ignition switch

Continuity test the red/black stripey wire which goes from ign switch to the starter solenoid.
There are two joins (under the dash IIRC), so make sure one of the terminals hasn't come off or has become corroded.

Joins T4 & T6 in the diagram below:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/bus_8_71_1700.jpg

 

cheers will check that, probably be saturday when i get back to it.

reason i wanted to sort the ignition is this
as i said i have a "hotwire" ( rudimentary hot start) in my engine bay from starter, so when the ign fails i can just use the wire. now the last time my van broke down the breakdown guy (free breakdown cover with insurance) wasnt too impressed with this arrangement.
my van has been a nonrunner for months now and need to get it going, so was going to get a free fix by calling out my rac homestart, but thought i should try to fix the ign issue first.
do you reckon the rac dude would refuse to work on it with the dodgy ign, or should i have it sorted before calling them?

 

Throw yerself off a bridge, it's unfixable !!

Ps mine has the same issue,( which I haven't got to the bottom of yet ) look under the dash and check the big connector plug wires, starter is red with a black trace I think

 

already jumped off bridge twice, bloody lugs like parachutes int they

 

With that manly frame of yours I expect you won't gather enough speed to do any harm to yourself

 

I had a wiggle of the black/red wire on the connector to the ignition switrch and hey presto i got me a engine that turns on the key again (well it would if the battery hadnt ran out!) Now ive sorted that out i can call the rac out for a homestart and hope for a free fix and back on the move.
Anyway, have rebuilt all the steering gubbins which leads to my next couple of questions!
after refitting steering wheel, it has some up/down play, maybe half an inch, ie i can pull/push the steering wheel up/down the shaft. The nut is done up tight. I dont remember if it did this before so is that normal? Is the tab for horn???
Photos to illustrate the point, if i pull the wheel up the tab sits above the contact




And push wheel down, the tab sits on contact. if i leave the wheel alone, this is where it sits at rest

 

The Allen key allows you to move the column up and lock it where you like rather than moving the steering wheel down

 

Ah OK. Or shear bolt?? Cheers big boy. So what's that copper tab for? Should it be touching , not touching, matters not a jot?

 

You should have about 2mm between the bottom of the wheel and the column housing, or your indicator cancelling and horn won't work!

 

Jolly good point! Ta

 

Yes the shear bolt, the copper thing is the horn ring, if it doesn't touch they you won't get the horn x

 

Called out RAC home start for a free fix today. Young whippersnapper got it going , after he left I took it round the block, bloody thing stalled and battery not charged enough to restart so had to push back round to house, didn't do my bust shoulder any good ffs.
Battery now on charge. Hope it starts when batt full.

He reckons the carb is guff, no adjustment in it. Meaning crap running,
And engine smokes like a crematorium, along with a rhythmical grinding noise.
I give up

 

Like in Je t'aime? Does your engine sound like Jane Birkin?

 

More like serge unfortunately.

 

The young whippersnapper is talking out of his bum...

 

I did wonder if he really knew what he was doing without a computer.
Anyway the carb is probably the least of my worries

 

It is.