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Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:25 pm

Can I safely do this on my automatic? Is there any REAL reason that it needs this switch only to start it in neutral like shorting out and lighting my car on fire or something?

Last week I was cleaning and lubing it and I heard something break but I never could figure out what broke. Today I figured out what it was because it wouldn't start. Turns out, there was a tiny piece of plastic that holds in the little copper jumper on the shifter base itself. It's now broken and today it came out of place and of course, the car wouldn't start.

I'd like to bypass this until I can find the right piece for it. Other than the other terminal which I assume is for the back-up lights, any reason I shouldn't just bypass it for now?

Thanks!

Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:33 pm

It is there for safety reasons. You should be able to source one of those switches. They may have been used also on Rabbits and Dashers, IIRC.
The late model one will start in park, and you might have to redrill the mounting holes.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:35 pm

i Figure if its in the Parking lock then you have to put it into Reverse then into neutral and Then into drive
wich is a lot of work to drive it
Also
If its in P and someone tries to steal it
They wont know whats going on

that switch has to be engaged to start but i guess you can bypass it

dont know if it will matter if you bypass it
but it might be easier to ADD a piece of plastic to it for it to work
Use a solder gun and some plastic

do you have any pics of the switch thats broken??

Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:10 pm

I guess I could solder in some plastic. I can't get pics right now of that piece unfortunately.

I understand how it works. I mean, once you take it all apart, it's pretty self-explanitory. But, you are right, shark. It's kind of a pain to go through all that hassle just to start it. Especially since this is going to be my daily driver.

I'll see if I can rig up something I guess.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:25 pm

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=927898

it has a 311 part number
*311-927-147b

i never looked at mine so i dont know what part number it is
But check it out

russ, do you have anything in any parts book??

heres a thread about vanagons but ....
maybe they used the same switch thru a good couple years
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4360936

Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:54 pm

Thanks for that pic, shark. I circled in red, the spot where mine broke. Like I said, it's allowing the little copper jumper to slide out of the groove it's in.

That looks like it might be from a late model that can start in park? Mine is shorter and only has 2 contact points rather than the three on the one in the pic.