Ignition/Starter Problem
london_mike - November 15th, 2010 at 09:13 AM
Hi,
My '71 Beetle has had some problems starting. Lights, radio, etc. all come on - so battery is good; but when I switch ignition ON nothing happens. No
clicking, nothing. Nothing I do seems to help (eg. wiggling the key around!), it just starts when it decides it wants to.
It started a few months back when it took two or three goes, - and I could live with that.
In the last week iit's started taking many more. I can be sat there for ten minutes turning the key until it works...
Any ideas? I'm thinking it's probably something simple (starter? solenoid?), but I need to get it fixed before it gives up altogether and I'm left
stranded somewhere unpleasant.
TIA,
Mike.
66brm - November 15th, 2010 at 09:30 AM
Could be a couple of things, I would check the ignition switch contact firstly, I had an ignition switch go bad recently myself, turn the key and
nothin turn the key again and away it went, this went on till it would no longer turn over at all
. The other thing to check is the starter solenoid and its connections
london_mike - November 15th, 2010 at 09:35 AM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by 66brm
Could be a couple of things, I would check the ignition switch contact firstly, ... The other thing to check is the starter solenoid and its
connections
|
Cool, thanks. So you think it sounds like an electrical contact issue?
Are the contacts I need to check easy to reach?
Joel - November 15th, 2010 at 11:26 AM
9 times out of 10 its the igniton switch.
They're cheap and easy to replace
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=76646
66brm - November 15th, 2010 at 06:44 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by london_mike
| Quote: | Originally
posted by 66brm
Could be a couple of things, I would check the ignition switch contact firstly, ... The other thing to check is the starter solenoid and its
connections
|
Cool, thanks. So you think it sounds like an electrical contact issue?
Are the contacts I need to check easy to reach?
|
Just check for continuity with a multimeter in each of the switches settings, off should have nothin, all other should have power going somewhere. Is
it dash mounted or column?
ancientbugger - November 15th, 2010 at 06:46 PM
Also just double check the small wire on the starter motor is making a decent contact
london_mike - November 17th, 2010 at 06:00 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by 66brm Is it dash mounted or column?
|
Column. It's a '71.
Muir suggests it's a bugger to fix. 
68AutoBug - November 17th, 2010 at 11:06 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by london_mike
Hi,
My '71 Beetle has had some problems starting. Lights, radio, etc. all come on - so battery is good; but when I switch ignition ON nothing happens. No
clicking, nothing. Nothing I do seems to help (eg. wiggling the key around!), it just starts when it decides it wants to.
It started a few months back when it took two or three goes, - and I could live with that.
In the last week iit's started taking many more. I can be sat there for ten minutes turning the key until it works...
Any ideas? I'm thinking it's probably something simple (starter? solenoid?), but I need to get it fixed before it gives up altogether and I'm left
stranded somewhere unpleasant.
TIA,
Mike.
|
Most probably the ignition switch Mike...
If You connect a push button for the engine starting part
and You could still use the switch for ignition ON..
I have a switch to turn My engine over, which I normally do Use as I will have to replace the ignition switch at some time in the future and if the
key won't start the engine I won't be stuck.. or My Wife won't be stuck.. lol...
LEE