Help with my Mk2 VW Golf please (bit smokey, etc)?

Question 1
Help with my Mk2 VW Golf please (bit smokey, etc)?...  I have an old Mk2 VW Golf (J Reg) which has done about 150k.
I don’t really drive it a lot and when I do it’s not very long distances (maybe 20 miles round trips)

It starts first time, even after it’s been sitting for a while (up to a month without being started) and the oil and water levels are always fine, but it’s quite smokey when it is started and is a bit smokey when I first drive it, even if it’s been running for a while before.
I was thinking maybe it just needs a good run so I could drive the “long way” home today down the dual carriageway but I wasn’t sure if this might damage it more?

Should I do or not do anything, or does it just need starting and driving a bit more often?

Thanks

Answers
1)   It might be leaky valve seals that allow a bit of oil to accumulate in the cylinders when the car is turned off. That accumulation is quickly burned off when the car is started. Some oil is getting into the cylinders all the time but is such a small amount and is burned off continuously so you don't notice any smoke. If so it's nothing to be concerned about as long as you regularly check the oil. You could drive it that way forever. - Howard L

2)   how smoky? like does it look like your creating a smoke screen behind you... or is it lightly smoking?? could be the fliter on the back of the exhaust needs changing..... (they have a name but i forgot it :/) could be that the oil needs topping up.... or...and most probably.... is that a gasket has gone on the cylinder housing or oil reservoir.... and is slowly leaking in to the chambers and combusting with the petrol... which is fine for the engine, until you run out of oil - obviously!!.... so i would look at the cork gasket seals, and replace them with new ones for £15...... and yes driving it more often would also help quite a lot..... but if the problem persists then obviously take it to a garage... because they know what theyre doing.. and im sure they've seen it all before..... so yer...... - 8HRR52J

3)   www.halfords.com - provisional ng haigh

4)   These old VW engines do go that way after a big mileage, it'll be the valve stem seals. Whether you think it's worth the several hundred quid to fix it depends on you.
It'll probably go on for a while longer yet, and a car that old doesn't have such strict emissions testing at MOT time so it may even pass an MOT.

Personally I'd just keep an eye on it until it gets too bad and then sell it for parts. These old Golfs are quite sought after if the body is in decent condition so could be worth a few hundred quid. - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

5)   you should have told us the colour of the smoke ...but im guessing its blue ...oil ..i own a garage ...best test of any engine ...drive up a steep hill ..at top of hill put in third gear ..do not touch throttle or clutch let it go down hill ..what we call a trailing throttle ..when at bottom of hill ..boot it ..look in rear view mirror ...if you can see blue smoke ..you have worn bores ..simple as that - boy boy

6)   Valve stem seals as others state. I understand there is a way of replacing them without actually removing the head. In essence, your cylinder is filled with compressed air via the spark plug hole. This keeps the valves closed and you can then remove the collets and springs which then enables you to replace the stem seals.However, I do not know any garage where this has been done but try speaking to a long established non franchise VW specialist in your local area. Oner of the VW magazines or the Internet should give you details. - L G

7)   Sounds like worn valve stem seals. If the smoke disappears after a while and the oil level is fine, I wouldn't worry about taking it for a drive on the dual carriageway. Older VWs tend to have valve stem seal problems at that mileage.

If the car smokes a bit when you snap the throttle open after driving down a steep hill on engine compression, it's the valve stem seals. They also tend to make more white than blue smoke. If it's pitch black smoke, it's excess fuel or loosened carbon deposits. - Chris


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Question 2
VW GTI only a guys car?...  So I'm about to get my first car.. and I'm pretty sure it's going to be a black 2003 vw gti 1.8t.
I know it's not the best car but I really want a gti and that's the only one for sale around where I live.
Anyways, everyone that drives a gti in my area are guys. I don't think I've ever seen a girl driving one..
So I'm just wondering what your opinion is on if a gti is more of a guys car.. a girls, or both?

It's not to change my mind or anything.. just curious what others think! I actually think it'd be kind of cool to be different.. one of the only girls by me having one..
:)

Answers
1)   my sister in law had one...there is not gender association with the gti. - snowglobe380

2)   I dont know your agr but i would suggest the insurance costs would be horrendous having read all the horror stories in the daily papers and the stories on TV - BARRY

3)   it's definitely not just a guys car, especially not the Mk4. I think it's a cool girls (or guys) car, not like say a Ford Ka, (a girly girls car) and maybe something like an old RS 2000 Escort might be a Guys car for example.

But...I'm not quite sure why you would want a 1.8 anything, or a GTI, assuming you're under 25 and as this is your first car anyway the insurance will be sky high, you might not even get insured very easily.

Also the tax is high on a 1.8 GTI - Stuck In The Dark Sky

4)   yes its owned by yorkie.... and girls are not allowed to drive it... if you are a girl and your caught driving it... police can arrest you and take your drivers license from you..... what do you think??!!!!!! of course you can drive one!!!!!!! so go buy one!!!!! theyre good cars, and there is no gender assigned to driving golf gtis... girls look good in sporty german hatchbacks.... so go and get it.... and then race the guys who have one... and beat them... and then they'll commit suicide....
:)

and @ the other commenters ^^^ .... the insurance is not high if you are put down as an additional driver on the car with someone over 25 and with lots of driving history, and an excellent no claims bonus..... it costs around the same amount to insure a nissan micra on an 18 yr old license, as it does to insure an 18 yr old in a 7 year old Audi A6 3.0l turbo as an additional driver on an experienced driver's license. (theyre both £2000/yr) i should know as my sister had a saab 2002 9-5 2.3l Aero.. as an additional driver... and i am eventually getting insured on a 2000 4.0l Jeep grand cherokee.. as an additional driver.. so a 1.8L Golf GTI is rather small in comparison... - 8HRR52J

5)   nah its just image associations/stereotypes...

I know both men and women who have the GTi

For a first car though.. I reckon you could do better unless you got money to burn on maintaining it. - G


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Question 3
i am considering buying a later beetle say a 73 or 74, which one will be better for looks and daily driveabili?...  Ive read a lot about these bettles as am buying one to restore soon. I am thinking along the lines of a 72 to 74, dont know which year is best for looks, spares and daily use. Am going for the modern retro look inspired by the beetle crisis show [ http://www.cjroberts.com/steve/02/index.htm ]. Engine wise, i should do well with a modest 1600cc without any serious modifications. Please advise me..

Answers
1)   waste of your energy. - Mark

2)   Wait... You want to purchase a 38 year old vehicle to use as a daily driver? Are you hoping to get stuck on the side of the road at the most inopportune time? - straight shooter

3)   '73 or older. - doane_nut

4)   not much of a difference between a 72 and a 74.

differences = bumpers, bumper mounts (shock mounts). steering wheel, carburetor, strut mount (3 bolt vs 4 bolt)

difference between super beetle and standard beetle = strut front suspension, different hood (71-72 and 73+) 73+ has curved front windshield.

a 1600cc engine is enough power to get you around, i drive a 1970 with a 1600cc single port with probably 40-45HP daily(its the only car I own), and I'm still alive.

these cars do require more regular maintenance than a newer car but if maintained properly can be very cheap to own and drive - Air-Cooled (o\ ! /o)


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Question 4
VW golf mk5 (how come 2.0TDI has more torque than GTI)?...  can someone explain why and what does it mean that it has more torque why is it better to have more and how can it have more its a disel and also explain anything you know about golf engine of mk5

Answers
1)   Hi
Here's a very basic explanation. Torque usually tells you how quickly a car will take off or "launch". The higher the torque, the better the takeoff. Power will tell you what top end speeds you can expect. The higher the power, the better the top end speed. Now, diesel engines always have a higher torque, due to the way they are built. Petrol engines have better power. (FYI, TDi is diesel and GTi engine is petrol). The GTi is better overall because it has excellent torque for a petrol engine and obviously has better power. Plus... The GTi is turbocharged and supercharged... But thats a discussion for another day. :-) - V

2)   Diesel engines inherently have more torque than the equivalent gas engines. TDI means Turbo Diesel Injection. It is turbo, very strong starts and gets 60 mile per gallon (Canadian) ir 43 U.S.
I have a 2002 jetta diesel 280K kilometers (168K miles) no problem - Bruce K

3)   A diesel, as mentioned by the other posters, usually has more torque than an equivalent turbocharged petrol engine due to the much higher compression ratio that is required to ignite diesel fuel (16.5:1 in the TDI vs. 10.5:1 in the GTI). Higher compression ratios can extract much more energy from each stroke, therefore the torque is higher.

Power on a diesel is usually lower, since power is a function of torque and engine speed. If you can build a very high-revving diesel engine, it will have more power than the GTI. That is why some cars (Japanese, especially) have quite low torque figures, but they are very powerful in kW (or bhp, depending on where you live).

Now for the technical specs. 2.0 TDI in the Mk V is a pumpe düse design, meaning that each little injector has its own pump on the injector to create very high fuel pressure right before injection. These are rev-happy (to an extent), but require meticulous care to prevent damage to the engine. This is mostly caused by incorrect oil.

GTI is a 2.0 turbocharged gasoline engine with direct injection. Direct injection allows much more accurate adjustment of the mixture, much finer fuel atomisation and stratified injection, meaning the mixture leans out as you move away from the spark plug. This allows for high performance, but also much better fuel economy when driving with small, constant throttle openings.

Both vehicles use drive-by-wire throttle. - Chris


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Question 5
How do I find the Thermostat on a 68 VW beetle?...  Can't find it need pictures or videos

Answers
1)   there isn't one in a '68 they started adding them to cars in the 90's - brian trunick

2)   If memory serves me there is no radiator, so no thermostat. VW's were air cooled not water. - Poppy

3)   There is a thermostat unless it was removed. Remove the four screws holding the inspection plate on the bottom of the sheet metal under the engine. Above it you should see an accordion like device which is the thermostat. Many people removed the thermostat and the flaps it controls so the engine would receive full flow at all times. However, the flaps also direct the flow to particular points on the engine and so should be kept. The thermostat is adjusted by loosening the mounting bracket so it can slide, then set it to where the flaps just close ( at room temperature) and tighten the bolt. If the thermostat is extended at room temperature it is bad. Screw it off its shaft and screw another one on. You can test a thermostat by dropping it in boiling water. It should expand. - Richard D


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What VW PASSAT 2007 OR ABOVE is good ? 1.9TDI 105BHP or 2.0 TDI 140BHP ?

Question 1
What VW PASSAT 2007 OR ABOVE is good ? 1.9TDI 105BHP or 2.0 TDI 140BHP ?...  I was wondering if anyone know what is real difrent betwen 1.9TDI 105 BHP SE and 2.0 TDI 140 BHP SE !!
i know the 140 TDI much faster and powerful than the 1.9 TDI ,, but what iam thinking of is which of them is more reliable ? and which one mechanically more stronger and better ?
and what is good advantage and bad advantage from two of them ? thanks alot

Answers
1)   Either will be ample for road use and as reliable as each other as long as your not going to mess with the engines. - who_is_jack_shit

2)   2.0 ltre... from memory the 1.9ltr has a few issues (worked at vw for many years as a mechanic) - lanaH

3)   Generally the lower power version of any engine is going to be more reliable, especially when the power is achieved by a turbocharger.

If you're talking about secondhand ones, all bets are off. View each car as an individual and don't get bogged down in thinking one will be more reliable that the other, because it'll depend on how the cars have been looked after. - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

4)   Look for one with the dealer service history. The 140 bhp is a flying machine and encourages "spirited" driving so if your car is for keeps you may be better with the lower powered car. We have a 140 bhp car and it has had a new A/c pump fitted although we were not aware of any problem so it may be the VW dealer was making a wage... the EGR valve has caused problems but its not an enormous job and this piece of equipment affects many vehicles. Otherwise the car has been perfect, I drove it back from Paris to the North of England and it was a pleasure to drive. - L G

5)   I really doubt whether there is any intrinsic difference in reliability. I have driven both and my money would go on the 2 litre 140bhp engine any day of the week, it makes for effortless driving. - Fairdo4all

6)   seriously VW's are reliable cars especially tdi engines
except speed i don't see any difference
mpg might be different
the engine which has more power will have a smooth ride - Salim Nadeem


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Question 2
Is this a vw gti a good first car?...  I am getting my liscense in a month and am looking for cars, and there is one on craigslist that's a vw gti 2004. Are these good first time cars?

Answers
1)   Personally, I am driving a 2006 Jetta TDI. It's been a great car for the first 20,000 miles that I've owned it. Make sure you personally have the car fully inspected before purchase, see if there are any maintenance records and check the carfax or auto check report for any accidents prior to your purchase. Yes, these are great first cars, they are small, nimble, reliable and get great fuel economy. Great luck to you and drive safe! - fermium

2)   You may get some weird looks drivin that around town, but anyone who actually knows anything about cars would think you've got yourself a pretty sweet ride. - Joe Stockmaster

3)   what do you think?

need the details on the car...costs....etc....

VW has less than stellar reliability problems....for years they have

more than average when it comes to repairs......what other choices do

you have besides that?.....Overall, I'd steer clear of it/hi repairs costs as well - Kerry

4)   YES, I read the reviews on Edmunds and MSN and people who own them seem to love them and highly recommend them. If it's in good condition and the price seems right, I'd go for it. Maybe have a mechanic check it out if your unsure about it. But, overall, sounds like a pretty AWEsome car to drive. VW handle well and I think you would really enjoy driving it. Have fun but be careful )





Average rating
(Updated every 3 hours)
9.3Overall rating

9.3Styling
9.6Performance
9.4Interior
9.0Quality
9.3Recommendation
This says alot out of 10, thats pretty impressive. - taylor g


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Question 3
VW Jetta is vibrating and engine light blinking. HELP?...  My husband & I got into a huge fight and he took off, but before he left he did something weird to my car on purpose- I don't know what he did but the whole car vibrates and shakes whether its in idle or driving, and the engine light is blinking. Not just lit up, but blinking. I read it might be misfiring...don't know what that means. What could he of possibly done that's simple & would cause the car to do that? I know, what a jerk. I'm over that part- he's always been a sneaky bastard. I just want my car back to normal!! I've got 2 kids who start school next week. Plus I need to get the heck out of here. Help!! Please :)

Answers
1)   The only problem makes the check engine light flashing is misfiring,it means one or more of the cylinders is not firing (running),if you strongly believe the car was tampered with,open the hood and see if spark plug wires are connected to the corresponding spark plugs. - Carman Nguyen

2)   I have no idea, he could have loosened anything. The engine is very complicated. So to ensure you and your kids safety, I would not recommend you try fixing it yourself. Take your car to a local garage sometime and let them know whats going on with the car. Sorry I couldn't help more.Wish you the best of luck - NINJERK

3)   The easiest thing to do is to pull one of the coil packs, causing the engine to misfire. It depends on which year jetta you havee, but just try pushing firmly down on the coils that plug onto each sparkplug. If it's an older jetta, make sure the sparkplug wires are firmly seated onto the spark plugs. - ryantmills


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Question 4
i have a 1971 volkswagon super beetle and idk how to turn my dash lights on?...  i have a 1971 volkswagon super beetle and idk how to turn my dash lights on ..well the lights that light up the spedometer and stuff i found a switch under steering wheel but it doesnt do anything and i dont know what it goes to.. how do i turn the lights on an what does the switch go to

Answers
1)   you know that was a problem in a lof of old cars You either get a shop manual and hope it details exactly what to do, or take the dash apart and figure it out your self, pay a vw mechanic to fix the problem, or do what I did, carry a small penlight flashlight that went on the key chain that stayed in the car and turned it on briefly to spot check the gages every so often. - roger

2)   The dash light (headlight switch that you rotate) switch is bad, replace it.....vehicle light switches in that era are prone to corrosion because they used a rheostat. - Wes

3)   you know how to turn on the parking/headlights right? its a little knob on the dash above and to the right of the radio. when you turn on the parking lights (first click when you pull the knob) or the headlights (second and final click) rotate the knob either left or right this turns it on/off. if it doesnt than the switch is bad or a wire is disconnected from the switch or the speedometer or in rare occasions the bulb has burned out - Air-Cooled (o\ ! /o)


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Question 5
What car is a better option, Rav4 2004 manual or Volkswagen passat 2003?...  Knowing that the car I'm looking for is for really bad snowy winter, I would like to know if somebody has had these cars and do they work, do they required lots of fixing, gas, mechanic problems ?? If somebody could helpe with some information I will appreciate it!! Thanks

Answers
1)   Its smart to do research, I would say the rav4 when your talking snowy weather. It sits up higher, has bigger tires and once you learn how to drive a stick right it can be safer in the winter (you can keep in a low gear going up and down hills for example) Have you looked at edmunds.com? they always have reviews from real people on different cars. - anomaly21

2)   with VWs repairs history/quality problems for years......

I would lean to the toyota....repairs costs for the rav

are not cheap either, but should prove to be more

reliable over all; and manual?..nothin to it....even

better gas than automatic..optimum shift pattern on

a 5 speed is this pattern.....1 - 3 - 5....should be in 3rd gear

by 20mph on normal streets...5th by 30/35....no need on normal

sts to use the other gears....increases mileage by 20/25% ..from

consumers reports - Kerry


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How much HP does my Vw Beetle 1300 single port have?

Question 1
How much HP does my Vw Beetle 1300 single port have?...  1970 beetle with a 1300 single port. How much horse power do i have? And how fast can i drive her on the freeway to work that is safe for the engine? Also what sorta gas mileage is expected, with stock exhaust?

Answers
1)   if your lucky about 25hp - Jeff

2)   should be around 40 hp. Top speed around 120 km/h. - Gorfin Rod

3)   Your stock horse was about 40 horse. Your top speed should be determined by your front end, not your horse power. IF your engine is in good shape, she can make you go faster than you want to. So, check your brakes, and front end play, and then have fun. Try to be safe.... drive like you are strapped on the front bumper of this beast, you pretty much are. - DavidJohn

4)   40 HP but that was 41 years ago so a few of those ponies have run away. might be pushing 30-33 at the wheels. top speed is 75mph
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/manualsbug67.php

id say 60-65 mph is a good cruising speed on the freeway and you should get about 28mpg highway 20-21 city and 24-25mpg combined (thats about what i get). remember to also not go too slow for the gear you are in, listen to the engine... it will tell you when to change gears up/down generally follow the little red hash marks on the face of the speedometer.

1st gear = 0-15
2nd gear = 5-32
3rd gear = 20-45
4th gear = 40-75

driving around at 30mph in 4th gear will heat the engine up since its air cooled and the fan is run by the speed of the engine, the lower the rpm the hotter the engine will be, just remember to listen to the engine, she'll let you know what to do - Air-Cooled (o\ ! /o)

5)   No, they are all wrong.
The 1300 had an advanced cam and higher compression than the later 1500, so actually had the same 52 HP. The 1300 was only made in 1966, and had an extremely characteristic bell ringing sort of sound to it. Only the 1200 had 40 hp. The problem with the 1300 was that although it was zippy, it tended to crack pistons due to the extra compression.
Top cruising would be probably about 70 mph, and mileage should be good, around 32. - Motorhead


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Question 2
what type of gas do i put in my 97 jetta glx vr6?...  i am 17 and on my 17th birthday i had gotten a 1991 4 door golf with a vr6 conversion from a 97 jetta glx i need to know what gas i should put in it so it dosent hurt my engine

Answers
1)   Mustard gas! - Panda Ken

2)   unleaded - Steven Chase

3)   Premium unleaded - Chris

4)   the best fuel you can afford

premium unleaded - Chloe's Dad


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Question 3
how can i pimp out my 1999 jetta?...  what would make a 1999 jetta look cool and not be riced out lol... give links to items and additions if you can. thanks

Answers
1)   just get racing seats, sparco steering wheel, interior stuff. maybe just rims and a carbon hood.

DON'T FORGET PERFORMANCE PARTS! - Jonny

2)   Too old. It would be a good waste of money. Won't be worth anymore customized. - URI (from Canada)

3)   Keep it low, keep it slow, keep it Euro. - Zack


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Question 4
VW CC OR CAMARO?! HOTT GIRL?...  I have the ability to get a brand new vw cc or chevy camaro. I'll tell u a little bit about me so you can help me decide. I am a young woman who is attractive (this is what ppl tell me) and am practical and fun. I am looking for a sexy sleek car that guys will ohh and ahh over, just like I want them to do with me, jk. But a car thats great for me to give rides to people in and they will all love the car and I will love the car. think HOTT CAR. Tell me what you think and what colors. No white (looks crappy in my opinion). THANKS!

Answers
1)   brand new vw cc

ford gt 500 > camaro ss - mega

2)   The cc is a smaller engine car, with soft curves and lines, and pretty small in size, so some may be feel cramped in it. It is of better quality product though, and better on gas.

The camaro has a stronger engine, the lines are more sharp to signify aggression, and the engine is stronger. CC has simple and elegant, and will attract guys are are just that. Camaro has adventure and dominance, and will attract likes like that.

So, if you're looking for a relationship, go with the CC because those guys will be gentleman. The camaro is for causal dates with excitement, and no commitment.

For your description above, I'd say the camaro fits you more. - jnezbed


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Question 5
WHat does a volkswagen with a syringe stickin out of it mean?...  a yellow light appeared on the dashboard that looked like you were giving the car a shot

Answers
1)   Means you are low on Heroine. Better fill up! - Geo

2)   your car needs oil - Alberto Santos


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Is 180,000 miles alot for a Volkswagon Jetta?

Question 1
Is 180,000 miles alot for a Volkswagon Jetta?...  I seen this hertz with 180,000 miles on it.but the person says it still runs great and I've heard great things about this car so let me kno if that's a lot thanks

Answers
1)   That's a lot of miles for any car. - Mizza

2)   It is a considerable amount of miles but if the car is well taken care of and runs well then it should last at least a few more years without giving you much trouble. VW's are long lasting and very reliable. Check the maintenance record if available and check that all fluids are at recommended levels. Check for leaks and suspension faults. Chances are that if the exterior is in good conditions, the engine was also taken care of. - Pedro

3)   my answer: run away!

VWs are well built and reliable if taken care of but expensive to maintain with a LOT of little parts that can go. For instance a 2001 Jetta has a door lock module with 6 different microswitches. If anything goes wrong with it you're talking hundreds of dollars just for the part. The car is chock full of complex and expensive bits and pieces, and at 180k, they're going to be worn out sooner than later - Boomzilla Volcanoduck

4)   i'm surprised it made it this long walk if you're thinking of buying - bo

5)   no that is not a lot of miles if the car was taken care of.. I have seen many vws run well over 250,000 miles with no problem, it all comes down to how the car was serviced, and yes it can get expensive to fix things when they go wrong but that is with ANY vehicle not just vws like some people try to make everyone think - Manny Banans

6)   I'm pushing a 210k on my 01 golf, this week. A few golfs/jetta already broke the 350k miles bench mark. It just takes $$$$ and the tooling to keep them going. - E


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Question 2
How many young girls do you see driving Volkswagen bugs 1967 and under?...  Because im one and people are finding it hard to believe!
oh i say 1967 and under or older shall i say is because 1971 and up are SUPER BETTLES!
an all girl racing car club saw me and want me to join,
my motor isn't stoke far from it!
thank you for that,
I learned something new today.

Answers
1)   Several - Bongzilla

2)   I love love love old bugs! I want a light blue one or light yellow one when I get a car!
ps- the new bugs are UGLY! they look like ufos - Vanessa lalala

3)   Not any since its a antique. The old ones had real bumpers - USA MALE

4)   Not too many. Not too many bugs driving around in the first place. The thing has a hard time going pass 60 mph. I saw one girl in a black one with a bumper sticker saying "I went to college for this?" - Kenny

5)   i see are a few out there. im a 21 year old dude with 2, one I drive and another I restored.
first off, 1971 and up are not necessarily supers. they still made standards up to 1977 soooo... if your gonna try to talk trash about people with late model bugs at least know what your talking about

i see as many young people driving fat chicks as i do early models - Air-Cooled (o\ ! /o)


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Question 3
Why does my vw golf electric windows stick?...  My golf windows stick when winding them down or up (Seems to happen random). They are electric windows on MK4 golf. I have noticed that the lights on the window switches flicks off when they stop and comes back on again. What could be the problem?
Forgot to mention its happening for all of the windows

Answers
1)   When the light goes off it is losing power to the windows. Maybe defective wiring or switch or connections. - Timbo is here

2)   hi there a few reasons yes it could be lack of power, but i think windows are sticking try greasing the window runners each side of glass, it could be the window winding mechanism seizing up again you have to take door panel off and spray release oil on all moving parts. it could be the window relay burning out. Jock - jock

3)   unfortunately a common problem with the mk 4 is the window mechanism falling apart, you can get a repair kit, but if you want my advise then buy the complete mechanism which comes with the new metal panel which it mounts on, cost about £70 if you shop around, it is not a 5 minute job and unless you consider yourself able to fix it then get someone who can, otherwise you could destroy the door panel trying to remove it. - Pete

4)   I think it is unlikely that all the mechanism's are falling apart as one of your answers suggest ! More likely that the control relay has "forgotten" its function. I believe there is information about re-programming the system in your handbook . If not, providing you have the radio code, I would disconnect the battery earth for about a half hour and then reconnect. Press and hold the switches in turn to send the window down, then press and hold them again to send them back up, in each case hold them for 7 or 8 seconds. This should reset the control memory. You can possibly do it without disconnecting the battery. - L G


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Question 4
What would be the best way to tune my Jetta to over 300hp?...  I have a 2002 Jetta GLS with the 1.8L Turbo. I'm looking to upgrade it to its max one day but for right now im shooting for anything over 300hp. I really don't know a lot about tuning so the more help the better. Not worried about price and bolt on is best if possible. please include links to purches parts.

Answers
1)   drop in a VR6 and add a bigger turbo/intercooler. - ♥ Jens ♥

2)   I would say to look into doing some upgrades to your intake, exhaust, computer chip, that in itself will get you in the 250 hp + range then look to put a bigger turbo (and all the little things that go with it and there are many) and that will get you well over 300. Once you get to those kinds of powers don't forget to take care of your suspension and rubber because there is no point in having lots of power if you can't use it. some good people to talk to are the guys at APR Tuning they are very very good with VW engines and they truely know what they are talking about. and don't forget to check out vwvortex.com there are a lot of people on there that can also point you in the right direction. - Manny Banans

3)   There's no point putting 300bhp on ANY front wheel drive car...It will simply burn rubber and wear out the engine in no time...

Best option is to get a bigger engined car like a 3.2l V6 4motion...the four wheel drive will make upgrading the bhp more bearable.

Putting a huge turbo on a 1.8l car will create ridiculous turbo lag, which will make the car undriveable at slow speeds.

Also, you have to consider the effect 300bhp will have on the gearbox, clutch, engine...they will just burn out from too much power... - duniedunie001


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Question 5
Why doesn't my 2010 vw Jetta say 2.5 on the back?...  I just noticed this when I saw another car that is the same as mine... dont they all say this or no..?
but i thought mine was too... :(

Answers
1)   It's a 2.5 liter engine and yours isn't. - Emanuel Castro

2)   There's a Jetta 2.0L and 2.5L. If yours don't have 2.5L, probably a 2.0. - Noodle

3)   Your car, if it is a 2010, is either a 2.5L or TDI. It should say either way, if it doesn't, your badge has simply fallen off or been removed.

For the other posters mentioning the 2.0L, it wasn't used in the 2010. It was used up to the early 2005 models and made a return for the 2011 Jetta Sedans. - Richard R


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what do people think of vw beetle?

Question 1
what do people think of vw beetle?...  Im gettting a used 2001 on friday, but i dont want it to like suck or anything. iv talked to a few people and all said that they are pretty good cars,. and that they dont brack down, "from what they know" but i want to know from people that really have vw beetles. So 2001 vw beetle reveiw. thanksss. :)

Answers
1)   It is a very stylish, unique car. One of a kind. Easily indetifiable. - Ricky Nai

2)   The New Beetle is a consistent top 5 finisher in Consumer Reports "Used cars to avoid" category.

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110205/avoid-these-5-used-cars-plus-5-to-buy?mod=family-autos - CAB

3)   they have electrical issues and even some have randomly caught fire due to this. Buyer beware. - Spammer

4)   Hitler mobile - Scuzzlebutt

5)   It generally sucks.
It's famous for reliability problems, with the most common being electrical and engine issues.

The 2001 model has a crapload of recalls. For your own safety, make sure these have been addressed before you take delivery. - Stupid Flanders

6)   Essentially its based on the VW Golf. If you are in the US then VW have had reliability problems, if you can get a German built car it would pay dividends. Be very guarded about consumer magazines as they do not tell a complete story. i.e 3000 Lexus will always seem to be more reliable than 20,000 Volkswagens. - L G


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Question 2
How many young girls do you see driving Volkswagen bugs 1967 and under?...  Because im one and people are finding it hard to believe!
oh i say 1967 and under or older shall i say is because 1971 and up are SUPER BETTLES!
an all girl racing car club saw me and want me to join,
my motor isn't stoke far from it!
thank you for that,
I learned something new today.

Answers
1)   Several - Bongzilla

2)   I love love love old bugs! I want a light blue one or light yellow one when I get a car!
ps- the new bugs are UGLY! they look like ufos - Vanessa lalala

3)   Not any since its a antique. The old ones had real bumpers - USA MALE

4)   Not too many. Not too many bugs driving around in the first place. The thing has a hard time going pass 60 mph. I saw one girl in a black one with a bumper sticker saying "I went to college for this?" - Kenny

5)   i see are a few out there. im a 21 year old dude with 2, one I drive and another I restored.
first off, 1971 and up are not necessarily supers. they still made standards up to 1977 soooo... if your gonna try to talk trash about people with late model bugs at least know what your talking about

i see as many young people driving fat chicks as i do early models - Air-Cooled (o\ ! /o)


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Question 3
What are Volkswagen group famous for?...  treatment of workers?

unique technology?

safety?

Thanks.

Answers
1)   Their fame originated withe the old Bug. - σοφός άνθρωπος

2)   German Engineering...Making it available to all, safety, reliablility, comfort, in one nice cheap package. Also the Beattle, and taking over the Car Market. Volkswagen Group owns the most amount car companys, such as Audi and Lamborghini. - Ashley Regne

3)   For building a German car with German feel for a lower price. VW is the only non luxury German brand sold in America. Plus, you can't deny it, they are also famous for building the bug. - SB

4)   they made a car everyone called the pregnant roller skate - USA MALE


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Question 4
What should I name my Volkswagen beetle?...  It's yellow with grey interior.
It's also going to be a girl.

Answers
1)   Bee
Bumblebee
Jane
Jacob
Anne
Adam
Victoria
Victor...
I'll edit my answer when I know if it's a boy or girl ;) - I'mMe

2)   well, when you name your car, it's always a she. my cousin put a mustache on here beetle, lol. anyway when you get close to your car, you could always come up with a name such as-
-sally
-victoria
-etc.
pick a name that is smoothing, - Nick

3)   Buggy
Bugsy
BugBug
Das Bug
BoogyBuggy
Bongo - mirofish

4)   lol..it's a girl how cute! congrats.
vergilben
or svenja, ute, valda, wilfreda, verena, ursel...
german names - snowglobe380


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Question 5
Why does my vw golf electric windows stick?...  My golf windows stick when winding them down or up (Seems to happen random). They are electric windows on MK4 golf. I have noticed that the lights on the window switches flicks off when they stop and comes back on again. What could be the problem?
Forgot to mention its happening for all of the windows

Answers
1)   When the light goes off it is losing power to the windows. Maybe defective wiring or switch or connections. - Timbo is here

2)   hi there a few reasons yes it could be lack of power, but i think windows are sticking try greasing the window runners each side of glass, it could be the window winding mechanism seizing up again you have to take door panel off and spray release oil on all moving parts. it could be the window relay burning out. Jock - jock

3)   unfortunately a common problem with the mk 4 is the window mechanism falling apart, you can get a repair kit, but if you want my advise then buy the complete mechanism which comes with the new metal panel which it mounts on, cost about £70 if you shop around, it is not a 5 minute job and unless you consider yourself able to fix it then get someone who can, otherwise you could destroy the door panel trying to remove it. - Pete


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Car Hasn't Been Started In Almost A Year?

Question 1
Car Hasn't Been Started In Almost A Year?...  My 2000 VW Beetle has been sitting in my driveway since last August. I'm wondering if there could be any problems with the engine and brakes, since it hasn't been started/driven in so long. There were no problems with it before except a dead battery.

Thanks!

Answers
1)   it will need a service especially the brakes - J R

2)   No, you should be ok. Just to be sure, check the coolant level and bump the motor a couple times without letting it start up. Just to get some oil flowing. Let it run for 5 min before driving it so its fully heated up. - fuzzylogic_y2k

3)   The battery will be scrap as they cannot stand being out of use. Hopefully the clutch will disengage as they can rust on to the flywheel permanently. I would fit a new battery. Remove the spark plugs and inject clean engine oil into the plug holes. Put it in gear and push it about to turn the engine over and distribute the oil. Leave it overnight. The oil will free up the pistons and rings and good compression should result. Good luck. - Bazza

4)   You should be fine, replace the battery, if it sat discharged this long it will be dead and not capable of holding a charge. I have stored cars before many times up to a year with nothing more than a disconnected battery (that I charged once in a while), change the oil, make sure the tires are ok, pump them up, warm up the car, make sure nothing is leaking. Also make sure nothing took up residence in your engine compartment, its happened to me before. - Kafka

5)   dead battery - obviously re charge and should fire up although prob wont hold much charge anymore

brakes may have seiezed get them checked - main problem


handbrake cable might have seiezed and maybe streached or snaped or ready to snap due to being up for so long

change coolent - hitmanjay99uk

6)   Change all the fluids. remove each spark plug and put a squirt of oil in each cylinder before installing new plugs and plug wires. Test the battery, and replace if necessary. Start moving slowly and check the tires. The rubber might be dry and brittle, depending on where you are. - παπούτσια

7)   That is basically all that ever dies in it. Batteries in the store do not have the acid put in them "until they are actually purchased" as the chemical reaction starts immediately of changing lead to lead sulfate. A sulfated battery is garbage. A way to keep the battery from sulfating up is to have the battery charged occasionally. Such as what happens when you drive the car - the alternator charges the battery. Even then you only have 5 or 6 years of life out of a battery. Not touching the battery for a year, well - you can bet the battery is hooped. Otherwise, it will start and run fine. - Minimal patience

8)   The battery will be useless and when you do get it running you'll need to take it to a garage to get the brakes checked out and a good service but it should be OK. - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

9)   Fuzzylog is the closest.
Sitting a year is nothing.
It is true the battery will likely be shot, but that is no what I consider part of the car anyway.
It is like oil or gasoline.

It is possible that if the parking brake has been on, that they could bond.
But that is trivial to fix.
You just have to tap on the backing plate with a hammer, and let the vibration shatter the rust bond.

It basically will not require any repair at all.
I have done it dozens of times.
I always have a couple of classic projects hanging around for years at a time. - Motorhead

10)   check the oil and water, and see if it starts, you might need fresh petrol in it if it will not start,
there might be a chance that the rear pads have stuck to the discs if handbrake has been on, try it ! - Pete


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Question 2
Should the timing belt be changed when the water pump is replaced on a 99 VW Beetle?...  I had the head redone with all misc part replaced, on 5/4/2011, cost around $2200, (thank god I had a warranty!) no more than a month on 05/12/2011 my temp light came on. Had the water pump replaced ....The the car just quit & wouldn't start. So I had a mechanic look at it & He stated that there was NO way the water pump was ever replaced. And then he went on to tell me that 3 valves came unseeded. God I am SOOOO sick of this car!! WTF!!!! Some body help me!
I took it to "another mechanic due to the fact that the second time it broke down I was 200 miles away from where I first got it fixed...

Answers
1)   Seems like it might be a good idea to put a new timing belt on there while you're at it. If that thing goes then you will pretty much need a new engine. - Austin

2)   If the water pump is driven by the timing belt it always gets replaced when a water pump that is leaking gets replaced. The antifreeze from the leaking water pump ruins a timing belt and any professional mechanic would never reuse the soaked old timing belt, it will only jump time and bend valves. - thebax2006

3)   Yes. - παπούτσια

4)   Unfortunatly, it is better that you know what work needs to be done and how to do it. For the record the timing belt needs to be replaced at 100,000 miles and every 60,000 miles there after. Everything that touches the timing belt needs to be replaced when the timing belt is replaced. Normally just the water pump. You should always ask the mechanic for the old parts so that you know they have been replaced. But, it is even better if you can do the work yourself. WTF. - sunset

5)   Nothing wrong with the car. Who you got to do the work...there is a problem there if they do not do the work and scam you out of money.

Yet, you are trusting a different mechanic?

Why did you go to a different mechanic? Why would you ever suspect the last mechanic to screw you ?

Bad water pump would not stop the car from running. Waterpump would not be replaced if that was not the reason for the temperature light coming on. Maybe they changed a temperature sensor. Check your receipt.

Water pumps do not usually fail - they only leak behind the pulley when they start to go..

"Then he went on to tell me that 3 valves came unseated"

Meaning "what, exactly?" I am unfamiliar with that terminology(as it is BS) His remedy would be(how many hundreds$)

It sounds like con # 2 See a third independent mechanic for their assessment. OR,

Go back to the dealer and let the dealer mechanic work on the vehicle. (I assume that is where you got the "warranty work" done at.)

Until you learn how to fix it or find a trustworthy mechanic who knows something (by asking other VW owners where they get their car fixed at).

FYI - the timing belt is replaced every 60,000 miles(100,000KM) regardless of whether the water pump gets replaced or not. I have swapped out 4 timing belts out of the same vehicle without touching the water-pump (it is fine so leave it alone).

It they can sell you a water pump, they will - but the belt can be removed without removing the water-pump.

If antifreeze should ever get on a timing belt, wash it off and dry the belt. There is nothing corrosive in antifreeze (otherwise you would not have rubber hoses connecting the engine to the radiator or rubber hoses to the heater core...- common sense dictates this line of thinking)

If you want to buy a new one, I won't stop you.but that is the reality.

They could have replaced the timing belt when they changed the head, but at that time I guess it was not necessary. It would be on your receipt for the head job. - Minimal patience


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Question 3
HOW MUCH COULD I GET?? ?...  My friend is Gunna sell (practically give) me an1998 jetta for $400. It doesn't run. How much could I get for it if i got it to run?
Just ballpark estimates
Thanks!:)

Answers
1)   199x Jettas are junk - the real question is how much are you going to pour into it trying to get it run before you realize you have been played - daSVgrouch

2)   FOR 400 IF U GET IT FIXED AND RUN IT WOULD GET U TO PAY MORE GENIUS AND GEUSS WHAT AFTER U PAY THE FIX.... ITS GONNA BE LIKE 600 OF 500 OR SO AND THEN ITS NOT GONNA BE THAT MUCH OF A FUCKING DIFFERNCE COMPAREDTO A FUCKING NEW ONE. SO GET YOUR ASS TO THE STORE AND GET A NEW ONE OK ?? - justin

3)   well about 3,942 dollars is if u get 2 work and what the miles it has on it you would have to tell me that first and then i can tell u - ilovedachunds

4)   you wouldnt get the money back selling it that it would cost to get it to run... i would just try parting it - David

5)   According to Kelly Blue Book, (and I'm assuming this somewhere between the base model and the top of the line model,) you might be able to get 3,280 for it. That's assuming it's in "good" condition, and has 100,000 miles on the odometer.

However, that being said, this car is 13 years old, and that, combined with the fact that it is a VW means that it probably would be pretty expensive to fix it. (Since it's older, parts are harder to find, and in general parts for foreign cars are kinda expensive).

I don't know exactly what's wrong with the car, but chances are you're going to spend more money to fix it than it's worth. So, I wouldn't fix it with the intent to sell it for a profit. That being said, you can go to the website below and play with the options for this particular car and maybe you can get a better "ballpark estimate". Hope this helps! - smart guy


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Question 4
is oil pan located next to plastic skid plate with allen wrench fitting for plug removal for VW TDI 2002?...  Also, is it plastic? and is that the oil filter under the plastic lid at the top of the engine? weird! doing first oil change and was expecting a little weirdness with vw, not too bad though if that is where the oil pan is. hopefully i don't have to remove and plastic underneath to get to it. Is is made of plastic?? really?

Answers
1)   The plastic skid plate will need to be removed in order to remove the oil pan drain plug. If you remove the skid plate you will see the oil pan at the bottom end of the engine. It looks like every other oil pan. Nothing special from VW in the oil pan dept. - Paul Aldridge

2)   Make sure you're using synthetic, diesel oil. Shell Rotella T6 is one of the most widely available oils acceptable for the 96-04 TDIs.

I usually just buy this when its time for an oil change: http://www.idparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1059

That way I know I'm getting good oil, a high quality filter, and a new drain plug.

And here is a simple step-by-step how to for the oil change, http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=43346 it mentions a New Beetle TDI, but the engine is the exact same as the Golf or Jetta TDIs.

As this is your first change, make sure you're familiar with the rest of the maintenance schedule for the car. ALH TDIs can easily run 400,000+ miles if properly cared for. - Richard R

3)   The allen head drain plug you can see without removing the plastic splash guard is your transmission drain plug. Do not pull that unless you plan on replacing the trans fluid. - gti_4cefed4

4)   I know this doesn't answer your question, but that "skid plate" isn't to protect the engine so much as it reduces noise and improves aerodynamics.That's why it's plastic. Metal is heavy and they are going for efficiency. - Louis G


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Question 5
How much would it cost to put bolts back in the transmission on a volkswagen? ?...  

Answers
1)   too much. - sunset

2)   What kind of bolts? What kind of tranny?

Heck, what kind of Volkswagen? - vrsicks

3)   What bolts? Axle? You got to pay what you got to pay. Maybe a beer; maybe some koochy-koo - Minimal patience

4)   I would assume you mean something like the CV join flange bolts came loose or something like that.
And it should not take more than a half hour. If some bolt stripped out, then it could take an hour to install a heli-coil or something.
And the going rate is something like $80/hour. - Motorhead


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is the Volkswagen beetle the best car ever created?

Question 1
is the Volkswagen beetle the best car ever created?...  the hitler machine, the slow lane hogger..... call it what you will but is the volkswagen the best car ever created? i mean a ferrari is great, but not off road. a land-rover is great off road but costly to keep on road. Jap cars are really reliable but you don't see many 1970 Jap cars on the road. So is the beetle the greatest feat in vehicle engineering? and if so why can't any car manufacturers create something as good nowadays?

Answers
1)   Yes! I love them. :) - Nicole H

2)   Scirocco is better - Glenn Quagmire

3)   The VW beetle was designed to easily fit a machine gun --so each and every one was to be ready for war. So was not intended to be the best- simply the most useful under the circumstances 'at that time'. - stainless steven

4)   I'm sure it will be at the top of the list. It was and still is a car that was cheap and fun to drive. It suffered the same fate as many other cars. The first was a 36 horse engine , it had no cam bearings so they improved it and came up with the 40 horse. This engine was great and if left alone would still be great but the public wanted more horse power and that started the down slide of the beetle. - crzyfrank

5)   just come back from Mexico, there are thousands of them, saloons, rag tops, pick ups, they must still make them there they look new, don`t know if they were the best the mini took some beating - J R

6)   All cars are designed for a specific purpose.
Some for luxury some for off road, some for high mileage.
The beetle was designed for the masses, and had many shortcomings.
It was very popular because of its economy, but it had little else to offer. - Rogue

7)   Yup, the old bug is a pretty useful old car, bags of character and still quite plentiful. One of the best ways into cheap classic motoring, I've had one before and I'd have another.
Only other similar car I'd say rivals it is the Citroen 2CV, also a fantastic car if you can really drive properly. - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

8)   Everything the Nazis created and did was the best. - Adolf

9)   Fiat 500 - Magureanu

10)   In my opinion? Yes. The Type 1 was the best car I've ever been exposed to. Air cooled, points, and a single barrel. Simpler than any Honda, and very arguably much more reliable. Mine never left me stranded, or even broke down, for that matter. A little maintenance on the occasional weekend, keep the fan belt fresh, (very important) and run it wide open everywhere I went. Nothing else can take that. Me, her, two friends and a doggie in the very back. Good times!
Make something as good today? Of course they could. If they did it would last too long, hurting future sales. Sadly, simple quality may never be seen in the automobile industry again. - Six String Bandit


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Question 2
What size tyres are on a vw golf 1.9 tdi 54 plate?...  

Answers
1)   15' 235/ 65 will fit. - alex e

2)   Those cars can be fitted with 15 16 or 17 inch wheels, with around 20 different tyre sizes, if you own the car its easier to have a look, other than that drive it into a tyre depot and there gladly tell you - M M M

3)   What size of wheels are on it? - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

4)   It all depends what size wheels you have. The 2 most common sizes on your vehicle would be either 195/65r16 or 205/55r16. If your not sure, the size is written on the sidewall of the tyre. Hope this helps. - Jamie Seymour


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Question 3
Ububtu 11.04 Fifi problem?...  Ok so i recently installed ubuntu 11.04 on my laptop (im new to linux), and my wifi connection will work for a few minutes and then it will just disconnect. I have tried it with a cable and it works fine, but i need wifi because i normally have my laptop upstairs and can only use a cable downstairs.

No silly answers please.
Thanks.
Ok i have a "Toshiba satellite l450d 14v"
And this is what i can find referring to my Fifi..

description: Wireless interface
physical id: 2
bus info: usb@1:2
logical name: wlan1
serial: 00:21:91:93:ac:8d
capabilities: ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=rt73usb driverversion=2.6.38-8-generic firmware=1.7 ip=192.168.1.70 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bg

More info..
I have tries my built in wifi and an external wifi card. and still no luck.


Answers
1)   It would be useful to know the make & model of your laptop, and the WiFi card inside.

Make sure you've got all the updates. Do that from your cable connection, for speed and reliability.

Open a "Terminal" window, and type:

sudo lshw

(The first letter of the second word is lower case "L", as in "list hardware".) Find the block of text that refers to your wireless connection. Cut & Paste it into "additional information" on Y! Answers, and I'll take a look. Or, you can Google for information on that wireless hardware.

EDIT 8-JUL-11, 12:36 EDT:
Thanks for the additional information. A Google search for:

toshiba satellite l450d ubuntu wireless

produces plenty of results. But nothing that jumps out at me as being directly relevant, as you are already using 11.04. Best thing I can recommend is to make sure you've got all of the updates installed.

Read some of those Google results anyway; you might spot something I missed.

Good luck. - Joe

2)   First I'd make sure Ubuntu is completely up to date, Second go to System -> Administration -> Hardware Drivers and make sure there's no proprietary drivers available for your card. Then you've got two choices.

1. Troubleshoot (I'd do this first) Disable security on your wireless connection and see if it stays connected. if it does maybe try another encryption type.

2. (Which I don't like to do) Use the Windows drivers. open a terminal

#sudo apt-get install ndisgtk

After ndiswrapper installs if you go to System -> Administration you'll have the option to Install Windows drivers. Once your in there it's pretty self explanatory. You just need to find out what driver you use in windows which shouldn't be hard. note: you'll be pointing it to the driver itself, NOT running a driver installation program. - Stephen Natale

3)   NO SILLY ANSWERS?
YOU POSTED THIS QUESTION IN VOLKSWAGEN!? - mchaz60


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Question 4
I have a 2000 vw Beetle, The AC works but only blows cold when I'm driving 40mph or more.?...  The freon is full. Any ideas why?

Answers
1)   condenser fan isnt running, and only when you hit ~40mph the airflow is enough to cool the condenser and allow the ac to work


let the car sit overnight, then in the morning start it up, and turn on the ac, at least 1 fan should be running all the time - nick

2)   turn the key on with the a/c on look to see if both electric coolent fan are running.
if they arent the first place to look is the little fuse block on top of the battery check the 3 small spade fuses they are all 30 amp pull they out and look at where they plug into the block for burnt spots, the coolent fans will not run if that fuse is burnt.
if fuses are okay check for power at the fan with the a/c on
those fuse blocks go bad all the time! - Todd

3)   It can be low. Buy one of the cans in the walmart Read directions and recharge. Small should be enough. - alex e


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Question 5
Whats wrong with my Jetta 1.8t . i need a mechanic to answer!!! lol?...  So i have a 2001 jetta 1.8t & my engine light has been on for about a month. i know i know , well why why the hell haven't you gotten it checked . But a family friend said it was an oxygen thing so i just been driving it around like nothing. But sometimes i notice that my car lags on turning on, like it wont start till the 2nd, 3rd try. & when it does start the EPC light turns on .. and just recently i was driving & out of no were my car turns off when i was on the road about to turn, i was on neutral so my car was still going, the steering wheel got stiff and all. So all im asking is does anyone know the problem here? Or must i have to go to the dealer & ask them ? Anybody , anybody?

Answers
1)   sounds like your fuel supply is being cut off maybe fuel pump, or you could have a failing cat. converter if it is the oxygen sensor, go to an auto parts store they will give you a free check of your check engine light and help lead you in right direction without having the car in front of me and taking it for a test run i cannot readily determine the issue - Kms Pathinder

2)   You do not have to visit the dealer, you do need to get the fault code read by a repair shop with the correct diagnostic equipment. It may be something as simple as the oxygen sensor in the exhaust system and that will cost very little to fix and then your car will be fine. - L G

3)   need to find a good indepedent vw shop.
one of 3 thing for the stalling, fuel pump going out
fuel pump really they have issues but usally code and sent engine light, lots of short to ground codes injectors sec air evap
crank position senser usally will code check engine light. - Todd


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Is a catalytic converter on a 2001 jetta with 109k covered by any warrenties? warrenties?

Question 1
Is a catalytic converter on a 2001 jetta with 109k covered by any warrenties? warrenties?...  

Answers
1)   The car is 11-12 years old and over 100,000 miles. Unless you bought some really expensive extended warranty, there is absolutely no chance that anybody will replace that for anything other than regular price.

Saw it off and use a bypass pipe. Take the old cat to a recycler and they will give good money for the precious metals inside the cat. - Peter Drahozal

2)   No chance. But it is only around $200 to replace. - Surfer Blood

3)   No, it is covered by a heat shield. Duh - AubreyRecords

4)   No and its expensive one of the first things i ever replaced, sorry your best bet is to get an original one from the dealerships and the near 1000$ because i bought two aftermarkets one wouldn't fit and another rust out in less then a year. good luck - Mike Jennings

5)   Nope. Federal emissions warranty (which is the only one anyone ever pays attention to, since the aftermarket warranties never cover such things) runs out at 8 years/80,000 miles. - Windowphobe

6)   There are federal mandates set by the EPA which require manufactures to provide warranty coverage for emissions equipment for a minimum of 80,000 miles. The only part covered by VW for a longer period is the body of the car, which has a 12-year unlimited mileage warranty against rust and perforation.

Best bet to keep repair costs down and use quality parts is to buy a used OEM catalytic converter with low mileage from one of the VW forums' classifieds section. The dealership and some national chain repair shops will only legally be able to install brand new emissions equipment, so try the local shops first if you don't plan on doing the work yourself. - gti_4cefed4

7)   You have to fight tooth and nail with vw for them to warrenty parts. Your out of luck buddy because of the age and mileage. VW will not warrenty cats beyond the 8/80k. 80,001 miles your out of luck. Bosal make an OEM Replacement cat. you can pick one up for around 400 dollars. And the VW RustWarranty is a joke too. - E


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Question 2
Is a Volkswagon Beetle overall a good car to have?...  Im looking to buy a used Volkswagen Beetle soon and I was just wondering if it is a good car to have? This would be my first car, and I am 19 if it makes a difference. Are Volkswagen Beetles safe and sturdy cars? Just wondering about peoples opinions on them... Thanks :)
awww really? I love this car so much, sad that it isnt that good :S

Answers
1)   No, it's a bad car to begin with, on top of which, it's german, so maintenance is very expensive. - Caolan C

2)   Yes if it is pre-1970 - Ron

3)   I would not recommend VW's, because they are unreliable. I would recommend anything Japanese. (Hondas, Toyotas, Subarus, Mazdas) Civics are definitely good cars if you are 19.

It all depends on what you feel comfortable with and like to drive. It would be good to get a copy of ConsmerReports buying guide on Used Cars and see what they say is reliable, safe, comfortable, and affordable. Out of what they recommend you should be able to find something you like. - Adam's Auto Advice

4)   Would have been nice if you could have narrowed it down to the year.

I know up to 1973 Super Beetle (carburetored) 1600cc dual port air-cooled engine.
Very reliable, long lasting motor.
1970 -1600 cc motor single port carburetored air cooled - also long lasting motor
1963 -1300 to 1500 cc motor single port carburetored air cooled used in dune buggies.

In any case, these cars were great for going fishing on the back-roads, or goat trails, or the vague hint of a trail. Rear wheel drive.
Change spark plugs and points once a year and adjusted valves yourself and you are done for tune up. Never needed anything more than a bit of "tie wire", a couple blocks of wood of various shapes, and maybe some cigarette foil (in case a fuse blows) and you are good. No antifreeze/radiator or water-pump to worry about.

I believe after that they came out with fuel injection and not so good (breakdowns or you are always in the shop - again I believe that was the general complaint..

The water cooled "new beetle" was basically a beetle body put over a Rabbit/Jetta/Golf frame. Engine same as Rabbit/Golf/Jetta and electrical wiring the same. Rabbits/Jettas suffered a lot of electrical problems due to water leaking inside the car behind the fusebox and shorting out various components.
I would not drive it on the back-roads. Too much computerized B.S.. You basically have to take it in to be tuned up or fixed.

Where I drive, if the car broke down...no tow truck is gonna reach me >so the new cars are useless PoS for me when they have electronic controls<. That applies to any make.

[You got a pc. When it breaks, can you fix it ? Same deal.]

German made just like BMW and Mercedes. The seats are comfortable, you can sit in them all day and not hurt when you get out. Good for long hauls.

No car is "safe" when you are hit by a MACK truck head on or you decide to test out the strength of a concrete wall with the bumper. "Squashed like a fly on the windshield" - Doing the Math

5)   They're reliable, but when they need to be fixed, they are expensive. Make sure the one you are getting has cool air ($700-$900 fix, because you have to take the entire dash out) check the transmission (almost a $3000 fix) they aren't unreliable, just expensive if something does go wrong. - Maymaybaybay


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Question 3
would a vr6 engine fit my 99 golf gls?...  its the mk4 gls with a 2.0 and what modifications must i do

Answers
1)   It proberly will, you would need the gearbox, engine wiring harness, braking system complete, exhaust system, and so on, never worth the agro, better off buying a vr6 on the road. The complications you would meet on the way would burn a big hole in your pockets, best of luck - M M M

2)   it would,,,but it is a lot of work,,,,cpu upgrade...suspension ....linkage ....trans.....wiring.....to me it not worth the trouble....better to get a gti with the v6 - toyloy1

3)   instead of spending the money in the vr6 upgrades id suggest going with a cheaper route and performance upgrade the 2.0 engine i have vw gl 2.0 and i suggest putting a neuspeed supercharger it makes a complete different car the cars is amazing, i added a few extra upgrades but that major part made the difference i run 15.0 quarter mile with the car which is about 2.7 seconds faster then a normal golf gl. good luck ! - Mike Jennings

4)   Mm...Hope this helps! http://yisi.info/120718/engine-fitting - Ming Verduzco


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Question 4
Whats the top speed of my VW dual port 1641cc motor.?...  My VW motor has about 70-75 horse power! and i want to make it street legal but i would like to know what about the top speed is to see if its even worth it? the buggy only weighs about 1000lbs with the two riders in it.

Answers
1)   top speed has more to do with the gearing of the transaxle. and since its the stock tranny i assume? about 80 mph at 4500rpm. push it faster and your valves will 'float' and you will loose power and bog the engine down. - Air-Cooled (o\ ! /o)

2)   Once you hit 95, you basically will (brown the shorts). The car does not handle well at that speed. It is not a race car. It is transportation. Or you could walk, after the cops lighten your wallet a couple of times. - Doing the Math

3)   1641cc isn't going to make 70 to 75 h.p. - hotvw1914cc

4)   1641 has 60 hp if you are lucky,the only up grade is from 85.5mm piston to slip in 87mm,not much hp gain over the stock 53hp.my son built a 2332cc air cooled motor with a 110 cam dual 44IDF webers,10:1 compression and cb performance 044 heads and is running around 200 hp in a rail buggy.and if you have the IRS trans you might have 3.73 gears,and the swing axle 68 had 4.10 gears as I hear.so top speed should be 70 -75 mph.my son ran his buggy at the drag stripe and ran 13.50 and 97 mph. - KAM


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Question 5
EPC light, exhaust management light on on my VW Polo and brake lights out - what's wrong with it?...  Driving and when the EPC light and exhaust management light came on. Later realised the brake lights weren't on. Car seems to work fine and starts up fine so I don't know what's wrong with it.

Any ideas what the problem might be?

Answers
1)   Needs to be taken to a garage where they can diagnose the fault codes that are causing the warning lights to come on. The brake lights are probably unrelated but from a driving point of view is the far more serious fault.
You'll have someone run into the back of you if you drive it like that. - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

2)   Your Epc lamp is on due to the Ecu detecting a fault with the brake lamp switch, Replace the switch and the EPC lamp will go out.

This guide for a Vw golf etc will help you in replacing your switch your self saving you money.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1158315-DIY-Installing-a-new-brake-light-switch-(without-breaking-it!)

Vw polo brake lamp switch costs approx £6.00 if a garage fits it then it will cost you £35.00 - turboextreme

3)   this is the same thing that happened to me,
started of with the one light,
i was told to go to a vehicle diagnostic centre.
now i have 3 lights on, but ive been told that the polo's are having alot of problems. - Aneesa Amin


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first puncture resistant tyre?

Question 1
first puncture resistant tyre?...  i think the first tyre that was punture resistant was made / used on cars in the mid 1980 s ???, i think it was so that if you did get a puncture !! you could still drive at about 30mph to get you home/nearest garage, is this right and if so what was the tyre called??

Answers
1)   they were run flats , that's what they named the tyre but i'm not sure which manufacturer

BUT they were not the first , the first puncture proof tyres were in the eighteen hundreds (late) and early 1900s as they were made of solid rubber - Francis

2)   In 1974 the option of Dunlop Denovo run-flat tyres was offered on the Mini 1275 GT - Fred3663

3)   Michelin used to produce some of their tyres for bigger cars such as Jaguar and BMW, about 20 years ago, with a lining of uncured rubber that would seal around a nail if the tyre got punctured. Continental currently also produce a similar tyre. They are not run-on-flat tyres, but just designed to not deflate. - CDC

4)   Well, technically the very first tyres were puncture resistant because they were solid rather than inflatable, but the first mass market run flats in the UK were indeed Dunlop Denovo, have a look here..

http://www.aronline.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=15834&start=0 - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

5)   Puncture resistant tires have been marketed at various times (Uniroyal Nailguard for example) but they don't actually work as advertised so don't last in the market long.

Run-on-Flat tires are different than puncture resistant tires. They are designed to be able to be driven on after air loss for limited speeds and distances. Developed in the mid-90's I believe the first application was the Corvette. They are now standard equipment on all BMW models and optional equipment on some other vehicles.

High cost, limited available and complaints of poor wear and ride quality have limited the appeal of this type of tire. - JBF


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Question 2
Bought a 2001 Jetta VR6. What should I do to it first?...  Looking for performance info. I know how to make a car look good.

Answers
1)   exhaust system. - Scotty Boy

2)   Go sleeper for your first mod
Get headers. - Murdered out Spec V

3)   First of all some maintenance, have the camshaft aka timing chains and belt have been done yet? If not, you can kiss that sweet sounding engine good bye once you put on all the performance add-ons.

Exhaust is one thing, free up the intake is another. You may want to do the suspension as well. - djaca70

4)   FIRST?
GET YOURSELF A NICE KEY CHAIN. - mchaz60


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Question 3
Regular Gas in an 08 Passat?...  I only need this car to commute 20 miles everyday to and from school (mostly highway and some city driving) and am not interested in exceptional, racing-grade performance. Would it be possible to fill this car up with 87 octane gasoline and have few problems down the line? What sort of problems (besides the usual ones of automobile ownership) will I be facing? Will avoiding those problems outweigh the price of fueling up with premium?
Many Thanks,
-EL
The car is a 2.0L 4-cyl. engine with automatic transmission (TURBO model.)

Answers
1)   There's nothing wrong with burning 87 octane. Higher octane would just be wasting money. - Welcome to my Nightmare

2)   I would not recommend it. Although it has knock sensors, prolonged use can wear out the engine. Besides, it can take 91 octane or higher, and also your gas mileage will be better with the 91. - djaca70

3)   Actually, it is recommended that your car take 91 octane, or premium. It should say so on the gas flap itself.

I have an 07 Passat with the same 2.0T. All of VW and Audi cars with that engine require premium fuel. Your engine may begin to run rougher or develop knocking noises if you don't use 91. - vrsicks


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Question 4
What size of allen wrench do you need to undo the calipers on a 2006 Jetta?...  My dad is doing the brakes on the 2006 Volkswagon Jetta TDI, but we are unsure on what size of wrench is required to undo the calipers.

Does anyone know what size is required?

Answers
1)   I think it is a 8mm spline drive (8 point bit) - Robert P

2)   its an 7mm allen key - nick

3)   if you're just changing pads and not rotors you wont need the 14mm triple square and there is no allen wrench usage for this job. All you need is a 16mm and 13mm wrench. - nellus Rivers


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Question 5
Question for anyone with a gen 6 Golf or Jetta TDI!?...  I'm looking at a new Golf TDI and was just wondering some of the real world gas mileage figures where from people who have actually calculated them. Also, does anyone know if VW has plans to bring the start/stop auto shutoff from the bluemotion over to the American TDI?

Answers
1)   no sorry i dont know that one. - Roberto

2)   Auto shutoff will not come to the US TDi's. As for fuel figures, you are looking at high 40's low 50's if not pushed hard. - djaca70

3)   As an actual 2010 Golf TDI owner... I can tell you that MY real world fuel economy, over the first 45 fill ups, covering 22,018 miles through the West Virginia mountains is 40.2 mpg. Your mileage will vary, greatly. Head over to http://www.tdiclub.com and there are some that live out in Kansas, Texas, anywhere that its flat, and can pull in high 40s with ease, others are stuck with a lot of city driving, stop and go traffic, and are happy if they can get 30.

You're welcome to check out my fuelly account where you can see my tank by tank numbers, you can also search for other Golfs, Jettas, etc from 2009+ to see what kind of numbers others are reporting.

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/reechardwvu/golf-2 - Richard R


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What does this warning light mean on my 2008 VW Jetta?

Question 1
What does this warning light mean on my 2008 VW Jetta?...  It is a cirlce with an explanation point inside with three dashes coming out of the circle on each side in different directions. I lost my owners manual and would like to know what this means. Thank you!

Answers
1)   I'm not exactly sure, but I have a similar warning symbol on my Rav4 that indicates that one of my tires has low air pressure. - Vincent Evangelista

2)   Possibly a light out on front or rear,e.g brake light bulb. Not 100% sure but would assume VW still under Warranty and may fix for free, also they can get you a new owners manual. - Gary

3)   If it looks like this it is a bulb out indicator: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/blink_amoulthia/warninglight.jpg - gti_4cefed4

4)   Bulb out warning.

How do you lose an owner's manual?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=af&biw=1024&bih=640&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Jetta+2008+warning+lights (performed a Google Image search with the term "Jetta 2008 warning lights") - Chris


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Question 2
70 vw 1600cc single port Help////?...  i want to upgrade a 70 vw bus engine 1600cc,single port..
;;;;;;;headers,,,solex prog 2bbl carb,,,87pistons,,,,scat c35 cam,,electronic distb
what else do i nead to have running and not overheat the engine

Answers
1)   First thing you want to do is lose the single-port heads. Nothing else matters if your motor can't breathe. It'd be like you trying to snorkel through a soda straw. Get a good set of dual-ports.
Next: swap to a late-style fan shroud with a larger oil cooler, & keep all your cooling tin intact. The Bus motor normally comes with a -050 distributor, which has a retarded #3 lobe, which helps that cylinder run cooler. Stick with it, or convert it to electronic, rather than buying a complete distributor. DO NOT use a 'power pulley". They make your fan run slower, & thus give poorer cooling.
Last: Make certain your thermostat (Yes, they DO have a 'thermostat': It's a bi-metal bellows-looking thing between the 2 even cylinders with a control rod to the shutters) is in good shape, & your fan shroud shutters are working properly.
I've run up to 1850cc without cooling issues. - schizophreniabeatsdiningalone

2)   VW did not make a 70 single port motor they converted to the 1600 dual port heads in 69,if you have a single port intake the motor is a 1200 or 1300, the 1500 and 1600 had dual port heads,the bore size is different and the stroke is different on the single port heads they have a 64 stroke instead of the 69,with 83mm or 85.5 so check out appletreeautomotive.com or cbperformance.com for heads and pistons and changing you point's dist.to electronic ignition.set of forged slip in 87mm piston set is 395.00 heads cost 286 each,cam is 89.00 go with the 110 cam with straight cut gears,and 69mm counter weight crank with 8 dowel pin's.and have the piece of aluminum welded to the back of the block behind number 3 cylinder for more strength,and run an external oil cooler with a fan can get one from summitracing.com for around 145.00. - KAM

3)   First off, by reading the first line of KAM's answer i know not to read the rest. never made a 1970 1600sp???? WRONG. there was only 1 year for 1600sp and that was 1970. in 1969 they still were running 1500cc single ports.

you dont need anything else. just keep oil in it and make sure the thermostat is working properly and all of the engine tins are in place. make sure its timed right and use 30W oil. thats all - Air-Cooled (o\ ! /o)


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Question 3
What does putting a baja kit, and bigger tires, on an older vw bug do to the mileage?...  I'm looking to get an older vw bug, and I'd really love to put a baja kit and a/t tires on it, but I dont want to sacrifice too much mileage. What would adding that do to it?

Answers
1)   That would be pretty sweet! If you stay with the stock tire size it shouldn't change too much at all. But it all depends on the size tire. The bigger you go the less mileage you'll get and the more wear n tear on your drivetrain. But if you re-gear your differential the tires will turn a lot easier for that small motor which in turn will bring back some MPG's. Hope that helps! - Rob Pelletier

2)   Mileage was not all that hot as you have to drive them wide open most of the time. - doane_nut

3)   The body kit might give you more drag, resulting in an insignificant mileage penalty. The oversize tires would hurt more. They give the illusion of having a taller gear in the car, meaning although your revs are lower at 60, the engine is actually working harder to maintain speed.
Better idea? Stick with tires the same diameter, but are wider & look more aggressive. With the suspension raised, the effect is pretty cool. I actually had a set of H-70-15 (225-70R-15) belted snows on Centerlines on the back of mine for the winter. I run 245-60's in the summer. - schizophreniabeatsdiningalone


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Question 4
how many cars has Volkswagen sold?...  

Answers
1)   well they sold about 22,000,000 air-cooled Beetle's alone. so a fair guess would be 35,000,000 to 40,000,000+ - Air-Cooled (o\ ! /o)

2)   Today, this month, this year, since the company started building cars? North America, worldwide?

If it's that general, I'll go for all sales across all models and guess upwards of 30 million. - Chris


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Question 5
Where can i find a center console and a few other misc. parts for a 1990 VW Fox?...  I am in need of a center console for a 1990 VW Fox with a 4 speed tranny. I can't find anything anywhere. Or what other VW car parts will fit on a Fox? I aslo need a new glove box door. Thanks.

Answers
1)   local salvage yards or ebay - whata waste

2)   I doubt an junk yards are holding onto those pieces of junk. - doane_nut


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is a 1973 VW Beetle a good car?

Question 1
is a 1973 VW Beetle a good car?...  i'm looking for my first car, and found a 1973 Beetle. it had a nice restored interior and original yellow paint, and little visual rust. do you think this iis a good first car? im worried about maintenance and reliability. what do you think?

Answers
1)   No. By todays standards they are maintenance nightmares and deathtraps.

Why the thumbs down? Air cooled brags about how reliable his VW bug is and then says "every 3000 miles you MUST, change oil and clean oil strainer, adjust valves, adjust carburetor if necessary, adjust brakes, check plug gap, points and condenser, adjust clutch pedal free play if necessary, and some other thing. not to mention you need to check the oil level at least twice a week and add as needed" That's what I call a maintenance nightmare. I have 60,000 miles on my 2008 Chevy and other than changing the oil every 6,000 miles the only thing I have ever done is put gas in it and bought one set of tires.

My Chevy has air bags, anti lock brakes, stability control, and does 0-60 in under 7 seconds. The VW takes almost 16 seconds making it dangerous to even take on the interstate. Get hit in the front in a VW at 20 mph and your probably going to lose your feet if you're lucky enough to survive. Many people walk away from 50 mph collisions in modern cars uninjured. - Howard L

2)   Unfortunately, no. It could be a very hazardous vehicle, the security features that they come equipped with is hardly much by todays standards. You're better of going with something in the 2000s+, and if money is an issue, you can find many cars better then the VW '73 for under $2500.00 (Such as a used Jetta). - Andrew Turko

3)   One reason that the old bugs were so popular was the ease of repair and a ready supply of used parts. In short they are not reliable, however they can be repaired by almost any one who has any mechanical sense.
As for a good first car, yes (provided you don't mind getting your hands dirty keeping it running).
Safety is a big issue!
Some claim Ralph Nader wrote the book "Unsafe at Any Speed" about the VW bug and was forced to switch the car in question from the Bug to the Corvair by the US State Department. These cars have handling quirks when pushed. The gas tank is up front, and leaking gas in a collision is a given. Fuel leaks can result in engine fires more readily because the engine is air cooled.
That said a lot of us outlived our VW bugs in spite of them, because as in all things automotive the primary problem is not the car but the owner/driver. - Old Man Dirt

4)   Old Man Dirt has it spot on! Cheap and easy to run and maintain, easy to modify as it's basically a Posche chassis, and as long as you drive it like a 1973 car and not a 2003 car, you'll be fine! It's a great little car that while not the safest in a high speed crash (not that "high speed" really applies to the Beetle!), is far more fun and unique to drive around in than the copycat little boxes most people choose as their first car! - Neil B

5)   i dont know where these other people get off say they are not reliable. they obviously do not own or drive one everyday, i do. the engine is air-cooled so as long as all the engine cooling parts in place, the engine will NEVER overheat even in 120F weather. parts are cheap and available at any parts store. they are also fun and easy to drive. Since ive owned my 1970 (almost 2 years) ive put about 9300 miles on it. I drove my 1970 bug 300 miles last week. 135 of those miles were continuous, no stopping at all, just driving at 60mph. and its the original 41 year old engine that has never been rebuilt with 82800 miles and running as strong as it did in 1971.

they do require more maintenance than modern cars. and if you dont do it yourself you will be spending a lot of money on mechanics bills. every 3000 miles you MUST, change oil and clean oil strainer, adjust valves, adjust carburetor if necessary, adjust brakes, check plug gap, points and condenser, adjust clutch pedal free play if necessary, and some other thing. not to mention you need to check the oil level at least twice a week and add as needed.

safety features.....well they have seat belts and thats about it. no crumple zones, airbags, roll over protection, reinforced doors power steering, power brakes or disc brakes. you have to drive a bug like you are in a glass car. be equally as defensive as aggressive because a lot of people i encounter on the road dont care that my car is slower, or less safe than theirs, they still cut me off and stop short. just keep an extra long following distance, especially in rain or snow. - Air-Cooled (o\ ! /o)

6)   No, not the 1973's. That was the first year they put pollution control ducts on the engine, and it was a nightmare.

The VW bugs up until 1970 were pretty good. Sure, they broke down a lot, but they were easy to fix. They don't have oil filters, so you have to change the oil every 1000 to 1500 miles, but that's pretty simple. Just undo the bolt under the engine, let the oil drain, replace the plug, and refill. Simple.
The valves need to be adjusted more frequently because it's an air-cooled engine. Luckily, it's a simple job that can be done quickly, once you get the hang of it. Back when I had my 1970 and 1966 bugs, I could do a complete tune-up (replace 4 spark plugs, condenser, adjust valves) and clean the air cleaner and change the oil in 45 minutes. Of course, the first time I tried, it took me 2 days -- I had completely removed the distributor (don't do this!) and put it back in backwards, lol . . . .

What you need before you buy a VW bug is a copy of the book, "How to keep your VW alive, a Guide for the Compleat Idiot" by John Muir. It'll explain lots of stuff, save you lots of $$$, and keep you rolling.

But anyway, the 1973's were terrible, mostly because of the pollution control devices. It was VW's first attempt to reduce emissions (BTW, my mom had one, so I'm familiar with it). The Feds also had a requirement that the emergency brake be illuminated, so VW put a pitiful little light under the dash pointed right at the yellow plastic handle. The light didn't fix anything, but then you'd have to be pretty dense not to know where the emergeny brake handle was. - David


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Question 2
What should I do to start a 1974 VW bus that hasn't been run in 5 years?...  It is a dual carb engine, and the gas has been sitting in there for at least that long. what should i do to make it run and fix it up? I know this is somewhat vague, but I really just need a first starting point.
thanks.

Answers
1)   Empty the gas from the gas tank, Change the oil, Get a new or god battery, and new air filters. If it dont sart then check the spark plugs and wires and coil - James Smith

2)   First of all does it spin freely? Meaning that you grasp the base of the fan, and turn it.
If it does, the following needs to be done.
-Drain the fuel tank, and have it cleaned
-Replace the spark plugs, coil and wires
-Change the oil
-Clean the carburetors
-Charge/replace the battery
-Change the fuel filter and air filter
-Fill the cleaned tank with fresh gas

Then again, you may need a charged battery, fresh fuel, and that rig may just start, it has happened. - djaca70

3)   Read "Zits" from about a year ago and do what Hector and Jeremy did. - kenny k

4)   Set the e-brake, and put the vehicle in neutral. I'd say first check that the engine has not seized up during that period. You should be able to turn it over by hand using large breaker bar and socket on the fan pulley nut. Ensure the fan belt's in good shape and that the alternator/fan assembly turn and are not seized or blocked from turning freely. Ah- check for critters which may have nested in the engine compartment or fan housing. It's a common thing to happen! Check that the points are set properly and that the fuel the engine is to get is clean and not contaminated with water. Use a freshly charged battery and finally, try to start the engine. You may have to prime the carburetor with a little gasoline.
Good luck! - tennisballeddie


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Question 3
What can i do to improve the performance of my VW Bus?...  I am an owner of a 1970 VW Bus and enjoy driving it however, i am not a mechanic and i wanted to get some opinions things i could do to modify my car to make it run better overall. Suggestions along with an approximate price estimate as to how much it would cost are greatly appreciated, thanks

Answers
1)   New aftermarket camshaft

New aftermarket induction parts (e.g. air filter)

New exhaust system.

Make the van lighter by emoving unneccessary things.

Take it in for a service.

All will improve speed and horsepower. - Ben Cole

2)   all it takes is money, you can add some performance modifications, it depends on what engine you have already, I know years ago they used to sell a big daddy kit for vw that pumped it up into a good strong engine, you can go single or dual cabs, with some exhaust modification that worked well and sounded better. If money is not a problem, there is a Porsche engine that was a bolt in back then. It was aw some it transformed a clattering noisy bus into this whisper quiet vehicle that whooshed past you going up a hill, (which those of us who had buses did not do any whooshing up hills anyway) I will do some checking on line and see what I find out
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
there are a lot of vw parts places, depending on what you are looking for, its a matter of researching what you want. A stock fresh 1,600 would probably work fine, or you can go bigger it all depends on how much cash you wanted to spend. something else I remembered about some older engines was it was a good idea to adjust the valves with each tune up which not every body did. but nowadays you can turbocharge a vw motor and make a real powerhouse out of one. do your research, find some vw forums and talk to the people who have already done what you want to do. best of luck. - roger

3)   Trying to add horsepower will shorten life span, so I don't recommend that.
What I do recommend is moving the oil cooler to an external location, so that you don't preheat cylinder #3 any more.
It also would not hurt to add a spin on oi filter and deep oil sump while you are at it. - Motorhead

4)   Information.

Get yourself a copy of John Muir's book, "How to keep your volkswagon alive, a guide for the compleat idiot" . . . It's a basic guide on how to fix a lot of things that will go wrong with your VW, and is full of info on how to keep it running well.

The air-cooled VW's need frequent oil changes because they don't have oil filters. If you were to make one modification to your bus, adding an external oil cooler and oil filter would be the very best thing you could do. Then, you should learn how to adjust the valves. Sure, it sounds intimidating to a mechanical novice, but keeping the valves properly adjusted is the other very very important thing you gotta do. It the valves are too loose, the engine sounds like it's full of crickets. If the valves are too tight, the engine will overheat and burn up. But once you learn how to do it, the whole process goes pretty quick.

Also, keep in mind that the VW bus wasn't designed as a racing or performance vehicle. Zero - to - sixty isn't supposed to impress anyone; the engines only have about 67 horsepower. You're doing good to climb a steep hill with passengers.

If your heater is still working, you might want to look around in your leisure time and see if you can find replacement heater parts, just to have on hand for when they do go out. Just a thought . . .

Best wishes, - David


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Question 4
2003 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 underpowered?...  Just test drove this car. On the surface it didn't seem too underpowered, but there are a lot of reviews saying the car is "severely" or "horribly" underpowered with the 115 hp engine. I mean, it was a bit slow going up a really steep hill but it seemed to pick up fine and all. I'm mostly going to be in a flat city in a different state, with a few long highway trips throughout the year to go back and forth. I can get a great deal on the car. Should I do it? Will I be able to cruise at 80/85 on the highway?
It's 2.0L Automatic, GLS Trim

Answers
1)   The vintage Beetles that you see people driving around had less than 40HP and they get around fine. Driving a Mico Bus with the same engine and trying to pass a semi-trailer on the highway is another story though! Anyways, the engine is more than enough power to get you around town, and will certainly get up to 85 MPH without any trouble at all. The 2.0L 8V is the most reliable gasoline engine that VW ever produced, while it's not a screamer like the 1.8T or VR6, for the size of a Jetta it works just fine. - gti_4cefed4

2)   gti 4, is correct, however in the tuner crowd, the 2.0 litre is commonly called a "2slow." It'll do the job, albeit slow. - djaca70

3)   Hope this helps! http://addlife.info/190185/just-test - Alene Benson

4)   It will be more than enough power in the city. If you end up doing lots of long trips you might be annoyed with the lack of get up and go for passing! - 12977


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Question 5
Are VW Polos quite cheap to insure?...  I'm looking for my first car, and I know which cars are cheap to insure, but was wondering whether VW polos are cheap to insure, as I seem to be getting quotes ovr £2000 for majority of the cars I'm browsing.
I know that polo's are fairly cheap and reliable and I love them :)
Thanks.

Answers
1)   The polo will not be cheap.....

Best thing to check the price is by going to one of the price comparison sites...
type in all your details as if you had bought the car already and see what prices are quoted..
you are under no obligation to buy .. - Charlie Farley

2)   The base model Polos are fairly cheap as far as they go, but the reason you're getting quotes of £2,000 is that's what it costs for a new driver to insure any car these days.
A Polo will be the same. - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

3)   i am 19, i have a mk4 6n2 polo 1.0

first year was 2500

second year was 1000

hope this gives you a rough idea.. - LoveLiveLife

4)   VW FOX is a real insurance bargain currently and a very nice small car. I would go for a FOX if low cost insurance is No1. They are as good as a Polo use to be before the Polo's started getting as big as the old Golf use to be (if you get my drift - a FOX is really a modern equivalent of the old model Polos).

This is a really handy web tool: Parkers - Find a car insurance group

http://www.parkers.co.uk/insurance - Rich Tea


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