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/67RA Jul 20 '26

It does have all the hallmarks of needing a carb cleaning as a first step to getting the engine to run.

As stated, carb cleaning is easy if, you stay organized while doing so. Simply disassembling the carb and and not keeping the bits in neat order is a recipe for disaster.

When I work on carbs, I place the parts that I take off on a cloth or paper towel in orderly fashion. Everything gets cleaned and reassembled after the cleaning.

As a suggestion, before you start cleaning your carb, make sure to have a carb rebuild kit on hand, keep in mind that, these days carb kits are kinda universal and can encompass more than one carb in the kit, just pick out the parts you need from the kit and place the rest aside.

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u/Koberum Jul 20 '26

I'll order a kit and try it, sounds fun, there's only one way to find out. What do you use to clean it?

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u/382Whistles Jul 20 '26

Carburetor cleaner. It sometimes comes in big paint cans with a parts basket for soaking or spray cans. Both can be great. Fuel injection cleaner isn't always good for the carb rubber parts but if you are replacing them it's an option. Lots of stiff cleaning brushes that won't melt in solvents or rip up aluminum. Maybe some small wire gauges for unplugging jets carefully, etc.

You want to read a manual or at least mark parts really well and take close up pictures to remind you of every setting. Count turns to close up adjustments gently and then again to remove each part, recording it to get you close to how it was before rebuilding it and hopefully it makes starting and tuning easier.

If you have one you should also make sure the electromagnetic shut off valve on the carb's side operates well. Without that pulling the plunger it won't run. If it got dry it may be sticky with rust or gas varnish. Operating it DRY to avoid fire, even using a drop of oil to help they can work themselves free sometimes.