VW Beetle Extreme Cold Start

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Cold Start! Stock 1971 VW Super Beetle Convertible in -25C Weather!
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[@whistlinlipo]

That starter: “I’m tired boss”

[@Wecouldusemorethinking]

“WELL THATS TOO DAMN BAD!”

[@callumdonington2227]

​@@WecouldusemorethinkingKEEP CRANKIN

[@TheDuckyDee]

"Dog tired"

[@Misack8]

Read that in Raul's voice.

[@tmar9159]

7:26 "Let's get the heat going here". Heat in a 1971 VW Beetle is a relative term.

[@mistert1097]

It will warm up by May or June

[@AKJeeper]

I used to keep a jar of peppers in the glove box of my '71 Superbeetle. Chewing on those would at least draw my attention away from the weak heater and the fact that I was freezing my butt off! 😂

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

My parents had an old Beetle. Man, I can't tell you how many times we pushed that thing to start. Once my sisters and I were washing her, so I put the hose in the exhaust. I don't know why, but those two pipes were staring at me. Of course, it had to be pushed again to start, so when she finally started, we were all sprayed with black water from the exhaust. Good times! 😅

[@rik999]

If you haven't refilled the tank in a long time, you probably have summer gas in it. A fill with fresh winter gas will help starting considerably in cold weather. Winter gas has more volatiles like butane and vaporizes better in the cold. That sputtering start was symptomatic of a gasoline vaporization problem.

[@ArthurSperotto]

A Beetle will start on dawn dish soap if that's what you feed it lol.

[@bfuller5577]

@@ArthurSperotto😂

[@Blanchy10]

I could smell that car when you got in. They have a unique odor.

[@MMAfighter38113]

Especially when the upholstery is brand new.

[@Flies2FLL]

My dad bought a '70 brand new, I still remember the smell of the plastic.

[@iadubber]

Usually from the horsehair matting used under the seat upholstery!

[@Antarath]

That smell is alive and well in my 1968, where everything except the engine is original. Every time I open the doors I get memories from the day I bought it. Absolutely no rust whatsoever.

[@Queensizemusic]

Congratulations on the wedding, Tommy!

[@AllanPorter]

Goes to show how much I like TFL videos that I watched Tommy crank a VW beetle so much the battery dies. Reminds me of when I took my '80 VW Rabbit to Jackson Hole in the middle of winter, and had to have it towed to a garage to warm up before it would start.

[@craigtiano3455]

My mother bought a 71 super beetle brand new. I recall starting the car at temps below freezing. The key to getting it start was a fully charged battery, keeping the clutch depressed during cranking, and patience once the car was "mostly running" to wait until it was "fully running on all cylinders" before attempting to move it. On really, really cold days, we'd use a heat gun on the battery to get it warmed up a little before trying to start it.

[@chuckb6691]

When I was a kid (1960s) a lot of people I knew drove beetles. Both my older sisters' husbands owned them. Northern Kentucky is no Minnesota, but we did get our share of cold, below freezing and sometimes sub zero. The little beetles did well in the snow. They would start every time even with never being garaged. I learned to dress very warmly when going on a trip in one, as the heat was so pitiful and moving down the road, you got a bit of a breeze sometimes. I can remember my feet sometimes being very warm, but my nose was freezing. The front seat passenger was the "defroster", keeping the inside windshield free of frost from exhaled breath by wiping with a hand towel that was always kept in there. As I became driving age, I had my own beetles, both sedans and convertibles. There is just something about the sound, smell and other sensory inputs you get from driving a beetle. Great video. Took me back to my childhood. Best wishes and happy trails. Chuck in Kentucky.

[@Shakerhood69]

In my old bugs l used to mount an electric squirrel cage fan under the back seat to blow the heat, was surprisingly effective.

[@avalache9]

N=That wiping from the inside made me nostalgic! Thanks for this comment

[@GeorgeMcNally]

Had a 68 back in the 70's......I put an additional battery in the space under the rear driver passenger seat and wired it up parallel to the other battery.

[@avlisk]

I had a '67 Bug that I bought in 1970. Its heater boxes were already rusted out, so there was no heat and no defrost. That was a problem living through Northern New England winters. I had to melt ice off the windshield by pressing my hands against the glass. I wish I had money for snow tires, because my Bug wasn't good in the snow with its bald, bias-ply tires. I loved that car!

[@garagefabroart]

My 62 Ghia almost never lets me down here in Colorado. But man am I glad it's spring time now :)

[@williammodlin2621]

Good show, Tommy! You probably should talk to someone really old (not your dad old, really old) to get some pointers about starting an old car when it’s cold. But, you did it and that’s what counts. PS, congrats on the wedding, too.

[@ROBinJVILLE]

Congrats Tommy and good luck to you two

[@grandinosour]

If you turn on the headlights for 10 minutes to make the battery generate some internal heat before cranking, it may make or break getting a carb car started. I also crank the car for 15 seconds to pump some fuel, then pump the throttle 3 or four times while not cranking to allow more fuel to build up in the throat of the carb. before cranking again.

[@campervanbug7658]

Don't turn on the headlights 😂 just kill the battery

[@Kerleem]

Beetle convertible!! Really cool to see it finally start up. What a beut.

[@samkavanagh8249]

Dude you getting married?! Congrats!!! Tommy’s wedding sponsored by TFL? Andre doing a cyber truck towing test hauling a bunch of cans with a sign being delivered saying “just married”? Nathan driving you in a samurai to a remote location for the ceremony? Wife to be being driven to said location in a G-wagon? Roman late to the party because he did ‘a tommy’ and popped all the tires in the defender? Honeymoon in Moab with some unexpectedly nimble soft roaders? Ah the possibilities!! Again congrats mate!

[@DuckSherminator]

What helps when the fuel has evaporated out of the carb is to squirt some 2 stroke mixture directly into the carb, it won't run solely off that but it'll get the revs up momentarily and more pressure out of that mechanical fuel pump. Gotta love carbs, they ain't perfect but they won't let you down from one day to the other like the more electronically managed setups.

[@deanwalker8404]

Fuel injection is way more reliable than carbs.

[@Flies2FLL]

That, or simply squirt some starter fluid in~

[@CliffWarren]

My dad had a Beetle in Montana, in about 1961. It had a feature for cold weather, an electric heater for the cabin. He enjoyed it because it warmed up as soon as the engine was running.

[@NigelNaughton]

Do you mean a gas heater? Mounted in the front.

[@CliffWarren]

@@NigelNaughton Well, not 100% sure. I wasn't alive. But he said that it was a different system that started heating immediately.

[@AJ-qn6gd]

An Eberspacher gas fuelled heater was an option on these in cold climate areas. 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@barrydraper]

Very cool little Bug, Tommy! I remember those, back in the day, but never owned one. 👍

[@FreeRangeLemon]

So cool. I'm about 30 miles away from TFL's ranch, up in Northern Colorado, and my Cherokee XJ took about 2 minutes to start, and then I had to keep giving it gas because I am pretty sure the fuel was frozen. I uploaded it as a short to my channel. It belched black smoke when it finally did, since at that point the battery was running low. It's possible Tommy was having a harder time than normal starting up for that same reason. That night was the coldest I have ever experienced since I was 4 years old living in Nederland, CO. It was VERY COLD. I forgot to mention that I had to FLOOD the engine with gas to get it to start. Funnily enough I have that same jump pack too, lol.

[@wadetyler5056]

Winter 1968, north of Missoula Montana, 1962 VW bus at -30degrees! Only way to get it to start was a 150watt flood light in the engine bay keeping the battery and carbs warm.

[@shaolin224]

That's unfortunate that you have to sell the the super b. But congrats on your wedding Tommy. And, your dad can attest, hold on to those toys as long as you can because once your married, you'll have kids to attend to and finance

[@kevinbarry71]

Also, greetings from an American living in the tropical Philippines

[@chriscon8463]

What a neat little VW Beetle! I had a ‘74…the floor pan & running boards rusted out. It’d be cool to have another someday!

[@thebigguy8306]

Thanks Tommy, love the original Bug. Drove a VW Thing in high school. Not a babe magnet, but worked in Minnesota winters (-20 and foot of snow)

[@regsparkes6507]

I know one thing for sure Tommy, you`ve got a helluva battery there in that `Bug` :)

[@pauld6967]

I fondly remember riding, decades ago, in my cousin's bug car. A real Beetle like yours, not the revised 90s style Beetle. One day you'll need to put a proper door on the shed, double pane windows and insulation padding for the walls. Then it won't be so difficult to start.

[@chbd7734]

Congratulations 🎉 on the wedding!

[@christianglaude6659]

Thanks for mentioning it in Celsius 🤘

[@bobdylan6773]

Use google if you don't understand the correct measurements the USA uses

[@suzukiman650]

Did the same recently in Alberta with my 74 to move it into my heated garage to work on it. Car wasn't happy but it started. Can't wait to get the old girl on the road.

[@robertcumming9390]

I would rather keep the car than get married 😂😂

[@usmc29er44]

Keep the car. Vegas Baby!

[@petervandoren2984]

That was fun to watch. Probably more fun to watch than to do it. A lovely looking car, albeit with a need for a new paint job. I hope she goes to a good home and best of luck for the wedding!

[@M.G.jun.]

A great car with history. And apart from the heating, it's ideal for winter. You need to give the starter a little more time between starting attempts. This tended to get hot quickly and it also saved the battery a little. Great video!

[@hoosierdude7102]

Congratulations, Tommy! It’s a nice ride but nothing compared to a loving spouse.

[@wompa70]

I love these little cars. I don’t think I’ve spent any time in one but I have thousands and thousands of like in rail buggies powered by these air cooled VW engines.

[@clooperman3745]

Had two Beetles from new, a 1970 and a 1975 model, whilst the temps never got much below -8 degree centigrade they always started first time every time, they were serviced regularly (approx every 3000 miles) and kept outdoors. A friends son has a very nice 1960s model with some rare original factory options, a heated windshield, a heated rear window, a steel sunroof and perhaps most useful of all a heater blower motor, the interior is nice and warm inside in the winter even when stationary.

[@MisterRisk]

I drove my beetle for several years in the winter. I miss it (sort of). I don't miss the rust the salted roads caused.

[@joshc606]

Wow a wedding! Congratulations

[@MrRedtaco11]

We’ve been in the -40 windchills for a few days. Tomorrow well me in the teens, negative teens. Oh winter.

[@Slinger3210]

I had 64 bug that I drove from California to Chicago area in 1966. The first winter there I had to lay under the car with a propane torch to warm the block up before it would start. It was no fun at all.😮‍💨

[@samkavanagh8249]

I would love to see a super long term test where each presenter has a few K to but a ‘future classic’ they buy it take care of it maybe some mild restoration and the winner after 5 years is the when who can sell their car for a profit after sale and money put into it Love your videos on all channels!

[@phillipw2493]

Congrats also...🎉

[@mrgurulittle7000]

😍I will own one, one day! My childhood favorite car.

[@campervanbug7658]

Came true for me 😊

[@mrgurulittle7000]

@@campervanbug7658 Heyyy!✌️

[@AKJeeper]

I had a '71 Superbeetle in HS back in the mid 90's. Rebuilt the engine my freshman year of HS and drove the car all 4 years of HS. That car was one of the most reliable cars I've ever owned when it came to winter cold starts here in Alaska. If yours would have had a stronger battery and not flooded the engine by pumping the accelerator so much, I'm thinking it would have fired up a lot easier. Something I used to do with my Beetle when cold starting it after it had been sitting a while - crank the engine over (do not touch the throttle), maybe 15-45 seconds worth. This gets suction on the fuel line started, and hopefully some fuel into the carb float bowl. From there, pump the accelerator to the floor (slowly) 2 times. This sets the choke, and also (if the float bowl has filled) a couple of squirts of gas into the intake. Crank the engine over again (do not touch the gas pedal). With this starting procedure, I could get my Superbeetle to fire up every time. It would roar to life and settle on a nice high idle, no sputtering or having to 'clear out' the engine. If it hadn't been sitting a while, you could skip the initial cranking attempt and go direct to the two pumps and crank. It would light right off, about as quickly as a fuel injected modern car!

[@Zsword92]

Winter wonderland. The lowest it gets here is -8°C. Couldn't imagine lower than that!

[@MMAfighter38113]

One thing I don’t miss about a carburetor is the way my 1974 drove in cold weather. My 76 is a fuel injected & drives great in the winter

[@walterhubicki5207]

Get in and push the clutch in. Your killing the battery with the thick transmission fluid. Cool video. Thanks for sharing!

[@1guyin10]

He was. He mentioned that it was so cold the car wanted to move in neutral.

[@ilovetotri23]

It reminds me of the Wes Harrison skit! "If nothing else, she's got a damn good battery". I prefer any air cooled VW, period. I know it is a video for another time but I owned an 1984 Rabbit that started on one turn of the key at -43F.

[@halnwheels]

You’re killing me with the abuse on that starter. I think the coldest I ever experienced with my ‘63 beetle was -5 degrees F in Cortland NY. To its credit the 6V Beetle started quickly but I recall that after running up first gear by the time I stirred the shifter into second the car had almost slowed to a stop! Oh, how I miss her.

[@Kahless00]

Don't pay for a wedding. It's just pagentry. That's old school thinking. Wedding are just debt. Use that money for things that matter like a home or take a honeymoon you'll never forget.

[@MegaRetr]

Hey what a neat little W Beetle 😊 awesome video

[@michaelconverse5127]

I dove them for many years I. Chicago, no garage and never had an issue starting them in very sub zero temps. My moms old 68 would start on days her then new Toyota wouldn’t. Door locks would freeze, inside other windshield covered in ice, but it would start every time. Pump The gas once or twice to set the choke, a few cranks and it would start right up.

[@edwined82]

Congrats

[@kevinblock2307]

That car is sweet I’m shocked it started

[@Sanpedranoazul]

Analog is gonna be reliable if keep properly, great job!

[@BhutJolokias]

I had a '59 Convertible Bug in High School. That was just down I-25 in Colorado Springs. I don't remember having many issues, other than having to use an ice scraper in the inside of the windshield during the winter.

[@Nick2842]

I never owned one but now I’m thinking it’s a really great car!

[@jamesahoffman]

Love the bug!

[@drewrhea1021]

My favorite time of the year! Cold starts and hot farts!

[@synapticburn]

Might need to check that choke and def need to let that battery warm up. Also might be running on summer gas blend. Also always push the clutch in. if all the seals are intact and in good shape, the engine fan is the heater fan, and it will heat up just fine. Very few cars have everything intact and proper german seals installed correctly. Any air leaks along the way mean there's not enough velocity to get the air out of the vents, in addition to the heat lost. People also neglect to reinstall the thermostat flaps and rod in the fan shroud during rebuilds, incorrectly thinking that they can fail and overheat the engine, but they're designed to "fail" in the open position.

[@PrepperDawg]

That poor buddy just wanted to sleep in. Cool 🚗!

[@pablomoreno1999]

8:37 HOLD UP, WEDDING?? Congratulations man!! Really happy for you

[@rickreese5794]

Hope she’s worth it🤔🤷🏿‍♂️

[@Quince828]

Our old beetle would start even at -30F when nothing else would, even though it wasn’t plugged in. However everything was so frozen it actually lurched forward despite the clutch being in.

[@kevinbarry71]

I believe you had 20 W 50 oil in that engine. That stuff is really really thick at that temperature and Takes a long time to get around

[@TheVintageApplianceEmporium]

What a cool place to live! And thanks for using Celsius, seeing as the majority of the world understands C and not F

[@biggusdickus1184]

European detected.

[@user-tg8do2kr4v]

Celsius is dumb, and we shouldn't have to cater to others that use it...

[@TheVintageApplianceEmporium]

@@user-tg8do2kr4v Good lord, what a stupid thing to say. You've just summed up America in one sentence. Thanks for making us laugh though 😆

[@nutandboltguy3720]

Drop the top. It’s a beautiful sunny day.

[@manuelrivera6873]

That engine could be better at starting at that temperature. If you need help with that just reply back. I worked at a VW dealership in PA in the 70's and worked on a lot of super beetles. Be glad to help

[@GATORSK8TER]

You was killing me key in the ignition out back in then out 😳

[@tonyincavo602]

Had a 1963 left headlights on all night 17 degrees. Two shots of starting fluid fired right up. Now only if the heater worked.

[@rickreese5794]

Bingo PAL 💯🤙🏻😎

[@iadubber]

And the first video in the spring, "New Starter install in our VW Beetle"

[@steveng93]

Now that's how to break in a fresh rebuild 😂

[@randall1959]

It won't last long just like that starter.

[@campervanbug7658]

It's fine it was getting well oiled with no load on it

[@bobstuart2638]

Minus forty would be getting extreme. Around here, -25 is a bit chilly, but everything is expected to run.

[@leobrommet3051]

Why isn't there a choke pin in your old beetle? My first 3 cars in the 80's in The Netherlands were old beetles with a choke pin and winters were cold back then as well.

[@Aj1981Mr]

Get you old series landy out, I hand prime to pump on mine when it's been sat a month, she starts in minus 6c pretty well, would like to try in colder.

[@PrinceAlhorian]

Use the Choke damn you, THE CHOKE!

[@ivanpodrez3403]

What we do in places where it is usually that cold is just take the battery home and let it warm up overnight. It will start the car no problem in the morning. Unless you got a diesel, then you need an engine block heater.

[@Smb-cm5ry]

The one I had started...ok ... ? It was trying to stay warm inside that was nearly impossible on a -40 degree northern Alberta winters day ! 🥶

[@keithhumco]

I'm surprised you didn't burn the starter up with all that Cranking I'm sure it was hot.

[@randall1959]

I have mine on a maintainer. Out in my shed my lawn mower is on a 60watt solar maintainer.

[@ilovetotri23]

That cabin will never warm up, period. That would not stop me from buying this car! Neither would the paint issue. Beautiful stock 1971! Almost impossible to find!

[@justinborysenko3885]

When we lived at the top of Gold Hill and had these -20 nights we’d leave the Land Cruiser running to be sure at least one vehicle would run.

[@danthompson1467]

Wash’s down the new rings with all the gas and getting in the oil and taking life out of the starter

[@tommurphy6920]

I totally agree. It’s a wonder the starter isn’t fried just letting it idle for a few minutes won’t charge the battery back up.

[@Scooter-dm3qo]

QUIT PUMPING THE GAS, YOU ARE FLOODING THE ENGINE!!!!! My first car was a 1970 Beetle and the winter of 1974-75 I was attending Ohio State. During that winter we had a cold snap with temps as low as -24 degree Fahrenheit. Knowing from prior expense that the battery would freeze solid I had taken the battery into my apartment overnight. My roommate had just purchased a new Chevy Vega and that would crank but would not start. As for my Beetle all I had to do was hook up the battery, PUMP THE GAS TWO TIMES, and the engine fired right up on the second cylinder in the rotation. Yeah it was cranking so slow that I could here each compression stroke and on #2 it fired right up. I'll also note that air cooled engines are distinctly loud at those temps so I let it warm up until it was idling quietly. BTW I also really enjoyed that Beetle. Mine was Cobalt Blue with a white interior with the FV1600 Stripe kit, rain gutter chrome trim, a sunroof and popout rear windows. It was also quite fast for a Beetle, it would do 0-60 in 14.3 seconds and my brother got a ticket for doing an average speed of 105 mph between toll gates on the Ohio Turnpike. Sadly rust basically did the car in.

[@GereDJ2]

Great! I have two words for you;; Starting fluid // Either spray.

[@Marvel66666]

2:07 The radio is not off when you started, its need also battery power

[@bradydowling1749]

It’s not as bad as Alberta Canada where we had temperatures of -45 Celsius which is -49 ferinheight and majority of us still were staring our vehicles on a daily including our classics like c10 trucks.

[@pgilb70]

That was a bit painful. Was choke on?

[@Philip.Magnusson]

When starting a manual car in these temperatures you'll save the battery and starter by depressing the clutch pedal so the starter won't have to crank the gearbox with cold thick oil aswell as the engine, you probably wouldn't have had to use the charger

[@farcohollis6862]

Pump the pedal! Maybe use starting spray

[@paulmartin6152]

You should put some stabilizer in the gas during winter.

[@jamdc2000]

Hi, what oil are you using in that engine Tommy?

[@nigelbarker8726]

No choke?

[@johncornell3665]

Poor motor. Very hard on it starting it not plugged in. Im in Canada and its -50 with the windchill. Nice VW!

[@VanaConn]

Man that’s so bad for a newly rebuilt engine. Hope you had 10/30 w oil with zinc and not 20/50 which is common in air cooled engines. I’d put slick 50 in next time with your oil change.

[@billkallas1762]

Should have used starter fluid. A 12V battery is a luxury my old 1963 Bug, that I had in college, didn't have....(3 cell, 6V, under the back seat) One trick that I learned......Bring your 6V battery inside, overnight.

[@57WillysCJ]

Change the gear oil to synthetic and you won't have to hold down the clutch pedal. My old Toyota truck sits outside all winter and there are weeks when it is -20 with -40 to -70 windchills. I switched to synthetic and don't have to hold down the clutch after it starts. If it didn't have the clutch safety switch I wouldn't need it at all. I am curious as to why you pull the key out of the ignition before each try?

[@garysarratt1]

Buzzer

[@57WillysCJ]

Ah, my 1973 didn't have one.@@garysarratt1

[@aurorayoru5333]

What does taking the key out of ignition do

[@ajetiajeti2126]

Old beetle, golf gen2, mercedes 123 and 124 are the best and relible cars.

[@roberthansen3546]

Is the choke hooked up?