Volkswagen Beetle 1973 User manual

Volkswagen Owner’s Manual:
Operation and Maintenance
Owner:
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Volkswagen Owner’s Manual
Operation and Maintenance
>
1973 Models
Volkswagen Volkswagen Volkswagen
Sedan 111 Sedan 113 Convertible
Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft
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20?d6t0f»» Printed in German, I 73
II

The VOLKSWAGEN OWNER S MANUAL consists ol two major parts: operation
description and Diagnosis & Maintenance record.
The first part acquaints you with your Volkswagen Warranty and the operation of your
car. It also gives you information on fuel, oil. lubrication, plus technical data.
The second part deals with the maintenance of your Volkswagen. It explains what
the VOLKSWAGEN DIAGNOSIS and MAINTENANCE is all about, and how to keep
your Volkswagen In top driving condition. Check the mileage chart at the end of this
manual. It will tell you when to bring your car to your Authorized Volkswagen Dealer
lor periodic oil change, diagnosis and maintenance services.
The first maintenance service at 600 miles is free of charge
(you only pay for engine and transmission oil).
You are further entitled to free diagnosis services at 6,000,
12,000,18,000 and 24,000 miles.
Always hays youf Volkswagen Owner's Manual with you when you lake your car to
an Authorized Volkswagen Dealer lor service... it provides your Service Adviser
with the information he needs and enables him to make the necessary entries for you.
Please read this manual before you drive your new Volkswagen. Acquaint yourself
with its features, and know how to operate it more safely . because the more you
know about it, the more you will enjoy driving your Volkswagen.
Ill
Pictures and text in this manual are
based on the 1973 Volkswagen Sedan
113 with Manual Transmission Where
the controls, equipment and lechnical
data ot the Volkswagen Sedan 111. the
Automatic Stick Sh.ft and the Volks¬
wagen Convertible differ considerably,
we will point this out in the text
Various items shown or described in
the manual may be options on certain
models. Check with your Authorized
VW Dealer on available options or
accessories
It has always been Volkswagen s policy
to continuously make lechnical impro¬
vements; therefore, the right is reserved
to make changes at any time during the
model year without notice.
IV

CONTENTS
pa go
Address change cards D 12
Air cleaner. 52
Air Conditioner. 28
Alternator warning light.12
Ashtrays.15
Assist straps and coat hooks. . . .15
Automatic Stick Shilt.18
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . 51
Auxiliary Heater. 27
Battery . 4 0
Brake fluid reservoir 39
Brake warning light.. . 11
Bulb chart. 45
Bulb replacing.46
Changing a wheel. 35
Changing engine oil. 50
Chassis number ... 3
Checking engine oil level. 49
Cleaning your VW.43
Convertible top.26
Dear VW Owner. 1
Oefroster.23
Diagnosis and Maintenance . .0 1
Distributor addresses.59
Doors. 4
Emergency flasher.10
Engine oil grades.54
Fuel gauge . . 1 2
Fuel supply.40
Fuses.41
Dear VW Owner:
A lot has gone into the manufacture of
your Volkswagen Including advanced
engineering techniques, rigid quality
control and demanding inspections.
The engineering and safety features that
have gone Into your VW will be enhanced
by . you.
the sate driver
- who knows his vehicle and all the con¬
trols.
- who maintains his vehicle properly.
- who uses his driving skills wisely.
Because safe driving is important to you.
we urge you to read this manual care¬
fully. to maintain your VW properly and
to follow the check list shown on this
page whenever you use your VW.
page
Glove compartment .20
Headlight switch. . 1 1
Heater. 2 2
Heater lever spot light .22
Ignition/steering lock.10
Instrument illumination.11
Instrument panel . 8
Interior light .15
Jack. 34
Keys. 4
Lane changer ... 1 3
Lubrication 5 3
Luggage compartments ...... 21
Maintenance record.D 7
Manual Transmission. 16
Manual Transmission oil .51
Oil pressure warning light.12
Bear seat removing and installing . 45
Rear view mirrors 14
Rear window defogger. 14
Safety belts. 6
Seats . 5
Sliding roof . .... 25
Spare wheel.. . . 33
Spark plugs, cleaning and replacing 49
Speedometer with fuel gauge
and warning lights ... .12
Starting hints.20
Sun visors. 15
Before getting behind the wheel:
1 - Make sure that the tires are inflated
correctly.
2- W atch the tread depth indicator on
the tires. Look for bruises and wear
3- See that all windows are clean and
unobstructed.
4- Check that headlight and tail light
lenses are clean.
5- Check that all tights are functioning
properly
6- Check turn signal lamps and Indica¬
tor light (ignition on).
In the driver s seat:
1 - Position seat properly tor easy reach
of control b.
2 - Adjust inside and outside mirrors for
unobstructed rear view.
3 - Fasten safety belts
4-Check brake warning light when
starting the engine
5 - Check brake operation
6-Make sure that all doors are closed
securely and locked
page
Technical data .60
Tires. 32
Towing and trailer hauling . ... 30
Transmission oil grades 55
Troubleshooting. 5 6
Turn signal/headlight
dimmer switch lever. 13
V-belt adiustmg or replacing ... 48
Vehicle identification. 3
Ventilation . ... 24
Warranty . ..VII
Windows . 5
Windshield washer fluid container 39
Windshield wiper/washer lever . . 13
Winter operation.31
V
And when you are on the highway:
1 - Always drive defensively Expect the
unexpected
2 - Use signals to indicate turns and lane
changes
3 - Turn on headlights at dusk
4-Follow at a safe distance. A good
rule of thumb is to allow a minimum
of one car length for each 10 mph of
speed
5 - Reduce speed during night hours
and inclement weather.
6- Observe speed limits and obey high¬
way signs.
7 - When tired, get off the highway, stop
and take a rest.
8 - When stopped or parked, always set
the parking brake.
9- When stalled or stopped for repairs,
move the car well off the road. Sot
the emergency flasher and use road
flares or other warning devices to
warn other motorists
1

TYPE PASSENGER CAR
MANUFACTURED BY VOLKSWAGENWERK AG (month/year)
THBVEHCLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR
VEHCLE SAFETY STANDARDS^ EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANU¬
FACTURE SHOWN ABOVE
GVWR LB. OOOO (chassis number)
GAWR LB. FRONT 0000/REAR 0000
This sticker is your assurance that your
1973 Volkswagen complies with all U S.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
which were in effect at the time the
vehicle was manufactured. You can find
this sticker on the left doorjamb.
The sticker also shows the month and
year of production and the chassis num¬
ber of your car (perforation) as well as
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and ihe
Gross Axle Weight Rating
2
Vehicle Identification
The identification plate
is the birth certificate'' of your Volks¬
wagen It is located under the Iront hood
next to the hood lock.
On the Volkswagen Sedan 111. the plate
can be found in the spare wheel well.
The chassis number
is also located on the instrument panel
on the dnver's side so that it is visible
from the outside through the windshield
This is for your protection to aid in
the apprehension of car thieves and the
recovery of stolon vehicles.
The engine number
is stamped on the generator support
flange.
The plate shows such information as The chassis number is also stamped on
manufacturer s name, place of origin, the frame tunnel under the rear seat
model, weights and ‘Fahrgest.-Nr.'*.
which is the chassis number of your car.
3
SOT

Keys Doors
Your Volkswagen comes with two sets of
keys:
The key with the elongated head is for
the doors and the ignition/stoering lock
The key with the round head >s for the
glove compartment only The glove com¬
partment of the VW Sedan 111 does not
have a lock
It the door, with the locking knob or
locking lever depressed, closes by itself,
the locking device will disengage auto¬
matically We provided this additional
safety feature so you won t be locked
out if the door should slam shut while
the key is still inside the car.
To lock and unlock doors from the
inside -
depress or pull out the locking device.
Since your Volkswagen is almost air tight
it will bo easier to close the door if you
open a window slightly
The locking lever on the VW Convertible
looks like this
Do not invite car theft
by leaving your car unattended with the
key in the ignition lock. Take the key
with you and lock the doors.
A buzzer will remind you when you open
the driver's door and the key is still in the
ignition lock.
II is a good idea to keep a record of your
key numbers in your wallet together with
your license, if you should lose a key
your Authorized VW Dealer will thus be
able to quickly secure a replacement key
for you
Windows
We recommend you do not put decals or
other signs on the windows of your car
that will interfere with the driver s vision.
You can lower and raise the windows in
the front doors by means of winders. We
cushioned Ihe knobs for your safely
To open the vent window, turn knob into
driving direction, move locking lever
forward and push out window
To make closing ihe vent window easier,
we suggest you first push on the forward
pari of the vent window so that it tits
snugly against the weatherstripping
Then grasp the knob, and move the lever
back lo lock it in place
Always drive with locked doors to pre¬
vent inadvertent opening of a door from
the inside, especially with smaller chil¬
dren in the car.
To lock and unlock doors from the
oulsida
You can lock and unlock your car with a
key. of course
But you can also lock it without a key.
First push In the Inside locking knob on
ihe upper door panel Then depress the
plunger in the outside door handle as
you close the door.
On the VW Convertible depress the
locking lever in the ms»de door handle
Seats
We recommend you do not adfusl Ihe
driver's seat while driving. Your seat may
suddenly }erk forward or backward,
which could result in loss of control.
Your Volkswagen has adjustable front
seats with built-in headrests
Seat adjustment
To move the seal forward and backward
pull ihe lever on ihe inboard side of the
seat. Now slide ihe seat to Ihe desired
position. Let the lever go. and move the
seat slightly back and forth to make Sure
it is securely engaged

Safety belts
Backrest adjustment
To adjust the backrest, lift the lever at
the outooard side of the seat cushion
as you exert slight body pressure In the
direction desired Lei the lever go lo
lock the backrest in position.
We have installed a lock on the side ot
the backrest
You can disengage this lock by pulling
up the lever. Tilt the backrest forward
and out of the way for easy access to the
rear seal and rear luggage compartment.
6
A shoulder belt should not be worn by a
person less than 4 7 In height, because
H would not be In its most protective
position, and therefore may increase the
possibility of injury in a collision.
To fasten your tap/shoulder belt, grasp
the ben tongue and pull the belt in a con¬
tinuous slow motion across your chest
and lap. Insert the belt tongue into the
corresponding anchor housing on the
center tunnel and push down until it Is
securely locked with an audible click.
Belts should not be worn twisted.
To unfasten the belt, push in the release
marked PRESS on the corresponding
anchor housing The belt tongue will
spring out of the anchor housing.
To store the lap/shoulder belt, guide the
belt tongue to its stowed position behind
the assist strap on the door post. For the
passengers comfort, the retracting
forces of the belt are relatively low and
winding up of the belt may be slow Make
sure the bell is fully wound up on the
retractor.
A safety belt is provided for each sealing
position in your Volkswagen. For your
protection, fasten your safety belt before
driving off and wear it at all times while
the car Is in motion.
Safety belts that were subjected to ex¬
cessive stretch forces during an accident
should be replaced
An audio-visual warning system for the
front seats will remind the driver and
from passenger to put on their safety
bells The buzzer will sound and the
FASTEN SEAT BELTS sign on the dash¬
board will light up as soon as a gear is
engaged. The warning system will also
be activated «f the passenger in the front
passenger scat is not wearing a safety
bell.
Make sure the bell of the unoccupied
passenger seat is fully wound up on its
retractor so that the belt tongue is in
its stowed position behind the assist
strap on the doorpost This reduces the
possibility of its becoming a striking
obiecl m case of a sudden stop.
Do not strap in more than one person in
each belt
Safety belts for rear seats
The rear seats are equipped with lap
belts with an automatic retractor. If you
have pulled out too much of the belt,
the retracting mechanism will take up
the slack until the belt fits snugly
across your lap and will stay locked In
this position.
Safety belts for front seats
The front seats are equipped with lap/
shoulder belts with an automatic locking
retractor. The bell adjusts automatically
to your size and movements as long as
the pull on the belt is slow. A sudden
motion locks the belt The automatic
locking mechanism in tne retractor will
also lock the belt when driving down a
sleep hill or in a curve, and when the
car's speed is reduced
To fasten your lap belt, grasp the belt
longue on the outboard side of the seat,
and pull it across your lap and Insert the
longue in the inboard buckle. Push in
until you hear a click to be sure the belt
is locked securely.
To unfasten the belt, push in tne release
marked PRESS in the buckle
To store the belt, guide the belt tongue
to the retractor Make sure the belt is
fully wound up on the retractor Bell
tongue and buckle should always be
kepi on top of the seat for ready use. Do
not permit them to get caught under the
seat
Belt care
Keep safely belts clean. If cleaning is
necessary, wash them with a mild soap
solution, without removing them from
the car.
Do not allow the belts to retract until
they are completely dry.
Do not bleach or dye safely belts Do not
use any other cleaning agents. They
may weaken the webbing.
Check buckles and retractors for proper
function Check bell webbing and bind¬
ings for damage.
7

Instrument panel
vw 111
1 -Vents lor heating/defrost mg (there are 3) . ... 23
2 - Vents lor heating/defrostmg and fresh air ventilation
{there is a pair on each side).23/25
3- Brake warning light.11
4 - Headlight switch.11
5 - Speedometer dial wilh fuel gauge and warning lights 12
6-Safety belt warning light. 6
7 - Plate ovor radio aperture
8 - Glove compartment . . .20
9-Turn signal and headlight dimmer switch lever .13
10-Windshield wiper/washer lever .13
6
11 - Fresh air control knobs (2).. . 25
12- Fuse box. 4 1
13- Ignition/steering lock .10
14- Horn
15 - Control knob tor Auxiliary Heater
(optional equipment).27
16- Ashtray .15
17- Emergency flasher swilch.10
16 - Spot light to illuminate the heater levers between
the front seats. 22
VW 113 and Convertible
1 - Vent for heatmg/defrostmg and fresh air ventilation
lover the full width of the windshield).22
2 - Vents for heating/defrosting and fresh air ventilation
for the front side windows (there is one on each side) 23
3 - Speedometer dial with fuel gauge and warning lights 12
4- Venls for fresh air venlllaiion (2) . 24
5- H eadlight switch. 11
6- I nstrument illumination.11
7 - Brake warning light. 11
8 - Safety belt warning light. 6
9- Control switch for Auxiliary Heater
(optional equipment).27
10 - Switch for rear window defogger
(VW Sedan 113 only). 14
11 - Emergency flasher switch.10
12 - Plate over radio aperture
13-Glove compartment, lockable .20
14 - Loudspeaker grille
15 - Turn signal and headlight dimmer switch lever . 13
16- Windshield wiper/washer lever.13
17- Horn
18 - Ignition/steering lock. 1 0
19 -Knob for fresh air fan.24
20 - Fresh air control knobs (2).24
21 - Spot light to illuminate the heater levers between
the front seats.22
22-Ashtray.15
9

Ignition/steering lock
The steering is equipped with an anti¬
theft igmlion lock.
Fasten safety belts. Make sure the gear¬
shift lever Is in Neutral before turning the
ignition key.
1 - Ignition off/steering locked.
Insert the key. If it is difficult to turn
the key. gently move the steenng
wheel until the key turns freely.
2 - Ignition on/steering free (for towing)
3- Starter engages.
The key returns to position 2 as soon
as it Is released Never operate the
starter longer than a few seconds. If
the engine should fail lo start, turn
the key back to position 1 and repeat
the starting procedure More on start¬
ing on page 20
To remove the key and to lock the steer¬
ing. turn the key back to position 1 and
pull it out Turn the steering wheel until
it locks.
The steering column will lock when you
remove the key. Therefore OO NOT
REMOVE the key while you are driving
or as the car is rolling to a slop.
10
It you leavo the key in the ignition/steer¬
ing lock, the buzzer will sound when the
driver's door is opened. This is your
reminder to remove the key.
Emergency flasher switch
VW 113 A ■ VW111:
l_i ^'
If your car is disabled or parked under
emergency conditions, depress the
lower half ol the rocker switch (VW 111
pull out the knob) to make all four turn
signals flash simultaneously. The warn¬
ing light in the switch or knob flashes,
loo.
When the headlight switch is operated,
the emergency flasher switch or knob
glows with reduced brightness for easy
recognition in the dark When the emer¬
gency flasher is not In operation, the
brightness of the light can be regulated
together with the instrument panel lights
(see instrument illumination) The light
has full brightness when the emergency
flasher system is m operation.
Move the car well oil the road when
stalled or stopped lor repairs.
Brake warning light
Your Volkswagen is equipped with a dual
circuit brake system. Both circuits, one
for the front brakes and one tor the rear
brakes, can function independently.
If the brake warning light lights up when
you apply the brakos while driving, one
of the two brake circuits may have failed.
The other brake circuit will still operate
but a longer distance and greeter pedal
pressure are required to bring the car to
a halt.
Pull off the road and slop
Try out the effectiveness of the brakes
by carefully starting and stopping on the
road shoulder
If you judge that the brakes operate
safely enough to take you to the nearest
dealer, proceed cautiously and at low
speed. If you do not feel it is safe to con¬
tinue. have your car towed to the nearest
dealer lor repair.
Proper functioning ol brake warning light
The brake warning light will light up when
the ignition is turned on It will go out
after the engine has been started This is
your assurance that the brake warning
light functions properly
If the brake warning light does not light
up when turning on the ignition, or if it
does not go out after starting, there may
be a defect in the electrical system. If
this is the case, contact your Authorized
VW Dealer
In some VW 111 models, chocking of the
Drake warning light is accomplished as
follows: Depress the brake warning light
after turning the ignition on. If the knob
does not light up. contact your nearest
VW Dealer
Headlight switch - VW 113 : r
I 1
Depress the rocker switch to the first
stop to turn on the parking and side
marker, license plate tail and instrument
lights, emergency flasher light, spot light
for the heater levers and the light in the
TEMP-switch for the optional Auxiliary
Heater.
Depress the switch to the second stop
to turn on the headlights (ignition on).
Instrument illumination - VW 113
Turn the thumb wheel next to the rocker
switch to ad|ust the brightness of the
Instrument lights and Ihe heater lever
spot light
Headlight switch - VW 111
Pull the knob to the first stop to turn on
the parking and side marker, license
plate, tail and instrument lights, emer¬
gency flasher light, spot light for the
heater levers and the light in the TEMP-
switch tor the optional Auxiliary Heater
Pull the knob to the second stop to turn
on the headlights (ignition on).
Instrument Illumination - VW 111
Adjust the brightness of the instrument
lights and Ihe heater lover spot light by
turning Ihe headlight switch knob
Note
To preserve the battery, the headlights
will go out automatically when the
ignition is turned ofl or when Ihe engine
is started.
11

Speedometer dial
The speedometer indicates the speed,
the odometer records the miles driven.
The last digit in red indicates 1/10 of a
mile.
The following warning lights are in the
speedometer dial
a-red
©
alternator
b - green
o
turn signals
c- red
OIL
oil pressure
d - blue
=D
high beam
Fuel gauge
It is located in the speedometer dial, and
only indicates the fuel level when the
igmuon is turned on.
When the needle i$ on ' R". there is a
reserve of about 1 gallon of fuel left in
your tank . . time to refuel al the next
gas Btation.
The red warning lights for alternator and
oil pressure In the speedometer dial will
light up when the ignition is turned on.
They should go out after you have started
the engine
12
a - Alternator warning light (Q)
Slop at once ...
if the alternator warning light comes on
while you are driving
Turn the engine oft!
Check first whether the V-belt is slipping
or broken. The V-belt not only drives
the alternator but also the fan that cools
the engine
Tighten or replace the belt.
abed
c — Oil pressure warning
light 0|L
Stop at once ...
if the oil pressure warning light comes on
while you are driving.
Turn the engine off!
Check the oil level to make sure you
have enough oil. If the oil level is normal,
do not drive on but contact your nearest
Authorized VW Dealer.
An occasional flickering of tho oil pres¬
sure warning light when the engine is
idling after a long high-speed trip is no
cause lor concern if the light goes out
upon acceleration.
Whenever stalled or stopped for repair,
move the car well off the road. Turn on
the emergency flasher and mark the car
with road flares or other warning devices.
Before working on any pari In the engine
compartment, turn the engine oft and
wait untM the engine has cooled down
sufficiently.
Turn slgnal/headllght dimmer switch
lever and windshield wiper/washer
lever
There are two levers just behind the
steering wheel
The lever on the left side is for the turn
signal/headlight dimmer switch.
The lever on the right side is for the
windshield wiper/washer system
The turn signals and the windshield
wipers only work with the ignition on.
Turn signals
Lever up - right turn signal
Lever down - left turn signal
The green turn signal indicator light
comes on in the speedometer dial when
you operate the lever.
The turn signals are cancelled automati¬
cally when you have completed a turn
(like driving around a corner), and the
steering wheel returns to the straight¬
ahead position.
If a turn signal i$ defective, the control
light flashes at about twice the normal
frequency. Have your Authonzed VW
Dealer check and repair it for you.
Lane changer
To indicate your intention when chang¬
ing lanes on expressways slightly lift
or depress the lever to an intermediate
position The lever will return to the OFF
position when released
Headlight dimmer
Dim the headlights by pulling the lever
toward the steering wheel. The blue indi¬
cator light In the speedometer dial will
light up whon the high beams are on.
Windshield wipers NA/I PE
The windshield wiping system operates
at two speeds low and high.
Lifting lever to first stop - low speed
Lifting lever lo second stop - high speed
If you iust slightly lift the lever before
reaching the first stop, the wipers will
wipe as long as the lever is held in this
position and come to a stop when re¬
leased
To give you full battery power while
starting the engine, operating windshield
wipers will stop automatically at this
moment.
Windshield washer
<4? WASH
To spray washer fluid on the windshield,
pull the lever toward the steering wheel
You can operate the washer from any
selected wiping position.
Avoid running the wiper blades over a
dry windshield .. you may scratch the
glass. Spray washer fluid on it first.
13