Reflection On Winter In A VW

vw recommended 42psi in the spare to operate the winshield washer..... you can also purchase OEM electric operated windshield washer tanks/pump that mount inside the trunk on the left side fender bolts....i have one but can't comment on how it works because i can't install it there...(gasoline heater in the way)

Two suggestions:

Try opening one or both of your vent windows just a crack; that tends to help the defrost just a bit. When the car is in motion, the slipstream draws some additional air through the ducts if the windows are opened slightly. I've found that this works pretty well on my '66.

Check your windshield washer nozzles for obstructions by probing into them with a sewing needle. They may be clogged. If that doesn't work, the problem could be your switch/washer valve.

Hope this helps.

Good luck and stay warm.

J> I've been driving the vw all winter this year. It has been an

I think I installed this flexible washer reservoir kit on a 70 Beetle

Of course you might be able to just purchase an external washer pump, wiring and switch and use the original washer tank. ;-)

later, dave (One out of many daves)

Aircooled.net has a reservoir and pump (designed by VW for the Mexico bugs I think) as well.

Yeah but the aircooled.net washer tank will look stock AND clean!! So I guess it does depend on how good you want it to look! 8^)

I'd wait till they come up with a heated unit like the new cars ...(I get to share the profit if someone in here reads this ... (Jan :o)).....an patents it .lol)

Other then that its not hard to get the stock set-up working right , I've never had a problem with it on any of the cars, I dealt with. I'm sure you can get everything to get yours working.

Mario Vintage Werks resto

Other then that its not hard to get the stock set-up working right , I've never had a problem with it on any of the cars, I dealt with. I'm sure you can get everything to get yours working.

when I purchased my ghia last year I hooked up the washer system....(the pressure line wasn't hooked up to the bottle)...Didn't take too long to figure out why it was disconnected.... the bottle pressurized and I squirted the window a few times.... smiling like a dumbass at having "fixed" it(all I did was add fluid and hook the pressure line up) i suddenly realized that my leg was getting a shower of cold liquid.... the "valve" part of the washer switch in the column must be bad, it leaks badly....hehe...i'm sure that isn't good for the electrical parts in the column.... i do without now....

Wow, you mean you didn't have to use an ice scraper on the INSIDE of the windows to get the ice off after you drove a few minutes? That has always been an issue for me in cold weather.

been in the teens every evening for a week....the defroster in the ghia blows strong....no problem with icing on the inside of the windshield.... i've only owned two bugs that the defroster worked worth a damn...one was "all original" 71 super and the other was a 74("standard") that i put the heating system back to "stock"....when its there, and working properly it's not bad....especially if you do highway commuting....

The pre-1998 Bugs were never a winter car, especially in the rust belt where road salt is used. Too many unprotected moving surfaces that get corroded and fail to function properly, such as door hinges and the steering mechanism. Don't get me wrong, I love old bugs - but the reality is, they aren't meant for snow and slush.

And usually created challenges about keeping the front windshield free of fog on the inside. ;-)

I enjoyed driving mine in the wintertime and most of the Bugs I owned had good heat too. Yes they really did! :-) I won't drive a Beetle in the wintertime since they are more valuable now.

later, dave (One out of many daves)

until ten years ago i drove ACVW's as daily drivers....never had any more trouble with them than any other vehicles i have owned.....we salt here, but not nearly as much as further north...but we have some rust buckets around here, due to folks not taking care of thier vehicles.... lots of folks around here lose vehicles to rust thanks to mud...if folks took care of thier stuff it would be alot less...

Exactly the same happened in my 1303! The problem was with the black valve in the wiper column. Now I just get the problem of the system depressurising after a week :-)

-- Howard Rose

I have the Aircooled.net pump and bottle and it works wonderful. The price wasn't bad at all considering the quality and fit. I'd recommend it....and I'm a cheap bastard:)

Sneaks '68 T1