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Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:16 pm

i want to be able to turn my key and have the ignition work
can someone show me how to do this?

also the connector under the rear seat has 4 connections, what order do the go in?

please don't just post a wiring diagram

im familiar with all of my wires so just tell me what connects to each other :D

Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:27 pm

As for turning you key and igniting, ....it should already do that? the 4 wire connecter under the seat? i assume you mean the power cables - if that is it , the are all positive so it shouldn't matter. but as some of my favorite posters on here state..... Post Some Pics!

Fri Jul 06, 2012 1:54 pm

The "connector" under the rear seat is most likely the rear defrost relay (a 4 prong relay). Here are where the wires go:

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Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:27 pm

I must not have all of the starter wires on then how many should there be and going to where, Sorry I know these questions are asked a lot

Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:31 pm

Starter will have two wires - large wire directly from battery (thru rear seat) and a smaller wire coming off the loom (from ignition switch) under the driver side rear seat, through the rear and to the starter.

Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:56 pm

What color wire is that?? Thank you

Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:43 pm

What year is the car?
On my 74 I had to remove the seat belt interlock relay. Then jump #50 to C. Then it fired up.

Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:42 pm

It's Also 74, what does that do? I could use the help

Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:45 pm

WHere is the big wire from the starter leading to and which is the second wire

Sat Jul 07, 2012 7:30 am

My 74 is a Super Beetle. Not sure if yours is or not. Before trying to start it make sure the seat belt is buckled. That's what the interlock relay does, not allow you to start the car unless the driver is buckled in.
Mine didn't work and I really didn't want to deal with it so I did the jumper trick.
On a Super Beetle, you need to remove the screws holding the fuse box so you can get to the relays behind the fuse box. There is a large metal relay that you need to remove. Look on the relay for #50 and C. Then make a jumper wire to where #50 and C on the relay would plug into the fuse box. You do not need the relay after you jump 50 and C together.
Hopefully it will start for you.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:09 am

im rewiring my entire car and the only thing i really don't have plugged in is the seats the wires are just laying there, is this why its not working for me? its a standard 74

Sat Jul 07, 2012 3:54 pm

i will be so happy if someone fixes this problem with me

Sat Jul 07, 2012 3:58 pm

Sat Jul 07, 2012 4:10 pm

Im working on it now so answers now would be sweet!

also i don't get how the wire on the starter goes to the battery without turning the engine over, Thats whats happening

Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:20 pm

Not a 100% sure on this but I believe all '74 Beetles had the seatbelt interlock relay.
Look at the fuse box for the relays. If you see a relay that is about twice the size of the turn signal relay then it should be the interlock relay. If not there might be a jumper already there.
I'm on my phone and can't post a link but if you search 1974 seat belt interlock you should see a few threads that have a diagram on how to bypass it.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:22 pm

smokey503 wrote: but if you search 1974 seat belt interlock you should see a few threads that have a diagram on how to bypass it.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:31 pm

There is the diagram I was talking about.

This thread might help you a little bit. I installed a newer alternator and needed help.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=508259&highlight=1974+seatbelt+interlock

Before you go removing the relay if you have one try buckling the seat belt and then try starting it.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:16 pm

mclynch310 wrote: i want to be able to turn my key and have the ignition work
can someone show me how to do this? :D

Follow the recommendations to remove and bypass the seat belt interlock relay (behind the fuse panel). There are several switches and connections that can cause the interlock circuit to fail, which prevents the starter solenoid from receiving power.

If you have power to terminal #50 on the starter solenoid when the ignition is held in the start position, the starter should crank.

Also make sure that you have power to the positive side (terminal #15) of the coil when the key is in the start and run positions.

mclynch310 wrote:

i will be so happy if someone fixes this problem with me

The wires that you are showing here are for the charging system.

In order to determine where they should be connected, it will be necessary to know which type of alternator you have.

Sun Jul 08, 2012 8:52 am

which wire goes to the rear window defrost? the black one coming off that silver box? keep helping please, i need to know why i cant put a line from starter to battery without it starting the motor

Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:08 am

mclynch310 wrote: which wire goes to the rear window defrost? the black one coming off that silver box? keep helping please, i need to know why i cant put a line from starter to battery without it starting the motor
The starter on a Beetle has two components, the starter motor (large cylinder) and the starter solenoid (small cylinder).
The starter motor does what you expect, it spins a gear that will turn the flywheel and crank the engine.
The starter solenoid does two things:
1) Using a small amperage "trigger" it will connect the battery to the starter motor.
2) It will extend the bendix drive to engage the flywheel teeth and when turned off it will retract the bendix drive gear so the starter is not connected to the flywheel once the engine is running.

Here is a pic of the starter solenoid on the starter motor (not a stock starter but it clearly illustrates the two wire connection on the solenoid):

Notice how the battery cable is connected to the starter solenoid and NOT directly to the motor. The solenoid acts like a relay, allowing a small current to close a circuit for a much larger current.
The large wire on the stud with nut is connected directly to the battery (+) terminal.
The smaller wire comes from the ignition switch and connects to terminal #50 on the starter solenoid (usually this is with a slide on connector instead of the bolt in the pic above). When you turn the ignition switch to the START position it energizes the solenoid which closes the circuit between the battery and the starter motor.

So your starter solenoid may be properly connected to the battery, but if the smaller wire is not providing 12v when the key is turned to START, the starter motor will not turn over.

In your first pic:

There is a red wire with black stripe coming out the same wiring harness as the red/white wire (the red/black wire exists the bottom of the pic). Where does this wire go? It looks like the starter solenoid (#50) wire. It should go to a junction below the rear seat before going out the rear of the pan to connect to the starter solenoid #50 terminal.
Disconnect this junction below the rear seat and test the wire coming from the front for 12v when you turn the ignition key to the START position. Test it 10x and it should have 12v every time.

Also, you appear to have an externally regulated alternator (the silver box with four terminal connector is the voltage regulator (VR). Alternators should have a four-way junction for the main power near the VR. It should connect the red and red/white wires between the battery; the alternator and the wire that runs to the fuse box. The junction should look like this (not the best pic):

You can see the red/white wires coming together in the rectangular connector. The red/white at the bottom connects to the battery (+) terminal. One of the red/white wires out the top goes to the alternator B+ terminal (this is how the battery is charged). The other red/white wire runs to the fuse box. The last (skinny) red wire at the bottom with the black fuse holder, powers the rear window defroster.