10 Essential Tips Every First-Time VW Bug Owner Needs to Know!

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Күн бұрын

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@DannyFreiburg 10 ай бұрын

I am from Germany and my parents owned two of these Käfer when I was a child. The second one was a gray one from 1967. This was the first car I drove when I was 12 years old.

@alexprollock 10 ай бұрын

Awesome! ‘67s are the best 😜

@PhotoAlbert 2 ай бұрын

Terrific video with lots of good tips. One tip I would add is when you take your Beetle on an outing, even if it's just to the gas station, add extra time because people who see it are going to want to talk to you about it and most will want to tell you about Beetle's they had "back in the day." I know I enjoy it when people look my Beetle over and then tell me their stories.

@maxenielsen 3 ай бұрын

“Volkswagen has been turning owners into mechanics since 1937” I love it! I described the $500 I paid for my 67 Squareback as a down payment on tuition for a self-taught course in backyard auto mechanics. Easy to work on. Definitely! And Mom used to say I spent more time under it than in it. John Muir’s book is worth owning even if you don’t own an air-cooled VW. Thanks!

@alexprollock 3 ай бұрын

$500 for a squareback! That’s awesome man, and I definitely resonate with spending more time under it than in it! 😂

@maxenielsen 3 ай бұрын

That was back in 1974 - the first car I owned. It was the funnest car to drive I’ve ever had!

@kymberlybyers6218 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for the great video. I've wanted a baja bug for at least 30 years but not being a car person, I've held off. 3 years ago I saw a Mad Max style 66 Karmann Ghia and fell in love with the desert rat vibe of the car. It's been parked the past two years but I've continued to check with the owner. Last Saturday he told me to come by this week and we'd get it out from under the tarp. I've been watching videos to get a sense of what I'm getting myself into and your video is one that has nudged my confidence in tackling the project. This morning I purchased the car for a thousand dollars. Now off on another adventure! Thank you for the videos

@alexprollock 3 ай бұрын

Heck yeah!! You got this! Thanks for the kind words 🙏🏼

@erniewebster792 5 ай бұрын

One thing that should be added is a fuel shut off valve. I had my 1973 VW Beetle drip gas beyond the needle valve in the carburetor float bowl when it was parked with the gas tank higher than the engine. When I got in and tried to start it, it wouldn't turn over. My initial thought was the battery was dead. So I just turned the car around by hand and thought I would head it downhill and jump start it by putting it in gear and letting out the clutch. Luckily I was just barely moving and immediately realized the engine still didn't want to turn. I checked the oil and saw it was way up on the dipstick. Then I smelled the oil and realized the gas had filled the crankcase to the point where the engine was hydro locked. The gas had gotten into the combustion chamber and wouldn't allow the piston to move up to the compression stroke. Luckily there was no damage to the engine. I drained the oil and replaced it. As well as replaced the carburetor. From then on I have had a fuel shut off in place in line prior to the fuel pump.

@Maurice-c6z 3 ай бұрын

Happened to me to

@rallen7660 3 ай бұрын

Yes, maintain the fuel line! That's how my bug burned to the ground back in '84. I pulled out of the Library parking lot and almost made it a block when my buddy and his sister started screaming that the car was on fire. They got their boom box out, but my friend made sure his homework stayed. For some reason the teacher didn't believe him when he told the truth. One tip that I was told: Under the rear seat is where the battery was kept. Put an insulating board on the top of the battery. If you have a heavy person sit in back, they could cause the metal seat springs to short across the battery, catching the rear seat upholstery on fire. So, yeah. Get that fire extinguisher in your car and keep it handy!

@alexprollock 3 ай бұрын

Dang it! How unfortunate, the homework situation is kind of funny haha My dad had a close call in the 80s, his ‘72 Bug died while driving, and the fuel line had come off the carb (not sure if the carb inlet fell out) but his engine was cleaner than he had ever seen it! Luckily, no fire! Yes that battery tip is a GOOD one! Thank you sir!

@misters2837 3 ай бұрын

As someone who drove a 74 Superbeetle when I was younger, and now part of the "70's Shaggin Wagon" Van revival movement, working on 50 Year old vans is pretty much the same, your advice is 100% spot on...I recommend to find the old 3/4 size White Soft Cover Chiltons manuals from the 80s to early 90's, for domestic vehicles 1970-1990. (Haynes manuals leave a lot to be desired.) - Even that $50 Harbor Freight tool set is good for changing a battery, or tightening a loose bolt, and if it gets lost/stolen, you aren't out much. - The guy in your group pic wearing the "S#!t Show Supervisor" looks like my kinda guy, I bet we'd get a long great! - My favorite Sunday-Funday shirt says "I used to have a handle on life, but it broke." - My Casual Friday work shirt says "When I snap, You'll be the first to go!" - I am the company comedian, LOL!

@soyounoat2814 3 ай бұрын

My first car was a 1974 Super Beetle. My father bought it new, and I got it from him when I started into college in 1979. Bright red, and lots of people knew it was mine. Had to sell it after college, regretted it, bought another '74 Super Beetle (Red of course) in the late 1980s and drove it for many years.

@GereDJ2 3 ай бұрын

I have that John Muir book. Everything you mention is right on and important. Make sure your spare always has air in it and always check tire pressure. I have a 1967, Java green Bug just like yours, only a sunroof with popout 1/4s. Had it since 1969. On second resto. Love the car.

@IAm1InTheIAm 2 ай бұрын

Hey Alex, really enjoyed your vid. You hit all the main points. Mine's a '58 bus i found in the woods , abandoned 48 years ago. Got it for free, went through it, been road trippin' around Alaska since 2018. Keep on truckin' ! 👍

@pcno2832 3 ай бұрын

Tip 11: Don't let anyone over 100 pounds ride in the right side of the back seat, especially if the battery connectors are a little flaky, unless, of course, it's someone you really dislike.

@alexprollock 3 ай бұрын

Oh yeah, that’s a good one!

@nvragn 2 ай бұрын

Super interesting. I'm a 30 plus years as a heavy truck so it's safe to say that I anything that has wheels on it. I have never owned one and never will it's cool to see how different stuff is done. I wonder if anyone else noticed the Snap-on key you had on your key ring. Just cerious. So ya ty for putting stuff like this up. It's cool to see it and especially for people like myself that never had a chance to work on one so it's like doing thru you if you know what I mean. Anyway ty and great video 👍🇨🇦🔧

@edwardcnnell2853 3 ай бұрын

I had one of these. First the book. Fantastic book for the non mechanic. Illustrations are easy to follow. There is a lot a basic maintenance that need be done, none of which requires a mechanic or expensive tools. Anybody can do maintenance on a bug. I gave my 45 year old copy of the book to someone who was restoring a bug. More on maintenance later below. Fist the bug is a love hate relationship. The airflow inside for the passengers is poor. They do not lend themselves to conditioning. In the summer you sweat from the waist down and air blowing past the upper body makes for comfort for half your body. |In winter it is the opposite. The heat vent is on the floor and blows heat on the drivers left foot. So your shoe heats up for a hot foot while there is ice formed on the inside of the window. Deicing the windshield is poor but it works. The engine over the rear drive wheels gives great traction in the snow. The only time my beetle would not go in the snow was when the snow was over both bumpers. Maintenance The horizontal opposed cylinders mean the vale adjustment MUST be kept accurate. Because as wear on the valve rods, etc. makes the valves stay open longer than they should. This results in burned valves. The good news is it is extremely easy to adjust them every 3,000 (as I recall) miles. You don't even have to jack the car up to do this. Taking off the valve cover requires no tools. They are held on with little metal strips that look like bucket handles. So pop the valve covers off. With the parking brake on, engine off and transmission in neutral you turn the genning to top where the cylinder you want to adjust has both valve in the open position. Now you adjust the valve lash with a feeler gauge, screw driver and open or box end wrench. Do this for all 4 cylinders, takes about 15 minutes. The engine is very dependent on it's oil so it is changed every 3,000 miles. Easy to do and you just do the valve adjustment at the same time. Greasing the front suspension. Real easy, don't have to jack the car up. Pull out the spare tire and there are little covers held in place with a screw. Unscrew them and grease them. You need a grease gun and a screw driver. These cars don't have electronic ignitions. There are “points” inside the disturber. All you need to replace then is a screwdriver and feeler gauges. They are in a point set that has the points and a capacitor ready to go. Usually they are replace each year unless you drive very little. Keep a spare set in the car. I had a problem with the engine dyeing sporadically after putting in new points. Turns out the little power lead was a little bit longer than the original and was shorting out on the exhaust manifold. You need to keep a spare drive belt with you. If it breaks your engine will overheat. Again easy to replace with a few hand tools. The windshield washer is not powered by a pump. There is a rubber tube attached to the valve stem of the spare tire. If it does not work and there is washer fluid in it's reservoir check the pressure in your spare tire. A great basic car designed by Ferdinand Porsche to be reliable and maintained by the average driver who was in a society where car ownership was uncommon.

@zonoscopePictures 3 ай бұрын

^great summary , should be required reading for anyone getting into veedubs!

@adotintheshark4848 3 ай бұрын

about valve adjustments..keep them on the loose side of the tolerances, and always clean the oil strainer when changing the oil.

@allennundel6532 Ай бұрын

Great video with lots of great info. Thanks! When living in Santa Cruz in the 80's I mostly drove a 66 bug, great little car and drove it all over California. Had a few other bugs and buses over the years, even a Thing. Might be time to get a 67 or earlier bug...

@adamwroblewski1435 5 ай бұрын

Wonderful video. Still waiting to get my first, but I'll be following this list for sure.

@johnbarry8238 10 ай бұрын

As an addition to the last one, be prepared to have any stops you make to be lengthy and prepare your significant other. Tell them that even though you are just getting gas in your VW it might take 30 minutes to an hour to get out of the station because everyone has a VW story to tell. Ask me how I know.

@thane5665 Ай бұрын

And be ready for station attendants asking everyone to return to their own cars as lines are starting to build.

@thane5665 Ай бұрын

I renember giving my tools away a number of years ago.I just acquired a rotisserie 73 Karmann Ghia. A bit of a show queen,so as I now drive more frequently.... I now buy tools that I once gave away. As a few tips,I was told to use a rag to pop the valve cover by pulling on a rag rather than damaging the cover with a screwdriver,and maybe laminate 2 gaskets for each cover 24 hours before installing...be VERY careful with the acorn nut tightness when doing an oil change,remove the fill nut BEFORE draining transaxle fluid so you know you can refill it....sniff your oil on the dipstick every time you check the levels as gas in the crankcase can be catastrophic....buy spare parts as budget allows, and did I mention tools ? And drive it

@danr1920 3 ай бұрын

I have a Corvair, I don't know why I'm here. We have a book called "How to Keep Your Corvair Alive". Different author, different style. Corvair's have metal fuel lines. Chevrolet knew rubber weren't a good idea. I have a fire extinguisher. Valves never need adjustments as they are hydraulic. Parts are easy for Corvair's, really really easy. My after market temp and volt gauges are German! VDO. Regardless of brand of your car, buy the OEM parts. Always fun seeing a VW Beetle.

@alexprollock 3 ай бұрын

You’re still my air-cooled brother!

@douglaslumley2619 2 ай бұрын

Nice Video Man! Very informative and entertaining!! Thanks😎👍

@ahernandez9860 3 ай бұрын

Been into vws my whole life! These cars are great if you build a relationship with. You need to learn how to listen for the smallest differences while driving. You are the computer when it comes to these!

@alexprollock 3 ай бұрын

That’s a fact! Sounds and smells haha

@richochett404 3 ай бұрын

when i was 16,my first job was working in a vw dealership. They started me as an apprentice mechanic. i was lucky to have worked there. i never cared to own a vw,myself,but what they taught me has helped me work on my own cars. mechanical work is expensive,but i found out,they are much the same,no matter what it is.

@John-d7p 5 ай бұрын

I'm too old now to start another VW project, but when I was very young (18-24), I had two early 60's Bugs and a 67 Camper bus. A word on the heater system on these rigs: People mistakenly say they are horrible heaters, but they're not. If your air-cooled VW doesn't get warm enough in the cab, go to ACE hardware with the old weak springs from the heater box doors in hand. Match the length, but buy a thicker gage spring. Then, go at the door area with a steel brush and clean the crap off everything related to the free movement of that door. They're just a flat piece of sheet metal. make cleaning thatatrea part iof your 3000 mile service interval. Every German knew this. Just as every British owner of an MGB knew to remove the coil wire and clean the oil bypass film off the rubber boot. Or, likely it will just slip off when the oil gets warm under the hood. For some reason, they mounted the coil upside down. I once got a date with a very lovely girl that way. Pays to know a coupla things.

@alexprollock 3 ай бұрын

Thats awesome advice, actually going to try this for myself during my next service! Thanks! (67 Camper would be the dream)

@robertamoyaw8812 4 ай бұрын

Am putting a Bug on my Bucket list, thanks to you Sir!!! 🤓

@alexprollock 4 ай бұрын

Glad to hear it, thanks!

@petelarsen721 3 ай бұрын

after starting your engine when it's cold let it warm up for about 5 minutes or so. don't just start it up and drive it, in the engine there is a lot of different kinds of metals they warmup at different rates.

@adotintheshark4848 3 ай бұрын

I have an early version of that repair manual, and I've owned five Bugs over the years, a '62, '63, '65, '68 and a '69 with AutoStick. None of them ever broke down, but I also kept them maintained. One tip..never lug the engine..if you're going up a steep hill keep it in a lower gear and let the motor turn. This is not only easier for the motor but it keeps it cooler because the fan is turning faster.

@Grandpa82547 3 ай бұрын

I bought a Beatle in 1969 with a burned #3 exhaust. (Surprise!). Learned to be a mechanic right away. I learned to get the engine on the ground in 20 minutes. Tip #11: Keep your valves and timing adjusted. (Especially on a '67 or '68.) Prevent burned valves. I still have the Idiot Book.

@TomVDub 12 күн бұрын

Tune up and proper maintenance will keep her turning The only time mine is not running is during the winter storage (6 months)

@79Keepingitreal 5 ай бұрын

Awesome video!! I just bought my 64 and the e-brake and brakes went out!

@alexprollock 5 ай бұрын

@@79Keepingitreal Thanks! That’s awesome! you’ll get it sorted in no time I’m sure 👍🏼

@take5th 3 ай бұрын

I drove a 1968 vw bug across the country in 1976. I had lost all the cooling shrouds and hoses long before and had no idea what they were for. I drove from NY to Arizona when it blew up. It had overheated all the way across, top speed of about 55, was freezing at night. I must have been crazy!

@dupe3d 3 ай бұрын

Very informative, thank you.

@daftenclassic 4 ай бұрын

Band clamps on braided fuel hose is a great way to get a fire too That hose isn't supposed to be clamped And by clamping it you're pinching the rubber and that's where you'll find a pin hole leak.

@alexprollock 4 ай бұрын

Helpful tip. Much appreciated, it’s about time for new fuel lines on that car anyways!

@saraaronzon4562 3 ай бұрын

My dream car, so glad I found you 😊!

@tiyukitv6508 3 ай бұрын

my only goal is to keep the beetle running until i reach a mechanics shop. i guess i still have hope to learn 😂 awesome vid bro TY. keep buggin✌️

@VB-bk1lh 3 ай бұрын

One of the main reasons I stopped driving air cooled VW's was the fact that they needed to be serviced too often to remain reliable. The second was the lack of heat and ac. I couldn't imagine having to crawl underneath my old bus at my age to change the oil and adjust the valves every 1000 miles or simply driving it on a 95 degree day in the summer. I did drive one though for the first 20 or so years of my adult life but slowly they got replaced by faster, more capable American vehicles with more creature comforts. I do feel that if they could have made a type 2 with a 1600cc motor with good heat and ac that didn't need so much maintenance, or gave you an easier way to change oil and maybe add a full flow filter I'd still be driving one. When the Type 4 motor went into the bus, I lost interest, and my only interest in the beetles was 1967 or older. At one point I had 27 Bugs and five buses and single cabs in the yard here, but I sold most of them off in the early 90's or so.

@timking2822 3 ай бұрын

Great insights.

@fernandoolivares7229 10 ай бұрын

Awesome Video Thank you For Sharing🙌🏾💯👊🏾

@Roger_Ramjet 3 ай бұрын

What a wonderful video. What year is yours? Thanks 👍

@alexprollock 3 ай бұрын

Thanks! My Beetle is a ‘67, and the Westy is a ‘77

@irabel01 3 ай бұрын

Great video. Thanks for sharing 🤗❤

@zonoscopePictures 3 ай бұрын

Great video ! What’s your source for German parts ?

@alexprollock 3 ай бұрын

@@zonoscopePictures Wolfsburg West generally has some good stuff. I do have a local shop that caters primarily to air-cooled VW’s so I try to buy from them when possible.

@sparlin88 3 ай бұрын

Great tips ! At 65 yrs old i just bought my first VW Beetle , a 1969 and Love it . Also where did you get your luggage rack from . I see they make new ones but yours looks like original low profile looking . Thanks

@alexprollock 3 ай бұрын

Very nice! My brother and I built a ‘69 a few years ago, we miss that car! I actually got it at a local VW shop called “Bug Stop” but it’s a Chinese rack to my knowledge. I did have to re-stain the slats within a year of buying it

@GereDJ2 3 ай бұрын

1969 is a great year Bug. First year for IRS and deck-lid vents. Also collapsible steering column. May also have the day-night flip mirror. Last year for the small size turn signals and tail lights.

@brianchisnell1548 8 ай бұрын

The original owners manual is a must. No China, Brazil parts. These cars are very reliable!

@soyounoat2814 3 ай бұрын

Always have an extra fan belt in your air-cooled VW! Another tip: If you have the factory style exhaust and you hate the chirping sounds, but don't want to spend money on an aftermarket exhaust system. Take the straight pipes out of the muffler, get a large flat blade screwdriver and a hammer, and use them to beat the internal baffles out of both pipes. Reinstall the pipes and enjoy. Disclaimer: The exhaust note will be a bit louder, but not obnoxious, and the chirp will be gone.

@brianzimmer5532 4 ай бұрын

Your car is gorgeous! My 68 doesn’t look anything like yours!

@alexprollock 4 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@gdholmfirth Ай бұрын

Beware the '68 Beetle with aluminum heads on a steel block (or is it vice-versa?) They expand and contract at different rates when heating and cooling.

@kennyloveday 3 ай бұрын

My wife's dad and mom bought 1975 brand new they are no longer with us, it hasn't been started in decades! And I have John Muir book 1979 I fooled with rail buggies.

@joshm3342 3 ай бұрын

Easy to work on? OK, NOT a bug: I once changed a starter on a VW bus, for a friend. One of the bolts would turn, but not come out. It was a long bolt with a nut on the other end of the engine (which I had never seen before), and it took my friend holding a wrench on the nut, and me turning the bolt from the other end, to remove. I had a good laugh, and have never worked on another VW.

@Ljblossom 3 ай бұрын

Try to find the official VW service manual. I got mine on ebay

@COUNTYBUMKIN88 9 ай бұрын

@krisschumacher7716 3 ай бұрын

I disagree on your point that “you will break down”. I have had my 71 beetle for 15 years. It has never broken down or left me stranded. Now with that being said. I stick to the maintenance schedule.