TheSamba.com :: View topic - Beetle starting problems.Please help! Im going threw hell

Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:26 am

Go over to the Bay Window Forum and look for NaSkeet, he's got a post about T-shirts it's like on the second page right now. Send him a PM and ask him for help. He's on your side of the pond and knows the electrical stuff

Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:28 am

Yeh sorry Jodi ive already contacted him he is on the case he will get back to me maybe tomorrow

Tom

Think ill end it here and let ye know if ive solved it ( but please let me know where i can get looms from in America etc..)

Thanks a million Peace love and light..

Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:43 pm

I have exactly the same problem mine died at a junction a while ago, I am on my 3rd starter and all the electrical bits are new. It tries to turn 100amh battery helps and after about 10 attempts it turns over freely and starts, just now it was turning over all by itself with no key in and no starter button pressed.

Sun Jun 15, 2008 12:21 am

im having the exact same problem on my 69beetle.it just dies and wen i start it i just get a click.if i let it rest for a while it will fire up again...dunno what the issue is.if you people found out can you let me know

Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:30 am

Hi,

jimcub and rebel_

What condition is your starter nose bushing in the trans housing? If that is worn the armature will rub on the windings on the side of the starter and create a bind that may prevent the motor armature from rotating.

You might consider getting the automatic starter for your car if one is available that does not depend upon the nose shaft bushing.

Sometimes the starter solonoid gets whacked too with ozone build up (at least I call it that) resulting in a black burned carbon covered electrical connection inside that prevents a good connection moving current to the motor itself. Basically a dirty wire connection. You can disassemble most of these and scrape them clean.

Tommytoots, how is your problem coming along?

dave

Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:55 pm

Dude put new wiring loom in and a new starter motor and a new alternator from dynamo swap just to make sure since i was doing new wiring anyways.

Outcome she runs like a Hot MAMMA on speed.

Thanks fer yer help man.....

Ive got a new problem now, shes letting in water lol!

Tom

Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:08 pm

Sweet!! Glad she's running right for ya Tommy!.

Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:33 pm

yeah...all you a guys talking about the wiring loom were right...I spent about two days, figuring this one out

I had an automatic starter rebuilt, put it in and was intermitenly not starting, I took it back blamed the rebuilt shop.
Picked it up, said they changed the solenoid, installed.. but same problem, sometimes it would go and sometimes it just would make a click sound when I turned the switch, lights on the speedo went somewhat dim when trying.

It's the Red wire that goes from the voltage regulator to the headlight switch

I ran a wire the same route and left the original on also to have double the current (actually I ran it from the voltage reg to the 30 terminal of the ignition switch, since the power first goes to the headlight switch, then ends up there anyhow) ...fired right up, took it off there was the problem again.

So for those having this problem...

Its the Lead wire that gives all the current to the front of the car
The wire was still good, since all my headlights were always working, but somehow wasn't enough to kick the starter, especially when lights were on.

With the prices on wiring looms these days, no new one for me, just ran a thick gauge (see specifications on gauge size)wire, for us fortunate enough to have no headliner or carpet..

run it through, connect it and off you go. 8)

Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:49 pm

Toots, have you ever checked your distributor clamp? I had a similar problem last year and found I was dropping about a volt from a bad ground traced to that. spin the engine till the rotor lines up with the notch on the dist., then loosen the clamp and withdraw the dist., take a 13mm socket and remove the clamp and clean it and the area on the block where it mates. Reinstall everything and take a spin. That clamp doesn't just hold the dist. in place, it is grounding your distributor, drop just 1 volt from a bad ground and you don't go no mo! Good luck!

Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:35 pm

When my bug is giving me problems with not starting, I just keep it simple and go back to the basics. So, keep it simple. Remember, there are only 3 things needed to get the engine running:

1. Fuel
2. Spark
3. Timing

Check these 3 things FIRST before anything else. Then, if it is still giving you problems, maybe have a friend come over with a similiar year bug and start switching out parts (since you know they're good parts on HIS since he drove over) until one of the parts gets it running. Then you know what you need to replace. I did this with mine and a friends' bug and finally nailed it down to the problem being a bad distributor. I switched mine for his and it started right up!!

If you do this and it STILL isn't working, then get the repair manual for your car. This is the only thing that NEVER fails. Unless, of course, you aren't mechanically inclined. In which case, just tow it to a reputable VW shop. =) I hope this helps.

Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:02 am

well, i guess im back to square one. :cry:

my starter stopped crankin the engine over again, so i replaced the heavy gauge wire that goes from the starter terminal to switch, assuming now the starter lead wire is not resisting to turning my 12v automatic starter.

previously i replaced the one that goes from the voltage reg term to headlight switch...

so now i have replaced both hd red wires and my bug was starting perfectly for 2 days and now my starter will not crank over again...i checked both wires for continuity and there are still good.

the starter will not work no more, as it did before, by jumping it at the starter terminals and only got it to spin a couple of times, but it doesn't pop the noid to engage w flywheel...does this mean my solenoid is bad? my starter was rebuilt a week ago, and was starting up fine up this point....
could my wiring be killing the starter solenoid? what are causes of frying the solenoid...can too much voltage, not enough ground, wiring short, ect...kill my starter solenoid?

will return starter for inspection tomorow morning...

any help would be greatly appreciated...

*Try "Not" to Become a Man of "Success" But Rather a Man of "Value"