New with lots of concerns!!

[caro012984]

I am new to this site, and have lots of concerns for my 99 GLS Beetle, named Dorothy. Here are a few of them. I'd appreciate any feedback or advice!

1) Locking mechanism alllll screwed up (see previous thread). Also, the security system will only engage or disarm if I use the remote. It will not respond to manually inserting the key.

2) Passenger side side marker broken - this seems to be a pretty easy DIY, no?

3) Knob to control side mirrors is broken off. Anyone have any experience replacing this? I'd perhaps have to replace the entire unit.

4) Front license tag holder pegs broken, so I need a new tag holder to cover up the holes in my front bumper! I haven't been able to find any place that sells these.

5) Gas tank latch will not open (I've found a lot of advice on this problem here!)

6) Driver side vanity mirror cover has broken off, so vanity light is constantly on! Again, I can't find a place that sells the cover. Any ideas?

7) Stereo Controls - AM button will for some reason not push in. This doesn't really matter since I never listen to the AM stations, but I have no idea why a button would stop being able to be pushed!

That's all I can think of at the moment. All of these are pretty much cosmetic, and I'd much rather fix them myself, if I can, instead of paying some ridiculous dealer price. I love my beetle, and I just want to bring it back to all it's glory. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!

[akasha1963]

Did you recently buy this car or have these problems suddenly pop up?

[mrchaotica]

Originally Posted by caro012984

6) Driver side vanity mirror cover has broken off, so vanity light is constantly on! Again, I can't find a place that sells the cover. Any ideas?

Remove the visor from the headliner (there's one screw holding it in), disconnect the wiring, and reinstall. Now the vanity light will be constantly off instead. Or buy a new visor.

Originally Posted by caro012984

7) Stereo Controls - AM button will for some reason not push in. This doesn't really matter since I never listen to the AM stations, but I have no idea why a button would stop being able to be pushed!

My head unit is like this too, but for different buttons. When you find out how to fix it let me know. Otherwise, you could just replace the thing -- people sell them here all the time, and cassette ones are cheap. Just make sure to check whether you need "monsoon" or "non-monsoon" and buy the appropriate one.

Also, welcome to the "I bought a 10-year-old car that the previous owner abused" club! It's been a year now, and I still have a lot left to fix on mine...

[MichelleRoze]

As far as I know, the vanity light will not stay on if the visor is up. I've left the mirror open and put my visor back and the light went off. Now if you need it down for blocking the sun, yes the light would be on and that would suck.

Side marker lights are easy to fix. There is a How-To on here. Click here And that'll show you how. VERY simple!

Flip through the How-To sections both styling and technical (some aren't always where you think they would be) and you might find everything you need.

Thanks for taking in a NB that needs a lot of love! Atleast you found the ORG that is here to give you whatever advice we can.

[mrchaotica]

Originally Posted by MichelleRoze

As far as I know, the vanity light will not stay on if the visor is up. I've left the mirror open and put my visor back and the light went off. Now if you need it down for blocking the sun, yes the light would be on and that would suck.

There are at least two different kinds of visors that came on different years of NBs. My '98, and I assume caro's '99, have mirror covers that flip up, and the switch for the light is activated by that mechanism so that when they're open, the light is on. Of course, the light also gets partially blocked by the flipped-up cover, so it's a stupid design. That's probably why they changed it to the type that slides open instead, which is what you have on your '02.

[kaiser]

mirror switch knobs are available separetly.
gotta buy the whole switch.

alarm issue, sounds to me like you need new door latch/latches.

you can't find a place that sells the license plate holder?
did you try the dealer? they are cheap.

gas flap, you probably need a new cable and servo.

[caro012984]

Thanks, all! I did get this NB uncertified used, but that was while ago. Things just "pop" off... I'm not an abusive beetle owner!!! I'll check with the dealer for the tag holder, and for now just make it so the light is never on for the vanity mirror. I'll keep you guys updated on how Dorothy's makeover goes!