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Mon Nov 24, 2003 12:35 pm

hey whats up guys
my 73 super has been stalling when its at idle or when im driving it. i took the thermostat out cuz my dad did i duno. would that have anything to do with it? or is my idle set to low? like its all warm and when i get to a top it turns off i aint dowen anything wrong though. if u know what im talkin bout

Mon Nov 24, 2003 4:32 pm

You shouldn't drive without that thermostat. It controls a flap inside the fan shroud that only opens to let in cold air when the engine is sufficiently warm. Without the thermostat the car won't warm up as quickly in cold weather.

Sounds like you need to tune up the car. Timing, points gap, dwell, that kind of thing. Get a manual or do a search on these forums for info on what to do.

Mon Nov 24, 2003 5:16 pm

i think my ilde is set wrong. the flaps from which the thermostat opens are always on is that cool? and is there an easy way to put it back in with out takin out the shroud? as for putting that metal rod on?

Tue Nov 25, 2003 4:03 pm

This is beyond my knowledge. But the Bentley and Haynes manuals have info on how to hook up the thermostat, with pix. Otherwise you could search on thesamba. But if you have an old beetle you really need a good manual.

Tue Nov 25, 2003 5:20 pm

Since you are in Arizona, it depends on what part you live in.
If the temperature never gets below about 45 degrees, then the thermostat being disconnected is no big deal, as long as the air vanes are in the proper open postion. You can tell this by reaching around front of the base of the air shroud (engine off, front is front of car).
You should be able to feel a bar about 1/2" high running along the base of the shroud, it is the linkage to the four link pins hooked to the vanes. There should be a spring pulling that bar to the left, driver's side. The vanes are open when the bar is full left. If the spring is not present, or the actuator rod from the thermostat is in the way, the vanes won't open up, and your engine WILL overheat.

Since I garage my VW's, I just wire up the vanes in the open position, and disconnect the thermostat. But you should keep the vanes in there, because they are very important in directing the cooling air to the proper location. I can't tell you how many engines I've seen with the vanes removed. KEEP THEM!!!

Tue Nov 25, 2003 5:56 pm

The reason the flaps are always on is usually that the thermostat has gone bad and needs replaced. Just make sure that when you loosen the nut that holds the thermostat bracket to the case to check it by pushing it up and down to see that the flaps and linkage are free ,and replace the thermostat with the correct deg. replacement.

Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:53 pm

thanx man thats alot of help. i needed to know all that kewl thanx