Starting a 74 super

It seems like there's quite a bit of people having starting issues.
Well here's mine. If I try starting it, I don't get a click or any
turning of the starter. If I have my lights on though, I do notice a
drop in power to the lights. So I'm thinking that the ignition switch
is ok, and that it's probably the starter. A few weeks back, I jumped
the terminals of the starter/solenoid and after a big ol' spark, I
tried restarting from the drivers seat and lo and behold, she started
right up. I'm thinking I might need to clean the solenoid, or hopefully
not, replace the starter. Any other ideas? Thanks.

-John

***Proud co-owner of "cinnamon"
******A 1974 Super Beetle******

"halcyonic88" > schreef in bericht
oups.com...
> It seems like there's quite a bit of people having starting issues.
> Well here's mine. If I try starting it, I don't get a click or any
> turning of the starter. If I have my lights on though, I do notice a
> drop in power to the lights. So I'm thinking that the ignition switch
> is ok, and that it's probably the starter. A few weeks back, I jumped
> the terminals of the starter/solenoid and after a big ol' spark, I
> tried restarting from the drivers seat and lo and behold, she started
> right up. I'm thinking I might need to clean the solenoid, or hopefully
> not, replace the starter. Any other ideas? Thanks.
>
> -John
>
> ***Proud co-owner of "cinnamon"
> ******A 1974 Super Beetle******
>
Sounds a lot like my starting problem posted yesterday.
I indeed do think (as some mentioned before) it is a bad or corroded
connection somewhere.
Haven't checked it yet since i'm bussy plastering the attic, but will check
it before the 'winterstop'.
let us know what comes out....

Roger

halcyonic88 wrote:
> It seems like there's quite a bit of people having starting issues.
> Well here's mine. If I try starting it, I don't get a click or any
> turning of the starter. If I have my lights on though, I do notice a
> drop in power to the lights. So I'm thinking that the ignition switch
> is ok, and that it's probably the starter. A few weeks back, I jumped
> the terminals of the starter/solenoid and after a big ol' spark, I
> tried restarting from the drivers seat and lo and behold, she started
> right up. I'm thinking I might need to clean the solenoid, or hopefully
> not, replace the starter. Any other ideas? Thanks.

Don't rule out the Ignition switch.

Look under the back seat (left side) for the plastic splice with
the Red wire to a Red/Blk wire. Next time it won't crank,
jumper that connection to battery + post. (Shift in Neutral!)

If it cranks with the jumper, the starter is OK and I would
suspect Ignition sw.

If it comes down to that, know that there were 2 completely
different ignition switch setups in '74 and how you get to
it is different.

--

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

"halcyonic88" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> [...] Any other ideas? Thanks.

To test if it's a connection problem between the starter and switch - remove
the back seat. There's a big fat wire coming in from the firewall towards
the passenger side. It probably has a simple join-connector. Pull it out of
the connector. Put a FAT wire into the connector from the firewall and touch
it to the + side of your battery. If it turns over energetically, the
problem is in the wiring.

(Ah, be sure the tranny is in neutral.)

I tried doing that, and I got some sparks, but it didn't crank. So I
believe that I should suspect the starter motor? Again, thanks for the
help. Any suggestions about cleaning vs a new starter?

>
> Don't rule out the Ignition switch.
>
> Look under the back seat (left side) for the plastic splice with
> the Red wire to a Red/Blk wire. Next time it won't crank,
> jumper that connection to battery + post. (Shift in Neutral!)
>
> If it cranks with the jumper, the starter is OK and I would
> suspect Ignition sw.

Hi Jim,

What about the early models? There is only 1 wire near the battery, a + and
a bare ground strap. There are on the ignition switch 3 terminals with wires
on them. Should i jump it there or right at the starter?
I forgot to mention that the taillight gave problems earlier this summer due
to a bad ground connection. Of course taillights are not related to starters
but might tell me that i didn't connect it properly.

Thanks
Roger

bug '59 wrote:

>> Don't rule out the Ignition switch.
>>
>> Look under the back seat (left side) for the plastic splice with
>> the Red wire to a Red/Blk wire. Next time it won't crank,
>> jumper that connection to battery + post. (Shift in Neutral!)
>>
>> If it cranks with the jumper, the starter is OK and I would
>> suspect Ignition sw.
>
>
> Hi Jim,
>
> What about the early models? There is only 1 wire near the battery, a + and
> a bare ground strap. There are on the ignition switch 3 terminals with wires
> on them. Should i jump it there or right at the starter?
> I forgot to mention that the taillight gave problems earlier this summer due
> to a bad ground connection. Of course taillights are not related to starters
> but might tell me that i didn't connect it properly.
>
> Thanks
> Roger
>
>
Jump it at the starter first, like this:
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/schem/starter4.gif
(Your '59 starter may look a little different.)

--

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

halcyonic88 wrote:

> I tried doing that, and I got some sparks, but it didn't crank. So I
> believe that I should suspect the starter motor? Again, thanks for the
> help. Any suggestions about cleaning vs a new starter?
>

Dave Hall (UK) has a nice page about starters:
http://www.hallvw.clara.net/starter.htm

Don't forget the pinion shaft bushing which is in the bellhousing.
Have a look at it when the starter is out. If egg-shaped, the
gears will bind up.

--

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

"Speedy Jim" > schreef in bericht
...
> bug '59 wrote:
>
>>> Don't rule out the Ignition switch.
>>>
>>> Look under the back seat (left side) for the plastic splice with
>>> the Red wire to a Red/Blk wire. Next time it won't crank,
>>> jumper that connection to battery + post. (Shift in Neutral!)
>>>
>>> If it cranks with the jumper, the starter is OK and I would
>>> suspect Ignition sw.
>>
>>
>> Hi Jim,
>>
>> What about the early models? There is only 1 wire near the battery, a +
>> and a bare ground strap. There are on the ignition switch 3 terminals
>> with wires on them. Should i jump it there or right at the starter?
>> I forgot to mention that the taillight gave problems earlier this summer
>> due to a bad ground connection. Of course taillights are not related to
>> starters but might tell me that i didn't connect it properly.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Roger
> Jump it at the starter first, like this:
> http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/schem/starter4.gif
> (Your '59 starter may look a little different.)
>
> --
>
> Speedy Jim
> http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

Thanks Jim,

It's a big help to visualise it,
could not find it on your webpage though. Last minute made??

Thanks again,
Roger

bug '59 wrote:
<SNIP>
>> Jump it at the starter first, like this:
>>http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/schem/starter4.gif
>>(Your '59 starter may look a little different.)
>>
>>--
>>
>>Speedy Jim
>>http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/
>
>
> Thanks Jim,
>
> It's a big help to visualise it,
> could not find it on your webpage though. Last minute made??
>
> Thanks again,
> Roger

LOL. Geheimnis.
Jim