VW Bay Window No start

[72VWT2Bay]

This is my first time posting a question here. I have read through multiple threads and don’t see where anyone is having quite the same issue.
So when I go to start my bus I turn the key to the on position. All dash lights come on as normal. When I turn the switch, the only thing that happens is all the lights on the dash, fuel gauge, etc go out. I then cut the key off and back on and same thing, everything seems to come on. If I try to turn headlights on or anything on while the key is on, everything flickers and cuts off. My battery is testing 12volts. I tried jumping off just to check. I have removed and cleaned both sides of the battery post and and wires. I have removed and cleaned the bus side of the ground wire. I have removed and cleaned the ground strap from the transmission to the bus. I am getting 11ish volts to the coil when I turn the key on. But like I said as soon as I turn the key nothing happens. It doesn’t even attempt to start and I don’t hear any click or anything from the starter. Anything else to test? I am hoping it is not the actual switch that has gone out. Thanks in advance.

[Ry-dog]

Test that you have power to your coil when the key is turned on. If no power to coil, no spark from your distributor.
_________________
'70 Westy
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel

[aeromech]

What year is your bus? I suspect your ignition switch

Edit: must be a 72
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[dodger tom]

welcome.

12 volts at the battery doesn’t tell you much. how many amps it has when starting does. a load test on the battery will tell you.
_________________
1978 Champaign Edition 2 Westfalia
Would never find the time to keep up another classic air-cooled.

[72VWT2Bay]

[72VWT2Bay]

[Nicholas D]

What Dodger Tom said. Just because you show 12v doesn't mean that's necessarily so when you turn the key. Load test would be the easiest first thing to check.
_________________
71 Westfalia
73 Beetle

[W1K1]

I had a reproduction switch last year on my 71 that did that, I traced wires for 2 days, thinking it couldn't be a new switch at fault.
It was wired wrong from the factory!!!
the 15 terminal has connection only with the key on, not when switched to starter.
_________________
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/jim_martin_engine_build.php

1973 super
1965 squareback 1500E
1971 bay window westy- subi swap

[airkooledchris]

can you manually connect both sides of the coil and get it to spin?

be careful obviously.

[aeromech]

I’ve seen this before. Key on you have coil power. Rotate to start and coil power goes away. A new ignition switch fixed the problem.

Edit: easy test. Make car safe. Turn key on. Jump the starter solenoid with a screwdriver. If it cranks and lights off it’s the ignition switch.

https://www.busdepot.com/111905865f/
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[72VWT2Bay]

[72VWT2Bay]

[Wildthings]

Have someone else turn the key while you check the voltage between the battery posts and also the voltage between the B+ lug on the battery and the engine block. If you haven't done so also clean and maybe replace the transmission ground strap. Every piece of the high amperage wiring has to work correctly for the engine to crank and start.

While it might not fix your present problem, installing a new battery cable and ground straps a size or two larger than stock is often a good way to go and will extend starter and charging system life. On my van I run a cable directly from the negative post on the battery to the engine, thus eliminating the problems associated with the original tranny ground strap.

You can see the negative cable attached to one of the bolts on the fan shroud in this photo:

[airkooledchris]

[aeromech]

Speculation says it’s to relieve high breather pressure. Must be vented into the intake system
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Wildthings]