Starting Problems

Hi. I have a 1965 Beetle (South African Edition). When I turn the key, the
starter doesn't turn. Tried to short the solenoid switch. Same problem.
Tried a new battery. Still no luck. So, I swopped out a known working
starter from my second Beetle. Still the same problem. I now assumed that
the power cable from the battery to the starter might be faulty. Replaced
this - but still the starter won't turn. Any ideas on what the problem might
be.

By the way, the original starter from the 65 now works just fine on the
second Beetle.

Regards,
Elvin

Elvin Rambaran wrote:
> Hi. I have a 1965 Beetle (South African Edition). When I turn the key, the
> starter doesn't turn. Tried to short the solenoid switch. Same problem.
> Tried a new battery. Still no luck. So, I swopped out a known working
> starter from my second Beetle. Still the same problem. I now assumed that
> the power cable from the battery to the starter might be faulty. Replaced
> this - but still the starter won't turn. Any ideas on what the problem might
> be.
>
> By the way, the original starter from the 65 now works just fine on the
> second Beetle.
>
> Regards,
> Elvin
>
>
Did you jumper the solenoid like this?
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/schem/starter4.gif


Did the solenoid "click"?

There is the possibility that the transmission
Ground (Earthing) strap is defective. It is a
braided strap at the front of the transmission.
If broken, the starter has no solid path of
current to the battery Neg post.

--

Speedy Jim
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

"Speedy Jim" > wrote in message
...
> Elvin Rambaran wrote:
> > Hi. I have a 1965 Beetle (South African Edition). When I turn the key,
the
> > starter doesn't turn. Tried to short the solenoid switch. Same problem.
> > Tried a new battery. Still no luck. So, I swopped out a known working
> > starter from my second Beetle. Still the same problem. I now assumed
that
> > the power cable from the battery to the starter might be faulty.
Replaced
> > this - but still the starter won't turn. Any ideas on what the problem
might
> > be.
> >
> > By the way, the original starter from the 65 now works just fine on the
> > second Beetle.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Elvin
> >
> >
> Did you jumper the solenoid like this?
> http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/schem/starter4.gif
>
>
> Did the solenoid "click"?
>
> There is the possibility that the transmission
> Ground (Earthing) strap is defective. It is a
> braided strap at the front of the transmission.
> If broken, the starter has no solid path of
> current to the battery Neg post.
>
> --
>
> Speedy Jim
> http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

Hi. Thanks for the reply. Yes, I did jumper it as on the diagram. And yes,
the solenoid did click. I will check the ground strap and revert.

Elvin.

Did you check the grounding strap that goes from the transmission to the
body? It should be up by the nose cone of the transmission by the forward
mount. Sounds like it might have broken since its just braided brass and
tends to fray.

Dan
(71 Beetle, previous owner of 67 Ghia, 65 Beetle, 63 Baja Bug)


"Elvin Rambaran" > wrote in message
...
> Hi. I have a 1965 Beetle (South African Edition). When I turn the key, the
> starter doesn't turn. Tried to short the solenoid switch. Same problem.
> Tried a new battery. Still no luck. So, I swopped out a known working
> starter from my second Beetle. Still the same problem. I now assumed that
> the power cable from the battery to the starter might be faulty. Replaced
> this - but still the starter won't turn. Any ideas on what the problem
> might
> be.
>
> By the way, the original starter from the 65 now works just fine on the
> second Beetle.
>
> Regards,
> Elvin
>
>

"Elvin Rambaran" > wrote in message
...
> "Speedy Jim" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Elvin Rambaran wrote:
> > > Hi. I have a 1965 Beetle (South African Edition). When I turn the key,
> the
> > > starter doesn't turn. Tried to short the solenoid switch. Same
problem.
> > > Tried a new battery. Still no luck. So, I swopped out a known working
> > > starter from my second Beetle. Still the same problem. I now assumed
> that
> > > the power cable from the battery to the starter might be faulty.
> Replaced
> > > this - but still the starter won't turn. Any ideas on what the problem
> might
> > > be.
> > >
> > > By the way, the original starter from the 65 now works just fine on
the
> > > second Beetle.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Elvin
> > >
> > >
> > Did you jumper the solenoid like this?
> > http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/schem/starter4.gif
> >
> >
> > Did the solenoid "click"?
> >
> > There is the possibility that the transmission
> > Ground (Earthing) strap is defective. It is a
> > braided strap at the front of the transmission.
> > If broken, the starter has no solid path of
> > current to the battery Neg post.
> >
> > --
> >
> > Speedy Jim
> > http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/
>
> Hi. Thanks for the reply. Yes, I did jumper it as on the diagram. And yes,
> the solenoid did click. I will check the ground strap and revert.
>
> Elvin.
>
Yep, it was an earth problem, but it was the main earth strap that bolts to
the chassis and the battery. Removed it and cleaned it up nicely - then
reinstalled. Car now starts. I may have crossed a wire though - when I turn
the ignition the starter turns, but the car only starts when I stop cranking
the starter. Oh well, back to the drawing board. Time to find a pinout for
the ignition switch.

Regards,
Elvin

"Elvin Rambaran" > wrote in message
news:a9ednS27vci19S_fRVn-

> Yep, it was an earth problem, but it was the main earth strap that bolts
> to
> the chassis and the battery. Removed it and cleaned it up nicely - then
> reinstalled. Car now starts. I may have crossed a wire though - when I
> turn
> the ignition the starter turns, but the car only starts when I stop
> cranking
> the starter. Oh well, back to the drawing board. Time to find a pinout for
> the ignition switch.
>
> Regards,
> Elvin
>
>

glad to see you found the problem you were chasing Elvin....for your "new"
problem its not all that uncommon with these old cars...simple one minute
test....put a test light(with long leads if possible) so you can see the
light, on the positive side of the coil....ground second lead....turn your
ignition switch on and see if it lights(it will since the car will run now,
BTW)...now watching the light turn the key to the "start" position...if the
light goes out when cranking, you do not have any wires crossed you have an
ignition switch that is bad....they tend to get corroded around the contacts
*inside* the switch and seem to kill power to the coil when cranking....been
there several times over the years....i did manage to disassemble one
switch....i don't really recommend that because they have *little* brass
looking springs inside(to provide tension on the moving contact) and they
can be quite the job to get back together....

"Joey Tribiani" wrote:
> "Elvin Rambaran" > wrote in message
> news:a9ednS27vci19S_fRVn-
>
> > Yep, it was an earth problem, but it was the main earth
> strap that bolts
> > to
> > the chassis and the battery. Removed it and cleaned it up
> nicely - then
> > reinstalled. Car now starts. I may have crossed a wire
> though - when I
> > turn
> > the ignition the starter turns, but the car only starts when
> I stop
> > cranking
> > the starter. Oh well, back to the drawing board. Time to
> find a pinout for
> > the ignition switch.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Elvin
> >
> >
>
> glad to see you found the problem you were chasing
> Elvin....for your "new"
> problem its not all that uncommon with these old cars...simple
> one minute
> test....put a test light(with long leads if possible) so you
> can see the
> light, on the positive side of the coil....ground second
> lead....turn your
> ignition switch on and see if it lights(it will since the car
> will run now,
> BTW)...now watching the light turn the key to the "start"
> position...if the
> light goes out when cranking, you do not have any wires
> crossed you have an
> ignition switch that is bad....they tend to get corroded
> around the contacts
> *inside* the switch and seem to kill power to the coil when
> cranking....been
> there several times over the years....i did manage to
> disassemble one
> switch....i don't really recommend that because they have
> *little* brass
> looking springs inside(to provide tension on the moving
> contact) and they
> can be quite the job to get back together....

Our problem with starting was between key and battery so a "magic
start" button was installed. turn the key then press the button
cranking the car. It makes the 72 feel like a hot rod Good
Luck...

--
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