• From: Malaysia
  • Registered: 2006-06-28
  • Posts: 143

Topic: Connections, connections

Hi everyone,

The (+) battery connector (or cable) is giving me problems. Each time I turn the key to the first notch, the two lights on the dash light up. then when I start the car, it just clicks and goes off.

Sometimes when I repeat the procedure, the same thing happens. Other times, the lights don't come on at all.

I've had this problem before so what I did was remove the cable from the connector, cut it (for fresh cables, as the copper wires were already turning green) and reconnected it to the battery.

This worked for a while but I'm back to square one. I got myself a new connector but the problem persists. Sometimes it would start but when I try again, same problem.

What do I do??? Please help.

  • From: somewhere over the rainbow USA
  • Registered: 2006-07-26
  • Posts: 1,882

Re: Connections, connections

What year?
I'd lean towards a bad ignition switch

burrhead

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.
  • From: Canada
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 630

Re: Connections, connections

What does the other end of the cable look like?

1979 Type 1 Convertible                                       1976 Scirocco (For Sale!)
1971 Type 1 Semi-Automatic Super                       1968 Type 1 Sedan
1961 Type 1 Sedan
1957 Type 1 Sunroof

Der Bugmeister's Website

  • From: B.C.Canada
  • Registered: 2005-01-26
  • Posts: 2,586

Re: Connections, connections

If I understand correctly you only removed the connector that clamps to the battery post, cut the green end off the heavy wire  and reconnected it. You should replace the whole cable and clean the ground cable at both ends as well. You can coat them with special grease after to prevent corrosion.

These cables are part of regular maintenance anyway so I'd fix them first then if it still happens proceed to testing the ignition switch.

You eventually need to clean every connector in the car so better to do a few extra each time. You could clean the starter connections and regulator if you have one. Electrical spray cleaner is a good start. Flush out your fuse box with it too.

jim

'71 SB(DD only 79K(now 84K miles) & '78 FI Westy (project)
PO of '65 Beetle in '69, '70 Crewcab & '70 Ghia in '77
'71 Super inside rear vents now available
http://www.openroad.ca/volkswebbin/view … p?id=85915
  • hank
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: British Columbia Canada
  • Registered: 2004-03-30
  • Posts: 425

Re: Connections, connections

I like the red Scotchbrite pads to clean the contacts
don't forget the ground strap from the transaxle nose cone to the frame

I'm with" burrhead" on a bad ignition switch

'57 bug "BlackBerry"
'58 type261 single cab "Ruf"
'86 vanagon syncro "Syncro da Dr.Mayo"
and way too many project waiting
  • Registered: 2006-09-13
  • Posts: 36

Re: Connections, connections

eugenicz wrote:

The (+) battery connector (or cable) is giving me problems. Each time I turn the key to the first notch, the two lights on the dash light up. then when I start the car, it just clicks and goes off.

Sometimes when I repeat the procedure, the same thing happens. Other times, the lights don't come on at all.

This same type of thing has happened to me so many times it isn't funny (turn the key and it just goes 'click' even though I know the battery is good).  The problem I discovered was ALWAYS getting good connections between the terminals of my battery and the ground-strap and positive cable (which goes to the starter).  At one point this garage I took my VW to put in a cable which was just one of those heavy wires that went into a separate connector which it was clamped down into, held in place by tightening these 2 nuts.  I had so much trouble with that thing, I finally got rid of it and bought this nice red cable from  Mid America Motorworks.  Their cable has the end of the wire integrated right into the end connector (the thing you clamp onto the battery terminal), so there was never any question of a good connection between it and the actual wire. Which reminds me.  That MAM cable is nice, but I have tightened and loosened it so many times that it finally cracked, and I should get a new one (although it is still functioning pretty well).

  • From: Malaysia
  • Registered: 2006-06-28
  • Posts: 143

Re: Connections, connections

Thanks, guys. I finally had to take it to a trusty mechanic. He replaced the (surprisingly) (-) cable, and all was fixed!

  • From: Canada
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 630

Re: Connections, connections

Good to hear you got it fixed, and thanks for letting us know what the problem turned out to be.

Yes, both battery cables can deteriorate over time increasing their resistance yet are usually overlooked when troubleshooting that sort of problem.

1979 Type 1 Convertible                                       1976 Scirocco (For Sale!)
1971 Type 1 Semi-Automatic Super                       1968 Type 1 Sedan
1961 Type 1 Sedan
1957 Type 1 Sunroof

Der Bugmeister's Website

  • Registered: 2005-02-17
  • Posts: 26

Re: Connections, connections

burrhead

non impediti ratione cogitionis





Non Impediti Ratione Cogitationis... careful with the spelling...

Last edited by tspot100 (2010-09-18 17:30:16)