Vanagon ignition won’t turn off

[Jnourada]

Ok...

After years of off and on issues with my electrical and ignition systems (some stuttering and killing, some intermittent O2 and battery lights) I have recently fount that my ‘84 vanagon won’t turn off when the key is turned off and removed. It will beep and the dash lights will briefly go on (probably as the key passes the on position) but the engine and radio stay on. The only way to shut if off is to stall it by killing the engine (release the clutch with the brakes applied).

I replaced my ignition switch with high hopes but no luck. I have also tried hooking up the old switch to the little ignition harness and using without the key to see if I could elicit a different result, again with no luck.

Can any of the wizards of the samba suggest where to look next or a process to identify what is going on here?

Thanks

Jordan

[crazyvwvanman]

Try unplugging the small blue wire that attaches to the back of the alternator.
No, I'm not joking, see if that stops the engine.
If it does we can go from there.

Mark

[dobryan]

OP welcome to the samba and just so you know, Mark seems to have the entire Vanagon electrical system (all models) accessible in his brain. (I can barely remember which end is positive.) So he is a very good reference.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

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[Jnourada]

That’s what I’m talking about! Thanks for the help crazyvwvanman - it does indeed turn off if the small blue wire is unplugged from the back if the alternator...

Also, thanks dobryan, I’ve been creeping around for years finding all the answers to my questions- and then some- absolutely amazing community

[crazyvwvanman]

Ok, some progress but you shouldn't think that it means a problem with the alternator or blue wire. That's not it.

Tell us about your van. What engine is in it and what has been changed or added recently?

Mark

[Jnourada]

Thanks Mark,
It’s an ‘84 nearly stock vanagon, full camper- no accessory battery, original 1.9 L engine, probably around 200k (odometer stopped at 128k. A couple years ago I upgraded the head lights to LED and put in a new radio. I have replaced the brake master cylinder and in an attempt to fix some of the bucking and dying issues have done a new coil wire, a new used idle control unit and I also replaced the radiator and thermo switch... Most recently I have cleaned the grounds and did new spark plugs, new air filter and fuel filter.

Only other thing of note is that the alternator came detached from where it mounts to the motor and rattled around a little bit before I got it re-bolted and secured. It may also be of note that I have had intermittent issues with the wipers cutting out as well as the blower motor- neither of which have been an issue lately

Thank you

[crazyvwvanman]

[Jnourada]

Sorry Mark,

I missed stated- it was actually the coil wire not the coil itself… Do you think the coil may need to be replaced? I’ll do some research on testing the coil, any other thoughts?

Thank you!!

[crazyvwvanman]

No I don't think it has anything to do with a bad coil. You said you ran a new coil wire. More details about that please.

Mark

[Jnourada]

This was a job done by my local Van shop back on March 1 and it’s just an OEM Bosch replacement that runs from the distributor to the coil- it doesn’t look like anything else was touched, albeit a little dirty and dusty.

Something to do with the outgoing coil wiring?[/img]

[crazyvwvanman]

That high voltage ignition wire isn't related to the problem. I thought you were talking about wiring to the coil. Something must have changed to cause the problem.

Mark

[Jnourada]

The most recent projects were the plugs, fuel filter and oil filter- all done in 2-3 weeks preceding the current issue of not turning off. This issue started intermittently and now happens 100% of the time. No other work done or events of any kind except the oxs and batt lights would stay on intermittently on short drives shortly before the not turing off issue began.

I swung by the shop to talk to them yesterday but it turns out they just closed the doors after 40 years of working on old VW’s

[crazyvwvanman]

Ok, in the engine compartment near the coil is a black box with 2 relays in it. They should have 24 or 53 stamped on the ends. I would mark them and then carefully swap their positions. Be careful, there is always power to the relay sockets. Unhooking the battery ground cable may be wise.


Mark

[dhaavers]

FWIW...a clean, dry popsicle stick makes a great "relay puller" lever...

(Credit to Ahwanee...)

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[Jnourada]

Both 24’s no change when swapped

J

[Sgtpepper67]

My vanagon did that once. There was a large relay in the engine compartment, one of the wires had come loose and was laying across another hot wire. It was back feeding power to the ignition circuit.

[Jnourada]

Thanks Sgtpepper67 - I’ll Have to do a thorough search for any stray wires back there.

[Jnourada]

Update: after switching the relays I went for a little drive this morning- after about a mile going 30 it started bucking and cutting and died which it hasn’t done in at least a couple months... restarted and drove back home with some more lurching but didn’t die again- still wouldn’t turn off... related?