HELP! my beetle cuts out or wont start at all.

MAG44 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 11:28 AM

My girl friend has a 1971 VW beetle 1.3 engine
the engine ticks over fine and will go into 1st and reverse with no problems. As soon as we try and change to 2nd it just cuts out.
It has been sitting in a garage for about a year but in the 1st few months is was driven around to keep it working.

All the eletrics have been replaced to try and cure the problem, the carb has been cleaned and the fuel lines, the only thing we hvnt yet tried is to clean out the petrol tank incase it has so rubbish at the bottom that is being sucked in.

does any 1 have an idea why the car wont work

PLEASE HELP!!!!

Thanks

derf · #2 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 11:35 AM

that's what I would try,clean the tank. Maybe the screen is plugged and not allowing enough fuel for load but enough for idle. Also check out put at fuel pump and pressure.

MAG44 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 03:56 PM

had a look on saturday n the tank is clean, also the fuel filter has a clear outer so would have seen any debrie going in
how would i check fuel preasure???
also tried to start it this weekend and found that the solinoide in the starter motor was broken.
Any idea as to where i can get a new 1.
Think that tuning the car might help as the previouse owner had adjusted to compensate for a poor spark from the plugs and the old wireing.

derf · #4 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 05:35 PM

So we have two problems? A no crank condition and then when it does crank and start it runs poorly?
Located over the pond as they say? It is usually cheaper to get a rebuilt starter than replace just the solenoid. Local parts store.
You need a gauge to check the pressure but to check the volume,disable car so it won't start then unhhook line to carb and crank over the engine as you hold the line in a container. Should shoot out a good stream of fuel

MAG44 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 09:37 AM

it had been ticking over fine. we had replaced all the wireing and spark plugs but hadn't tuned it. had just reset the fuel and air amounts.
have looked for a starter looks 2 b bout £70 that right?
where could we get a guage from halfords ok???

derf · #6 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 11:10 AM

Don't have an answer to $ amount or where to get gauge. I'm in the states. Auto parts supply should have gauge,is that what Hanfords is?