No start, out of ideas.

[tvanwie]

All, I'm at a loss. 72 super beetle all of a sudden wouldn't not start or turn over. Completely dead with a faint click. Oil light comes on, headlights work. We have replaced starter, ignition switch, and all fuses. Still no luck. All wiring appears fine, 30 has continuity and power, 50 has continuity but no power. This is where I'm lost. Can anyone offer advice here? I've only had the beetle a couple of months and completely new to these. Thanks.

[Starbucket]

Check the ground strap at the nose of the tranny for clean connections, it's the only way the power from the motor assy. gets back to the battery.

[FunkyOldPatina]

Failing the above suggestion, sounds like a hard start relay may be required?

It's simple to do, and I'm sure it's been mentioned many times on here with instructions.

[Matt Wilson]

Could be a cruddy or loose spade terminal on the starter trigger wire (the end of #50). Charge your battery too and don't try to crank the engine with the headlights on to save some battery life while you diagnose the issue.
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1972 Standard Beetle
1969 Baja Beetle

[KTPhil]

With the ignition off, car out of gear and e-brake firmly on, short the big terminal on the starter solenoid to the small push-on terminal, and see if it cranks.

If it does, try it with the ignition switch to the run position, and see if it cranks and runs.

This would then indict the switch or switch wiring, narrowing your search considerable.

Then you'll have to get at the switch terminals, figure out which should have power, which make contact at the run and start positions, and effectively bypass the switch to see if its wiring or switch.

[Cusser]

If battery terminals and cables are clean and tight, measure and post voltage reading across the battery terminals 5 seconds into trying to start. This is a test of the battery under load.

If that reading is not over 9.6 volts, that's bad.

You didn't mention either that you even read battery voltage when NOT at load, that might add information too.
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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

[Cusser]

If battery terminals and cables are clean and tight, measure and post voltage reading across the battery terminals 5 seconds into trying to start. This is a test of the battery under load.

If that reading is not over 9.6 volts, that's bad.

You didn't mention either that you even read battery voltage when NOT at load, that might add information too.
_________________
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

[Mikedrevguy]

My 74 super has a hard start relay. This was indicative of what happens when the fuse for that relay blew.
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74 1303 (RevBug): plan for German Look
76 914 with 2260
79 VW Iltis
69 Bwajaja
"The wise speak because they have something to say; while the foolish speak because they have to say something." Plato

Illigitimi non-Carborundum!!

[sb001]

[Tvättbjörn]

[tvanwie]

Ok - wanted to update as I believe we have tracked down the issue. We have replaced the starter which had a bad connection, added a hard star relay, replaced ignition switch. All of these definitely needed to be done, but no resolution. Today, we found the ignition housing and set screw had been replaced at some point and wallowed out. This is why (we think) we're not getting power when you turn the key. Seems to be the only missing link. Now, where do I get one of these housings? I'm only seeing a couple on ebay. No one remans?

[sb001]

The part number you want is VW 111905851N. This was the ignition housing for 72-73 only. I doubt you are going to find an exact replacement from vendors since it's such a narrow year model range.

Looks like bugcity has a few:

https://www.bugcity.com/shop/shop.lasso?pquery=111905851N

As well as the ones on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trk...p;_sacat=0
_________________
I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[Cusser]

[tvanwie]

[tvanwie]

Turns out that's what it was. Replaced the entire ignition with the one I bought (except for the wiring) and it fired right up. Crazy to think a bad set screw caused this.