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Buggeee Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016 Posts: 4422 Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 6:10 pm Post subject: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Well I may have waited decades to do it, but I finally brought home a topless bunny just like I'd dreamt about as a teenager....
There she sits as found, having been fully enjoyed for 165,000 miles but dismissed and set aside outdoors to sit for about eight years with some frustratingly incurable malady.
Unable to negotiate as the price was "firm", I overpaid at $975. Shuddering, she labored her perfectly clean shock towers onto the rescue trailer under her own power and quit with a cough as soon as on board.
Having arrived home she fired right up and sputtered off the trailer.
_________________ 1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764
SnowDaySyncro wrote: |
Every setback is an opportunity to learn stuff and to buy new tools. |
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Buggeee Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016 Posts: 4422 Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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This rabbit goes by "Cabriolet" because 1992 was a mature year for the breed. I figured we'd get to know each other with a thorough bubble and buff. She cleaned up nicely.
Then it was time to drop that top and go for an introuductary spin. With two cylinders firing, some occasional back firing, and all three gears automatically clicking into place on time, she was taking it slow and I was a little nervous but smiling like a kid in the evening sun.
_________________ 1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764
SnowDaySyncro wrote: |
Every setback is an opportunity to learn stuff and to buy new tools. |
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oasis Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2002 Posts: 2168
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Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Congrats! _________________ Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI |
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tcmia Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2019 Posts: 212 Location: Cleveland TN
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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 6:57 am Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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The paint cleaned up super nice! |
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Butcher Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015 Posts: 1285 Location: Right Here
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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:05 am Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Looks like a good deal. Keep us updated on the progress.
Do as you wish, but the car is almost 30 years old and I would replace most of the brake system with new/rebuilt parts. Calipers, hoses, master cylinder, cylinders, etc. It does not matter if it goes if you cannot stop. |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2021 5:25 pm Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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I do like that blackinterior..
and I need to learn how to buff paint sometime..
congrats.. they are a nice and 'unique' classic ride..
still has that organic feel from the road... even with PS and Automatic.
plus parts and project cars are getting expensive... so at $975 it really wasn't much over if any.. I have a non-runner cabriolet here and wouldn't let it go for that little. _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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Butcher Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015 Posts: 1285 Location: Right Here
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Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 7:48 am Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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The power steering system has just the right amount of assist and has less lock to lock too.
The automatic, although reliable, sucks and takes away from the car. I know, I have one. |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 7925 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Nice job so far on that triple-black Carat... top-of-the-line model back in '92 and the only Cabriolet in the world to receive that interior. _________________ ~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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Buggeee Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016 Posts: 4422 Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Thank you for chiming in everyone! It's good to share the hobby and share information and advice. That's good info about this model you have shared. The interior is sweet, and kind of seems like leather upholstery on the seats.
Also the body kit is awesome, it has bumper covers and ground effects, which gives it a very cool look, and I like the raindrop mag wheels - very eighties.
Fun fact, I've read the cabriolet has the big-valve head like the GTI.
If I was going to auto cross it, I'd be more interested in a manual transmission. As basically a free project car that might find a permanent spot in the herd as a fun run-a-bout, automatic is just fine. (In terms of overpaying, that was kind of toung in cheek).
Before it sees any regular duty, it will get soft brake lines and a fluid flush, along with an eyeball on the brake components. Make it stop befor you make it go... I subscribe to it and am just keeping it on the local unoccupied country road as I sort some of the engine stuff to see if its worthy of a full dive in (spoiler alert, it is).
So I pulled the plugs and found cylinders 2 and 3 black and gooey, while 1 and 4 were a healthy toasty brown. Looked up the firing order, swapped the 2 and 3 wires, and BAM! It sprung right to vigorous life. I've shared the polishing pics with the prior owner, but will keep this discovery to my self out of respect for his mental health. Eight years, this car sat, due to mixing up a couple of spark plug wires. It must have drove them all batty.
I ran seafoam in the crank case for a half hour and changed the oil and filter. I poured seafoam, de-icer (water remover) and octane booster into the tank and filled it with premium gas. Letting it run for another half our or so and it settled into a nice steady purr as the is additives cleared the varnish and gunk from the injectors.
With all the garbage burned through, fresh plugs were in order. Pulled the old ones and all 4 were a nice roasty brown.
The new ones got gapped and thread lubricant applied to help get an accurate torque reading. I hit the threaded holes with a quick blast of carb cleaner to clear the threads, and torqued them in to 15 ft pounds. Plugs are much easier on a rabbit compared to a Bug!!!
Fresh cap, rotor and wires were in order, as well as the obligatory K&N air filter.
Took her for a spin and she pulled eagerly, cruised steadily, running like the German machine she knows she is.
The idle is unpredictable, in that it's high, or normal, or very high, or a little high, or normal. This is a classic idle air control valve symptom in a fuel injected car, so I've ordered one in. _________________ 1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764
SnowDaySyncro wrote: |
Every setback is an opportunity to learn stuff and to buy new tools. |
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Buggeee Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016 Posts: 4422 Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Buggeee Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016 Posts: 4422 Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 5:34 am Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Well, it seems the earlier comment from our ranks about going through the brake system (which is due to the fact that rubber deteriorates even while a car is sitting), applies equally to the cooling system on these water-cooled servants.
Idling the car while chasing down vaccum leaks, and replacing little cloth braided hoses throughout the engine bay, let me witness a crack, and utter failure, of what I now know to be called a coolant hose flange.
So, while the air-cooled Beetle may have less convenient spark plug access, it never sprays green piss all over my shop.
I'm assuming that it was a stuck thermostat, but honestly can't say I remember hearing the electric fan running at the moment of failure.
Anyway, a thermostat, plastic fittings and rubber hoses are on their way in trucks that will excite the dogs in a few days. Then I can restart the car and cycle the fan to see if the sensors and relays or whatnot are functioning.
In the meantime, she's being rolled outside to make room for other meditations while we wait for parts.. She has a place in the barn for the winter but for a few days she'll be just fine under a spare Beetle car cover. For those that didn't know they were curious, like myself, it turns out that a Beetle car cover fits a Rabbit pretty decently.
All said, my experiences with this little car so far reflect the charmed nature of some VWs. This one has started when needed, run only long enough to accomplish the task at hand, and suffered catastrophic failure in the safety of the driveway. Some Beetles have been like that, and I have loved them for it. Timing is everything. _________________ 1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764
SnowDaySyncro wrote: |
Every setback is an opportunity to learn stuff and to buy new tools. |
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Butcher Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015 Posts: 1285 Location: Right Here
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Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Do not forget about the plastic coolant housings located at the back of the head as well as the one between #3-4 cylinders. The thermostat housing would be wise to replace also. There is a fitting between the heater hoses that you should replaced. If you go to the hardware store, a pex pipe slice works really well. Made of brass and has the perfect diameter to splice the hose. I believe VW used plastic in your model.
Do as you wish, but if you do not replace most/if not all of the coolant components, you will be chasing coolant leaks for a while. Do it once saves you a lot of time and money. It also gives you the confidence that you will get home.
If I did not mention it, stay away from Meyle and URO parts. They rarely last long especially the plastic/electrical ones. |
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Buggeee Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016 Posts: 4422 Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2021 10:45 pm Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Butcher wrote: |
Do not forget about the plastic coolant housings located at the back of the head as well as the one between #3-4 cylinders. The thermostat housing would be wise to replace also. There is a fitting between the heater hoses that you should replaced. If you go to the hardware store, a pex pipe slice works really well. Made of brass and has the perfect diameter to splice the hose. I believe VW used plastic in your model.
Do as you wish, but if you do not replace most/if not all of the coolant components, you will be chasing coolant leaks for a while. Do it once saves you a lot of time and money. It also gives you the confidence that you will get home.
If I did not mention it, stay away from Meyle and URO parts. They rarely last long especially the plastic/electrical ones. |
I do appreciate the tips. I have ordered a couple more tid bits to round out the update as long as the system is apart. The PEX splice is a handy hack as that piece is not readily popping up in the search. _________________ 1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764
SnowDaySyncro wrote: |
Every setback is an opportunity to learn stuff and to buy new tools. |
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Butcher Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015 Posts: 1285 Location: Right Here
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Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 8:43 am Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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https://www.pexsuperstore.com/product/1-2-pex-coupling-splice-crimp-brass-fittings/
I'm not certain if it's 1/2" but you have two heater hoses that attached to the two heater core hoses. One hose attaches to the heater valve and the other one is attaches to a splice [similar to the one above]. The newer VW's used a plastic fitting and the older ones were steel.
Like all materials, they eventually fail. Plastic or steel, they both last a certain amount of time and then expire. Most, if not all the plastic pieces under the hood have last 30+ years so they are past their expiration date. When one fails, it's best to replace all of them. |
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12115 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:30 am Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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I don't know how much Digifant II info is out there, but the diagnostics are virtually the same as found in the Vanagon 2.1 WBX, which uses Digifant I. That automatic portion of the transaxle is also the same as found in a Vanagon.
I've long wanted a Cabby kitted out exactly like yours _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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Buggeee Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016 Posts: 4422 Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
I don't know how much Digifant II info is out there, but the diagnostics are virtually the same as found in the Vanagon 2.1 WBX, which uses Digifant I. That automatic portion of the transaxle is also the same as found in a Vanagon.
I've long wanted a Cabby kitted out exactly like yours |
Ya I just stumbled on it in Craigslist whilst hunting a Camery for one of my kids. Needless to say I snatched it up (out of the same neighborhood I might add, it was a very convenient day).
The fuel injection reminds me alot of what I had on an aircooled Vanagon and I'm feeling right at home.
I've been plodding through replacing all of the cooling hoses, fittings, switches and relays and am making steady progress. As far as fuel system I've got the in-tank pump replaced and the high pressure one is next. Replacing a few ground straps and cleaning the others. Check, check, check. Housekeeping. Fixing many frayed wires, replacing loose connectors. You know the drill. Deferred maintenance, spit, tape and bailing wire was everywhere. I hope to post an update once I get her purring again but for now it's a lot of one-on-one intimacy getting to know each other.
Thank you for checking in Z _________________ 1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764
SnowDaySyncro wrote: |
Every setback is an opportunity to learn stuff and to buy new tools. |
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Buggeee Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016 Posts: 4422 Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 7:34 pm Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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This is the moment at the crossroads. Teetering on the edge of regretting my impulsive habits, foray into the world of H2O cooled MK1, and addiction to Craigslist, I'm staring at a dashless mess and I'm not even halfway to retrieving the heater core that is made partly out of degrading plastic, and partly out of unobtanium.
Here is the new one, which cost me One Hundred and Sixty US Dollars ($160.00). I was glad to pay it. "Out-of-stock" seems to be part of the specs for a MK1 heater core when your car has air conditioning. By comparison, the non-AC heater core is sixty bucks shipped everywhere you look. Because you will never have one of your own, this is what the new AC equipped heater core looks like.
Whereas Bentley teases of a core that slides right out of the box on "some models", mine looks like this - trapped in a sealed box:
Which is why I tore my dash apart, in a quest to ultimately remove the huge plastic box that houses the heater core. It's a big clamshell centered squarely in the center mass of the dash like my grandma's sausage stuffing secured in the heart of a Thanksgiving Turkey.
Having surrendered to my nature, and newfound journey, I committed one hundred percent to finding the remaining inaccessible screws that would release the box.
Then I saw this.
That's the airconditioner, which is also in the box. I am absolutely not ready to unpack that box of worms. So I quit for the day.
I returned after an evening of some very promising research on VWVortex forums. Over there, I saw someone cut two slits in the side of the box with a hacksaw blade. Brilliant. Two minutes later, the old heater core was out.
I put some foam window insulation on the ends of the new core to seal airflow and avoid rattles (I've used this successfully around Type 1 oil coolers on multiple engines).
Then I slid it into place and returned a little removable panel to its home.
Once the new rubber hoses were attached, I screwed on the hose cover, which held the makeshift hatch in the closed position against the foam, sealing it up.
On a related matter, one of the heater hoses has a plastic connector that can't be found (at least by me) so, at the suggestion of my new MK1 friends stopped by the hardware store for a brass garden hose repair kit. Here's a side-by-side of old and new.
_________________ 1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764
SnowDaySyncro wrote: |
Every setback is an opportunity to learn stuff and to buy new tools. |
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Lingwendil Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2009 Posts: 3988 Location: Antioch, California, a block from the hood
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Buggeee Samba Member
Joined: December 22, 2016 Posts: 4422 Location: Stuck in Ohio
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2022 7:43 pm Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Lingwendil wrote: |
Man, that is a lovely car!
Great score, and I don't think that was an unfair price, those things go for twice that around here not even running. |
Hey thanks for checking in brother. It really was a steal wasn't it? Here on the North coast of Ohio they are all a rotted out mess. Not this one though! Should make a fun driver.
I had to drop the power steering pump to gain access to the lower hoses and thermostat.
The decision to methodically replace everything has been a good one. Here the thermostat was stuck in the open position. (Dig the forced perspective of this picture that makes the old one look as big as the bass I caught this summer.)
While the hoses were off I pulled the radiator and gave the fan shroud and the fan motor a quick dusting of rattle can.
Again, moderate diligence was rewarded with a new set of wire clippers, which the PO Gnomes thoughtfully left for me in the bottom of the fan shroud. (Really though, wtf. Some people are disturbingly lazy).
At this point I have reached a milestone. I have replaced very rubber hose, plastic fitting, valve and connector, as well as every thermo-triggered switch and relay in the entire cooling system. Here is a pile of old parts about to get the send off to future generations of archeology. (I forgot to stage the old heater core for this pic but you saw the new one go in so that should be enough)(also missing from this pic is the number 18 relay from the fuse panel, that one was bad and helps run the hot engine-off fan function that runs the fan for 15 minutes after the key is off, if the compartment is hot, avoiding vapor lock on the next re-start. Bentley had a procedure that helped me diagnose that).
_________________ 1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764
SnowDaySyncro wrote: |
Every setback is an opportunity to learn stuff and to buy new tools. |
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Butcher Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2015 Posts: 1285 Location: Right Here
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 8:52 am Post subject: Re: Buggeee's Topless Bunny |
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Is the heater valve you swapped out the same style? The new one may cause the lever to be really hard to move. If that is the case, you can use the 'Porsche' type valve. Much easier on the lever inside the car. |
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