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Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:30 am

How well do the stock washer bottle systems work?

I think I my just need new hose from spare tire valve to washer bottle connection. Do I need to get hose at vw or will any auto parts store have corrrect size hose.

Would it be better to use a after market washer bottle set up? this is a daily driver.

Thanks in advance

lv ron

Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:59 am

Spend the dough and buy the 12v pump. If it weren't a daily driver, and you wanted to keep it stock, i'd say invest in the pressure caps, new hoses, clean bottle, possible new dash switch-pump thingy, etc. But an electric one works way better. Just my $0.02.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:01 am

Hiya ron,

Actually, they work quite well IF they are maintained. Quite a few have switched over to electric pumps simply because preventative maintenance has not been pulled on this particular system in the past.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:03 am

lv ron wrote: How well do the stock washer bottle systems work?

Not great... but they will do the job. Unless you have a show car going for that true OG look, I don't personally care for them.

Check out this recent thread/discussion:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=298559

And also if you want new hardware, check my ad out:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=610394

But while I'd love to sell my stock bottle and get it out of my garage, I cannot with a straight face tell you it is even half as good as the 12v system.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:07 am

I have never had a problem with the original system, except to replace the hose about every 10 years or so.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:09 pm

You guys are great.

Can I get any type of hose that fits the bottle fittings or do I need a v.w. iteam from dealer.

I want to try the orignial system first.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:25 pm

I doubt you will be able to find it locally, unless you plan to replace JUST the hose. Not sure how that would work...

Scroll down about 3/4, illustration #3, part #311955979C
http://bughaus.com/beetle37.htm

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D311%2D955%2D979%2DB
Part number 382-480 http://www.mamotorworks.com/acvw?frame=1.6495

Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:12 pm

Damn, I need to go through the bunch of used bottles and valve that I have and test them. Put them up for sale here on TheSamba, at those prices.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 pm

Go original, they work just fine. Use new rubber tubing. I used to laugh at my friend who had an electric one with a burned out motor. I would overinflate my spare and squirt him.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:17 pm

O.K. need some help here. I have taken off the large valve that screws into bottle have removed old rotten hose. the large valve reads helphos.

is there a way to check this valve to see if it works off of the bottle.

if I blow into hose fitting on top of valve nothing happens? from what i see the air from tire feeds to smaller valve on top of water bottle and has a hose that runs from it to large valve .

Thanks

Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:20 pm

part two the rubber line from the two valves on top of bottle, to replace do i need a high pressure type hose or just any water type hose?

Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:53 pm

On my Ghia I used an electric pump, on my bug I have the stock set up. I like them both. I did replace all the hoses and I used rubber drip irrigation hose. I had it, it was the right size and it works well. You should be able to get it any place that sells drip irrigation supplies.
David

Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:36 pm

lv ron wrote: O.K. need some help here. I have taken off the large valve that screws into bottle have removed old rotten hose. the large valve reads helphos.

is there a way to check this valve to see if it works off of the bottle.

if I blow into hose fitting on top of valve nothing happens? from what i see the air from tire feeds to smaller valve on top of water bottle and has a hose that runs from it to large valve .

Thanks
Assuming it works properly, it needs at least 26psi input pressure before it will let air through. This was designed so when the pressure in the spare fell to 26 lb, the squirter would stop working so you'd have a working spare if you needed it. Your best bet is to put some fluid in it, connect it up with fresh hose and valve, and hook it to the spare.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:16 pm

were getting there,

the drip line did the trick,
next issue the line from the tank to the water spray head is dripping or spraying water from under dash. I see that this line goes thru front dash area and up into the sprayer . to access this line do I have to take the dash out or can I get to it from the underside of dashboard? what about taking the radio out.
Hey I'm learning thanks to everyones help.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:24 pm

in the bentley manual they refer to a access door for the fan box controlls in the rear of the luggage box. can I access the spray head and hose this way?

Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:38 pm

You have a curved window super beetle? Assuming so, you have a stalk on the steering column that controls the sprayer, you will notice two hoses under there...get a light and look under the steering wheel. One comes from the tank, the other goes to the nozzle (doesn't matter which goes where). One or both hoses is leaking. Just follow them and you should find a hole with grommet through the trunk. Replace both. That access panel hides the nozzle.

Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:07 pm

thanks Mike,
will have to get it tomorrow, will report back after work.
thanks again
lv ron