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r/aircooled

▲ 3 r/aircooled

Highbeams keep randomly turning off

My highbeams keep randomly turning off, they seem to stay on longer when it’s cold outside. And sometimes the plastic of the fuse melts, but the fuse itself does not.
Other times it shuts off and the fuse is not hot

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u/Puppythapup — 4 days ago
▲ 65 r/aircooled+1 crossposts

1979 Engine Rebuild

Hey all!
I have a 1979 Westy. I’ve owned it 15 years. 120,000 miles.It’s lost power and according to one mechanic I have lost 100% of compression in one cylinder and about 90% in the other.
He quoted me an estimate to rebuild the top end of the engine. It was not unreasonable, but I have had overall mixed experiences with this mechanic.
I’d like to find someone else, but it’s been next to impossible. Last guy I called told me without even looking at it that I need an entire new engine. “As soon as you open up that engine, you’ll may as well buy a new one.”
Bus runs great, just slow. Don’t know what to do. Can’t afford a Suburu swap. Live in SE PA. Any advice?

u/Outrageous-Finger718 — 7 days ago
▲ 401 r/aircooled+5 crossposts

Finally got an action shot 😂🤘

Short and sweet lol
Thanks to my mother in law finally got a drive by video🤘

u/visiblehorrorvideo — 8 days ago
▲ 120 r/aircooled

Can anybody help me plz 🙏🏼

When I first brought my bug. Is started first time every time. Now when I start it I have to give it a little throttle to start. Straight after inrealease my throttle it conks out. It won't idle on a cold start. It just keeps cutting out.

Can anybody give a young lad some advice?

u/Aggravating_Fan2508 — 9 days ago
▲ 51 r/aircooled

Finally swapped the stock carb on my '71 Beetle and the difference is kind of embarrassing

So I've been driving this thing for three years with a sluggish idle and a flat spot right around 2500 rpm that I just kind of accepted as "character." Figured it was just what a 40-year-old engine felt like. Turns out I was wrong and the original carb was simply worn out beyond reasonable adjustment.

Pulled it off last weekend and the throttle shaft had so much side play you could basically wiggle it by hand. That's where all the unmetered air was sneaking in. No amount of idle mixture screw fiddling was ever going to fix that, which explains why every tune-up I'd done over the past two years only helped marginally.

The swap itself took maybe two hours including cleaning up the intake and double-checking the timing afterward. First start it fired right up and the idle settled at a steady 850 without hunting. Took it out on the highway and that flat spot is completely gone. It actually pulls now, which sounds obvious but genuinely surprised me after so long driving it in that half-dead state.

A few things I'd pass along if anyone's dealing with similar symptoms:

  • Check throttle shaft play before blaming jets, floats, or anything else
  • The fuel inlet fitting is easy to crack if you overtighten it, so go slow there
  • Timing and carb adjustments really do need to happen together to get the best result

Anyway, three years of mild frustration resolved in a Saturday afternoon. These cars reward patience and eventually punish neglect, and apparently I had let that carb slide for too long.

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u/max_bakes56 — 11 days ago
▲ 123 r/aircooled

Potential Project Value

Just went to a local estate sale preview and ran across a thing. Non running, solid floors, front end damage, rusty rockers. Theres a large lot of extra hoods, doors, and another donor tub with a transmission. What’s it all worth?

I’d like to save this thing even if it just takes up room in my dry barn.

Thanks!

Edit: Owner states there is a clean title

u/OriginalKramer9116 — 13 days ago
▲ 10 r/aircooled

Can’t get ‘63 to idle without auto-choke on

Runs great with auto-choke on, once that kicks off it wants to die. It can be kept alive with some gas but I can’t seem to get it to idle on its own.
Cleaned out jets and everything I could think of on the carb. Timed it out to 30 degrees and adjusted valves to .006. Just can’t seem to find a happy idle.

u/OkRepresentative2051 — 10 days ago
▲ 72 r/aircooled+2 crossposts

Finally vented my valve covers🤘

So I finally did it lol in my opinion he’s running so much better almost feels like he’s “breathing” better. Question is is it all in my head or once you vent your valve covers should you see or hear a difference?

u/visiblehorrorvideo — 14 days ago
▲ 8 r/aircooled+1 crossposts

Ruoteclassiche (Italy) - August 2026

Contains:

1957 Porsche 356 A 1600 S raced by Jim Clark

1955 Porsche 356 1500/1600 S raced by Dennis "Jenks" Jenkinson

u/AircooledFreak_Mk3 — 13 days ago
▲ 15 r/aircooled+1 crossposts

Volksworld (UK) - August 2026

Contains:

Beetle convertible chopped custom

1956 Beetle sedan 1776 cc

1965 T1 Double Cab 2276 cc

1963 Karmann Ghia convertible

1967 Beetle sedan Cal Look 2110 cc

Body dropped Thing/Trekker (Type 181)

1963 Type 3 variant

1970 T2a Westfalia Campmobile

Toys: SSS Porsche 356 coupé

u/AircooledFreak_Mk3 — 13 days ago