Starter

I've just bought a Beetle for my daughter's 21st birthday and she loves it but we're having problems with the starter motor. Any advice?

You don't give us much to go on -- what kind of trouble -- slow cranking, click but no cranking, when the engine's hot or every time... ?

Here's a couple of common problems though.

1. Slow cranking - usually a sign of the battery being weak, and this could mean a sick battery or a generator/alternator not charging properly - there's an article on our main Web site (under Electrical) which can help you track these faults if you have a voltmeter or multimeter.
2. Won't start when hot (but you hear a click) - the throwout solenoid can get sticky with age and lack of lubrication. This solenoid forces the starter gear on to the flywheel and also provides the main electrical connection inside the starter motor. If it fails to start, but a tap from a hammer on the solenoid results in it working again, this is most likely. You can buy new solenoids.
3. A rriiiip sound as the starter spins but doesn't turn the engine - usually means stripped teeth on the flywheel, so the starter gear can't engage. This is an engine-out fix - the flywheel needs replacing (easy to do once the engine is out of the car). Not common in VWs, but it can happen.
4. No click, or start - but only sometimes... The electrical path for the solenoid is from battery in the back, to the key and back to the solenoid - a long path with several connectors on the way, so poor connections or a broken electrical section of the key mechanism can cause this. The electrical section for the key is replacable. If you can short the heavy wire on the starter to the thin wire connector with another length of wire (this is what turning the key does) and the car starter works OK, then it's probably in the key or the wiring to the key. (car in neutral and hand brake on HARD for this test - you have to crawl under the car to get at the starter.)

The starter can be repaired by anyone handy with tools - there's nothing "special" about it. The only part which needs an auto electrician is the spinning part itelf - if that is worn or has a broken coil section, it needs an auto electrician to fix it (but it's easily replaced as a whole component).