Beetle won't start I'm getting close to just selling this POS

[HB23]

I've tried everything, new starter, new ignition switch, went around with a voltmeter, for some reason the starter isnt getting 12v. The battery terminals are clean and so is the tranny ground strap. When the key is moved to the on position the tach I installed goes DOWN. When turned further to start the car the starter doesnt start and the tach jumps forward slightly then when the key is returned it will spin back farther and returns to 0.

I checked 2 different diagrams, everything is wired fine but for some reason I'm not getting power to the starter. The battety is fine. I'm so sick of the POS bug its frustrating. The engine is fine. It's a 1500cc 12v beetle fron 1969. The tach is wired up fine and worked before the old starter broke down. I can't even bring this beetle to a mechanic because she won't even start up and I'm not paying the cost of a tow to and from my house because the closest beetle specialist is fairly far away. I know the starter works because it USED to run fine. Fast forward a week and now something is broken. I even tested it directly with the battery and it spins up. But through the bug's mess of a wiring from the previous owner I can't diagnose this annoying pos. Someone, anyone help before I sell this on craigslist and pick up a miata.

I want this car to work, I really do. But she just doesn't wanna start.

[DancingOnTheAshes]

Have you tried pulling the old wiring loom out and sorting it out? Other than that maybe you're having something ground out the power before it gets to the starter. Can you get an amp meter and double check if the starter is actually getting all the juice it needs?

[HB23]

[OLD VW NUT]

You mentioned having the old starter break down. Has the new/used starter ever worked? You have a nearly 50yo car - don't expect everything to 'just work' - it won't. The weak link in starter system for this year of car is often the ignition switch. Find the solenoid wire that comes out of the ignition switch wiring and short it to the main hot wire (really big red wire) - making sure the transmission is in neutral. If the motor spins it's likely a bad ignition switch.
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71 Ghia Coupe - stock body - no rust! Powered by a 2110 W/Dual HPMX 44's - Rancho Pro Street Transaxle - A/C by Gilmore

Other car - 2013 VW Golf TDI

[Dale M.]

The fault is probably not the car but your procedures.....

IS there 12 volts at main terminal on solenoid?

IS ground cable from battery to PAN solid connection, you already stated ground strap to transaxle is good.......

If you short terminal 50 on solenoid to main battery terminal on solenoid does start engage and spin?...

With key in ON position is there 12 volts at coil terminal 15?...

When key in START position is there 12 volts (minimal 9 volts) at coil terminal 15...

Is there 12 volts where main wire from battery goes forward to back of ignition switch...

In the end you have to be smarter then the object you are working with.... It has no brains, you do...

Dale
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"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[allenw]

Remember the PO sold the car for some reason, this may be the reason. Just hot wire the car and see if it turns the motor.

[Dürtwagen]

Remember, this car was built and wired up by a human, just like you, if you have confidence, and patience you’ll probably find the problem. Check the wiring down at the starter itself and make sure the ring connector tips aren’t touching anything metal. Selling the car not running because of a wiring issue will be a financial blow for you, but a huge gain when the next owner solves the problem in less than 30 minutes. Good luck ,
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1974 VW baja bug
1979 Mercedes Benz 300D

[dirtkeeper]

Could there be a starter relay somewhere? Not stock but PO may have

[Dark Earth]

Here's a link ...

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-remote-starter-switch-35448.html

Hook one lead to the battery terminal on the starter and the other lead to the solenoid. If the starter turns when you push the button, the battery and starter are good. Like stated before, make sure the car is in neutral before you try to engage the starter.
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My Build: '69 Baja - Dark Earth Version

~I'm almost done. I just lack finishing up.~

[Dale M.]

[scottyrocks]

When I was installing my hard-start relay, there was a point, after I hooked everything up, that I was getting NOTHING when I turned the key. I disconnected and reconnected everything until finally the negative battery to ground in the chassis cable suddenly was grounded, and the car started fine, and has continued to do so.

It's a relatively simple system. With the exception of the fatter battery cables and the ground strap, every other one of them can easily be swapped out, one at a time, to see where the problem is.
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“If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them – on some level there's no rational grounds for it.”
– D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch'

[Big Al]

If you didn't get past this, use a test light to troubleshoot. Make one out of a clip lead and a tail light bulb. Will be a lot easier and more accurate than a meter. Do the headlamps work? Do they go out when you try to crank the engine?

Al

[earthquake]

Do you have a ground strap to the transaxle, maybe the the ground is only going to the pan. Rubber trans mounts don't conduct to the trans.

Casey
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74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
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