Aircooled VW South Africa

Tried to get the bus going and moved so as to work on the brakes. I'll have to try again tommorrow after replacing the buggies bonnet and screen.

Another full aircooled weekend.

At least this one was spent at home.

Finally found a new tube for the beetle...will fit Monday so I can drive again...organsing some spare steel wheels so I have spares around also.

I wire-brushed the rust from the floor and brushed on a couple of coats of grey primer. Also cleaned the rust from the main right-hand welded join and slapped on the first layer of filler.

Gave the engine a once over with the brush and water, topped up the oil, then drove her up to Pmburg. What a joy!!

Replaced the bonnet on the buggy. Still need to bolt it down tho".

Had tube fitted, fitted white walls, got home and they started pushing off the sides. So I decided to let some air out and then adjust it, then this happens...F***ed UP....highly pissed off.

Anybody have 2 used whitewalls to sell?

Did the 60km trip from PMB yesterday, got home, turned off engine, went into house, 10 min later went to car, turned key, NOTHING! Faf aroung house as I huff and puff thinking how am I gonna go to my appointment. 20 min from turning engine off, turn key once again, IGNITION!
Today, I go through to the club, play squash, drive back 20km, get to me driveway, jump out to open and close gate. Stall car. Turn key, NOTHING!! Left car outside for an hour. Just been out, turned key, IGNITION!

What is happening boys? Nah, it is not solinoid as I have no tic when I turn key. Utter silence. Could it be the coil perhaps?!

Huh? The click of the solinoid is the first thing you should hear.

Hloni wrote:Did the 60km trip from PMB yesterday, got home, turned off engine, went into house, 10 min later went to car, turned key, NOTHING! Faf aroung house as I huff and puff thinking how am I gonna go to my appointment. 20 min from turning engine off, turn key once again, IGNITION!
Today, I go through to the club, play squash, drive back 20km, get to me driveway, jump out to open and close gate. Stall car. Turn key, NOTHING!! Left car outside for an hour. Just been out, turned key, IGNITION!

What is happening boys? Nah, it is not solinoid as I have no tic when I turn key. Utter silence. Could it be the coil perhaps?!

Ugly Betty did the same to me a while back. When I push start she starts first time. Had the starter overhauled and since no problems. Could be the brushes worn through and shorting the starter's rotor. It was intermittent, but almost always when she was hot.
On Betty the handbrake, oil and charge light just dimmed when I turned the key. No click. Maybe that's something to check.

Decided to have a go at getting the regulator sorted on my 58.
I open the lid and find some small stone looking particles all over the place ?????
I look around ???? check the genny brushes, there are none ?????
After much bitching I fit a brand new set, start it up, get a horrible sound comming from the back go take a look, the brushes are being ground down, with bits flying everywhere. Slowly the grinding sound gets less as the brushes disapear into small particles. Eventually all I hear is the normal engine sound, it took about 30 seconds for the brushes to disapear, this is a rebuilt genny less than 150 km's on it, I was so pissed that I now need to remove the genny that I switched the car off, put the cover on and went and watch TV.
I hate genny's all my cars I change over to alt. when possible, I was going with a more vintage look but it looks as if that plan is out the window and an alt. will soon being doing service.

Ugly Betty


Love that name!

catfish wrote:Ugly Betty


Love that name!

Have you seen the series Ugly Betty...cool...

catfish wrote:Ugly Betty


Love that name!

If you see her you'll know where the name comes from. She good looking but with a few ugly spots and some cellulite (rust) that needs to be fixed. But still a damn good ride.

After her makeover, she'll porbably just be Betty.

Pretty much had all the braking components replaced this week, as I wasn't comfortable with the way she stopped. So now new everything, except the lines, which I did a few months back.

Also sorted out new tin, the last bit is finding that rubber engine seal. Oh, also found an adjustable front beam, which will be added to the 59 next month. Should go nicely with the 145's at the front and the 205's at the rear.

oil pressure sensor died , no light .. but got a light when i grounded the wire.. replaced it with a component from vw agent .. then discovered i only got an oil pressure light when the revs were high ..bit disconcerting driving around with a oil pressure light on went back to them ... they then realised thye had given me the wrong one .. for another vehicle altogether ....