1969 beetle- having some problems, need some help!

[whitney86]

I'm new to this forum, it was referred to me by a friend.

Anyway, I am hoping that posting my question here will get me some answers and some help! I have a 1969 beetle... still needs some TLC and has been driving fairly well until tonight.
Not sure how to explain it, but when I switch from 1-2 or from 2-3 gear, my car jumps... not like as if i switched gears to early or late... but when I accelorate, the car doesn't seem to want to go. It stalled on me when I came to a stop off the freeway and wouldn't start up again and had to push it into a parking lot. There it fired up right away, but driving the last mile back home it was still jumping between gears and still not "catching" the acceleration.

I'm hoping someone will be able to understand what the problem may be. Others say it may have to do with the fuel or perhaps the alternator?

Any and all answers would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[midget-farmer]

Thats really a tough one. Your description is kind of vague & its difficult to determine what is going on.

So does the car buck & sputter while in gear but has no power - or does it only have issues when the clutch is pushed in to shift gears?

I doubt its the alternator. Based on what you have said I would say its fuel pump going out. But its really hard to say.

On a modern fuel injected car - when the fuel pump goes bad the car will die. Then after sitting for some time it will start up again & act normally.

[ashman40]

A description of your engine would help:
- What size motor?
- What carb is installed?
- What model distributor? Numbers stamped on the side.
- When was the last full tune-up? (valve adjustment; distributor cap/rotor//capacitor/points + adjustment, carb cleaning and adjustment)
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AshMan40
---------------------------
'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[whitney86]

[whitney86]

[marklee]

Flat spot when accelerating following gear change

1. remove air cleaner look in carb and pull back on throttle lever. As you pull back neat fuel should spray down the throat from a brass jet.

2. Check points gap and time engine.

3. With dist cap off suck on tube coming from advance canister to carb and look to see if the points move, they should.If you dont have a vac canister start engine with timing light hooked up and see if timing marks move when engine is revved.

4. Listen for air leaks in the pipes in the engine, if a twin port make sure the manifold boots which join the intake manifold are in good order.

5. Give engine a service new plugs leads etc and see how you get on.

Without engine specific data thats as much as I can tell you for now
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[midget-farmer]

I'm starting to think its a vacuum leak.

I'm not that familiar with VW's & VW engines, but on a chevy engine if there is a vacuum leak the engine will behave similar to what you are describing.

Check all the vacuum lines/hoses on & around the carb. If the engine is sucking in air from someplace its not supposed to it can stall the engine & make it act up.

[jlex]

Sounds like its fuel starved. Replace the fuel filter. My '70 was losing power on hills this past week, so I gave it a tune up & it's good to go. Tuneup is in this order: adjust valves, replace points & set dwell, set timing, then adjust carburetor. I think your problem will be solved with just a couple hours of work.
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jlex.
'70 std. "Elsie"
'88 Carrera

[whitney86]

[jlex]

Don't start wasting money on replacing parts that may not need replaced. Replacement of the fuel pump is done when problems like leaking or total failure are apparent. If gas is being delivered at the right psi and it's not leaking gas into your crankcase, you're probably okay with the current pump.
I'd look for a vacuum leak around the carburetor as the cause of the stalling. On my 30PICT3 carb (original to the '70 bug) I had to get the throttle bushings replaced to stop the stalling problem. To rule out a vacuum leak around the carb, spray carb cleaner in suspected areas & see if that changes the idle. If so, it's aspirating air from the leak area in addition to what it takes in from the air cleaner, causing the engine to run too lean, thus stalling.
Do the tuneup & check for vacuum leaks...
If you have the original 30PICT2 carb on that '69, it's throttle bushings could be worn out causing a vacuum leak. What carb is it?
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jlex.
'70 std. "Elsie"
'88 Carrera

[jlex]

Forgot to mention: even if you detect no leaks at the carb, it could be that all you need is a good carb overhaul (cleaning). If it's internal passages are crudded up, you can get poor performance and stalling. When's the last time it was cleaned? Short of an overhaul, try removing some of the jets & blowing carb cleaner thru them to see if that helps.
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jlex.
'70 std. "Elsie"
'88 Carrera