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It died!
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socal1904
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:29 am    Post subject: It died! Reply with quote

Was on my way to the show, hit a bump on the freeway, and she then died, able to pull over and get her off the freeway. No loose wires, headlights come on, radio comes on but no crank, no reaction from ignition. Everything seems to be in order, waiting on tow, any ideas?
Thanks
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Cusser
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:35 am    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

socal1904 wrote:
No loose wires, headlights come on, radio comes on but no crank, no reaction from ignition. Everything seems to be in order, waiting on tow, any ideas?
Thanks


Check for positive voltage getting to the ignition switch. Positive voltage goes first to headlight switch on these models.

Also check battery cables. Most likely this is not complicated or involved.
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:21 am    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

Check wires at starter. Mine have been loose before, resulting in same symptoms.
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gt1953
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 10:57 am    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

Somehow or other you lost the 12v at the coil.
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Texasdoc
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 11:20 am    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

Not sure about the beetle specifically, but sudden/instant death is usually electrical. Slow or gradual is usually fuel. Loud noises are mechanical.
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Sharp64 Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 12:33 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

Check fuses? Always helps to carry some tools with you like a voltmeter.
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 1:16 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

Sharp64 wrote:
Check fuses? Always helps to carry some tools with you like a voltmeter.

There are no fuses in the start circuit, nor in the ignition circuit.
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 3:42 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

wimkever wrote:
Sharp64 wrote:
Check fuses? Always helps to carry some tools with you like a voltmeter.

There are no fuses in the start circuit, nor in the ignition circuit.


Hmm. Yeah brain fart. Sorry. This did happen to me once and it was the coil wire falling off.
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socal1904
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 7:25 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

Got it home, made sure nothing obvious had come loose, all wires in their place. Took out the ignition switch, made sure all the wires were securely on the terminals, scraped off some paint, screwed it back in, turned the key and she fired right up. Could it be the switch going bad? Maybe something else as well?
Thanks for all the feedback!!
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67rustavenger Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:57 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

socal1904 wrote:
scraped off some paint,
Thanks for all the feedback!!


^^^^^^ This! Clean electrical connections are the key to properly functioning 50+yo VW's.

Glad you got it sorted.
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socal1904
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 10:33 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

Just wondering how it decided to go wrong, hadn’t had any issues with it before. Could hitting that bump at speed cause it to “loose” proper ground, or is it the switch going bad? Getting a new switch to have as a back up just in case.
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Sharp64 Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 5:02 am    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

In general, how do your connections look? It’s a boring, tedious job but after 50 years the connectors can build up quite a bit of oxidation. Several methods to do so but may help to take a weekend to go through all of your electrical connections and clean everything. Brighter lights, better starts etc will typically be the result.
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socal1904
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:36 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

After a few successful starts it died again and the symptoms returned. Installed the new switch and seems to be all good now, fingers crossed!😁
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sjbartnik
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 27, 2019 9:10 am    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

battery cables clean and tight.
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socal1904
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2019 11:37 am    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

All other connection "appear" to be in good order, new battery cables and ground straps.
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socal1904
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 9:38 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

It happens every so often, turn the key and nothing, no lights on the dash, no crank. Check all connections, everything seems to be in order, try again and she starts. Could it be a bad coil? If it is, what would cause a newish coil to go wrong? New spark plugs, new “good”wires, new ground straps😖, frustrating!
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mukluk
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 9:55 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

socal1904 wrote:
It happens every so often, turn the key and nothing, no lights on the dash, no crank. Check all connections, everything seems to be in order, try again and she starts. Could it be a bad coil? If it is, what would cause a newish coil to go wrong? New spark plugs, new “good”wires, new ground straps😖, frustrating!

A bad coil wouldn't cause you to have no lights on the dash. Next time the problem presents itself, use a trouble light or volt meter to see where you're losing power between the battery and the ignition switch. Specifically, check both terminal ends of the red wire between the ignition switch and light switch, and the heavy red wire coming from the rear of the car into the light switch. Those three terminal locations should always have full battery power present, regardless of ignition switch position.
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67rustavenger Premium Member
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 9:57 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

Suspect your ignition switch is going bad.
That's what it sounds like from here.

Good Luck.
socal1904 wrote:
It happens every so often, turn the key and nothing, no lights on the dash, no crank. Check all connections, everything seems to be in order, try again and she starts. Could it be a bad coil? If it is, what would cause a newish coil to go wrong? New spark plugs, new “good”wires, new ground straps😖, frustrating!

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mukluk
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 29, 2019 10:01 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

67rustavenger wrote:
Suspect your ignition switch is going bad.
That's what it sounds like from here.

Good Luck.

He already replaced the switch, no change in symptoms. Taking that into account and the fact the radio works when the problem happens, it sounds like he's getting power up to the fuse block but intermittently losing power to the ignition switch.
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H&HRacing
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 30, 2019 4:37 pm    Post subject: Re: It died! Reply with quote

Power comes from the back to the headlight switch and then to the ignition switch and fuse block, check that connection at the headlight switch.
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