horsepower172.00 BHP (126.6 KW) @ 5800.00 RPM
Torque 173.00 Ft-Lbs (234.6 NM) @ 4200.00 RPM

See
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/default.aspx?carID=922&i=2#menu - Replica

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Question 5
How to Fix DRL on my 98 VW Jetta?... When i put the hand-break down ,the daytime running light does not Illuminate, but sometimes it works , any advise ,thanks

Answers
1) Check the relay, I think it is #57, but why don't you just pull it out? DRL's are a nuisance anyway. - djaca70

2) Most likely its the switch on the parking brake handle, underneath the centre Console.
:o)
L. - Prince$$

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Thursday, September 24, 2009

I found a 1957 vw bug really nice really nice but is 5000 dollars but is salvage should I buy it or not?

Question 1
I found a 1957 vw bug really nice really nice but is 5000 dollars but is salvage should I buy it or not?...

Answers
1) Not for that price,offer them 2000 if you want it.If they say no then walk off with your money. - Andrew

2) cmon why???????? - ken k

3) ABSOLUTLY NOT! a car that old with a salvage title is not worth 5000 bucks. You can buy a new ford focus with a salvage title for about 3000 bucks. If you did buy it, had an accident, god forbid, but the insurance company would only offer you less than $1000 for it. Not a good investment at all. If it wasent for the salvage title, Thats a good deal, but sinse its salvage its crap! - Thomas

4) A 1957 Volkswagen Beetle is worth some money. Check what the salvage is for. With those, you never really know what they've been through (back in the day people just didn't care). If it's in 8/10 condition or better, grab it! Don't listen to that other guy above me, a 57 Beetle is much better than a stupid Focus. Be sure to check its reletive value as if it didn't have a salvage. A 57 Beetle fully restored is $20K+, many times over $25K. One in excellent or even great condition is worth over $15K. So if it's solid, runs great, and is in overall good to great condition, grab it now! - Prime

5) Salvage is a general term that usually means an insurance company considered the vehicle "totaled". This often has little to do with condition. Once it is deemed "totaled" it is only registered or titled as salvage.This car has a lot more than scrap value. The ford focus comment is without any merit. Try this link for a better clue. - Gerry

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Question 2
Building a fast vw bug engine on a low budget?... I have a vw bug with a 1600cc dual port, need to make it go faster, already know lots of ways to do it but need more, im a young motorhead mechanic so if less budget means more mechanic work i can do it, Wanna atleast keep it under 1500$ meaning no new parts just used lol, anyone got any ideas they can share with me?

Answers
1) i had a dunebuggy with the same engine i cut the intake manifold (you know the two pipes that run to the engine block lol) and the two parts of the manifold that the new carb and the old carb will set on...this gives you two single barrel carbs the only thing is...it takes a while to get them to sync right....then i put a used mild crank in it that boosted the horsepower better than anything .....you have to get a better head gaske when you get the new cam ...the cam new is only 60$ i cant remember what it was but wow it was worth the money...and i had to have a better clutch disk ....it just couldnt take it....p.s. i love vw engines the easiest to work on in my opinion and some powerful ones at that since they have and amazingly long stroke that have a tone of torque and lugging power...good luck - iwannaknow

2) If you've got time, head over to thesamba. The forums have more info than you will ever need. - Dave

3) buy an air filter, take out all the unesessary weight and give it a spray can spray job thats about all u will get 4 $1500. - Adam

4) if you can find one an old porsche engine will fit - Harley Drive

5) junkyard turbo build time. definitely go to the samba. and if you really plan to stick to that budget then learning about oem upgrades that you can scavenge will get you the furthest. but even still it wont be fast for that little amount of cash. - skittlz

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Question 3
how much to hookup a jetta?... how much do you think it would come out to to hook up an 02 jetta like this

http://www.cartuningcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/volkswagen-jetta-tuning.jpg

Answers
1) hookup???????? - Tommie

2) 1. please dont do that to a poor jetta.

2. if you have to ask then its too much. im talking thousands - skittlz

3) Well that's something that would be very expensive, It's hard to give an exact price but i would say probably about 20k looking at all the mods. - Kieron

4) you should be banned from vws - Ryan M

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Question 4
brake pads and rotors for my 2000 jetta gls?... I was wondering if anyone knows some good inexpensive pads and rotors I could find and order online for my 2000 jetta gls 2.0. Im trying to save some money and do it myself but want to know if there are any front or rear pads and rotors that would be a good choice for me. Thanks

Answers
1) Don't cut corners on brakes. You can bodge most other parts on the car but never take chances with your brakes because your life depends on them. - Mickey T

2) http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/subcategory_Brake-Drums-Rotors_-49997366_-49997327___ - John

3) I usually buy from http://www.worldimpex.com/
I have a 1999.5 Jetta TDI. - Jon

4) www.worldimpex.com great site.

you'll need 280mm front brakes & 232mm rear brakes.

Akebono makes some really good pads. I'd avoid Mintex. I find their friction properties to be worse than OEM - cant_think_of_1

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Question 5
How much will in cost to fix the struts on my 99 jetta?... What's estimate before and after labor cost?

Answers
1) FIGURE 250 ea. - ken k

2) About $250 for struts, labor about another $200 - JOHNNY C

3) better off buying a pair of coils and installing them yourself. street lines are 500 and will lower your jetta and improve its handling by 100% - Ryan M

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

how safe are volkswagen beetles?

Question 1
how safe are volkswagen beetles?... everyone says VW bugs are not very safe cars... is that true?

if you have seen Bring it on: All or Nothing... I am talking about a car that looks just like Hayden's ... :)

Are those safe?

Thanks sooooo much in advance!!!
I know obviously that if I have a wreck in one, that would be bad but like...uggh idk.... ummm the air bags... are there side ones or like just the ones in the front or what? I know they are soooo much better than the old ones, but HOW MUCH safer?
Does that make sense? :) sorry :)

Answers
1) And how does one answer that question?

That's like asking how safe your house is.

It's perfectly safe, unless there's an accident. If there's an accident, there's no way to know.

Let's say it rolls down an embankment. Gets hit by an 18-wheeler, Gets crushed by a falling tree. Skids into a river. Etc and so forth.

All 100% possible. And you'll die everytime.

On the other hand, if a bird hits it, you'll be fine.

And there's an infinite number of variables in between. - Vipassana

2) no they are not safe i saw a lady get in an axidant the other day! - Najla

3) Yes, they're safe. They have air bags, and crumple zones, and all the modern safety devices.

The older models from the 70's are deathtraps. - Peenut

4) They are pretty safe unless you have a wreck. - Ken E

5) The New Beetle is a thoroughly safe and reliable car.
I know because we owned one for 5 years. The car just never let us down!
The New Beetle has 8 airbags. So you are proteceted front, side and in the rear passenger area.
In Germany, where the car was engineered, they have unlimited speeds on the Autobahns. They designed the N.B. to have outstanding crash ratings. In fact, the passenger area is a protective steel shell/compartment .
The New Beetle also has ESP [Electronic Stability Programming] which greatly enhances safety by accident avoidance. Also the N.B. has standard ABS brakes with 4-wheel discs.
There are so many features for safety that I cannot list them all.
We sold our N.B. because we needed a 4 door car with a larger trunk. We got a VW Jetta, also a great car.
But we still miss our New Beetle! - fenton

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Question 2
Used 2008 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg Edition with 38,000 miles. Good idea or a bad idea?... I'm unsure of reliability issues, as I've heard bad things about Jettas. VW certified.
If good or bad idea, why?

Answers
1) Good idea - Juan Galvan!

2) Out of warranty? I believe so. Crapshoot at best on whether or not this is a money pit waiting to happen. Chance it if you wish. - alfredb1979

3) If it is certified it is a very good idea... go on VW.com, they outline what "certified" is. - djaca70

4) Reliability is not an issue.
Our 2005 Jetta has 80,000 super-durable miles on it.
My son's 2008 Rabbit [virtually same as Jetta, except its a hatchback] continues to be a champ.
I drive a 2006 VW GTI turbo that has given me 50,000 enjoyable, like a rock solidity.
The only $$ we have spent on these cars is oil/filter changes!
We bought them at our local dealership and they still treat us like kings even after the sale.
No hearsay, just the facts..... - fenton

5) Depending on when in the 2008 model year they bought it, that sounds like it may be a lot of miles. I'd offer a bit less for it than the average 2008 Jetta Wolfsburg is going for.

In my opinion, with Jettas, the important stuff lasts forever, but the little stuff likes to break. I have a 1999.5 Jetta TDI with 209k miles. I'm the original owner. Here's everything I've ever replaced on it:
* Fluids, filters, belts, battery, brakes, tires, etc. as you would expect
* MAF sensor, twice (on a Jetta, this should be considered scheduled maint, but isn't)
* Clutch, once, at 150k (quite pleased it lasted that long)
* Two vacuum switches
* Plastic clip that holds the end of the shifter cable onto the transmission, twice (2003 and 2007/8). $10 or so.
* glove box door and lock
* cupholder
* vacuum valve attached to turbo
* windshield washer fluid reservoir (cracked once on very cold night)
* a bit of body work, and windshield, and plastic radiator fan, due to wreck
* plastic cover on underside of engine, because I hit a racoon at 70mph, and the Jettas are really low to the ground :(
* Jettas of that era had problems with door latches, trunk latch, and diesels had electrical problems with glow plugs. I've heard that newer Jettas don't have these problems anymore.
* Windshield wiper motor and transmission (i.e. the assembly that turns the round-and-round of the wiper motor into the back-and-forth of the wiper arms)
* 1 rubber hose
* The plastic tube the dipstick rests in
* Cheapo plastic part that sits on top of the block, looks like a hockey puck, don't remember name

That may sound like a lot, but honestly, most of that was pretty minor. Only a handful of those made the car unusable until the repair was performed. Except for the clutch and bodywork, everything was under US$120 each for parts. - Jon

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Question 3
Are Volkswagen Rabbit's good on gas?... I really like them, but i want a car that doesn't use too much gas!

Answers
1) Very good on gas! - Philip

2) Depends how they are driven, but on the whole about average for that size of car. - Fing'

3) Just like an old bug, yes they are. I have a '71 vw bug. It gets way above 30mpg. They do have small gas tanks, so it might seem like your filling up all the time. My tank only holds 8gallons. Your gas mileage depends on how heavy your foot is when you drive it. Bugs and Rabbits aren't meant to go above 80mph believe it or not. Mine pegs out at 75mph. Good luck they are great little cars. I love my bug. - kase

4) if your talking about the new rabbit they are very good on gas i have one and i love it. gets about 30 hwy and 24 city - nick l

5) My son has a 2008 Rabbit. He will brag abt. his 30+ MPG to anyone that will listen.
He and his wife have over 30,000 reliable and fun to drive miles on it. The only $$ they have spent is oil/filter changes!
Oh, BTW, the Rabbit will go to 112 MPH! Dont ask..... - fenton

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Question 4
Air-cooled: Does high outside Temperature affect the temperature of my ghia?... This is my first air-cooled car. She is a 73 ghia. I want to know if because it is air cooled. Is it actual cooled by air out side. So if the air is hot (90+) does it run hot?

Answers
1) oh yea it does. anytime you have an air cooled engine it will be at the mercy of the ambient air temp. just how hot it will run depends on many things such as the thermal efficiency/power output and how well the lubricating oil reduces friction/dissipates heat. the oil is the most important thing to look at really, it is literally needed to cool hot spots in the engine such as areas adjacent to the exhaust valve ports/valve stems. your manual would likely call for 30 weight rather than multi viscosity oils (like 10w-30)in warm temps. heed its advice. air cooled engines are made to tolerate quite high temps since higher temp is the only way to get rid of the heat when its warm outside, but if the oil is run out of its effective temperature range friction will increase. then the added heat of friction will raise the temp higher which will make the oil even less effective and so on. if its really hot like 90+ F you will likely want 40 or 50 weight oil but consult a VW place to find out for sure. most air cooled engines call for 50 weight above 90 F. in cold temps a multi viscosity like 10w-30 or even 5w-50 is usually a good choice but id consider synthetics if thats possible as they will stand up to higher temps almost always compared to petroleum oils. if you can opt for syn you can get away with a single type of oil for all seasons much easier. people say syn can create leaks and stuff in old seals but ive never had it happen. if you use regular cheaper oils an additive like "MOA" or "ZDDPlus" might be a good idea for the sake of the valve train.
also i did just think to say that how you drive will affect the running temp too. lugging the engine down and forcing it to run under load at low RPM will often make it run hotter than useing a higher rpm. not just cause of the cooling fan(if equipped) but more because the thermal efficiency is poor at low speeds vs high speeds. - adiabaticfire

2) yeah - Malcom M

3) The outside temp will have an effect with the engine temp. I've got a 72 Super Beetle with a 1915 and I installed an oil temp gauge and it definitely runs hotter in the summer than in the winter. - Charlie

4) It does make a difference. Just make sure your oil level is always good and your cooling tins are in place along with the engine compartment gasket/seal. With everything in place, you'll be fine. - Jay S

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Question 5
Diesel Models Engin zxl? Any good?... Ive been trying to buy this and am just worried its a big scam?? Please can somebody put my mind at ease?

Answers
1) Sam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam
Buy & Sell Services delivers latest car-matching scam
BY ANDREW PENMAN ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 12:21 AM IN CAR SCAMS
More proof - not that it's needed - of why you should avoid "car-matching" firms.
These scammers cold-call if you advertise your motor for sale and say they've got buyers lined up. Then they ask for a fee, usually £79-£99.
Buy & Sell Services Ltd was typical, with a report just published by the Insolvency Service report detailing how it repeatedly misled customers and broke consumer protection laws.

In its short life it notched up 78 complaints to Consumer Direct, 62 complaints to Barnet Trading Standards in North London, and 135 customers got their money back after complaining to their banks.
This sham was run by 27-year-old Salih Eray of Winchmore Hill, East London, and 50-year-old Kezin Standen of Rochester, East Kent.
They've now been banned from being directors for 10 years. - mikethomas78

2) Diesel Models Engin scammers!!! google car scams.
scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam - hello-kitty

3) defo scam! - Sparky

4) scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam
scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam
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scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam
scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam
scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam
scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam scam - cupcake xx

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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

I have a 65 VW 12 volt. My fan belt took a dive. I replaced the belt and wires because they were fried...?

Question 1
I have a 65 VW 12 volt. My fan belt took a dive. I replaced the belt and wires because they were fried...?... I also replaced the spark plugs. However the car turns over but does not start??? The coil gets power and the altenator, but it still won't start. One thing when I turn off the switch and remove the key, the altenator still has power??? Any help out there?

Answers
1) Better get your 12Volt system checked. The fan belt failing should have no trouble with the wires, sounds like the voltage. - DR DEAL

2) is there power to the distributor and spark to the cylinders? well its hard to tell without acually seeing the car... sorr. but check that first - Jack D

3) If your alt still has power with the key out, I would be looking at the Voltage regulator as possibly crapping out. - Briano

4) Have you checked the points and condenser? Not uncommon for the points to go out on theses cars. - uthockey32

5) It sounds like you have hooked the wires up wrong when you replaced them. Get a shop manual and check.

If it ran right BEFORE you fiddled with the wires then there should not be a problem from a simple fan belt replacement.

Your ignition coil may be hot but are you getting spark at the plugs.. if not then check the wires on the coil.(did you reverse them or miss a connector?)

. - ca_surveyor

6) Check and recheck the wiring to make sure they aren't in the wrong place. power should be going out of the alternator not into it because it produces current. Obviously you had it up graded to the alternator from the generator so check the wiring diagram to make sure the wires are in the correct. place - Jarod C

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Question 2
How much would it cost to install air conditioning in a 1966 Volkswagen Beetle?...

Answers
1) I doubt that would even be possible. It's an air cooled engine, and there is really no place to put the components. - ek 5

2) Because it is an aircooled engine in the rear, it was virtually impossible to aircondition. They did have unit that hund outside the passenger window, but it was not effective. an ingenius person may be able to custom build some modern adaption, but the custom work would cost a fortune. - jimanddottaylor

3) The others guys are wrong, VWs had air conditioning on years from 73-74 on. The compressors were big and the engine ran slower when on.
You would need the engine to be a 1600cc or bigger and you'd have to find a complete system to add to your engine, as far as it fitting there would be no trouble the days newer cars have smaller compressors. Check into this area, you can down size.
Sounds like your going to lay out a couple thousand in part and labor. This is bottom $ - DR DEAL

4) There were factory AC packages that were sold for the beetle, but did not work well or sell well because

1) They overworked an engine that was just about right for moving the car and the passengers but not for driving a compressor.

2) Mileage tanked on hot days

3) The VW lacked sufficient interior insulattion to KEEP the cold in.

Bottom line, you can plan on an early engine death if you even manage to get one installed.. Roll down the windows and use the vent wings . Enjoy spring and autum..

. - ca_surveyor

5) It is possible to install to a/c on the Beetle, way back when a couple of companies DPD and Fridgeking made kits to install on VW Beetles.
The factory also offered a kit for the dealers to install. The problem is that there is limited space to install the compressor and low horsepower to drive the compressor. The kits and factory approved kit used a smaller than average compressor to allow for space issues.
Sadly, Fridgeking and DPD are both long out of business and parts are impossible to find for these vintage units, however, todays more compact rotorary compressor allows for install on this engine.

It will be expensive to do; I don't know of any "assembled kit" for this unit, but companies that do vintage a/c should be able to make something up for you. It will be, as was the original units was, a hang on recirculation unit, not a "reheat" unit as used in todays intergrated heater/ac units.

I'm not an expert as to trying estimate what such a unit would cost, but I'd bet that you could easily spend between $1000-2000 or more to have a custom a/c unit installed on your vehicle.

As one of the previous writers has pointed out, the a/c unit drains the motor of a lot of power, so I'd recommend that you use the a/c unit only on modified or larger engined models. Big bore kits and other aftermarket parts can improve the performance, while still delivering acceptable milage. Remember that your engine if stock, will take about 20 seconds or so to reach 60 from a standing start, with the a/c on, it will be even slower. Today the slowest new car sold on the market, the Smart Car, will go from 0 to 60 in 14.0 seconds, or almost 1/3 faster than a stock 1966 Beetle.

Hope this helps, a car nut. - a car nut

6) you can get one installed at Herrell's Bug parts in Georgia for $1500 and that ain't so bad( the first two people are wrong) - Jarod C

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Question 3
Can you program a replacement Jetta key yourself?... so, i bought my 2001 jetta from a car lot and it only came with one key(that was is pretty bad shape). i need a replacement. but i don't want to spend hundreds of dollars getting a dealership to cut and program a new key for me. i only have 1 key that is programmed. i've read that you need 2 keys(that have already been programmed) to program the replacement yourself. i was also wondering if you can get a seprate keyless pad, that can be programmed with key for a 2001 jetta? i don't really like the flip out ones and i have seen keys for a 2001 jetta that aren't like that. please help! i would greatly appreciate any input! :)

Answers
1) unfortunately the VW compant made it to where the only way you can do it is through them, you need what they call a VAG unit. sorry for the bad news. as for a different type of key, same thing, you need the flip with the chip in it - Rob

2) The key is part of the anti theft device on that car. Inside the key is a small chip that stores a code that changes every time you start the car. The only way to get a key is to have either the dealer or someone with a dealer tool and set the key for you. Some independent shops can do it. The only key that will work is the flip out key. - uthockey32

3) You can - IF...
You need the factory security tag that was attached to the keys when new. It is black plastic with 2 white labels on it. One of them is a scratch off label (like a lottery ticket) If you have that number then you need access to a VW diagnostics computer or a Vag Com (after market VW diag software for your Windows computer from Ross-Tech.

Instructions are at http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/key-matching-4digit.html

I have done this myself and it is very simple.

There are folks with Vag Coms willing to help at little cost (sometimes free) you can find the closest ones to you at: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?p=309876

I am near Cincinnati Ohio if you're close enough I would be happy to help at no charge.

There is a non flip key but it is only offered in a Valet version so it will not directly open the trunk, you would need to open the door then use the trunk release.

The type of key VW uses requires what us known as a side-winder key cutter. Any locksmith should have it but many will not stock the key because of the programming.
Going without a second key is something a lot of people do but if the key is lost you will pay a tow charge to have the vehicle taken to a VW dealership, be without the car for a period, then have no choice but to pay their price per key (some are as high as $250/key including labor - others charge actual parts price + (as low as) $50 labor. The valet blank runs $60 from the web, $90 from VW. The flip key (more commonly called the switchblade key) is sold as two parts, the remote and the key topper. VW list for these is in the neighborhood of $175 total for the two. Again, web sources are much less - http://worldimpex.com may not list yours on their web catalog but click the 'contact us' and they can get any key you want at very competitive prices. (I also have a 2001 and the total for both parts from them was @$110 if I recall correctly)
Early 2001's came with the remote part# HLO 1J0 959 753 F but all 2001's can also use the HLO 1J0 959 753 T part which replaced the F and is easier to find as well as less expensive.

Eric - TomBombidil

4) Even if you could do the electronic programming yourself, in order for the key to be able to start the car you'd also need to be able to grind the metal of the key into the right shape of "teeth" (or whatever they're called since on a VW flip-out key they're pointing inwards and the edge of the key is flat)

Do you really need a second key? I lost mine like 3 years ago, and have gotten along just fine with the one. - Jon

5) You cannot program it yourself. An automotive locksmith can. And cut it. Without the dealer. Cheaper. - Hillbilly Locksmith

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Question 4
73 superbeetle. Nothing happens when I turn the Key?... This car used to run untill the battery died. I replaced the battery and now nothing happens when I turn the key. No lights or anything. I cant find any problems with the electrical. Any ideas?

Answers
1) Did you leave the lights? The battery could be dead. Try to jump start it. - Kev

2) are you sure there is no problem with the electrical...its an old car so the only way to be completely sure is to check it with a multimeter check from battery to ignition switch and see if you get any drop in volts...could have sold you a bad battery - iwannaknow

3) did you clean the cables? they get corroded and won't pass the electricity.. - SVOMAN

4) Look for a complete lack of ground or as others have suggested a bad battery from the store or lights left on that completely drained it. If you had a good running Beetle, you should be able to push start it in 2nd gear without much effort. If it starts and runs then you clearly do not have a ground connected somewhere. Start looking at your electrical system all over. There is a complete open someplace. - Wisdom of Age

5) first check the fuses than check to make sure every thing is connected to the fuse panel like all the wires, than check to make sure every thing else is connected like battery cables connect to the little box (voltage regulator) under the rear driver side seat than the fuse panel than the ground to the chassis than check electrical system with a hand held meter. IN THAT ORDER.

OR the new battery is a dud too - Jarod C

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Question 5
I really need some help!?... As a guesstimate, how much do you think it would cost, for a '66 Volkswagen Beetle, to get the exterior and interior repainted, two new front seats, new window striping, new around the door stripping (I don't know specifically what that's called), new floor carpeting, redone dash, new cables for the heater levers, and engine deck needs welded in.

Answers
1) fdg - hey girl hey

2) 25grand - ken k

3) Go to CIP1.com and get prices on all the items OR mamotorworks.com is good too, they have kits.(E.X. carpet kit or door panel kits so on & so fourth). than call Maaco to get a quote on a paint job - Jarod C

4) Well, the paint paint will be about $2500. You're in luck with the rest, it's mostly available from J.C. Whitney. But if you're not handy with that stuff Ken is right. - Mark

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Monday, September 21, 2009

How much would it cost to install air conditioning in a 1966 Volkswagen Beetle?

Question 1
How much would it cost to install air conditioning in a 1966 Volkswagen Beetle?...

Answers
1) I doubt that would even be possible. It's an air cooled engine, and there is really no place to put the components. - ek 5

2) Because it is an aircooled engine in the rear, it was virtually impossible to aircondition. They did have unit that hund outside the passenger window, but it was not effective. an ingenius person may be able to custom build some modern adaption, but the custom work would cost a fortune. - jimanddottaylor

3) The others guys are wrong, VWs had air conditioning on years from 73-74 on. The compressors were big and the engine ran slower when on.
You would need the engine to be a 1600cc or bigger and you'd have to find a complete system to add to your engine, as far as it fitting there would be no trouble the days newer cars have smaller compressors. Check into this area, you can down size.
Sounds like your going to lay out a couple thousand in part and labor. This is bottom $ - DR DEAL

4) There were factory AC packages that were sold for the beetle, but did not work well or sell well because

1) They overworked an engine that was just about right for moving the car and the passengers but not for driving a compressor.

2) Mileage tanked on hot days

3) The VW lacked sufficient interior insulattion to KEEP the cold in.

Bottom line, you can plan on an early engine death if you even manage to get one installed.. Roll down the windows and use the vent wings . Enjoy spring and autum..

. - ca_surveyor

5) It is possible to install to a/c on the Beetle, way back when a couple of companies DPD and Fridgeking made kits to install on VW Beetles.
The factory also offered a kit for the dealers to install. The problem is that there is limited space to install the compressor and low horsepower to drive the compressor. The kits and factory approved kit used a smaller than average compressor to allow for space issues.
Sadly, Fridgeking and DPD are both long out of business and parts are impossible to find for these vintage units, however, todays more compact rotorary compressor allows for install on this engine.

It will be expensive to do; I don't know of any "assembled kit" for this unit, but companies that do vintage a/c should be able to make something up for you. It will be, as was the original units was, a hang on recirculation unit, not a "reheat" unit as used in todays intergrated heater/ac units.

I'm not an expert as to trying estimate what such a unit would cost, but I'd bet that you could easily spend between $1000-2000 or more to have a custom a/c unit installed on your vehicle.

As one of the previous writers has pointed out, the a/c unit drains the motor of a lot of power, so I'd recommend that you use the a/c unit only on modified or larger engined models. Big bore kits and other aftermarket parts can improve the performance, while still delivering acceptable milage. Remember that your engine if stock, will take about 20 seconds or so to reach 60 from a standing start, with the a/c on, it will be even slower. Today the slowest new car sold on the market, the Smart Car, will go from 0 to 60 in 14.0 seconds, or almost 1/3 faster than a stock 1966 Beetle.

Hope this helps, a car nut. - a car nut

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Question 2
I have a 65 VW 12 volt. My fan belt took a dive. I replaced the belt and wires because they were fried...?... I also replaced the spark plugs. However the car turns over but does not start??? The coil gets power and the altenator, but it still won't start. One thing when I turn off the switch and remove the key, the altenator still has power??? Any help out there?

Answers
1) Better get your 12Volt system checked. The fan belt failing should have no trouble with the wires, sounds like the voltage. - DR DEAL

2) is there power to the distributor and spark to the cylinders? well its hard to tell without acually seeing the car... sorr. but check that first - Jack D

3) If your alt still has power with the key out, I would be looking at the Voltage regulator as possibly crapping out. - Briano

4) Have you checked the points and condenser? Not uncommon for the points to go out on theses cars. - uthockey32

5) It sounds like you have hooked the wires up wrong when you replaced them. Get a shop manual and check.

If it ran right BEFORE you fiddled with the wires then there should not be a problem from a simple fan belt replacement.

Your ignition coil may be hot but are you getting spark at the plugs.. if not then check the wires on the coil.(did you reverse them or miss a connector?)

. - ca_surveyor

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Question 3
what is the faster jetta?... same year, 2001
1.8t stock turbo and new blowoff valve
or stock vr6
does the vr6 come stock with turbo?
both manual

Answers
1) VR6 would be faster, and no vr6 does not come with stock turbo. - JOHNNY C

2) they're almost the same as far as output. in a drag race, i'd say the VR6 because it doesn't have to spool up a turbo, it has thepwer right from the get-go. - blankdisk5

3) VR6 is has higher horse power and higher torque flat curv at lower RPM. Resulting in both higher maximum speed and higher accelration as compare to 1.8T. VR6 does not come with a turbo, and burns more gas as compare to 1.8T. If you are a performance guy definately VR6. - Vic

4) VR6 stock is faster than 1.8t stock. New bov would make the engine run worse because they are supposed to use diverter valves unless your car is modded out and no longer running a maf sensor before that location.
And upgrading diverter valves don't really make the car run faster, it allows boost out faster thus better for the turbo. Stock turbos are cheap, my turbo is around 5000$ a piece.

And VR6 is NOT the way to go with performance, way way way too heavy for its power and not enough stuff and room to play with. Have you ever had a vr6 running 650 whp? I havn't.... but i had my gti 1.8t running that. it was AMAZING too. infact I'm planning to put a second 1.8t in the back so i have two engines in my car and 4wd. Its surprising how many people do that with gti's. If you want to go stock, r32's v6 is best, and turbo charging that you might get more power than a 1.8t. Its not always the bigger the engine the better.
My car made top dyno in a competition last year, beat all the vr6, anything.
Took a lot of work tho.
TOTALLY rebuilt the engine, racing headers with a huge turbo, FMIC, CAI, rid of the maf sensor and using a bov, re programmed ecu, 21 psi, 20v, titanium valve springs with 256 exhaust and 260 intake cams, and 1000cc bosch injectors. - Rdwong

5) 1.4 tsi 160hp dsg 7 gear - TR

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Question 4
Can you program a replacement Jetta key yourself?... so, i bought my 2001 jetta from a car lot and it only came with one key(that was is pretty bad shape). i need a replacement. but i don't want to spend hundreds of dollars getting a dealership to cut and program a new key for me. i only have 1 key that is programmed. i've read that you need 2 keys(that have already been programmed) to program the replacement yourself. i was also wondering if you can get a seprate keyless pad, that can be programmed with key for a 2001 jetta? i don't really like the flip out ones and i have seen keys for a 2001 jetta that aren't like that. please help! i would greatly appreciate any input! :)

Answers
1) unfortunately the VW compant made it to where the only way you can do it is through them, you need what they call a VAG unit. sorry for the bad news. as for a different type of key, same thing, you need the flip with the chip in it - Rob

2) The key is part of the anti theft device on that car. Inside the key is a small chip that stores a code that changes every time you start the car. The only way to get a key is to have either the dealer or someone with a dealer tool and set the key for you. Some independent shops can do it. The only key that will work is the flip out key. - uthockey32

3) You can - IF...
You need the factory security tag that was attached to the keys when new. It is black plastic with 2 white labels on it. One of them is a scratch off label (like a lottery ticket) If you have that number then you need access to a VW diagnostics computer or a Vag Com (after market VW diag software for your Windows computer from Ross-Tech.

Instructions are at http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/cars/key-matching-4digit.html

I have done this myself and it is very simple.

There are folks with Vag Coms willing to help at little cost (sometimes free) you can find the closest ones to you at: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?p=309876

I am near Cincinnati Ohio if you're close enough I would be happy to help at no charge.

There is a non flip key but it is only offered in a Valet version so it will not directly open the trunk, you would need to open the door then use the trunk release.

The type of key VW uses requires what us known as a side-winder key cutter. Any locksmith should have it but many will not stock the key because of the programming.
Going without a second key is something a lot of people do but if the key is lost you will pay a tow charge to have the vehicle taken to a VW dealership, be without the car for a period, then have no choice but to pay their price per key (some are as high as $250/key including labor - others charge actual parts price + (as low as) $50 labor. The valet blank runs $60 from the web, $90 from VW. The flip key (more commonly called the switchblade key) is sold as two parts, the remote and the key topper. VW list for these is in the neighborhood of $175 total for the two. Again, web sources are much less - http://worldimpex.com may not list yours on their web catalog but click the 'contact us' and they can get any key you want at very competitive prices. (I also have a 2001 and the total for both parts from them was @$110 if I recall correctly)
Early 2001's came with the remote part# HLO 1J0 959 753 F but all 2001's can also use the HLO 1J0 959 753 T part which replaced the F and is easier to find as well as less expensive.

Eric - TomBombidil

4) Even if you could do the electronic programming yourself, in order for the key to be able to start the car you'd also need to be able to grind the metal of the key into the right shape of "teeth" (or whatever they're called since on a VW flip-out key they're pointing inwards and the edge of the key is flat)

Do you really need a second key? I lost mine like 3 years ago, and have gotten along just fine with the one. - Jon

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Question 5
vw passat power problem?... have w reg tdi (red di). it drops power at about sixty mph. then stays like it until restart. any ideas?
air mass been checked and ok. skanner is saying turbo pressure to high. but will still drop power when not boosting, i.e 65 mph down hill low revs.
year 2000 115bhp red di

Answers
1) its the mass air meter, it is connected into the air box, on the air intake side, needs new one, its about £45--£50 - gippy

2) What is year model? The other guy seems right. - Vic

3) It may be your Air mass however you need to do a few checks.

Wipe your ecu of error codes drive the car and read the code.

DONT BUY a cheap air mass module. its counter productive and will bite you on the arse. if you ar planning on keeping the car go to GSP or dealers. GSP AROUND 70 AND DEALERS 100. keep me posted and once you have someone read your codes you will know where to start.

i could say change this change that but for the sake of a tenner ( any garage will read it for you) it will save you time and money. - Rubber Duck

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Sunday, September 20, 2009

How can I get my husband to buy a Volkswagen?

Question 1
How can I get my husband to buy a Volkswagen?... I am getting a car and my dream car us a Volkswagen Jetta. I can have whatever but my husband refuses to get me a Volkswagen. How can I convince him they are good cars?

Answers
1) Bring him to Germany for a nice trip. :) - George

2) Offer him oral sex in return for a jetta. - Chris Untlicker

3) If he is concerned with the reliability of the car, show him the latest information on them. They did have problems in late 90s and early turn of the century, but since they have been re-done in 2005 1/2 model year, they have been very good. The 2.5 L engine was borrowed from Audi's line up, so it is a reliable one with a long history. It's a new car from the days of his personal bias. Let him know that one of the biggest problems the Jetta had in its past was because of parts that were made by a Japanese company (go figure). Have him go with you to the dealer, and if the salesperson is knowledgeable, he/she will be able to show how far VWs and the Jetta in particular have come. - shonough

4) VW is one of the best car companies in the world they don't mess around with the Jetta it is a great reliable little car and it won't let you down. Try to explain this and at shonough said about it to him. - SAM V.

5) You did not say why he does not want to buy it. If his concern is its price. Then it is one of the best value for money in its class. It is much safer as compare to hondas and toyotas or any other American or Jap cars in its category. It looks reasonably sharp. It give MPG up to 34 for gas and up to 58 on diesel. It has all the cool featurs in the base model. Like all four one touch windows up and down, key less entry, tilt able telescopic steering wheel, full size spare, 6 standard airbags including full side curtain, extra hardened body frame cage, crumple zone, burglar alarm, ignition immobilizer and many other things the list is endless. Where as you will have to pay extra for all these things in other brands.

Most of all I have heard that they have all free service for 3 years. That itself is a deal winner. If you want you can email me your husband concerns. When I bought my car I did so much research that I will be able to clear his doubts. - Vic

6) Get him to drive one, I know many a Ford/Chevy guy that now have one after they drove a friends.

If he's that uninterested in your opinion though, might be time to reconsider your relationship. - Eric K

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Question 2
what type of motor case does a 73 bug have?... Hello, I was wondering if anyone can help me out...

On a 1973 vw beetle (not a super or sport) does it have a type 2 motor case?

I'm thinking of buying one, what should I look for and what should I avoid? Are there any major cons to getting a 73 versus a different year? any help would be greatly appreciated!

Answers
1) beetle's are type 1, a rear engine opposed 4 and the last of their breed.. - SVOMAN

2) by that year it should be a 1600cc, not sure if it was a dual or single port though, i know my 73 super was a dual port... - edizzle

3) Very good question
Beetles always had Type 1 engines.
Here are the beetle engine types for the 70's

B6 - 70 - 1600 - Dual Relief - single port
AE - 71-72 - 1600 - Dual Relief - Dual Port
AH - 73-74 - 1600 - 8mm Head studs w/case savers
AJ - 75 - 1600 - Fuel injected, no fuel pump mount.

Bus engines, Type 2 were different than beetle engines after 1971.
I hope this helps.

To identify these engines
VW stamped all type 1's and pre '72 type 2's on the right case half just below the generator pedestal.
The first and sometimes the second digit/letter denotes the basic engine group. - Chirco.com

4) The type 1 1973 1600cc engine case is a {AS41magnesium alloy dual port dual oil relief case}. There's not a hole lot to avoid when buying new parts just don't over load on power they don't get more than 50,000mil if over built for HWY use.Look for BUGPACK, EMPI, or SCAT brand parts they are the most common part distributors and will have anything you need. in 73 the cons would be the emission system that earlier bugs didn't have. but other than that it has a little more power than earlier ones - Jarod C

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Question 3
How many miles should you expect to get out of a Volkswagen 2.0 engine?... I am looking to buy a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta GLS with a 2.0L engine with 140,000 miles on it. Has this car neared the end of its time or should I expect to get more miles out of it?
Thanks in advance,

Answers
1) its all about car care and what shape its in now first you want to know what shape its in type into search box
how to check used car

follow a checklist to look for signs of problems
then type
car care or how to maintain a car - kelly_f_1999

2) None. Personally I'm very unimpressed by VW engineering. I have a shop next to a VW mechanic and the things I see are not good. Just yesterday I heard of a woman who experienced sudden acceleration syndrome in a VW and drove through a store front. - Carl L

3) You might be lucky to get the full 140,000 but the engine has 140,000 on it dosnt mean the car does. keep it up to date and fix all specs and it should last that long or so - Jeaxon

4) As long as you keep replacing the essential items on it, the car should keep going.

Look into the history of the car to see that it has followed the recommended maintenance schedule. I would also take the car to a private mechanic in order for them to run a compression check on the motor to see if it is still strong, also to check all the belts, hoses, a/c system, brakes, suspension components. Basically you are reaching a point in the car's life where a lot of things will be wearing out. Now, are these parts cheaper to replace instead of buying a whole new car? That is, you buy this car for say $3000 and put $2000 of work into it over several months, is that a better option for you than buying a newer car with less miles for about $10000?

Luckily this motor is one of the cheapest to maintain and repair, so your costs should not be much if it has been well maintained throughout its' life. - edizzle

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Question 4
I'm looking in to buying a 1989 Volkswagen Jetta?... hes asking 500 for it but it looks like its in good shape. Would it be a wise decision to buy it?

Answers
1) See if he will let you have it checked out by a trustworthy mechanic. - Jake in Indiana

2) If the body is good and the engine and transmission are good and the mileage is not too high, the price is excellent. The wholesale value is higher than $500 even if the car had lets say 150,000 miles. But make sure the cars title is clear (not reconstructed). - shonough

3) You did not give any details. Like how many miles, automatic or manual. Did you test drive it? Go on kellybluebook.com or NADA.com and chek for the private party value. $500 sounds like reasonable price. It all depends how it rides. Ask him about the accidents, other major service. If you want to be absolute sure you can check its carfax report. - Vic

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Question 5
are Volkswagon Beetle's good cars?...

Answers
1) I have two 74 Beetles, they are the most reliable car I have ever known, they are inexpensive and simple to fix and maintain. They won't let you down and they are incredible in the snow and ice. But, If you are talking about the new beetle (1998-2009) I hate them, they are the only car that VW has ever released that is junk plain and simple. They eat oil like mad, cannot go anywhere in the snow and are ridiculously expensive to fix and do not resemble any of the good qualities of the real old VW beetle. They are not even fun to drive. Now if you are looking for a car with a ton of creature comforts then a real VW beetle is probably not for you, but personally I love them and mechanically they are some of the best cars out there, not necessarily the safest though. They are fun and I believe that they are awesome. - SAM V.

2) VW beetles are the maximum number of the cars that have ever been sold. They must have done some thing good. Even new beetles are gr8 cars, with a unique look and high end technology. I wold say if the deal is good then go for it. Dont worry abut the car. It is a great one. - Vic

3) The old Beetles are great if you can find one in nice shape, as the other guy said, easy to fix and maintain, but parts are getting expensive, and people that really know about the air cooled flat four engines are getting hard to find.You don't want to take an air cooled beetle to "Joe Greasy Thumbs".

The new beetles are pretty much a Golf under the skin.I don't like the look of them, nor the fact that they're just a rip off of a great vehicle.But as for how they run, they're probably ok. - Eric K

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volkswagen Chat - Mods and Repairs

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Top Gear vs Fifith Gear.?

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

How can I have a key made for a 97 Jetta vw. If I don't have one to copy?

Monday, September 28, 2009

What kind of Diesel is in my car?!?

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Anyone else pissed about the 2010 vw jetta?

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Anyone else pissed about the 2010 vw jetta?

Friday, September 25, 2009

Can Diesel engines run on vegetable oil without modifications?

Thursday, September 24, 2009

I found a 1957 vw bug really nice really nice but is 5000 dollars but is salvage should I buy it or not?

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

how safe are volkswagen beetles?

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

I have a 65 VW 12 volt. My fan belt took a dive. I replaced the belt and wires because they were fried...?

Monday, September 21, 2009

How much would it cost to install air conditioning in a 1966 Volkswagen Beetle?

Sunday, September 20, 2009

How can I get my husband to buy a Volkswagen?

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