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help starting 1960 kg
donovan - August 14th, 2011 at 06:34 AM

a friend is having trouble getting her karmann ghia going. the car turns over, starts, then dies. thought we had it going but turned out when she turned the ignition on, she held the key to the far right, as soon as she released it, died again.
any ideas? don


grumble - August 14th, 2011 at 11:45 AM

If it starts and runs whilst holding the key and stalls when letting it come back to the ignition position do the warning lights come on then,it sounds like the ignition switch, Check for power to the coil whilst cranking and when it stalls,if no power when it stalls it is most likely the switch.


68AutoBug - August 14th, 2011 at 12:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by donovan
a friend is having trouble getting her karmann ghia going. the car turns over, starts, then dies. thought we had it going but turned out when she turned the ignition on, she held the key to the far right, as soon as she released it, died again.
any ideas? don



Hi Don

the ignition switch is worn out and needs replacing...
they weren't made to last 50 years.... lol

not sure whether a beetle one is the same...???

connect a wire from the battery to the + on the coil...
then try the key switch ... if it goes and stays running...
it IS the switch...

seeing the battery in a KG is in the engine compartment easy to do...

a wire with aligator clips on each end are handy....

cheers

LEE


cheers

LEE


Anthiron - August 14th, 2011 at 06:58 PM

What they said //

When you said she was holding the key to the far right do you mean she was still cranking it with the starter motor? or do u mean she was just kinda holding it to the right hand side where it seems to have better contact for the ignition power switch?

Try the jumper from the battery at least that will rule out the switch if it doesnt work.


LOWBUG - August 14th, 2011 at 07:02 PM

What they said.


bushed - August 31st, 2011 at 09:16 PM

beetle ones fit