New Beetle FAQ

[Shamrockez]

Thinking that an FAQ would be useful for prospective buyers and new owners. What would you like to see in one? What do you think would be useful?


I'm talking about things such as:

My 2.0 is using oil - should I worry?
What mpg can I get out of my 1.8t
Where's the spoiler switch on a 1.8t/v5
How do I remove the door panel?


Then either a short reply to the question or a link to a how to.


What else do you think there should be?

[Grahamini]

Is the engine still in the back ?

My Dad asked me that on Saturday ::) ;D

[Shamrockez]

;D ;D

[Shamrockez]

A few more:

When should my cambelt be changed?
What oil do I need to use
How often should the brake fluid be changed
My blue temperature light is flashing - what does this mean?
My glow plug light started flashing while I was driving - why?



If anyone wants to add more or give some model answers - then fire away :)

[Shamrockez]

What size tyres should I be fitting to my 15/16/17/18/19/20in rims?
What is the PCD wheel fitment of a New Beetle?
My fuel flap is stuck shut/won't lock - what do I do?

[Grahamini]

I have a 2.0 and the local petrol station send me birthday and christmas cards - is this normal ?


I`ll think of some proper ones in a minute, promise ;D

[Shamrockez]

My bonnet and boot badges are peeling - can I replace these myself?
What prams and buggies will fit in the boot of a New Beetle and Beetle Cab?
How do I remove the radio?
Can I dissable the passenger air bag?
My aig bag light has come on - what does this mean?

[Grahamini]

How do I change head/tail light bulbs ?
What do 17/18/19/20" wheels look like std/-25mm/-40mm ?
Any good independant VW garages in my area ?

[Delenn]

What's the vase for?
Does it come with a flower?

;D ;D ;D

[Grahamini]

What's the vase for?
Does it come with a flower?

;D ;D ;D

The handbook says not to have a flower in the vase when you`re driving ;D

[Dub-Diva]

How about...

Who worked out that 1 second is long enough to get from the drivers door to the boot before it locks itself again? :D

[Shamrockez]

Oooh yes that's most annoying!!! You have to press the button then dash round to the boot quick enough before it locks itself. Now, try having a boot which doesn't lock down right and you're in a rush to get to work so decide you'll drive off and fix it when you get stopped at some lights. You stop at the lights, press the button to release, run round and slam the boot - still not locked, so (as the handle bit on my boot doesn't work) I run back to the door, press the button, slam the boot again etc etc etc - this happens for the next 2 sets of lights till I get it to close properly :-[ naughty Robbie!

[Delenn]

??? When I unlock the boot it "pops" up so the magnets are not in contact. I've never had that problem and I can only open my boot via the key or the in-door button.

Am I being a bit blonde about all this?

[Shamrockez]

Mine pops open fine but when you close it, it half locks - but it's neither locked or open and the little light stays on

[Delenn]

hmm

I've never experienced the locking dash run to the boot. If I unlock the doors with the key it takes around 30 seconds before it autolocks but nothing else.

I'll get my coat...

[Ali]

I want to leave my dog in the car - how do i disable the interior alarm?

[Shamrockez]

Mine does it really quickly - you literally have to run!

Good one Ali

[Shamrockez]

Oh and if anyone's wondering, if your boot refuses to lock, Steve finds meantioning the word 'scrapyard' works suprisingly well! :o

[Dub-Diva]

Oooh yes that's most annoying!!! You have to press the button then dash round to the boot quick enough before it locks itself. Now, try having a boot which doesn't lock down right and you're in a rush to get to work so decide you'll drive off and fix it when you get stopped at some lights. You stop at the lights, press the button to release, run round and slam the boot - still not locked, so (as the handle bit on my boot doesn't work) I run back to the door, press the button, slam the boot again etc etc etc - this happens for the next 2 sets of lights till I get it to close properly :-[ naughty Robbie!


;D ;D ;D lmao ;D ;D ;D

Now we've discovered how long to hold the middle button down on the keyfob to open the boot, we don't have the mad-dash problem anymore - we just don't use the boot release inside the car (unless the better-half is standing by the boot, ready to react quicker than a flash to grab it open!) lol ;)

[Shamrockez]

Ah, my key was in the ignition as he takes an embarrasingly long time to start when he's hot, so I left them in for a 'quick get away'

[Ali]

what are coilovers?

[Dub-Diva]

Can we fit a third seatbelt in the back? :-/

[Jampot]

How about:

"I am going to look at a 2nd hand Beetle on Saturday - what should I look out for?"

[Shamrockez]

All good - keep them coming!





Also if anyone wants to add answers that would really help as I don't know the answers to them all :-[

[Jampot]

All good - keep them coming!





Also if anyone wants to add answers that would really help as I don't know the answers to them all *:-[


What do you mean? Of course you know all the answers! :D

Bertie's Girl is the person to ask about pushchairs.

You could put up each of the headings somewhere and ask people to contribute the answers you don't know :)

[Ali]

I want to leave my dog in the car - how do i disable the interior alarm?

PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR POST BEFORE YOU SHUT THE DOOR AND LOCK IT....

[Shamrockez]

Right peeps - answer as many or as few as you like - I'll take the best/most understandable answers and put them in the FAQ

I am going to look at a 2nd hand Beetle on Saturday - what should I look out for?
Can we fit a third seatbelt in the back?
what are coilovers?
I want to leave my dog in the car - how do i disable the interior alarm?
My 2.0 is using oil - should I worry?
What mpg can I get out of my 1.8t
Where's the spoiler switch on a 1.8t/v5
How do I remove the door panel?
Is the engine still in the back?
When should my cambelt be changed?
What oil do I need to use
How often should the brake fluid be changed
My blue temperature light is flashing - what does this mean?
My glow plug light started flashing while I was driving - why?
What size tyres should I be fitting to my 15/16/17/18/19/20in rims?
What is the PCD wheel fitment of a New Beetle?
My fuel flap is stuck shut/won't lock - what do I do?
My bonnet and boot badges are peeling - can I replace these myself?
What prams and buggies will fit in the boot of a New Beetle and Beetle Cab?
How do I remove the radio?
Can I dissable the passenger air bag?
My aig bag light has come on - what does this mean?
How do I change head/tail light bulbs ?
What do 17/18/19/20" wheels look like std/-25mm/-40mm ?
Any good independant VW garages in my area ?
What's the vase for?
Does it come with a flower?
Who worked out that 1 second is long enough to get from the drivers door to the boot before it locks itself again?

[Dub-Diva]

can we get a third seatbelt fitted in the back? we'll need to know becuase we have 3 children ( I know, I know... not the most practical family car... but it's a beetle... :P )

if/when we have, what do we do next because the V5 says it's a 4 seater....

[Shamrockez]

I have seen Bugs fitted with 3 belts and I belive there is mountings for them - but you'd have to get the V5 changed and notify the insurance company I think.

[Delenn]

Ah, my key was in the ignition as he takes an embarrasingly long time to start when he's hot, so I left them in for a 'quick get away'

I must be the only person not to notice this? I may have to experiment on this tonight...

[Shamrockez]

Maybe you can adjust them to make the time longer? I dunno.... I shall go and time Robbie now....

[Shamrockez]

Maybe you can adjust them to make the time longer? I dunno.... I shall go and time Robbie now....

I have 2 seconds.

[Dub-Diva]

yeah, ours is about the same... :o

[Shamrockez]

Ironically half the times I tried him a minute ago he was ok for aaaaaaaages - that's never happened before -it's always 2 seconds then it won't open. But this time he was being very well behaved - it's like children or animals - whatever you say they always will or always won't do, they'll do the opposite!

[Ali]

i dont understand how that works as when i press the boot unlock button it opens the boot a bit......how is that possible then?

[BarneyBug]

i dont understand how that works as when i press the boot unlock button it opens the boot a bit......how is that possible then?


Mine does that too :D

[Shamrockez]

How what works??

[Ali]

well if i press the button to release the boot then the boot opens half the latch (i mean, it doesnt open open but it comes off the latch) so it couldnt lock itself again without my pushing it closed.....am i on the same page?

[Shamrockez]

Yes - you are. With Robbie he pops it open but it just catches enough on the lock so it won't atually open - but it' neither locked!

[Delenn]

Perhaps the mechanism is on the fritz.

Mine pops like Ali's.

[Dub-Diva]

Ours is exactly the same as Robbie's... :-/

[Delenn]

Once you pop you can't stop ;D