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sandra_2000 Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2021 Posts: 17 Location: modesto
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 12:01 pm Post subject: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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so working on my bug on the fuel gauge which i still dont know if its fixed but another problem popped up with the ignition switch. the car turn on and runs but i have to hold the key all the way on and if i let go it turns off. do i have to just buy a new ignition switch or is there another fix. |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76897 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 12:03 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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It's the switch. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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sandra_2000 Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2021 Posts: 17 Location: modesto
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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thank you! |
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Pops67Beetle Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2021 Posts: 127 Location: Queens, NY
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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Just out of curiosity, does the starter engage when the key is in the run position? _________________ When I close my eyes I’m a little kid riding in the cubby..... Priceless!
13 y/o son’s quote while watching us replace the pedal cluster…. “Who says the Germans lost the war.”
67 Beetle bought new, 95% stock. |
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gt1953 Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2002 Posts: 13846 Location: White Mountains Arizona
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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I bet it is a 68 or 69 beetle. bad switch _________________ Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.
72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold}) |
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sandra_2000 Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2021 Posts: 17 Location: modesto
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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I would think so with the starter the car starts up but dies if I let go of the key. I have to hold all the way to keep it running. This is the first problem I’ve had with the ignition switch |
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ashman40 Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 15982 Location: North Florida, USA
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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My suggestion is to remove the current switch and carefully take it apart and see if it can be rebuilt. Sometimes it is just a matter of cleaning up the internal electrical contacts. The OE German switches have a much larger contact area than the aftermarket switches currently available. What I'm saying is buying an aftermarket switch will likely only last you a year or two while a rebuilt German VW switch will last your decades.
Unfortunately, if your ignition switch is the later style plastic cased switch, they often crack thru the body and then you have no choice but to replace them. _________________ AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
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sandra_2000 Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2021 Posts: 17 Location: modesto
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2021 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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great more fun for me! |
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Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31360 Location: Hot Arizona
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 7:47 am Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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Sandra I've had my 1970 and 1971 VWs over 45 years each, and replaced the electrical part of the ignition switch on each exactly once; last time was about 3 decades ago, and many believe modern replacements are not as well-made.
My 2 cents is to fish the wires of the new electrical part of the ignition switch all the way through to the trunk area and connect them properly. I've seen too many VWs where folks got lazy and just used crimp-type butt connectors under the dash to connect the wires (and similar with pre-1972 turn signal switches). _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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sandra_2000 Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2021 Posts: 17 Location: modesto
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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Okay so it’s better to rebuild a original one than to buy an aftermarket one, right? |
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ashman40 Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 15982 Location: North Florida, USA
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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sandra_2000 wrote: |
Okay so it’s better to rebuild a original one than to buy an aftermarket one, right? |
If it can be rebuilt/restored then go that route. It just takes some time and a bit of effort. Open up the switch in a cardboard box to catch the ball bearings and springs inside the switch that tend to pop out.
If you find the switch is beyond repair you can buy a new one as a fall back plan. _________________ AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
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74 Thing Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2004 Posts: 7389
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sandra_2000 Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2021 Posts: 17 Location: modesto
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2021 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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Ok I’ll try taking it apart |
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gt1953 Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2002 Posts: 13846 Location: White Mountains Arizona
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2021 12:24 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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I had to replaced mine a couple of times on the 68, finally wire in some solid switches in parallel. They never failed. One was push to make contact and the other was the "ON" switch. Hardly ever used the key after that. _________________ Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.
72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold}) |
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sandra_2000 Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2021 Posts: 17 Location: modesto
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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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Anyone know if the aftermarket ignition doesn’t have male spades and Oem does have male spades |
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MrGoodtunes Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2012 Posts: 851 Location: South Florida
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 7:41 am Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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sandra_2000 wrote: |
Anyone know if the aftermarket ignition doesn’t have male spades and Oem does have male spades |
Wolfsburg West aims to provide replacement parts that are closest match to original they possibly can. And they show wires attach'd to the electrical portion of ignition switch for 1968-70 bugs. I don't see any spade connectors, but pic is small:
https://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=311905865A |
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Ian Samba Moderator
Joined: August 28, 2002 Posts: 4930 Location: 713
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 7:54 am Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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All of the aftermarket/EMPI/China electrical ignition switches are junk. ALL OF THEM including the one Wolfsburg West is selling (Chinese)
Find a good used German or pony up for NOS. I used to keep the used German ones in stock, but I ran out of good ones years ago.
Check your part number this might be the right one for you:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2393688 _________________ All your Buses are belong to us.
Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012 |
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ashman40 Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2007 Posts: 15982 Location: North Florida, USA
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 9:53 am Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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sandra_2000 wrote: |
Anyone know if the aftermarket ignition doesn’t have male spades and Oem does have male spades |
It depends on the model year. Up thru the '71 model year VW soldered the wires directly to the bottom of the ignition switch. So if you buy a '68-'71 ignition switch expect it will have wires attached. From '72-onwards they used a large plug at the end of the wires and male push on terminals on the bottom of the switch. There were also differences in the shape of the opening at the top of the switch so you cannot just pick a year and try to make it work. It may not interface with the "key" that extends down into the top of the switch.
Your '70 Beetle should have wires soldered to the switch and may have a metal case. From '71-onward VW switched to a plastic case. Some of the aftermarket replacement '68-'70 switches may also come with a plastic case. I sometimes think to save $$ the aftermarket makers use the same switch for '68-'73 but just change the terminals on the bottom. This is not a bad thing as you may get additional functions with the new switch. My '71 ignition switch had extra wires compared to the OE switch I removed from the steering column. _________________ AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!} |
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sandra_2000 Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2021 Posts: 17 Location: modesto
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 vw bug wont stay on unless i hold key all the way clockwise |
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thanks guys! |
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