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Date:         Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:04:21 -0800
Reply-To:     Brian Jarvinen <brianvwagain@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Brian Jarvinen <brianvwagain@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      how does the ignition switch work?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I am out on the road trying to get home for Christmas...after plenty of Vanagon mis-adventures this year I have a new one today:

I turn the key and get maybe a click from the starter. The next 50 times you turn the key, nada. My #1 suspicion runs toward the ignition switch. The starter has only been in for three months, a re-built Bosch. It hasn't shown the slightest sign of starting to fail, and I've lived through several of them over the years. Nevertheless, tapping it with a hammer changes nothing; usually you can get a couple starts out of that.

I've had a bad switch before, and used an extra plastic switch and a screwdriver to start the van for months at a time. I had a mechanic install a whole new switch about two years ago; I tried to drill out the right spot to remove the key assembly but had the wrong mm measurement and missed the pin. He drilled it in the right place and installed one but I've never been that thrilled with it, somewhat ragged and tight in the operation of turning the key. The whole thing just seems imprecise and cheap, don't know where he got it.

I have the other plastic switch but turning it with a screwdriver is no longer an option, too much of the plastic has been destroyed.

So my question tonight is - just how does this switch work? It has seven total connections.

I noticed an oddity today - holding the brake pedal down all the way makes the Parking Brake light come on. Have never seen that before. Now too the Parking Brake light comes on when the key is turned to "START" and I can't recall that in the past but maybe just never noticed?

With my old switch, I can make things turn "ON" i.e. the fuel pressurizes and the indicators in the dash panel come on. But after that I can't turn it further to engage the starter.

I'm thinking the problem in my switch might be the key not making enough electrical contact as it turns to engage the starter. I think the tip of the key contacts a metal part? So the switch can turn things on but could fail after that?

I'm in Youngstown, OH and hope I can find one of these plastic switches in the morning. Don't know if they tend to be in automotive supply chains? Or can only be had from junkyards?

I drive a standard trans and have been able to do a push start quickly and easily every time; everything else is working perfectly. The other possibility is the starter is already shot, nearly instantaneously with no warning?

Wires to the starter? With temps in the 30s I wouldn't think a hot wire would be a problem; and again have had no recent hard starting.

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