Customer Reviews

How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive 19 Ed: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

5 star:		(93)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First, my credentials for this review. From 1971 to 1994 (with insignificant gaps), I've owned and driven three Vokswagen buses (not including a parts bus)and used this manual to keep all of them on the road. As of this writing, I'm driving my fourth bus. I've gone through four copies of the Idiot Book, using each one until it either fell to pieces, became illegible from grease and oil stains, or needed to be updated as I bought a later-model bus. It has guided me through six or seven engine rebuilds (I used my engines very, very hard) and God knows how many other procedures ... I think that I've done every single procedure in the book that applied to my particular makes and models. And using this book, I've done work on various WV bugs, buses, and squarebacks that belonged to friends of mine.
I agree with everybody who calls this the indispensable reference for VW owners. I also agree with those who point out its shortcomings. Muir quotes a friend of his, on a review of another VW book. as saying "I agree one hundred percent with ninety percent of what he says." That could also apply to my own feelings about this book.
As a technical manual, it mostly consists of solid information -- solid enough, anyway, to get you back on the road so you can find somebody to show you how to do it the right way. I've always advised a prospective repairer to own both this book and another manual (my favorite was the green Volkswagen Official Service Manual, also called the "Bentley"), read the Muir write-up first to get a general idea of what to do, and then compare it to the other manual, note the differences, and ask somebody why the differences are there. Usually it's because Muir assumes you're making do with a minimum of tools, or are too cash-strapped to make a proper fix. Occasionally, you'll find that John was flat wrong about something (such as how to warm it up in the morning, or why chokes should be disabled, or why the 009 distributor was perfect in every way), or that your particular model had a different set-up than the ones he was familiar with.
But to simply compare this book with other technical manuals would be to ignore the most important feature of this book, which is its ability to empower you. It presumes that the reader has no technical aptitude and starts you gently down the road to proficiency and self-confidence. I'll bet that more mechanics have been inspired by this book than any other technical manual ever written. Not only that, but once you have discovered that you can indeed perform a repair competently, you get a sneaking suspicion that there are other things you can do if you apply the same confidence, common sense, and ingenuity that John taught you about. I doubt if I would have had the courage to time a sewing machine, install a hard drive, build a mandolin, or re-assemble a hang glider if John hadn't shown me that I had the potential to do these things.
This book has survived because of its idiosyncrasies, not in spite of them. John writes that "You must do this work with love or you will fail. You don't have to think, but you must love." He's telling you something important about Life here, and about the relationship we have to our possessions and to our work. Forty years later, these are still wise words, and to find them in an automotive manual is astonishing. Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" tried to apply philosophical principles to machine repair, but it failed because he was no mechanic and tried to gauge his mechanic's skill according to his own expectations of what a mechanic's mind-set should be. John knew better. He knew, and taught, that you achieve oneness with the machine by applying mind, heart, and hands together, and by listening to the machine as it tries to tell you what needs to be done. If there's ever been another book like that, I haven't heard of it. And if there is, I'll wager that the author has read the "Idiot Book."

This is a great book, but I own a rare 1969 Auto Stick Beetle. After buying the book from a Motorworks dealer in New Jersey, I found to my dismay that the book contains no information or help for the auto stick owners. Despite this, the book is a great help for other VW issues. I especially like the illustrations. Many of them are funny, interesting and awesome especially for Bug fanatics like myself.

Don't
even think about touching anything else on your car till you read it cover
to cover. It, for lack of a better term, is THE aircooled bible. It is
written for the VW driver that knows NOTHING about anything mechanical or
electrical.
THIS is the best (...)you
can spend on your car.

I am an ASE Certified Technician who purchased this book at the beginning af a restoration project involving a 1970 Beetle. After turning to this manual during many moments of need I have noted that my emotional responses ranged from deep gratitude to watching this manual sail across my shop toward the trash bin.

Why the author decided to exclude critical information while clarifying others is a paradox to me. i. e.; One very common symptom with all air-cooled beetles are the sagging rear suspension; the author doesn't mention a word about the rear suspension while expertly addressing the front. The only wiring diagram is for an early `60's 6 volt system!?! etc, etc.

Ultimately I am glad to have this manual (Yes, I have dug it back out of the trash bin after a cooling off period, more then once) and, for the price, would recommend it. But I would first recommend you add this book to your library only after investing in the bentley, and other, manuals first.

Do not depend on this manual to cover all your needs in any comprehensive way. If this manual does address an issue for you, it's the greatest reference book out there. When it leaves you in the dark on other issues, especially if you are neck deep in an operation, you may have to suppress the urge to test the aerodynamics of this book.

To me this book is half complete. I wish that the author had invested more energy and focus into making this a comprehensive guide and less into the extracurricular comic strips and art work, or at least save it for when this manual was truly finished.

Since this is half the book it should be I give it half the rating it could have...2.5.

This book has found worldwide acceptance by Volkswagen owners around the world. Its the only book I have found written, for someone who doesn't know anything about the Car they are driving. Its also called the VW owners "BIBLE"... and most wouldn't be without their copy. Its usually found under the bonnet or rear seat of Most Beetles. The illustrations are funny, clever and instructive, all at the same time....
This book has saved many a holiday or trip by a Beetle owner.
Most of the time a beetle breaks down, it is a simple thing, and can usually be fixed on the side of the road. You will need some tools- and Mr Muir will tell You what tools to buy, and show You what they look like... If You ONLY buy ONE Book for Your Volkswagen and You have never pulled one apart before...
Then - this IS the book for You.
Lee Noonan

For many years now this has been the bible for early aircooled Volkswagen owners or fanciers. This book tells you what to fix, and how to fix it even if you are completely un-skilled. I've worked on hundreds of VWs since 1959 so I have real expertise with these cars. Nonetheless I currently have 8 ( that's right eight ) copies.

The best advise anyone can ever get if they have one of these vehicles or are thinking about getting one is to buy this book.

Sincerely Tom

I've owned several V-dubs and with that several of these books. Somehow they always seem to disappear. Hmmmmmm. I wouldn't do anything with my VW without this book. VERY informative and useful.

If you have an air-cooled Volkwagen, this is THE book to have. I don't care what your interest in these...these CHARIOTS OF THE GODS is, be it simple transportation, racing, or show, this book is clearer, more all-encompassing, and (let's admit it now) altogether MORE FUN to read than any factory manual...besides, I like the purty pitchers.

I grew up on this book, and damn it, your children should, too.

I first bought this book back in the 70's, when I think Muir was still alive. It completely captured the hippie, VW era, of which I was a part of, in Big Sur, CA. Step by step instructions for everything VW. Today, I am going to buy it just to read and remember an era long past, and wish I could bring back. I am glad it is still in print, because it perfectly matches the machine with the intended owners. I realize the Eurovan crowd will not be doing any repairs, but for those with 70-80's era buses, it is a must have.

This is the proverbial "VW bible" Many aircooled VW's come with this book already in the trunk even though the owners manual was lost 30-some-odd years ago. Not only is it full of indespensible information, its also quite an interesting read.

John Muir makes it easy to diagnose all sorts of problems your VW might have. The illustrations are all very straight-forward, being drawings instead of photos. And while it is mostly directed to the early bug, every procedure has notes on what will be different in a type 2 or type 3 or super bug.

There are several items your bug should never leave home without, a spare generator belt, spare tire, a jack, spare throttle & clutch cables, and a copy of "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive, A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot
by John Muir"