I want to see what feedback I get on it before I make my guesses.
I had to take this bug off the road for about a year to address bodywork and painting. The car was not running and had a start problem before I took it off the road. It wouldn't start after 20 minutes or more trip if I shut it off. then it wouldn't start at all, so, decided to take it off the road. I had suspected the ignition and starter to be bad so I just replaced the starter yesterday as I'm thinking of getting it running now.
When I turn the key I get the generator light but nothing. The car does not turn over. The headlights seem to be bright. I charged the battery up fully before I tried to start it. I can't get the starter to turn by jumping across the terminals either. I thought that was the good old test to see if it was going to start at all. the engine is not frozen up. I can turn the engine manually.
I get spark on the starter terminals when I cross them with a screwdriver. But it does not turn it either. This car has a pertronix ignition from about 2007. Please forgive my spelling.
I'm thinking I have to replace all of the electronics in the rotor since they've probably are too old now I have been heated up and cool down way too many times. I have new plug wires and plugs and also a new rotor and rotor cap. The spark plugs are new also. The only other thing I can think of is the Blue Max Coil I have. But those rarely fail I think. But I'm not ruling it out.
If you think my electronic ignition should be replaced that's what I'm angling for here if not what else should I check besides doing that which I plan on doing anyway?
72 beetle no start when key turned.gen light comes on
- rrb6699
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- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:49 pm
72 beetle no start when key turned.gen light comes on
RR
1972 Restoration Project.
1972 Restoration Project.
- V8Nate
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Re: 72 beetle no start when key turned.gen light comes on
I would replace your starter since it won't turn over the motor with the key or jumping the solenoid. A starter from an autostick will bolt right up and is a high torque starter
- rrb6699
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- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:49 pm
Re: 72 beetle no start when key turned.gen light comes on
you didn't read the post.
starter, wires, rotor/cap, grounds all new wires, plugs, plug wires are ALL new. the battery is fully charged..
unless you suggest that I replace a brand new starter, I can't see why anything electrical in what is new needs replacing.
I think I have a new ignition switch somewhere but hard testing the starter should pop the solenoid right?
I'm sorta out of ideas.
starter, wires, rotor/cap, grounds all new wires, plugs, plug wires are ALL new. the battery is fully charged..
unless you suggest that I replace a brand new starter, I can't see why anything electrical in what is new needs replacing.
I think I have a new ignition switch somewhere but hard testing the starter should pop the solenoid right?
I'm sorta out of ideas.
RR
1972 Restoration Project.
1972 Restoration Project.
- V8Nate
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Re: 72 beetle no start when key turned.gen light comes on
Ah I didn't notice the new starter part, I've seen new starters bad right out of the box and jumping the solenoid should definitely get it to turn over. You could try running a ground directly from the battery to the starter but it should still be doing something
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Re: 72 beetle no start when key turned.gen light comes on
As Nate said, they can come from the factory and not work. If there is any questions then it should be pulled and taken to where you got it and have it checked. It is a simple check (or used to be) where they put/lay it on a field checking tool and, as I remember it made a sound (but I don't remember if that was a good or bad). It takes just a few minutes.
For those who haven't done it before or aren't sure this is about an at home check (its got ads): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x2hIOtBfzE
Lee
For those who haven't done it before or aren't sure this is about an at home check (its got ads): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x2hIOtBfzE
Lee
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Re: 72 beetle no start when key turned.gen light comes on
the starter is very simple in that, it takes 12V right of the battery on a thick wire.... and earths through the engine to the chassis then battery.
check your starter is getting 12v on its 12v terminal. and check its earthing with a multimeter from the battery. may need a bit of wire to extend your leads.
if its getting 12v and earthing, and you jump the terminals and it doesn't work.... tap it with a hammer a few times....
if you have poor earth, add a jumper cable from the starter to the negative of the battery to rule that out.
the fact your getting spark at the starter terminals says you are getting voltage, so i would try knocking it with a hammer... failing that the starter should be returned.....
does but not even click?
check your starter is getting 12v on its 12v terminal. and check its earthing with a multimeter from the battery. may need a bit of wire to extend your leads.
if its getting 12v and earthing, and you jump the terminals and it doesn't work.... tap it with a hammer a few times....
if you have poor earth, add a jumper cable from the starter to the negative of the battery to rule that out.
the fact your getting spark at the starter terminals says you are getting voltage, so i would try knocking it with a hammer... failing that the starter should be returned.....
does but not even click?
- rrb6699
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:49 pm
Re: 72 beetle no start when key turned.gen light comes on
whew. been awhile. worked on a different project so this one sat until now.
as far as I remember it did not click at all.
as far as I remember it did not click at all.
RR
1972 Restoration Project.
1972 Restoration Project.
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- Posts: 17731
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:17 pm
Re: 72 beetle no start when key turned.gen light comes on
Again, check out the condition of the woven ground strap and also the ground connection to the driver's side shock tower. The woven ground straps have a long history of being (a pain in the poop-poop) the centurial source of lot of the electrical problems and not just with VWs either.
The starter draws more amperage than the rest of the car so if you are showing signs of other components operating even slightly it is worth the checking.
Also, the battery could be down on power from just sitting as well as being in its last legs. The positive power cable could also be a connection problem at not only at either end but itself failing also.
Lee
This is a bit off subject and just for what it is worth, when I rewiring my Glass bodied dune buggy, I had found out that Bugs (again from what I was told anyway) that the power wire to the ignition switch did not have protection. I was told that the wire had a 55-amp draw potential but when looking for a circuit breaker for protection (at the time anyway) 55-amp circuit breakers were not around at the time. Since this was an off-road rig I didn't have that much draw so I wired in a 50-amp unit. So far it has been working well.
Check the condition of the aging wiring and the connection can age or corrode when not in use for long time.
Lee
The starter draws more amperage than the rest of the car so if you are showing signs of other components operating even slightly it is worth the checking.
Also, the battery could be down on power from just sitting as well as being in its last legs. The positive power cable could also be a connection problem at not only at either end but itself failing also.
Lee
This is a bit off subject and just for what it is worth, when I rewiring my Glass bodied dune buggy, I had found out that Bugs (again from what I was told anyway) that the power wire to the ignition switch did not have protection. I was told that the wire had a 55-amp draw potential but when looking for a circuit breaker for protection (at the time anyway) 55-amp circuit breakers were not around at the time. Since this was an off-road rig I didn't have that much draw so I wired in a 50-amp unit. So far it has been working well.
Check the condition of the aging wiring and the connection can age or corrode when not in use for long time.
Lee