Research

Bud vase

Around the turn of the last century when automobiles were first marketed to wealthy customers, the expected elegance of the carriage was marred by both engine noise and exhaust. The need for some kind of air freshener generated a host of distinctive small vases mounted on the B/C door pillar or...

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ECU upgrade

Background One important advantage of the 2002-04 Turbo S version of the New Beetle is the performance flexibility of its 1.8T turbocharged engine. The AWP configuration in the Turbo S is essentially the same powerplant installed in a range of other VW models tuned from 125 to 240 horsepower.

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Truck bed

Background The “truck bed” is the rear flat surface surrounded by bed front and side walls, and closed up at the end by the tailgate. Conceived for work, pickup trucks began their evolution in the early 20th century as simple, inexpensive, easy to repair, and utilitarian vehicles designed to haul stuff....

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Ground clearance

Background Ground clearance significantly impacts comfort, handling (center of gravity), appearance, load capacity, and safety of all vehicles. Optimal height is always a trade off: lower clearance improves handling, stability at high speeds, and increases the responsiveness of steering, but higher clearance improves comfort and navigation over uneven terrain (includes all...

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Anatomy of 1.8 engine

Fully dressed engine The 1.8 turbocharged dual cam 20-valve engine has many variants — the example illustrated below is similar but not identical to the AWP code Turbo S version. In the Turbo S, the front of the block faces the right side of the engine bay placing the dipstick in...

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Modified functionality

Chopping off the back half of a New Beetle body has some implications for a few functions in the rear of the car. Dash indicators The New Beetle Turbo S dash displays an array of 20 different warning indicators.

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Bentley Service Manual

Background Volkswagen provides detailed documentation for their dealer network of authorized repair facilities, but these materials are not available to the general public. Fortunately, Bentley Publishers, an automotive reference specialist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, fills the information vacuum. New Beetle Service Manual The Volkswagen New Beetle Service Manual contains in-depth maintenance, service...

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