Thanks for that tip John! ;-)
I have seen some aftermarket ign switches last less than 1 week in the
watercooled VWs. :-(
--
later,
(One out of many daves)

"John" > wrote in message
...
> Had to replace the Ignition Sw on my T3 a few years back. Had
> intermittent problems since then I was never able to isolate and certainly
> didnt suspect the new switch. By the time I started looking the symptom
> had vanished only to manifest somewhere else.. After trying to start her
> after a week off it was definitely no start. Went eventually to replace
> the Ig Sw again after tracing it backwards with one I had overhauled and
> all was revealed. The Brazilian(?), Mexican(?) replacement had six wires
> hanging off the back of switch and 3 of these were "dry jointed". The wire
> went through the lug and had a ball of solder on the end of wire. No
> solder securing the joint. Replaced it, starts/runs like a clock now.
> Might pay to check if you ever need to replace an Ig Sw to check the
> solder joints of the leads to its rear of switch. On mine the solder had
> simply never adhered. Bit of a wriggle installing it and bingo,
> intermittents.
> Incidentally, the difference in quality of design and material of an OEM
> metal type and a generic plastic replacement is huge. If you can get a
> metal one , do it. You can overhaul them, just carefully unbend the 3
> crimps securing the two halves. Pull apart noting position of bits. Clean
> contacts, lubricate and reassemble.
> John