QuestionI have a 1974 Beetle VW and it is having days that when I try to sart it, it will not. Some days the engine will turn right over on the first try and other days, no matter what I do, the engine will not turn over and I wind up clutch starting it by pushing it. i have recently put a new battery in it, thinking that may have been problem and it helped for a couiple of days, now it's back doing the same thing again, just will not start on some days. Any remedies?
AnswerStarting problems are difficult to diagnose over the phone or remotely because we both have to be talking the same language. Your terms and mine gotta be the same.
Sometimes starting and sometimes not are indicative of a loose connection or lack of fuel.
A coil just dies once.
Are you able to crank the engine over until the battery dies from lack of juice. That tell you that the starter and solenoid are good and so is the battery.. Recharge system.
If not, start at the battery and work your way from there.
Let's check the battery cable connections at both ends...100% clean and tight at the battery - the other end??? Onto the body is a good (like battery connection to metal) To the starter, I know it is a grunt but we got a problem. Unbolt off the main lead and clean it as best you can and bolt it up again nice and tight. Done that. While you are down there look at the smaller leads and check those connections. They come from the key and go the solenoid to actuate the starter. If sometimes the key act dead it would be here that I would first look on these little wires. If the wiring is clean then the fault may be in a faulty solenoid. On my bug, I have dismantled,(it wa the weekend and no stores were open that had the part or had to order it in (a couple of days)-I needed the car sooner) and sanded clean the contacts ,reassembled and it worked for months afterward. Otherwise, when you disassemble it you can sort of tell when it is kinda shot. Unfortunately, with electrical once used it yours whether you needed it or not. Blaming the starter is like the dead dead dead last thing to blame.
So if the engine cranks but the car does not start it is either ignition or fuel.
Electronic fuel injection? Check for fuses under the dash. Maybe pull all the fuses and clean the ends of them as they are only 30 years old. That alunimum will not be shiny anymore . Look for inline fuses and check them. There is one in the engine compartment on the doghouse behind the distributor. See if that is up to snuff. Gotta fuel filter. Been changed?
Let me know if all proves ok but still no go.
The more exacting you can be as to when and where in what kind of conditions you have problems will help in finding your problem. Thanks
Check also for vacuum leaks by getting a spray can of brake cleaner and spraying the intake manifold and hoses while car is idling to see if there is a change in the idle.
If I gotta reach farther, check your fuel pump diaphram or swap the whole pump. I've had both cases where the diaphram was ripped and at a different time when the care would starve out and couldn't be started for 20 minutes...fuel pump internal check ball was the problem.
Another thought came to mind...have you done a compression test on it lately or adjusted the valves?? I know you will have a few miles on it by now.
I have covered everything except the ignition switch which I have had fail on me as well.
