Why doesn't a old beetle start after long distances?

Answer 1

I had a problem similar to this. I could be driving on the highway, particularly during the summer, but it could also be on short trips in traffic, etc and then a stop where the motor would start for a second, then quit---
What I found was this...

The motor generates a LOT of heat, and when the car was moving, it cooled the motor very well. When I stopped the car, or came off the highway, since the fan wasn't cooling the hot motor as well, (the fan wasn't moving as fast), or when the motor was stopped (fan off), what was going on was this:

The fuel pump in the beetle is all metal. It was getting so hot that the metal was vaporizing the fuel in the fuel pump. It would hit the pump, turn to a gas, and then the fuel pump couldn't pump the fuel through because it only pumps a liquid, not a gas. I found that I could pour a cup of water (or a coke, if one wasn't handy) on the fuel pump, and the motor would start again pretty quickly. It was cooling the metal down and the fuel would travel through as a liquid again. I messed with this problem on the single port motor I had for years, then finally replaced the stock metal fuel pump with an electric pump that wasn't directly connected to the motor where it could pick up the same amount of heat. Totally corrected my problem.

John
www.makeitloud.net

the problem may be that ur

engine is cooling down too fast after staying warm from driving so long either that or the time u take before starting it could be too long if ur

oil is not being heated propery

cuasing

it too not start just my inference


edit 11/07/2011

I presume you mean, you've driven a long way, pulled up, turned off the engine and in about 5 minutes tried to start it again and nothing happens. I've had this happen to me. Get your timing checked and make sure the oil level is full. that seemed to solve it on my bug.

I assume the the starter solenoid jams with the heat from the engine on a long run as I could get it going again with just a jump start pack, but on a car of this age it could be the starter getting tired, timing issues causing an overheat, low oil causing an overheat, tired battery giving a sagging voltage when asked to turn the engine off

edit 04/04/2013

One of the major issues with vapor lock in VW's

is that people don't know how to prevent it in the first place.

First, check the fuel line where it enters the engine compartment, it runs right along side the no. 3&4 spark plugs side of the motor and is metal. Make sure its not touching ANY other metal, plug wires etc. along that side of the engine.

Second issue, is the fuel pump itself. From the

factory, VW would 'fill' the bottom of the fuel pump base with grease. The grease keeps the fuel pump rod lubricated, AND stops heat from transferring from the engine block to the fuel pump case. Pull your fuel pump off (2-13 mm nuts) turn it upside down, and fill the underside with grease.

Re-install,

and drive away a happier camper!