Bug
Me Video - Electrical Troubleshooting:
I'm glad that I have the full set of Bug Me videos on how to maintain
and repair my Volkswagen. These videos have saved me countless dollars
in repairs and maintenance to my Super Beetle. So when I found out
that Rick Higgins and crew was now releasing their famous videos
on DVD, I was ecstatic. With the release of most titles on DVD,
fast forwarding, rewinding and searching for what you are trying
to find on Rick's latest DIY presentation is now "Super"
simple, and makes the entire Bug Me Video collection much more user
friendly.
Volume #10
- Electrical Troubleshooting starts off with basic battery care
and then moves along to the Starting System. This is where Rick
and his son Chad go over a very common problem with almost any car;
no start. Working from the battery, to the ignition switch, and
then on to the starter motor, you'll learn that it's not always
one of these three items that can cause your trusty VW to play dead.
Problems can range from old wiring to a starter solenoid that is
drawing too much or too little current. And this DVD shows you how
to pinpoint the problem by using a series of methodical steps. Other
topics on this informative DVD are Charging System, "Turn Signal
Arm", "Install Guages", "How to Solder"
(you can get a sneak preview
of this in our Tech Talk with Rick section) and one of the most
popular questions that we get at the web site, how do you go about
"Converting 6 volt to 12 volt"?
The DVD
is a full three hours long and after watching it you'll be confident
enough to take on almost any electrical problem that might pop up.
Visit their web site and check out the nine other titles that will
have your VW purring like a kitten. And remember what Rick Higgins
says, "You can do it - Let us show you how!"
California
Import Parts - CIP1
Replacement
Window Regulator: The window regulator on a Beetle
is a pretty interesting device. It consists of a track with a mount
that attaches to your door glass, a spot for your window crank handle
to fit on and a long screw-like coil that moves the glass up and
down. Over the years these regulators can become stripped and generally
difficult to raise, such was the case on my 1975 Super Beetle. It
was "Super" easy to wind down, but you needed biceps like
Arnold to roll it up. The only solution was to order a new one from
California Pacific JBugs. It was a deal and arrived quickly via
the local post office.
There are no instructions with the regulator so I figured that I'd
just rip the door apart and sort it out for myself. Here's where
you can learn from my mistakes. First, remove the window crank and
armrest, then unclip and remove the door trim panel. If you temporarily
put the window crank handle back on you can see how the glass goes
up and down on the track. It's held on to the track by a couple
of bolts. Unbolt the glass and lower it gently to the bottom of
the door. When you unbolt the track you can carefully remove the
glass from the door by sliding it past the bottom of the track.
I covered mine with a cloth so I didn't scratch it when removing.
After that, unbolt the piece that the crank handle is attached to.
Now, you should be able to slide the whole thing out, but no. The
tube that the coil is in passes through a small opening (inside
the door) where the vertical channel for the vent glass is bolted
in. I unbolted it but it is nearly impossible to get it out without
removing the vent glass channel from the door. Somehow I pried the
vent glass channel open enough to get the old regulator out and
the new one in. But after working through those sharp little holes
in the door my arms looked like I just finished wrestling with a
Siberian Tiger. I loosely bolted the glass back in place and raised
it to the top and then tightened the bolts that hold it to the regulator.
To finish, install the door panel, armrest and window crank and
you're done. Remember to put some white grease in the tube that
the winding coil is in and you'll be good for years to come.
California
Import Parts - CIP1
Replacement
Sun visors: The sun visors in my
Super Beetle were looking pretty bad. They had turned from white to
yellow, became baggy as the stuffing fell to the bottom and the passenger
mirror was flaking off. So I decided to replace my tired, discolored
sun visors with some quality reproductions from Mid
America Motorworks. Made to original specs in your choice
of black or white grained vinyl, these visors feature a built in mount
with Jersey Spring Clip mechanism for exact positioning. So the visor
won't drop and remains tight, you can feel the quality as you rotate
them into place. When I went to install them (a mere matter of removing
and reinstalling two screws) I thought that I had ordered the wrong
ones as the little arm didn't reach the hook that holds them in place.
A quick email to Mid
America Motorworks got me the answer, you simply swivel
them back and forth and they extend to reach the clip. Brilliant!
Mid
America Motorworks
Replacement
Plastic Seat Trim: If you're
as fussy as I am, and I know that a lot of you are, you want your
Beetle to be as close to perfect as it can be. Little problems start
to add up and if you don't keep on top of them before long your
Bug is going to be pretty sad. To me, it's all in the details, and
I've noticed that people really take notice when your VW
is looking mint. But finding trim items can be a chore with many
of them discontinued or in short supply.
Well this is where California Import
Parts steps in with plenty of hard-to-find items that can have your
Beetle looking right proper. The item that I was looking for was
the plastic trim that goes in the inside edge of the drivers seat.
It's a piece of plastic that is quite brittle and in most cases
cracks (as you can see in the picture of the old VS the new one).
I was online at the CIP1 site and easily found the item that I was
looking for. After a couple of clicks of the mouse it was on its
way to me. When I got it in my hands I found that it had been improved
over the original. It looks almost identical but is now made of
a plastic that is pliable and won't break after a few years of use.
The only thing is, I wish I would have ordered all four!
California
Import Parts - CIP1
The
Volkswagen Super Beetle Handbook: Okay, so you might
think that this review may be a bit jaded since I wrote the first
chapter in the book, The rise and fall of the Volkswagen Super
Beetle, well it won't be. I'm reviewing the other 25 chapters
that were written by Ryan Price, the former editor of VW Trends
magazine. If you followed the restoration of Ryan's 1971 Super Beetle
in VWT, then you know what this book is all about. The Volkswagen
Super Beetle Handbook is a Restoration Guide for 1971-1974 Models
that is made up of the articles that were published in VW Trends
magazine under the name of Super Project '71. Those articles
were a turning point for the magazine and made it more popular than
ever. No longer was the Super Beetle being shunned, instead it was
being featured. Super Beetle owners worldwide rejoiced.
More than just a collection of articles, this guide is packed with
pictures and information that cannot be found anywhere else. You
can learn from one of the best on how to take your Super Beetle
from basket case to show stopper with ease. Chapters include
Initial Inspection and Evaluation, and all the way up
to Installing Exterior Body Parts and Trim. Once you get
to that point, you're finished! I've seen people searching on The
Samba to find missing issues just to get all of these articles,
but now you can get them all in one slick package. This really is
a must have for any Super Beetle owner... and the first chapter
isn't too bad either 
.
The
Volkswagen Super Beetle Handbook
The
Love Bug, 4-Film Herbie Collection: Herbie has been a
Disney favorite for years and in 2005 was revived once again for
Herbie, Fully Loaded. But what about the original movie that
started it all? What about the following movies that turned little
number 53 into a household word? Well fear not, you can get the
all four movies including, The Love Bug (1969), Herbie Rides Again
(1974), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo(1977) and Herbie Goes Bananas
(1980) in a DVD box set online.
While every air-cooled VW owner knows about the world most famous
Beetle, many haven't seen the movies that started it all. Personally,
I really didn't have much interest in seeing any of these movies,
that was until I got the set for Christmas. Since it was a gift
from my lovely wife I knew that I should sit down and watch at least
one of Herbie's adventures. Of course we started off with The
Love Bug. A few minutes into the movie I was hooked on Herbie
forever. I had seen this movie when I was a teenager and seeing
it once again brought back so many memories. You would not believe
how many Beetles and Type 2's that you can spot and it really is
amazing to take the trip back to 1969 and see the Beetle in it's
glory years.
Once we watched The Love Bug, we couldn't wait to watch the next,
and the next, and the next. Included with this special edition is
a bonus disc with audio commentary with Dean Jones, Michele Lee
and Buddy Hackett, the 1969 Disney studio album, Herbie Mania, a
featurette called "That Adorable Bug", deleted scenes
and much, much more! Which one was the best? You're going to have
to check them out for yourself to decide. Two thumbs way up!
Herbie
DVD Box Set
VW
Hoodie: These beautiful and original VW game day hoodies
feature the iconic VW logo and will let others know where your brand
loyalty lands. There's a fast growing collection of these fabulous
VW hoodie designs for men, women and children and they are available
in all sizes from XS to XXXL. Stay warm on your next jog outdoors
or while you're sitting around the campfire on those chilly fall
nights. VW logo screen printed on chest. 9.7 oz., 85/15 Cotton/Polyester
100% Cotton Face V-notch Crew Neck 2x1 Ribbed Spandex Enhanced Trim.
The bottom line is that all of the Volkswagen licensed clothing
and products shown
here are not your typical run-of-mill products. They are all
top quality, different, and very unique, just like all of us air-cooled
Volkswagen owners, right?
Licensed
VW Hoodie
Beetle
Parking Only Sign: Smarten up your garage, bar, games
room, man cave or she shed with this classic vintage-look metal
sign. Let your friends and neighbors know that this spot is reserved
for Volkswagen Super Beetles Only!
HIGH QUALITY, LONG LASTING - Made with first-class materials in
the manufacturing of this 8 x 12" aluminum metal tin sign.
NO FADING - The graphics and wordings will withstand the elements
and will not fade, no matter the sun, rain, or other extreme weather.
PRE-DRILLED HOLES FOR EASY MOUNTING - This premium sign has pre-drilled
holes and can be easily mounted on every surface. No need for adhesives.
PERFECT SIZE - Carefully designed, the wording to stand out and
to be easily understood by all non-Volkswagen parkers, lol!
PROFESSIONAL GRAPHICS - Ideal for home, yard and driveway use this
funny sign will bring smiles to the faces of all that read it!
Beetle Parking Only Sign
Front
Disc Brake Conversion - By Ryan Ballou: For some reason
we all seem so focused on making more power, being quicker, going
faster, but what good is any of that if you can't come to a controlled
stop? There are quite a few advantages to running disc brakes, some
aren't even well known. The most obvious benefit is improved braking
power and control. Discs are much less prone to fading as they heat
up. Under heavy use, drums will dramatically lose stopping power
as they begin to overheat.
To get my VW stopping
on a dime I turned to the experts, Top
Line Parts located in Anaheim, CA. Top Line has the well-earned
reputation of being the 'go to' place for Super Beetle specific
needs for over 25 years. My first impression of the front disc brake
conversion kit was simply, wow, this has everything. My biggest
pet peeve when taking on a project is having to stop because you
need to make a run to the shop for parts. Not so in this case, the
only things you'll need are normal shop supplies like brake fluid,
brake cleaner, and wheel bearing grease. The kit includes Ghia rotors
and calipers (pre-loaded with pads), making replacement parts a
breeze to find. Top Line's trick billet aluminum caliper adapters
indexed for right and left hand sides. Also included are a complete
set of SKF wheel bearings, grease seals, stainless steel braided
Teflon brake lines and pair of brake line holders to keep you lines
clear of moving parts. Installation was easy thanks to excellent
instructions that come included with the kit. I would recommend
having the job professionally done since this is a safety issue
and you don't want any problems when you need to hit that pedal
hard.
I've had about a week now with the new brakes and I'm nothing but
impressed with them. I did some driving in the rain and they worked
flawlessly despite driving through some deep puddles. I've put them
through their paces in some holiday stop and go traffic where I'd
normally start feeling my old brakes fade a little, not even a hint
of it with the discs. The pedal feel is absolutely great. It's like
I'm driving a new car!
Disc
Brake Conversion - Top Line Parts
Meguiar's
Complete Car Care Kit: got a goodie bag at European Interest
Car Show that had a few interesting items in it. There were a couple
of small bottles of car wash and interior spray by Meguiars. As
usual I put these on a shelf in my garage thinking that I might
get around to trying them some time in the future. After all, I
had my tried-and-true cleaning products that had been doing a great
job for years, did I really need any more? YES!! After trying these
samples I run out and bought the real size products and went to
town on my Beetle. When I was done it looked like it had just came
out of the showroom in 1975! Highly recommended!
Includes 12 premium products to clean, shine and protect your paint,
interior, wheels, bumpers and everything in between. Takes guesswork
out of the equation.
GOLD CLASS CAR WASH: designed to blast away dirt and grime while
boosting your VW’s shine
GOLD CLASS CARNAUBA PLUS LIQUID WAX: keeps your VW reflective and
leaves long-lasting protection
ENDURANCE TIRE GEL: provides high gloss protection that keeps tires
black with a dark gloss shine
ALSO INCLUDES: Clay Bars and Quik Detailer to remove bonded contaminants,
ScratchX 2.0 to remove swirls and scratches, Quik Interior Detailer
to clean and protect interior surfaces and PlastX Clear Plastic
Cleaner & Polish to remove defects on uncoated clear plastics,
and accessories!
Meguiar's
Complete Car Care Kit
Urethane
Bushing Kit: I think that most of you with a Super Beetle
will agree that the "Super Shimmy" is one of the most
annoying problems that our beloved cars have. It's that vibration
that takes hold of your steering wheel and shakes it back and forth
from about 45-55 mph! It's kind of embarrassing when you're taking
someone for a ride and they're wondering "what's up" with
your steering wheel while you try to ignore it and smile.
Top Line
Parts has come up with a urethane bushing kit that is supposed to
take care of this little problem. The kit contains all four lower
control arm bushings plus sway bar mounts. I took my Super to see
my friend Emilio at Progress Motors in Toronto to install them.
We put the car up on the hoist and removed the sway bar and the
mounts. The control arms have to be removed and the old one piece
bushings pressed out with a hydraulic press. The new ones are two
piece and can be pushed in by hand. They also come with a tube of
special anti-squeak lubricant which you apply to the new parts.
The bushings that came out were in pretty good shape and had most
likely been replaced before with the OEM type. At this point I was
wondering if the new kit would even help the problem. We bolted
it back together and it was time for the road test.
The first
thing I noticed is that everything seemed tighter. I tried to get
her up to 45 mph but the street wasn't long enough. We drove around
until I could find a suitable stretch of road to wind her out. I
watched the speedometer as the needle climbed...30, 35, 40, 45....50,
there wasn't a shake or shimmy to be found! Top Line recommends
inspecting and replacing any questionable steering component before
you do this installation. It worked like a charm for me! Check out
the Top Line Parts website for tons of parts made for your Super
Beetle!
Top
Line Parts
Run
Channel Rubbers: The run channels (or window felts) on
my Beetle were getting a bit shabby so I thought that I should replace
them. This is the part that the glass slides up and down in, on
your Beetles front doors. It's a black rubber that is wrapped in
cloth and has a slot in it that the glass fits into. I found the
parts that I needed at the JBugs
web site and ordered them online. The rubbers and a few other items
arrived right on time and I contacted a friend of mine to get some
tips on how it install them. To my surprise I was told that this
would be a three hour plus job, per door. I was shocked and put
the box containing the rubbers at the back of my garage intending
to do this task some time in the future.
Well spring
has sprung and before I take my Beetle cruising or to any VW events
I want it in top shape, so I decided to tackle the installation
one Saturday morning. After reading the step-by-step instructions
that I got from Jeff Hamilton I started at it, and here is how it
went. First you remove the door handles, trim panel and the moisture
barrier. Unbolt the window regulator from the glass and gently lower
the glass to the bottom of the door. I put a cloth between the regulator
and glass so I didn't scratch it. Make sure that the regulator is
wound all the way down. Grab the front section of the run channel
and pull it out with a pair of pliers (it's glued in place). After
that, you remove the rear section, which is held in by six clips
with little grabbers on them. Do not break these clips as they hold
the run channel and the chrome frame that holds the scraper rubber
in place as well. Clean the front channel and glue (using an automotive
adhesive like 3M) the front rubber in place. Now, starting from
the front edge fit the rear run channel section in place (you may
have to glue it at the front edge) and push it into the clips using
a steel ruler and then curve it downwards. Next, slide it into the
door and push it into the other clips. After that you shimmy the
glass back into the new rubbers, attach it to the regulator and
wind it up. Reinstall the plastic moisture barrier, the door panel
and the handles and you're done. It took me about an hour and a
half to do both doors. The front and rear run channels that I used
are sold separately and were of great OEM quality.
JBugs gives you extra material so you can cut them to the correct
length by measuring them against the old ones. Easy to do and the
price was right too.
JBugs
The
VW Beetle - A Production History of the World's Most Famous Car,
1936 - 1967: The story of the Beetle never changes, but
in this case, it gets more interesting to read. This book contains
the production history of the "People's Car" combined
with a section called Volkswagen by the numbers, which details
year-by-year model changes. VW Beetle is a must read for
anyone that doesn't know the story of Volkswagens' rise from the
ashes of W.W.II. Author Ryan Lee Price makes the story as interesting
as a novel and doesn't get stuck on minor details that tend to make
this chapter in Volkswagen history tedious. The first nine chapters
follow the Beetle from Porsche's dream to Hitler's reality. The
Beetle then goes off to war and is rescued by the British. The tale
continues as the Beetle crosses the ocean and comes to America.
This rocky ride makes you realize that we are very lucky that the
Beetle ended up staying on our shores.
Once you
move on to Part II you can follow changes that turned the little
car from Wolfsburg into a world-beater. Years 1945 - 1967 are covered
with meticulous detail to even the smallest change. Each year is
broken down by chassis numbers, engine numbers and the actual dates
that the Beetle was produced. A paragraph discuses the particular
production year in general and it is further detailed month by month
with all the modifications and improvements that took place. I.E..
August 4, 1955 - Chassis/Unit Number 1-0929746 - The generator pulley
is secured with a 31mm bolt instead of a 36mm bolt, making the 36mm
ring wrench obsolete and allowing the spark plug wrench to do double
duty. After reading this book you'll be able to go up against
almost any VW historian in the world. This book is an amazing accomplishment
that you just won't be able to put down.
VW
Beetle
VOLKSWAGEN
Bug! The people's car: Reviewing books is something
that I really enjoy. I look forward to opening the book for the
very first time, reading about the Beetle, and of course looking
at all the pictures, hoping to see one that I have never seen before.
Ray Miller, the author of VOLKSWAGEN Bug! The people's car,
has taken a completely different approach to writing about the classic
Beetle, in his 320 page book that weighs in at just over over three
pounds. The first part of the book covers the early days of the
Beetle, and has an in-depth section about the infamous 'stamp saver'
period. As the story goes, people were given a KdF-Wagen Savings-Book,
that they filled with stamps that were purchased on a weekly basis.
When the book was full, you would be able to hand it in and pick
up your brand new Volkswagen. Facts show that not one of these cars
was ever delivered to it's owner. Miller's book fully explains this
'German Myth on Wheels' with a translation of the contract form.
Once you get further into the book, you will find that it covers
all of the changes that have taken place in the Beetle from 1940
to 1979. There are over 1200 photographs of every (and I do mean
every) detail from from the beginning to the end of the classic
Beetle's history. Did you know that in 1946 the Standard Sedan had
a single outside-mounted horn? Whereas the Deluxe Sedan had the
horn concealed behind the front fender. VOLKSWAGEN Bug! The people's
car covers the 1942-44 Schwimmwagen and the 1940-45 Kubelwagen,
and then right on up to the last 1979 Super Beetle convertible ever
built.
A great
reference tool if you're restoring your Beetle or shopping around
for hard to get parts at a local VW event or swap meet. If you've
every wondered if your Beetle is 'correct in every respect', then
this is the reference guide that you have been looking for.
Volkswagen
Bug! The people's car
Ashtray
Cup & Cell Phone Holder: How many times have
you spilled your coffee (or soda or water or juice or...) in your
lap while driving your Beetle?Are you getting tired of holding your
cherry flavored Big Gulp© between your knees? Have you searched
for a better way to carry your favorite beverage while you cruise
around in your VW? Well I have found a solution that works perfectly,
and will save you and your loved ones from soggy pants forever.
It's called the 'Ashtray Cup & Cell Phone Holder' and it fits
right into your dash without cutting, gluing or any of those other
nasty things that you'd never do to your Beetle.
To use this
innovative drink holder all you have to do is remove your existing
ashtray (who needs it anyway?) and slide this slick drink holder into
place. Viola, you're ready to sip and drive. What's nice about this
drink holder is that it's right at your fingertips so you're not feeling
around the floor when you need a coffee fix, and you can still get
at your radio to crank those tunes. The cup holder is black in color
and has a pebble finish like your dash. You can remove it easily if
you need to reinstall that ashtray (who needs it anyway?) for a VW
show or a smoke. A great idea that would make a great gift for any
VW or coffee lover.
JBugs
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