Dissecting the ignition switch electrical (wordy w/ pics)

[74 cali]

[Joel]

According to all sources the 73 onwards cars with alternators all had the S wire which is positive with the key in.

Every 71-73 Aussie made bug I've pulled apart has been the same but apparentnly North American 71-73 generator cars have the negative output.

I think it is possible to reconfigure the switch so they can do either or.

There is a plastic cap inside the center of the ignition switch where the key barrel center pushes in and it depends where that is placed as to what the the buzzer wire output is.

On the top side it makes the buzzer contact ring (in the pic below) touch the center battery feed so its positive, the cap on the bottom isolates it from the battery feed and instead contacts it with the base of the key barrel so it grounds instead.

It's only a matter of using a meter or test light to find out which way it is.

[A-Wild]

Has anyone seen this set up? I expected to see slide terminals. Instead soldered connections.
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1971 Clementine Orange VW Convertible
1971 Karmann Ghia Coupe - Bahia Red

[Cusser]

[ashman40]

'71 was the last year that the wires were soldered to the bottom of the ignition switch. From '72-on they used male spades at the bottom of the switch and a multi wire female plug at the ends of the wires.

If one of your wires is black/yellow (X) then it is a '71 ignition switch. Prior to '71 there was no black/yellow wire coming from the ignition switch.

It looks like your ignition switch fell apart.
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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!}

[A-Wild]

[A-Wild]

[ashman40]

[Cusser]

[ashman40]

FYI, I also found the '71 ignition switch on EIS Part's site for $29:
http://www.eisparts.com/111905865F.html

I think that is where I bought mine from years ago. I installed it w/o the HSR thinking it was new and would last decades like the original one... as mentioned at the start of this thread, it stopped working a couple years later. Cleaned up the internal contacts, added an HSR and it ran for many more years until I got rid of the car. It never failed to crank.

Go for the WW one and maybe you will get lucky. I do like the quality of WW parts. But I would STILL install a HSR.
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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!}

[ROCKOROD71]

Try Rock Auto, I recently bought this style ignition switch and, although not a Bosch or Hella switch, it had a metal housing, not the plastic ones shown in the pics above. Quality was good too for about $35.
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1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI

[heimlich]

I have the later model switches in stock, 111905865F. They are NOS German.

http://www.vwnos.com/ignition-switch
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www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here)

[heimlich]

Ashman,

Nice writeup. I don't throw away any of my used parts anymore. People figure out how to rebuild them eventually.
_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here)

[sb001]

[Cusser]

[finefettle]

Very good write up.
The Steelers call was textbook. They lost. Rule needs to change when breaking the plane but the refs technically got it correct.
I would suggest taking this to another thread but really, the NFL is less entertaining than this awesome write up.
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1979 Bug project

[heimlich]

Along with the NOS ones, I've new Chinese ones for $18. For the ones I have, there are some pieces you can use on them as replacement parts for your original. PM or email me and I can set you up.
_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here)

[heimlich]

I've seen a number of ads lately of folks selling the 111 905 865 F NOS switch for quite a bit of money. I want to point out that I've seen a number of these switches and all of the plastic housings crack from age. There is a spring that sits behind the housing which exerts pressure on the plastic and cracks it. I see them sold "as is" so they might not take them back.

I replace the plastic on the ones I sell so they come in good condition. If you decide to purchase a NOS switch do make sure you ask the seller if the housing is cracked.
_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here)

[heimlich]

Here's a picture of where they crack. They are repairable.

_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here)

[bnam]

The original style one could come loose at the crimps like this on my car

Cleaned and recrimped:

Working well for over a year now.
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1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL