One down, 2 to go

KKiley · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:58 pm Post subject: One down, 2 to go

So I have 3 simple issues with my '78 Super that I've been meaning to address. Today, the front shifter bushing got replaced. Ever since I changed shifter's, it's been an issue getting into 1st. For once, a project went exactly as planned. Rear coupling undone, and my wife bought me some new tools for xmas and I have these angled needle nose pliers. No rust to speak of on the shifter rod, bushing was gone, so it slid forward with no problems. New bushing installed without dropping, used some dish soap and grease to get things going back in. 1st project I have done on this car that it did not fight me every step of the way.

Next one to address is the gas gauge. Then the odometer. My gas gauge will read a max of 1/2 full, so I get nervous about how much fuel is in it. Although it never gets that low, I would like it more accurate. I have had the tank out before and the sending unit. Do I have to pull the tank again to address the sending unit, or can I work with it in the car?

The speedometer works, need to pull the unit and send it off to someone to fix the odometer issue. I met a guy at a show that is here in So Cal that repairs them. I have his card somewhere. Think he said it was $70 to repair one.

Sure do enjoy the fuel injection!
Kevin
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1978 Super Beetle convertible

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cletus_zuber · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:28 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

As far as gas gauge, go here
http://www.midsouthvw.com/TechTips/tech_tip_FuelGauge.htm
or get used to how yours reads, mine goes to 3/4 when full, when in the middle of "R", it will hold 8 gallons.

I guess 70 is fair, to either super glue the plastic gear on the odometer shaft, or replace with a salvaged brass gear from an earlier model.
there are speedometer rebuild threads on here if you want to tackle that job yourself.
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KKiley · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

Thanks Cletus. Posting on here is always fun to hear from other people and experiences. I would like to get my gas gauge a little more accurate, so I appreciate the link.

Did a quick search on the odometer and found this:
http://m.odometergears.com/howto/VW_Super_Beetle_Odometer_Gears_Replacement.pdf

Looks like it's not a big deal either.
Thanks
Kevin
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1978 Super Beetle convertible

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KKiley · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

Drove it today. It was awesome, shifting into all gears normally. They don't work very well with that front bushing completely gone.

Heat- that is added to the list. Will get all the hoses hooked up tomorrow. Been a little chilly here in So Cal, and having no top, heat would be nice. Never ran the heater before.
Kevin
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1978 Super Beetle convertible

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Tim Donahoe · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 12:39 am Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

I’ve found that a gauge that only reads 1/2 is a sender rheostat that is burnt out on the latter half. So, you need to pull the tank out at least enough to get the sender out.

Since you need some speedometer work, it’s a good time to replace the fuel-gauge vibrator. There’s a reason why your sender rheostat burnt out at the halfway mark. A bad vibrator will do this.

Get the new-style vibrator (black plastic with a metal backing).

Tim
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KKiley · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 11:19 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

Looks like a parts list is growing. I hot all the hoses hooked up correctly for the heat, now I just need to figure out the levers and switches. The fan is blowing great. Now to get some heat blowing thru. The drivers side cable is broken off at the end, so I need a new one of those. I did stick something in the flap to keep it open and let hot air blow thru. I just need to figure out the heat blending functions on this car.

So I need a heater cable, the gas gauge sender and the fuel-gauge vibrator.
Pretty short list for today.

Kevin
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1978 Super Beetle convertible

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VW_Jimbo · Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2018 11:44 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

Hey Kevin, Been a little while! Thought I would text this to you and then thought this may save someone else from harm. Good food for thought regarding 50 year old exhaust cladded steel pipes! Most part have a service life.

Before relying on that heat, be sure to test the heated air for any carbon monoxide. Those old heater boxes may have rusted through and may allow exhaust gas into the cabin. Be sure to test. Get the car running, close all the windows and place a CO detector in the cabin. If it goes off, take those boxes out and check them out. Not certain that is a good test for this but it works for the interior of many homes. Maybe someone knows an actual test that can be performed?

However, you can disregard this if the top is not installed! Just remembered that!
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AlmostHeavenWV_VW · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 6:26 am Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

KKiley · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

Jimbo,
Thanks for chiming in. The heat system is solid, other than the outside cover behind the passenger wheel was worn thru from rocks being thrown from the rear tire. I was meaning to JB Weld a patch in place, it's not a big issue. I used some furnace tape instead, just to seal everything up. Still no top on it, but the gases are all going out the back, where they should.

Almostheaven, thanks for the pictorial, I am better with images too. Right lever up, will see if I get some heat flowing inside the car. I drove it around the block last night a cpl of times, but didn't feel anything. But I didn't have right lever up either, lol

Kevin
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1978 Super Beetle convertible

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KKiley · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

Interesting tip in this video. One of the heater cable ends is snapped off. He mentions a cable extender, or another option, which i will try.
My cable is fine, it just broke the end from taking it off and on so much. What I can do is bend a hook in the end of a cable and hook it around a cotter pin. That will work until I can replace the cable. Great idea.

Link

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1978 Super Beetle convertible

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AlmostHeavenWV_VW · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2018 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

KKiley · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

Got the Bentley out, as I am not having much luck getting heat into the cabin. I have all of my hoses hooked up, the lever on the right side of the emergency brake opens the control valves by the heater boxes. My fan switch works and I can change the distribution from the dash to the defrost ok.

But I don't have any heat coming out. What does the lever on the drivers side control? I see cables attached to the floor vents down by my feet. They are closed, so nothing is coming out, and I can't find what opens them. And what does the other knob on the dash do? I think it turns the dash on and off completely. Not doing anything at this time.

Thanks in advance.

Kevin
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1978 Super Beetle convertible

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KKiley · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 8:27 am Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

On the heater channel vents, I see there is a cable hooked to them on each side. They are closed. What is that cable hooked to to make them open?
Nothing I pull or turn makes that happen.
Thanks
Kevin
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1978 Super Beetle convertible

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vamram · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:15 am Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

In my '74 Super, the front football cables are operated by the right lever. They may original. I've never seen them sold anywhere...maybe I haven't looked....
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'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
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vamram · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:23 am Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

There's a picture of the cable about 3\4 of the way down page 5 of this thread:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...;start=120
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

KKiley · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 5:20 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

Thanks Vanram. I do see the cable and it is not doing anything at the vents. So it must be broken. My next question is, if those vents are closed, why am I not getting heat from the dash. NADA, nothing warm, just blowing cold air.
I am going to manually open them and see if it gets warm, then diagnose from there. And see if that cable is available.

Kevin
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1978 Super Beetle convertible

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busdaddy · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

Take the footwell vents out and see if any heat comes out, you may have an issue further back in the rocker tube, like maybe rodent nests or PO spray foam suprise. If you are getting good flow out of the footwells when the covers are removed maybe the hoses are off down in the hell holes? You'll need a flexible inspection camera to see that.
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KKiley · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go

Thanks busdaddy. I have a couple of days off this week, so will pull them out and see what happens. I suspect blockage also, just need to figure out where. If nothing happens when I pull the vents, we will have it narrowed down pretty good.

Kevin
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1978 Super Beetle convertible

Click to view image

sb001 · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: One down, 2 to go


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