How do you diagnose a bad thermostat on a beetle?..seems impossible-
Normally a vehicle reaches operating temperature the t-stat opens allowing full connection to the radiator and heater core....not on an olde tyme beetle, there's a flap that's supposed to open up the air shield (never actually seen a working one) allowing more air to go thru...honestly the pollution is so bad from one of these put-put air cooled engines to begin with....impossible to diagnose.
I have jammed the air outlets open on a Corvair. I didn't know VW Beetles had thermostats. They had boxes around the exhaust for cabin heat.
they always worked well wide open when hot and if not fully closed when cold you never cared as they came up to temp real quick with little stumble if any , remember the long windups, ran good about 4 bolts to remove engine also
Yes between the No.3 and 1 clylinder is a coily little buddie that controls the t-stat flap....they don't work, and are removed or fall off.
The trick is getting more air flow back there. You can purchase hindges that keep the top of the engine deck lid "popped up" or take the deck lid off. There are also fiberglass cowls you can use to catch more air.
could I subtract those points given by Jimmy? Admittedly it was the troublesome oil cooler that burned the No.3 cyl, the t-stat is on the other side of the engine, near the No.2 cyl.
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