I am looking to buy a Super Beetle from somone that lives about 100 miles away. I haven't seen the car, so I am going based on what the owner says. The car is stuck in gear, and won't go into neutral.
The car does not run, and will not go into neutral so we can't move the car around on its wheels. What is needed to get it into neutral? I assume the linkage would shift it into neutral like a normal manual transmission and it wouldn't need the solenoid or vac system to work?? From sitting so long, I bet the vac has leaked out.. and it sounds like the ignition is broken so maybe power isn't going to the system.
This is my first Beetle, and I am just going on what the owner is saying.
Any help or directions to look would be greatly apreciated.
Hiya AJ,
I sent you a reply over at the Samba.
I think, if it were me, I'd be inclined to pull the shift rod connector (under the oval inspection plate at the rear of the tunnel) and then test the hockey stick (the shaft leading back into the transmission housing). That hockey stick should move around (back and forth) and rotate. If it is locked up (and consequently your shift lever would also be locked up) then you have an indication of something seriously wrong inside the transmission. Not a desireable thing, to paraphrase Martha.
I sent an email this morning to the owner basically asking if the lever could be moved or not. That was also one of my first inclinations to ask about.. so we'll find out later tonight or early tomorrow when I get a response.
Would it be okay to assume as long as the shifter can move, and everything is working properly that the lever could be put into neutral no matter what? I wouldn't believe that electricty or a keyed on ignition or vac system would be required for a transmission to go back into neutral...
Hiya AJ,
Yes, I believe you are correct in that assumption. One should be able to get the AS into nuetral from any range whether the engine is running or not. Getting it into range from nuetral is quite another story!
Reading your response over on the Samba prompts this next question...........If the shift lever is moving but the car is not, what gives the PO the idea that the clutch is stuck? On a car which has not been rolling for some time a stuck clutch (especially on an AS) would not be my first choice. Has he/she taken a close look at the brakes? The linings may well be frozen to the drum(s)
The clutch being stuck was my idea from what I have read.
I know a car sitting for 5 years a stuck brake would be 100 times more likely. I would much rather just go and pull the car out of the garage with a tow rope to break it loose.
Hiya AJ,
OK, gotcha.
Before you make this trip to take a look at the beast................do you feel that you can make a pretty fair assessment of the state of things based on what you now know? Information and knowledge are your biggest allies in this situation. We are here to help if you need it.
Hi,, I am new to the AS as well. In my AS, if the car is off then it will always roll, even if the shifter is in gear. Is this normal or do you guys think i have a problem of some sort.
Ozzylives,
That is normal. The torque converter provides a physical break point between the engine and the gearbox.
In Neutral (and handbrake off etc) the mechanical resistance you feel is from the axles driving the ring gear having to turn the pinion (and other stuff) and the gearbox input shaft doesn't turn. If you pop it into gear, you get all the geartrain & input shaft, clutch carrier plate and TC stator coming into play but this will not rotate the engine.
AJ is continuing this more over on TheSamba : http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=233405
Volkenstein
Quote from: Bookwus on 24 May 2007, 19:39 Before you make this trip to take a look at the beast................do you feel that you can make a pretty fair assessment of the state of things based on what you now know? Information and knowledge are your biggest allies in this situation. We are here to help if you need it.
I have been talking back and forth with the owner for a week or two now. I feel like I should go down and look at the car before I can make any kind of good assessment on it. I also feel like I would be more mechanically inclined to get the vehicle unstuck / out of gear.. etc.
From the pictures and information I've gotten I feel like this Beetle might be worth the price. It is the only one in my area that is even remotely complete (yet still a project), for a price that I can afford and want to. (I don't want a $3-4k good Beetle..) I want one with some work to be done.
This Beetle has a starting problem (electrical ignition switch problem) that I feel I could get figured out quickly and have a Beetle that atleast runs. The pans appear to be good.. but I have no problem with replaceing them if they are not. I would plan to do a Off-Pan moderate resto (nothing amazing, just complete and sound) if it needs it. There is one area on the rear driver side heater channel that looks pretty bad, but I don't think the rust extends to the rest of the heater channel.. thats just about my biggest concern. While I see how much fun it could be to replace the heater channel.. I can also see how big of a pain it would be.
To be honest. The idea of Autostick isn't that appealing.. I think the idea of a transmission that operates as they do is a really cool idea.. just seems like a lot more to go wrong, and a lot harder to deal with. I wonder if the pan has a clutch tube...
Hiya AJ,
Since the car you are looking at is a Super, there is a pretty fair chance that you will have the all-important (at least insofar as a conversion goes) clutch tube.
Do know that the AS is not for everyone. Only you can decide that issue for yourself. But I would urge you to give the AS a hands-on chance before you make a decision to convert. And if your project does reach that stage, please be sure to offer up the AS parts for sale.
In any event, keep us informed on the whole thing goes for you.
Ofcourse!
The idea of an autostick intrigues me. I kind of want one just so I would be different from everyone else's.. I also want to study it as it seems like it could be a very cool type of transmission that just never really caught on hard. (aside from new electronically controlled automatics). The fact that it has a TC, and a clutch (that can be controlled manually with the shifter) is pretty neat. Has anyone ever removed the vac system and replaced it with a foot activated cable?
The car in question.. I feel might be more sound than I had thought. I just looked at some pictures of the pan and that thing is better than any others I've looked at. I'm awaiting pictures of the ever popular to rust heater channels to see how bad those are.
Sounds like the owner isn't in a position to do anywork to the car to get it rolling for me (and I live 2 hours away from it to help out and get it moving). This Beetle might unfortunately slip between my fingers..
Which is okay. I'm fine with not having my Beetle dreams fulfilled for now.. but ofcourse I'm still looking. Even at cars double the price, but older and in more sound condition mechanically (no autostick!).