Hey fellow Volkswagen enthusiasts!
I recently came into posession of a 411 and I've been trying to get it up and running for awhile now. The problem is I'm not very good with cars and this is my first car ever {I'm 18} but I've been troubleshooting it and have found that there seems to be a problem with the starter, but I can't find where the damned thing is... Could someone give me any pointers as to where this thing might be? Thanks for the help in advance and I'll keep everyone updated as to the status of it as I go along.
The car (ain't she a beaut?)
http://i.imgur.com/YYAIXSf.jpg
The battery (underneath the driver's seat, weird right?)
http://i.imgur.com/bc5Npech.jpg
The engine
http://i.imgur.com/hBMUHIvh.jpg
Urgent Volkswagen 411 help!!!
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raygreenwood
- Posts: 11895
- Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:01 am
Re: Urgent Volkswagen 411 help!!!
Welcome glassbomb! I replied to your request on the Samba as well.
The 411 is a gerat car. Just bear in mind....and I have owned 6 or 7 of these cars have over 500K them miles in them...and my 1st car at 15 was a 411 four door. I have been working on them exclusively since 1978.
There are a lot of little mechanical flaws in these cars that can eat parts..especially in the suspension. ALL of these cars have the flaws...and all of them need work even if they have "0" miles on them because they are 40+ years old.
Read my warnings please. There are things that need to be done if you are going to drive this on a regular basis. Most are not expensive at all. If you do not do them...they will ruin other parts that you cannot get.
Read my warnings at this link. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511667
I am not trying to scare you or disuade you from this car...on the contrary. This is one of the most fun VW's ever built....but you will be sorry if you are not diligent and careful...to get this thing "stable"...mechanically.
The suspension is what I am most warning you about. You can always buy another type 4 engine to put in the car...or find another block, crank or heads....but the suspension and body parts are unique to this car....and some are very hard to obtain.
Many people...myself included...have bought type 4's that seem to be in great shape...and nice and decently tight. You start driving them...and very quickly you get odd shimmies and start getting sloppier handling. This is usually the centerlink and idler bushing showing their natural defects that are made worse by age. Easy to fix....but if you dont fix them first..they will destroy the ball joints and radisu arm centering rings. Not so easy to fix.
Enjoy! Ray
The 411 is a gerat car. Just bear in mind....and I have owned 6 or 7 of these cars have over 500K them miles in them...and my 1st car at 15 was a 411 four door. I have been working on them exclusively since 1978.
There are a lot of little mechanical flaws in these cars that can eat parts..especially in the suspension. ALL of these cars have the flaws...and all of them need work even if they have "0" miles on them because they are 40+ years old.
Read my warnings please. There are things that need to be done if you are going to drive this on a regular basis. Most are not expensive at all. If you do not do them...they will ruin other parts that you cannot get.
Read my warnings at this link. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=511667
I am not trying to scare you or disuade you from this car...on the contrary. This is one of the most fun VW's ever built....but you will be sorry if you are not diligent and careful...to get this thing "stable"...mechanically.
The suspension is what I am most warning you about. You can always buy another type 4 engine to put in the car...or find another block, crank or heads....but the suspension and body parts are unique to this car....and some are very hard to obtain.
Many people...myself included...have bought type 4's that seem to be in great shape...and nice and decently tight. You start driving them...and very quickly you get odd shimmies and start getting sloppier handling. This is usually the centerlink and idler bushing showing their natural defects that are made worse by age. Easy to fix....but if you dont fix them first..they will destroy the ball joints and radisu arm centering rings. Not so easy to fix.
Enjoy! Ray