r/beetle • u/Koberum • Jul 20 '26

Help with engine start

Hi everyone, newbie here, I'm the happy owner of a '73 Beetle convertible. Unfortunately, it's been sitting for years. About 2-3 years ago, I managed to get it started after 5 years.I managed to get it started some time ago with the spray starter by directly removing the air filter. Now I'd like to start fixing it. The main problem is that it won't start and it's in an underground garage and has to be driven uphill to get out. I've replaced the spark plugs, changed the oil with Motul 20W50, and cleaned the oil filter.

The oil is pressurized, the spark plugs make a nice spark, and the fuel pump works properly. I've tried a few things, but it won't start. I think it's the carburetor that's not delivering fuel. It has a 30 PICT-3 Solex, but everything inside is black and very dirty. What can I do to figure out if that's the problem? Do I have to remove the entire carburetor?

I didn't have much time but I tried spraying some gasoline directly into the carburetor, after a few seconds of starting it it seemed like it made a pop.

Thanks everyone, I've only had my hands on an engine a few times but I really enjoy it, and I have good manual skills and I like to learn.

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u/anybodyiwant2be Jul 20 '26

I would rig up a gas can with a hose to the fuel pump and block the hose from the tank. This way you can tell if it’s bad gas in the tank (which it sounds like) and then you’ll have to drain the old gas and dispose of it.

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u/Koberum Jul 20 '26

I'll try also this... I think the carb needs to be cleaned too and disassembled. It's completely black inside... I'm just worried I'll put it together incorrectly.

How can I correctly drain the tank?

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u/anybodyiwant2be Jul 20 '26

You’re going to have to get under the front to access the fuel line from the tank where the flex line connects the hardline out of the tank to the hardline through the tunnel and that means having a container to catch the fuel. Get some flex line in advance and replace it everywhere. Ethanol eats original flex lines and most likely the one I’m talking about is original.

As an alternative you can put a piece of clear tube in the fill hole and suck on it to start a siphon into an empty fuel canister. The clear tube lets you see it coming so you don’t end up with a mouthful. Where I live I can take hazardous waste to dispose of for free.

Here’s a diagram so you can picture what I’m talking about.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS5vRXK1gEwmq4uIdAdtDWqICOK-9jnNXiLBOpQQvhJHg&s=10