Date:         Mon, 20 Sep 2004 07:24:12 -0700
Reply-To:     Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Subject:      Re: ignition switch shenanigans
Comments: To: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <7399433D-0AB0-11D9-9E8A-000A95E94AAC@uvic.ca>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

On 19 Sep 2004 at 19:54, Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA> wrote:

> Over the summer the ignition switch on my '82 Westy started to act up.
> It seemed like when turned to the final position where it energised the
> starter, the contacts would "beak" to the ignition circuit.
>
> Some finessing of the key would get it to start. I thought great, new
> ignition switch needed. I put it off, or course.
>
> Then last week, in town,  the van wouldn't start no matter how I turned
> the key, doh!
>
> Out of desperation I pulled off the steering column cover and pulled
> off the multi-connector to the ignition switch thinking I could hot
> wire it.
>
> Before I tried that, I re-connected it and tried again. Voila, the van
> started with no fuss.
>
> I am guessing that in the ignition switch side of the connector, one of
> the connectors was loose. I don't know how it is wired in there,
> whether it is a slid bit of metal from the connector to the actual
> switch part. In any event the switch has worked perfectly since.

Alistair,

I was able to go nearly a year with a failing switch in my Jetta (same switch), by
wiggling the wires & connector and doing essentially what you did - sometimes it would
last for a month. After that, I resorted carrying a screwdriver in the driver door, turning
the key on & shorting the starter terminals under the hood with the screwdriver. This
would be a bit more difficult on a Vanagon though... :-)
I would suggest that you have manage to reposition the contacts in the plastic switch
slightly, but the problem will come back. I'd buy the $10 switch and keep it on hand in
case you get stranded (I know this is hard to do in a diesel...), or bored enough to
actually change it someday.... :-)

--
Shawn Wright
http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
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