electrical help!!

[bmorrow]

hey guy, Just bought a 66 bug vert with 6v system. I cant seem to keep the thing running. When i put the key in the ignition all the lights come on but when i turn the key to start it nothing happens, like the battery may be dead. I have charged and tested the battery and it always hold a charge and read 6 volts everytime. i put a new ground cable to the battery thinking a bad ground may drain the battery. I got i cranked long enough to drive it. I drove it home from the parts store, put the new cable on and... nothing. when i charge the battery it seems to help, even though the battery still reads 6 volts. when i put the key in the ignition i have 6 volts on the back of the switch so i know the "on" position is working properly. when i actually turn it on and it DOES start the wires on the back of the ignition switch that are the "start" wires read . 5 volts... is that normal for that reading to be so low? could it be the ignition switch? The generator is good, the coil is new.... i don't know what is going on.... any ideas??

thanks!

[charlieone]

I don't know if our cars have a neutral safety switch. I'd assume they do. That could be prevent starting.

The starter itself, or the solenoid, could be toast.

[NCdad]

Turn everything off in the car.

Put a voltmeter directly across the battery terminals and read the voltage while cranking or trying to crank. If the voltage drops much below 4.8 volts, the battery is suspect, even if it shows 6 volts at rest, even if it "takes a charge," even if it is new.

if it starts, check to see if you are getting 7.2V at the battery with the car running and above idle?

[Roadbug]

My 66 had the same problem. Seems that the wiring from the key to the starter solenoid is to small to carry enough current to activate the solenoid. I think the solution is a relay that is activated by the key to heavier wires to the starter solenoid.
No neutral safety switch on old VW's that I know of.

[Blue Baron]

Bingo. It needs a hard-start relay. We've seen this problem again and again.

Try crossing the battery cable terminal on the starter with the starter solenoid wire. If it cranks, that's your solution.