Ask the Car People.SM


VW New Beetle (GL, GLS & GLX)

760 messages,  Last post on Mar 05, 2012 at 10:41 AM

You are in the Volkswagen Beetle Forum.

What is this discussion about? Volkswagen New Beetle, Coupe, Hatchback

Messages Page 74 of 76

#731 of 760 A few problems, should I be concerned? by wasit_adream

Dec 07, 2008 (3:53 pm)

So yesterday I bought a 99 Beetle (I am ecstatic beyond all reason!) but there are a few things about it that are, or at least seem, off and I was hoping someone could tell me if they're things I need to worry about.
 
First, whenever I start the engine (even if I drove it less than an hour ago) the blue temperature gauge comes on (it doesn't flash). I don't know if this is something that is normal and is supposed to happen everytime you start it, or what.
 
Second, the gasoline gauge is broken. I have a mechanic friend who said it could just be a loose wire, but if it's not is this a problem that would cost a lot to fix?
 
Third, the car made a weird sound when I started it (think along the lines of whining) and I took it to that mechanic friend, and he said he thought I needed to replace the serpentine belt. He said the belt itself isn't expensive but he didn't know about labor on a VW. If you'd had this replaced on your bug could you tell me the cost?
 
Like I said, I absolutely adore my car (I've wanted one since I was eight), but these things make me a little bit nervous.
 
Thanks for your help (:
 

#732 of 760 Re: A few problems, should I be concerned? [wasit_adream] by bpeebles

Dec 09, 2008 (7:07 pm)

Replying to: wasit_adream (Dec 07, 2008 3:53 pm)
Did you get an owners-manual with your NB (New Beetle)? My daughter even got a VHS tape with her NB which describes most of the features. (I have that tape i my hand now)
 
The blue indicator is NORMAL. There is no temparture GUAGE in the NB to tell you when the engine is still not warmed up. Thus, the light is blue to indicate that the engine is still not up to temparture. We all know that an engine should be driven gently whilst it is warming up and the blue indicator gives you that information.
 
The fuel gauge really needs to be troublesot to isolate the problem. I beleive VWs have an "access port" under the rear seat so the fuel-sender is accessable without removing the fuel tank. HOWEVER, at this point you do not have enough details to determine what the problem is.
 
Replacing the serp. belt takes about 45 seconds and the only trouble is that the NB does not have much room to work under the hood.
 
An important thing to remember... do NOT leave the heated mirrors in the "ON" position any longer than needed lest they will burn out. (Some people leave the mirror-knob in the center position which is the "ON" postition for the heaters)

#733 of 760 Re: A few problems, should I be concerned? [bpeebles] by kennycarter

Dec 09, 2008 (7:27 pm)

Replying to: bpeebles (Dec 09, 2008 7:07 pm)
Congratulations on your new purchase? I have an '04 Convertible GLS myself and really enjoy it.
 
What's the mileage on your '99 Beetle? Somewhere between 60-80k miles (and sometimes people have even had problems before that) the following (at least) need to be replaced:
 
  1) water pump ( these actually come with a plastic impeller...need to be replaced with a metal one when the job is done. These are available with 3rd party companies such as http://www.koperformance.com/volkswagen/index.htm or eBay, etc.
   2) timing belt (if this breaks on you, you are looking at possibly thousands of $ in repairs...
   3) tensioner
   4) miscellaneous other small parts:
Timing Belt Idler Pulley
Coolant G12 (only kind that will work with a Beetle)
Distilled Water
Accessory belt (optional )
Thermostat (optional)
New engine mount bolts
  
If any of the above fail, they all need to be replaced while you're already there.
 
    http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3998685 shows photos of all this...this guy said it took him 10 hours.
  
If all of this is done in a repair facility, the cost is somewhere in the range of $600-$900...$900 being the VW Dealership. As I said earlier, the price of not doing it runs as high as $4,000. Not good.

#734 of 760 by kennycarter

Dec 09, 2008 (7:31 pm)

bpeebles, I'd love to get a copy of your Beetle VHS! Let me know if you will...I'll happily pay for it.
 
Kenny

#735 of 760 Parking or Gear Indicator on 06 New Beetle by megaloskilo

Dec 28, 2008 (10:54 am)

I have a 2006 VW New Beetle and the parking or gear indicator lights stay on all the time. That is to say if it's in 'park' or 'drive' or whatever gear, all the lights/letters are illuminated. So by looking at the indicator alone you can't tell what gear or position the transmission is in.
 
Has anyone had this happen before and what if any remedy did you find? The car drives fine and it doesn't appear to have a transmission or shifting problem. The car is still under warranty but I'm just curious as to what might be causing the problem.

#736 of 760 Re: College grad in Michigan needing VW [scarls13] by Turbo_S_Driver

Dec 30, 2008 (9:38 am)

Replying to: scarls13 (Jun 28, 1999 1:54 pm)
Here is a cool West Coast Beetle Blog that you can compare prices at...
 
 
www.DASBeetle.blogspot.com
 

#737 of 760 Hello from Nevada by etbug

May 13, 2009 (7:40 pm)

I am new to this site, I have a 2001 1.8T GLX

#738 of 760 car manual by luckyneta

Jul 17, 2009 (6:57 pm)

I just bought a 2000 Beetle from a used car dealer. I love my little car but it didn't come with a owners manual. There is a few things that I don't know about it. Does anyone know where I could get an owners manual? And I have another question also. Behind the back seats Is there suppose to be something between the window and the seat? Kinda like the back window in a bigger car?

#739 of 760 Re: car manual [luckyneta] by kennycarter

Jul 17, 2009 (7:15 pm)

Replying to: luckyneta (Jul 17, 2009 6:57 pm)
luckyneta, come on over to www.newbeetle.org. There are lots of folks over there that can be of help to you...I have a convertible, so I don't know the answer to your question.

#740 of 760 Re: car manual [luckyneta] by vwfreak80

Jul 24, 2009 (3:26 pm)

Replying to: luckyneta (Jul 17, 2009 6:57 pm)
We have an 02 beetle- in between the seat and the back window there is a flat shelf-ish thing that goes between. covers my speaker set i put in there. It is removable.

Messages Page 74 of 76

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement