It won't bloody start................

crocco_john · 21-12-2009, 06:30 PM

The beetle won't start ................ bit fed up as I need it to get to leicester and colchester for christmas... The starter motor is turning the engine over and there is a spark from the coil to the distributor but it just doesn't want to go, seemed fine yesterday.........bollocks :-(
dunno if the cold weather has buggered something up.

Any ideas or help please..............

21-12-2009, 07:36 PM

May be obvious cheeks but is there any fuel, is fuel filter blocked, is there fuel to the cylinders, is there a spark at the plugs and what colour are the plugs? what could you have knocked anything i,e coil leads etc. ( on my bus the distributer was loose when i got it and the timing went out and she would not start).

bac2ba6 · 21-12-2009, 07:43 PM

points gapped correctly ? had that before fine one day and for some reason the next day wouldnt start ? checked the gap and for some god only knows reason they had shifted a bit re gapped them and was fine again

crocco_john · 21-12-2009, 08:00 PM

I've checked the following
choke works fine
fuel filter is clean
fuel is squirting into the carb
air and fuel pipes are clear and free of blockages
pipes running to carb are clean and free of obstructions
spark visible from ignition coil to distributor

I'm beginning to wonder if its the condenser but not sure what else to check........

bac2ba6 · 21-12-2009, 08:12 PM

for what they cost it may be worth changeing the condensor

danfromtheseventies · 21-12-2009, 08:21 PM

Take a plug out, hold the tip against the engine (somewhere metal) with pliers, and get some one to turn the engine over.... if you have a spark, then you know all of your ignition system is good.

if you have no spark clean the plug and try again...

Also DOUBLE check all the conections are good.

still no spark? get a screw and stick it in the ht lead, spark plug end, and see if there is a spark.

No spark, and you say your getting a spark from the coil to the dizzy cap?

Then your leads, arm or cap or points or condensor are shagged, set your points gap, making sure its all clean in there, then try again, then replace them all, one at a time starting with points and condensor.

If you had a spark at the plug to start with, check your timing, then clean ya carb.

Dont fret, it'll start.....

Sally55 · 21-12-2009, 09:39 PM

Hi, mine has been doing the same! I managed to get it to start by squirting WD40 down the air filter and it gave it that extra kick and it went. However, shouldn't do that all the time! ......my distributer had turned slightly and the timing was out, my friendly nieghbour adjusted it and I think that helped.
Mine was also loosing power while driving along (see my thread 'loosing power') and resorted to taking it the garage where I've discovered its the manifold icing up. I couldn't understand why it should be worse now when I've had it a year and last year was fine in all the snow we had, it started straight away, better than modern cars! But, its cos its colder now and freezing and damp air, plus the manifold was really gunked up with carbon stuff.

Plus basically its missing the warm air hose and summer/winter thingy that normally comes with the air filter. So once I get a new one of those, should be better.

Hope this helps!

crocco_john · 22-12-2009, 06:30 PM

right got it to the twins and hoping to have it back tomorrow, both the rac and brookside deserve a medal for rescuing me in my hour of need yet again.

Dumb question time now............
The twins have suggested fitting an electronic ignition kit a petronix igniter 2 with the hope of improving reliability. Does any one know if this will help or have any experience of an air cooled vw with electronic ignition? Are they any better to drive or more reliable?

thanks for you help
bigjohn

jinx · 22-12-2009, 09:34 PM

lots of folks use the petronix setup
VW performance parts, VW tuning, beetle and Camper van performance parts

i have a t25 vw electronic ignition its in my t4 powered bug and is fine and reliable, so far
they are getting abit old now and the wireing is ageing, id like to get this rebuilt to maintain reliabilty
whole setup set me back £40
the ignition curve is a bit out for a bug, as its from a bus but i love it!

kyle · 22-12-2009, 11:15 PM

u can get the petronix system for 009 dizzys and vac advance so dont worry about the curve the vac will sort out the advance n retard n if u hav a 009 dizzy it dont hav anything to change the curve.

i aint hav no probs with mine petronix n i hav bin happy with it cus i aint gotta piss about with all that point gappin shite n wonder if my condenser workin! the only thing u gotta do from there on is change the rotor arm n cap yearly. make sure the wires that go to it dont rub on the centre magnet cus sooner or later it'll expose the wires which its only fault really.

if ur timing rite, mark a line on the bottom of the dizzy and the bracket that u tighten up to adjust the timing so u can c if the dizzy turned out of sync.