Sorry I know it’s nota bay Got in the bug daily driver this morning with oldest son who slammed the door turned the key it went to start but didn’t then tried the ignition again and nothing just dash lights So I’m thinking spade connection come off fuse block or blown fuse but nothing there checked there. Was power to engine got. 9V at coil Thought solenoid so did the old hit it with a hammer whilst turning ignition he was late for work so we bumped started it no problem Got back home still completely dead on the key. Got under the beetle to check that spade connection on the starter it was well on I can only think the starter has gone ? I’ve heard you can bridge across the big nut connection with a screwdriver to see if the starter works Is that wise ? Any ideas I do have a spare starter motor
I'm more banking on ignition switch Beatles are a piece p!ss to hot wire. Early 60's - just open the front hood. Its all there. Late 60's - 70's, just pull the big 3 pin plug off, make up a 3 way wire "fork" You will work out easily which need connecting and which is to the starter just use the key for the lock pin
9 volts .. get a new battery, then fix the charging circuit. 9 volts cranking is dead. 9 volts static is FUBAR.
The battery itself is showing just under 13V on the meter so I think it’s ok Doesn’t the coil drop the volts
Agreed , basics first - check and clean all the earth connections... Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
That was my first thought as it started after door slam which may well have dislodged something The starter motor earths through the body basically when it’s bolted on ?
I will check it again So I turn the ignition on put the metre on + and earth the meter I should be getting 12V?
So the meter on the battery is giving me 12.35 meter on both sides of the coil with ignition on gives me 9.45V Interestingly with the ignition on I am only getting 10.8V at the battery
I f you get 9 volts at the coil with ignition on and 10.8 volts at the battery you probably need New Ignition switch New Battery .. possibly .. by now its knackered. A good look at the charging system.
Well she’s running bit of a mystery so I put the battery from our old 1986 range rover in it and nothing on the key so I’m thinking must be ignition switch just to make sure I trashed the cable from ignition to the spade on the starter ( it’s red/black) disconnected it from connection under the bonnet and connected it to 12V on the fuse box terminals and it turned the starter motor Great the wires ok the starters ok must be the ignition switch So removed steering wheel etc took out the ignition barrel couldn’t see anything loose or broken thought turn the key and guess what it started great I thought Tried it a few more times gave it a squirt wd 40 kept starting so put it all back together Meanwhile had my beetle battery on the smart charger said it was good and full giving me a nice 12.8V on the meter So took out the big old tall Range Rover battery and put back my beetle one turned the key nothing again Put back the RR battery and she starts fine unfortunately it’s too tall for the compartment and might short on the seat springs All I can think is beetle battery knackard not making enough cranking amps ? It’s been a couple of frustrating days
Its almost certainly both a dodgy worn out ignition switch, WD40 wont fix that (pretty pointless in most cases) , the switch itself is an encapsulated unit full of grease. By now there will be big grooves burnt into the contacts. Because the battery has been left flat its also damaged by sulphation, the capacity drops off daily. Just because it shows a good voltage means very little, its the voltage while cranking that matters and a 95% sulphated up battery cant cope.
Our beetle does it all the time turn the key and wait in anticipation to see if the starter spins a bit like russian roulette.