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Jazzfess 
Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2013
Posts: 67
Location: Woodstock, NY (where the festival wasn’t held)
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 Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 6:36 am Post subject: 68 convertible began bucking while driving now won’t start. |
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Went for a ride in our 68 convertible. She was running great but then started to “buck”, came to a dead stop, and now won’t start (had the car towed back home).
Plenty of gas in the tank.
Changed the fuel filter (at home).
Checked that the fuel pump is working (I disconnected the hose from the fuel pump to the carburetor and saw that fuel was being pumped into an empty bottle).
<1yr old battery
Tried starting fluid.
It want’s to turn over but just won’t.
Thanks in advance,
Don |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 32862
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 11:37 am Post subject: Re: 68 convertible began bucking while driving now won’t start. |
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| Jazzfess wrote: |
| Went for a ride in our 68 convertible. She was running great but then started to “buck”, came to a dead stop, and now won’t start (had the car towed back home). |
Irrelevant whether convertible or not
| Jazzfess wrote: |
Checked that the fuel pump is working (I disconnected the hose from the fuel pump to the carburetor and saw that fuel was being pumped into an empty bottle).
<1yr old battery
Tried starting fluid.
It want’s to turn over but just won’t. |
Since starting fluid sprayed in and the engine spins/cranks but won't run even a few seconds, you have an ignition issue. Check that your contact points haven't closed due to lack of lube for its rubbing block, or if electronic pointless ignition: good luck !
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Jazzfess
Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2013
Posts: 67
Location: Woodstock, NY (where the festival wasn’t held)
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 3:18 am Post subject: Re: 68 convertible began bucking while driving now won’t start. |
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I filed the points and now the car starts. New parts on order.
Yes, it is "irrelevant whether convertible or not” but I thought I would just add that for completeness or just did.
_________________
Old Hippies don’t die, they just fade away...
’68 Beetle Convertible
’72 Beetle Convertible
’77 MGB Convertible
’09 Jeep JK |
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clockworkbox
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2020
Posts: 445
Location: Williamsport, PA
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 4:23 am Post subject: Re: 68 convertible began bucking while driving now won’t start. |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| Jazzfess wrote: |
| Went for a ride in our 68 convertible. She was running great but then started to “buck”, came to a dead stop, and now won’t start (had the car towed back home). |
Irrelevant whether convertible or not |
C'mon, this is just good story craft, sheesh.
_________________
'69 Beetle (pieces)
Learning the hard way is still learning... |
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Jazzfess
Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2013
Posts: 67
Location: Woodstock, NY (where the festival wasn’t held)
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 6:43 am Post subject: Re: 68 convertible began bucking while driving now won’t start. |
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I took it a little to personal I guess. Friends?
_________________
Old Hippies don’t die, they just fade away...
’68 Beetle Convertible
’72 Beetle Convertible
’77 MGB Convertible
’09 Jeep JK |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 32862
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 6:53 am Post subject: Re: 68 convertible began bucking while driving now won’t start. |
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| Jazzfess wrote: |
I filed the points and now the car starts. New parts on order.
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Remember to put a little distributor cam grease on the distributor shaft where the points rubbing block will rub. I saw this failure frequently when I worked at a VW/Dune Buggy rental place in the "old days".
I hope you ordered TWO sets of contact points so you can carry a spare set in the VW.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Jazzfess
Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2013
Posts: 67
Location: Woodstock, NY (where the festival wasn’t held)
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 7:17 am Post subject: |
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I did order two sets of contact points.
However, I do need to apply some distributor cam grease.
Thanks!
_________________
Old Hippies don’t die, they just fade away...
’68 Beetle Convertible
’72 Beetle Convertible
’77 MGB Convertible
’09 Jeep JK |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 32862
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 11:37 am Post subject: |
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| Jazzfess wrote: |
I did order two sets of contact points.
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Good thinkin' !!!
| Jazzfess wrote: |
However, I do need to apply some distributor cam grease.
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I have a tube I bought some decades ago. However, I confess to using (successfully) a tad of wheel bearing grease. This is a photo from gallery, like mine.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Jazzfess
Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2013
Posts: 67
Location: Woodstock, NY (where the festival wasn’t held)
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| Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: 68 convertible began bucking while driving now won’t start. |
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Thanks again.
I need to take inventory of the tools and parts I carry with me so I don’t get stuck on the side of the road.
_________________
Old Hippies don’t die, they just fade away...
’68 Beetle Convertible
’72 Beetle Convertible
’77 MGB Convertible
’09 Jeep JK |
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