Baja Bug Problemos

"Raphael Orlove" (orlove) 09/15/2013 at 20:45 • Filed to: baja bug, parking lot mechainic, help

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Sadly, mein Schatz has two problems that I can't overlook, and I don't know exactly what's wrong. Let me see if I can explain them well.

Problem one: Here's the simple one. I got a slow leak in my right front tire a couple months back, not long after I went out to East Coast Bash down at Englishtown Raceway. The tread was good, but I got a new tire at some place up in Harlem. Actually, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! :

In any case, not long after I got another slow leak in the exact same tire. It holds air for a full day, but overnight it will drop from maybe 30 to 20 psi and if I leave it longer it obviously goes flat.

Is the problem with the tire, do you think, or with the wheel, or maybe with how the tire was mounted?

I have a spare tire (literally, just a spare extra tire, not attached to any wheel) and I could have it put on the wheel and see if it goes flat by itself, I suppose, which would let me know for sure if I just need a new tire, or if I need a new wheel.

Any thoughts?

Problem two: The shifter on the baja has always been vague to say the least, and other people driving the car have sometimes been totally unable to find first gear. I've always been able to slot it in after a little caressing, or by clutching out and back in again (a trick jbh taught me), or with a little throttle, or just by muscling the shifter into the slot.

In any case, today the car refused to go into any forward gear at a stoplight. I muscled and muscled. I clutched and I clutched. Finally the car banged into first just before the light went from green to yellow.

Then it refused first again at a stop light. I gave it a little gas and it went in and off I went.

Then it refused first again, and no matter what I did, it would not go. I tried second - nothing. I tried third and when I tried clutching out I got the hideous scream of mashing gears. The light had gone red by now (thankfully I was on an fairly empty street this time), and I slotted the car very easily into reverse, pulled over by the side of the street, then tried again. After a heavy shove, the car finally took first.

The rest of the drive back to the parking garage (in stop and go Manhattan traffic, of course) went ok, but shifting into first or second was always unpleasant and always came with effort and a clunk.

What's wrong?

Is my clutch wearing out? Once the car is moving, it shifts like it normally does with or without the clutch.

Are my synchos worn out?

Are there some bushings or something in the shifter (that guide the shifter into place) that need replacing?

Maybe I've ground some teeth off of first and second?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. The car is always a work in progress, so I'm not bummed about any of this, I just wish I knew exactly what's wrong.

The engine, it will be said, is still running like a dream. Whenever I feel bad, i can always run it out to the 4.5k redline and get a smile back on my face.

Patrick Frawley > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 20:52

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Raph, we said from the first day we picked that thing up that we have to completely overhaul the shift linkage. If first is completely unfindable (I know I was struggling with it last time I drove it, but this sounds worse) it's probably time to get the book out and order a few things. I'm a little surprised you didn't have it done when it was in for the batch of post-roll repairs. If it was the clutch everything would be balky, but that's probably coming soon too.

Oh, and something I just remembered about the tire: Next time you're going to be up there for a while without driving it, take some dish detergent and lay a bead down around the edge of the wheel where it meets the tire. (This won't be easy on the inside, but try it.) If there's a slow leak around the rim, it'll bubble and show up. Otherwise it's something else, maybe a pinhole in the tire itself or something. Just an idea.

desertdog5051 > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 20:55

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My first thoughts on the tire would be a buildup of crap on the bead area of the wheel. I had that happen to me and after I took it to a local, independent shop, they cleaned the bead area and no problem after that.

Not sure on the shifter problem, but I had something similar some time ago and all it required was an adjustment of the clutch. Good Luck.

Straightsix9904 > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 20:59

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First problem: Try and get a spray bottle of soapy water and see if you can see bubble around the bead or the valve stem. 10psi in 12 hrs should be enough to spot if you are patient. When I mountain biked I would 1/2 pump up my tire and drop it in the toilet to spot leaks. Haha. A spray bottle is a tad more sanitary and I'm pretty sure your tire won't fit in your porcelain god.

2nd: it sounds like your shifter bushings/linkage is/are completely shot. I would probably inspect those before looking at a rebuilt tranny.

Raphael Orlove > Patrick Frawley 09/15/2013 at 20:59

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I'll definitely try the dishwater trick, but yeaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh it's time to make an order. I'm already going to order new valve covers, some extra throttle cables (by the way, I moved the front thingey up to the second notch and it is perfect now. firm, very responsive, wonderful), the front ball joints are worn so I need new ones there, and a new seat belt clasp. The question now is just what exactly I need to order to get the shifter in order.

Raphael Orlove > desertdog5051 09/15/2013 at 21:00

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I wouldn't be surprised about a buildup. Maybe I should just take it to a good tire shop (one with an actual lift as opposed to just a big jack) and see what they say.

Bandit > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:01

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Take the wheel off and dunk it in a thing of water (or something like that) to find where the air is escaping. As far as the shifting problems, could it need the shift linkage fixed?

Supreme Kiwi Zorro > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:01

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I suggest you take the tyre off then inspect the wheel for any calcium deposits (hard white substance like those on your dirty faucet and shower head). Calcium deposits can grow and bulge the tyre bead, thus letting the air out. If there are calcium deposits, try soaking the wheel with white vinegar, it'll dissolve them. Cheers!

Raphael Orlove > Straightsix9904 09/15/2013 at 21:01

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I always did the tube in a sink full of water trick for my bikes. The toilet's an interesting choice, though...

But yeah, I'll try the soapy water trick.

McMike > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:02

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Could be a valve stem on the wheel, could be an old rusty wheel that the tire isn't sealing to well. One of my snow tires (mounted on used wheels) just wouldn't hold air either. I had it remounted twice (wire wheeling the bead seat between) The second time, along with a valve stem seemed to do it.

When it the last time you bled the clutch fluid? It sounds like you may have weak hydraulics (could also be master/slave cylinder, too) and a fluid flush and a bleed is a cheap place to start.

Just wear your damn mask... > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:04

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Problem 1: Replace the valve stem and while the tire is off the bead to get to the valve stem, scrub the wheel bead thoroughly. If that doesn't work, that the entire wheel/tire, dunk it in a bit vat of water and look for leaks.

Problem 2. Start with the simple stuff. Rebuild the shift linkage then adjust it. The bushings wear out. Also check the adjustment on the clutch. Bug trannys are pretty bulletproof but they can go bad.

Straightsix9904 > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:06

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The toilet was already full of water...and I flushed.....most of the time.

Bonhomme7h > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:07

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Mister Orlove.

I'm sorry to disturb your thread with an off-topic question but since you are talking about your 'Bug...

Do you have the original size of this picture laying around in a corner? That would be magnificent in my living room.

Raphael Orlove > McMike 09/15/2013 at 21:08

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Hrm. Never bled the clutch fluid, so that might be a good place to start before I start an overhaul of the shift linkage.

So, it seems like a good thing to do is check for a slow leak using the soapy water spraybottle test, then get the tire off the wheel and scrub the wheel clean and replace the valve stem while I'm at it. Sounds good.

PRBot II > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:08

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As others suggested, soapy water can help. But if it doesn't work at first, try rotating the wheel and doing it again. If the leak is bearing the weight of the car, it might be harder to find.

Raphael Orlove > Straightsix9904 09/15/2013 at 21:13

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Everything I own already has a light coating of urine on it, so I should be good.

I mean,

uh,

you heard nothing.

Straightsix9904 > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:16

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Like those pants I wore to the bar last night....

Oh yeah... You heard nothing. Lets end this conversation.

For Sweden > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:29

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Speaking from previous Baja Bug experience...

1) Find a cheap kiddie pool, fill it with water, drop the wheel in it, and see if it leaks. Do the Gawker Media offices have a hot tub on the roof? Even better. The location of the leak should be apparent.

2) As others have said, rebuild the shift linkage, and check the clutch adjustment; both are pretty simple jobs. If that doesn't fix it and the transmission itself is bad, I would sell your current transmission for a core deposit and buy a rebuilt Type II transmission. They are heavier, but will better withstand the kind of driving you want to do.

birddog73 > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:39

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Just seconding Mc Mike.
A buddy has a Mazda B2600 that had a similar issue. He had to kill it at lights, put in first and restart to go.
Bled the system and it went back to "normal".

Raphael Orlove > Bonhomme7h 09/15/2013 at 21:42

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I sure do!

Click right here for the pic uncropped at about 3.5k pixels.

And right here for it cropped to 16x9 at the same size.

and I totally understand - I've been meaning to get this printed out on nice paper to hang on my wall

Raphael Orlove > For Sweden 09/15/2013 at 21:45

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Thanks, man. What should order I now so I can rebuild the shift linkage?

Raphael Orlove > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:48

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also, unedited

Bonhomme7h > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:50

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This is the first time that I see the panoramic option on a i-Phone being put to good use. Very nice Sir, and thank you.

For Sweden > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 21:51

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I'd start with a kit like this, assuming none of the large mechanical bits are broken.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/211-798-20…

Raphael Orlove > Bonhomme7h 09/15/2013 at 21:54

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that's actually just a bunch of dslr pics stitched together in photoshop, but yeah, I know what you mean

Raphael Orlove > For Sweden 09/15/2013 at 21:59

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that's for a bus - that wouldn't work for me, right?

would I need more than just this ?

http://www.mamotorworkstv.com/vw/product/shi…

For Sweden > Raphael Orlove 09/15/2013 at 22:02

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You are correct on both counts. Also, do you have an account on The Samba? That's a great resource.

Raphael Orlove > For Sweden 09/15/2013 at 22:06

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I think I do, yeah. I should post this over there, huh.

Sethersm > Raphael Orlove 09/16/2013 at 14:12

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Catching up after a weekend.

1) As others have said, soapy water or dip.

2) Adjust clutch cable, there's a big wing nut on the transmission end of the cable, can't remember what the setting is supposed to be, something like 1/2 inch of play at the peddle before the arm on the transmission starts moving. On the Ghia I had, I always went into 2nd then to 1st (a habit which I still perform today on my non-vw). I could be wrong, but I *think* 1st isn't sychronized on the air cooled VW transmissions. Either that, or because 1st is in between R and 3rd, but 2nd has nothing to the left of it, so all the way left and back, then straight forward is 1st. Lastly, if you have to drive it before fixing, next time it won't go in, try turning off the engine, shift into 1st, start the engine. If it's the linkage, engine running or not won't make a difference. If it's the clutch (disc or adjustment) shifting should be easy with the engine off.