6 volt start from key

[Roadbug]

My stock 66 has a 6 volt system but does not start from the key. The VW key in the dash does turn the ignition on and off, but the starter is activated from a separate push botton switch.
Why ? What's the fix to get it to start from the key

[h~moto]

My guess is a previous owner rewired the starting circuit to bypass the original ignition switch because it was not working well. A new starter switch might fix the problem. Is the ignition switch on the dash or steering column?

[Blue Baron]

The owner installed a push button because of the age old problem of the car needing a hard start relay. I install them on all my cars.

[Roadbug]

"Hard Start Relay" sounds good, never heard of it. I hope they work with 6 volts. Will start looking for one.
Thanks

[Blue Baron]

Gene Berg explains it the best.

http://www.geneberg.com/cat.php?cPath=10_341

And yes, there are loud voices who insist the stock system works perfectly, and the hard-start relay is just a bandage, but I maintain the hard-start problem is a congenital defect of the car, and the relay is necessary on all VWs. More good ignition switches have been replaced for no good reason (losing the original ignition key) than we can even imagine.

[pwmcguire]

Gene Berg explains it the best.

http://www.geneberg.com/cat.php?cPath=10_341

And yes, there are loud voices who insist the stock system works perfectly, and the hard-start relay is just a bandage, but I maintain the hard-start problem is a congenital defect of the car, and the relay is necessary on all VWs. More good ignition switches have been replaced for no good reason (losing the original ignition key) than we can even imagine.

yes. every vintage vw should have one. It removes the high amperage passing through the key switch and routes it through the relay and keeps the contacts in the key switch from burning up. The only amps that pass through the key are to operate the relay and the rest of the vehicle and not the starter