TheSamba.com :: View topic - when i turn key nothing happens , then a day latter it works

Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:41 pm

I have had this problem with my 1969 bug for some time now and would like to know how to fix it. Some times when I turn the key nothing happens no noise at all. You know how when a parts is going out you can sometimes hear a clicking. Anyway this will happen and there is nothing I can do but wait. And say a day latter it will work perfectly and i wont have the problem again for a month or more.
, Bill
[email protected]

Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:56 pm

Check your battery terminals and ground cable connection to the body.

Also your starter could be developing a "flat spot" or the stater bushing in the trans that supports the starter shaft is worn.

If/when it happens again get a hammer and slide under the passenger side in front of the rear tire and tap on the starter a few times and see if that makes it crank.

another possibility is a quirky electrical portion of the ignition switch.

Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:25 pm

well it could be starter.. but a huge amout of vws around here have problems starting with switch or wiring occasionally i bet almost 1/4 of the cars around here people have a little bypass wire to starter hooked up to a momentary switch so when it wont crank they leave key on hit second switch & it cranks.. even my super i had to do that it did great first year i had it but then it started doing that & i got tired of pushing it off to start it
Randy

Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:52 pm

I had the exact same problem on my 66 bug. I found two potential problems while troubleshooting....

1. Theres big red wire that comes from the battery and goes to the headlight switch before it feeds the fuse block. I had a loose terminal on the switch.

2. Loose starter bolt. It wasnt making good enough ground and not "completing the circuit". I tightened it up and all was well. Good luck.

Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:12 am

Here's the fix:

http://thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=797475&highlight=#797475