1974 Volkswagen Beetle 1974 Beetle Wont Start After Running

TONY0927

MEMBER
1974 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
144,000 MILES

Hello I need someone to please help me figure this car out.
This car was running fine and now it's having a problem with spark. Sometimes it starts fine and will drive for a few minutes with no problem and the it just shuts off as if you turned off the ignition switch. If I try to start it again it wont start. If I let it sit for a while it will sart and it may stay on for a while and sometimes it will shut off afther a few minutes again. Depends on his day! I checked when it does not want to start and there is no spark comming out to the plugs. I replaced the Coil and Distributor. And still no luck. The old Distributor had Electronic Ignition and I swaped it over to the new one.

Today I started it up and it fired up right away. I hit the gas a few times and it shut off and it did not want to start again. A while back I installed a RPM guage on it and sometimes it goes crazy.

I would really appreciate your help. Thanks!

3 Replies

CIFBALLER

MEMBER
13 POSTS

I had the same problem with my 74 super. What was happening to mine was that the battery cables were grounding out on my back seat, and to top it off my connections on the battery terminals were loose.

What I did to fix it was clean the terminals with a wire brush and then re-clamp the wires on tightly. Then I covered the battery and exposed wires and metal in the seat with cloth, or any old shirts I could find to prevent them from shorting out.

So far I haven't had any problems since, other than the typical VW oil leaks, and having to adjust the valves every oil change.

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Monday, August 9th, 2010 AT 4:44 AM

ELIZA1985

MEMBER
1 POST

I just put another engine in my 1974 vw beetle and it started up and ran beautifuly the first time and it run for about 20 minutes then it died and half way locked up. Me and my husband discovered the manual fuel pump had went out and dumped gas into the oil, we changed the oil and hooked up the electric fuel pump I had bbought for the other engine and got it to free up and start turning again but now the only way it will start is by jumping it off and then it dies right after it starts unless we run a wire from the ignition coil to the hot wire to keep it running I don't know what the deal is but now I am confused and frustraited. It all started with the manual feul punp going out and now I cant start it or keep it running. Please help!

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Monday, March 12th, 2012 AT 9:50 PM