How can so many things go wrong? Is it only Me?

68autobug · 30 July 2009, 19:07

After fitting the new inlet manifold then the new extractor exhaust system with quiet thunderbird muffler
after some modification... and cleaning out the carburetor.. with air..
New spark plugs and spark plug leads..
checked the points etc... adjusted the tappets ...
changed the oil.. then tried to start the engine...
the battery was just about dead... very cold overnight - around 3C or 0C
and the car hadn't been run for a few weeks...
so I put My battery charger on the battery...
came back a few hours later...
battery was still nearly dead...
Got one of My digital multimeters out to check things...
like spark plug leads... now the silicone ones.. 8mm...
Not good... checked the battery charger...not good...
turns out there was a break in the wire in one of my multmeter leads..
the aligater clip fell off later...
then I found the same problem with My battery charger...
so, I put My Sons battery charger on and next time it started OK..
although when I touched the accelerator.. the engine would stop..
so it was a bit dangerous driving it... but it would idle OK...
I found that I had put the accelerator cable right thru the connector on the carby
so I think it was flooding every time i touched it..
anyway today I went to take it for a drive..
it wouldn't start... at all.. volt meter kept going down past 10 volts..
so, I'm also guessing that there isn't enough voltage for the electronic ignition I have
to work... anyway later on tonight I turned the key and it started instantly...

but I bought a new battery today.. 460CCA with recessed posts etc.. 460D EXIDE
so, I'm hoping that tomorrow I will connect up the New battery and ALL MY troubles will disappear....

I went thru most of these problems a few years ago... new battery fixed everything... lol

LEE

Bookwus · 30 July 2009, 19:22

Hiya Lee,

Oh, you'll be fine. After all, nobody knows that car better than you. You've worked over every system in that car. If there's a problem you'll find it.

I'm not the creative mechanic/engineer that you are. When I get into a jam I want to have a book or a source of information to turn to. That's really pretty much why I've stayed stock with my cars. If I can't find THE answer in a book, at least I can find what it (the problem area) should look like and that helps me a bunch.

Let us know how you do with the new battery!

And stay warm down there!

68autobug · 31 July 2009, 08:13

Well Mike, as You know all Of My problems
go back to me... the unqualified engineer I think I am...
If My beetle was all original...
the only problem I would have is replacing the points...

it seems the battery didn't have enough voltage for the electronic ignition...
although the starter motor was working just fine....

I was thinking.. too much fuel, not enough fuel...lol
accelerator pedal not working correctly... etc..

I had all these problems before I replaced the battery a few years ago...

but $146 for a battery was something I didn't want to rush into...

I have bought two New coils - a bosch and a procomp.. both with male high tension terminals...

Now I'm thinking.. maybe all My other coils are OK... lol
as they all test OK on My Ohm Meter...

Well, now I'm going for a 50km drive....

cheers

LEE

Here is what My engine looked like with no flash used...
just natural light from flourescent bulbs...

Bookwus · 31 July 2009, 08:33

Hiya Lee,

Like I said before, you'll be fine. That car is your baby.

One thing I have found out for myself is that any of us who have "stuck it out" with an older car has acquired a considerable set of skills and base of knowledge. You really know more and have more skills than you may give yourself credit for.

Hang in there!

68autobug · 31 July 2009, 13:04

Well Mike
just came back from a 50km drive tonight .. temp 10.8C
car went great... accelerates quite fast...
or seems to from a stand still...
but will only do a bit over 90 KMH unless its down hill...

Heater worked fine...

Just adjusted the timing to 32 degrees... max
it was set to about 36 degrees....
best to do it at night...
idles perfect...

I'm happy again... lol

LEE

68autobug · 03 August 2009, 11:23

well, yesterday I tried to start the engine for 1/2 an hour...
trying to find the problem...
it eventually went but it seems the accelerator pump
is not working correctly....
its either off... BIG flat spot... then On too much...

I tried other coils... used a coil resistor..
sometimes it went... sometimes it didn't...

it seemed to be a combination/coil/fuel problem..

TODAY
I took the top off the carburetor again and blew air thru the carby again...
checked all leads etc... [trying to make an easy fix...lol]

then adjusted the points.. the Gap was slightly too wide..
it started OK...
timed it again with timing lamp....
accelerator pump is working correctly again.....

I just drove down the street though and it stopped at every intersection...!!
when I got home its idling perfect again...
the 1.3 ohm coil is VERY HOT.. so connected up a resistor...
so its nearly 3 ohms...

that should cool the coil down a bit...
I have two new coils to try out...
tried one... round oil filled..
worked great even though its also 1.3 ohms resistance...

My home made electronic High energy ignition puts a LOT of Volts and 5 amps into the coil...
so the more resistance the better...

but at least it feels right now... the acceleration and pedal that is...

LEE
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68autobug · 07 August 2009, 17:45

Well,
the past few days have NOT got any better....
sometimes it starts OK... idles OK...
but dies when the accelerator is touched...
I keep changing coils then eventually took the points out...
and they were burnt to a crisp.. lol
New set of points and a new condensor...
went perfect...
drove 50 kms... flat spot was driving My crazy...
Tacho is working correctly so its NOT electrical this time..

late last night I tried to strat it before i locked it up\
but it seemed the 7C degrees wasn;t to its liking...
and no go...

today... I had a bad day with My head playing up [depression] bought on by My beloved beetle..
this afternoon at 4pm... I started it up and drove 50 kms...
the engine was missing slightly at 80-100kmh...[could be the wide gapped points for My HEI system]
but it wasn't electrical as the tacho worked perfectly... and the condensor did its job..
coming home... the car drove perfectly with no flat spot
and good acceleration... excellent...

One other problem popped up... My gearshifter points need cleaning and adjusting..
as I had a few crunches etc getting into gear and nearly impossible to pull out of gear...
so I do need to look at that... urgently

Can't wait for a SVDA with pertronix ignitor instead of points..

cheers

happy beetling...

LEE

68automaticFoVay · 08 August 2009, 09:57

Lee I could look at pic's of that engine over and over and still see things I missed that make it unique and colorful I must say you really are good with some paint hehe I noticed the new oil filler cap nice touch! Was contemplating going the Alternator route also however did not want to change too much of the original design till I get more comfy wrenching on this thing. there wire harness is all orig still I believe so thats getting replaced first. moneys a bit tight on this end so I fix it as it breaks mostly and add new parts when I can afford em. just got new rubber all around so now I (once I get my engine running smooth again) can go out on saturday nights with the local VDub club... quite a few of them here in Sunny Southern California.
Sorry its so cold for ya there and do not dwell on your problems so much that it depresses you, Perhaps getting a fresh perspective from a source here on the web could provide the answer.
Do hang in there your a Huge assest to this site and we dont want ya getting too bummed out. walk away from it for a while if ya need to but hang in there,
Peace,
Joe

68autobug · 08 August 2009, 10:25

Hi Joe,
the depression wasn't started by My beetle but it did hold up the restoration by about 8 years... lol
well, the engine is starting OK again today..
found a loose spark plug lead... [maybe the engine missing last night]

Now its running perfectly again... [touch wood]
still on a condensor an an old coil... [3 ohms]

A New high powered coil I bought was leaking oil out the high tension post
I emailed the sellers, and they said to send it back..
they said the high tension screw may be loose...
so, I tightened that up... and no more oil leaks today..

My next item is the gearshifter points...
I have been having problems with it for about 6 months... lol
[hoping it would fix itself

]
well it didn't....

cheers

LEE

68autobug · 12 August 2009, 16:18

Well, I changed the High Energy Ignition for Points and the car was going Good for a day or so,,

Then it wouldn't go again....

The New points were badly burnt....

cleaned them up and its now going as it it should on the High Energy Ignition..

I forgot to mention that My other MAJOR Problem was the points.....

the rubbing block was plastic and had worn down until it was metal to metal...

a short circuit... I could hear the arcing but couldn't find the spark....

LEE

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greenghia · 12 August 2009, 22:55

Hi Lee, Did you put the condenser back on when you went back to the regular ignition? If the points burnt that quick I would think the condenser was not there or it is bad. The high energy ignition you are running doesn't need the condensor. Just a thought. Have fun, things will settle out for you soon.

Bookwus · 12 August 2009, 23:15

Hiya Lee,

And just continuing with green's train of thought.......................

Did you swap back to the regular rotor?

68autobug · 13 August 2009, 00:34

I disconnected the HEI and plugged in a new Mitsubishi condensor..
I thought any condensor would do???
always used the new dissy cap and rotor..
rotor is a non resistor type..
I think cb performance sell them...

it took Me a while to find why the points had failed...
checked to make sure they hadn't come apart etc...
then finally looked at the rubbing block against a new set...

anyway back to driving like a new one...
a new racing one... lol.....

LEE

Bookwus · 13 August 2009, 00:46

Hiya Lee,

Quote from: 68autobug on 13 August 2009, 00:34
....rotor is a non resistor type..
I think cb performance sell them...

That's the trick!

Quote.....it took Me a while to find why the points had failed...
checked to make sure they hadn't come apart etc...
then finally looked at the rubbing block against a new set...

Yep, those little beasts do give way if not properly lubricated. I found a parrafin based lubricant by Bosch made especially for the purpose of lubing the rubbing block. Works a charm.

Quote......anyway back to driving like a new one...
a new racing one... lol.....

Most excellent, sir!

johnr · 13 August 2009, 04:09

One thing for sure, we are a group of incurable optimists! If anything can go wrong, it probably already has. (And we fixed it!)