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Topic: Autostick Trouble

I am having trouble with my wife's '70 convertible autostick bug. It
seems to only start when it wants to. I am starting to think we got
Herbie's little sister! It will be in neutral, you turn the key, and
nothing happens. Sometimes you will start it just fine, go to the
store, and it won't do anything when you come out. Turn the key
several times and nothing. Then, out of the blue, it will start
right up. Sometimes it won't for a long time, then you come back and
it starts on the first turn. When it does this, there are no clicks,
no noises, but lights and other electrical will come on. I was
thinking maybe a neutral safety switch? Please help!

2 Reply by Guest

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Re: Autostick Trouble

Niceguy wrote:
>
> I am having trouble with my wife's '70 convertible autostick bug. It
> seems to only start when it wants to. I am starting to think we got
> Herbie's little sister! It will be in neutral, you turn the key, and
> nothing happens. Sometimes you will start it just fine, go to the
> store, and it won't do anything when you come out. Turn the key
> several times and nothing. Then, out of the blue, it will start
> right up. Sometimes it won't for a long time, then you come back and
> it starts on the first turn. When it does this, there are no clicks,
> no noises, but lights and other electrical will come on. I was
> thinking maybe a neutral safety switch? Please help!
> Do you notice this problem only when the motor is hot or does it
refuse to start when cold also, like the first start of the day?
Sometimes starters absorb heat and don't like to start when they are
hot. Scott.

3 Reply by Guest

  • Guest
  • Guest

Re: Autostick Trouble

Scott wrote:
>
> Niceguy wrote:
>>
>> I am having trouble with my wife's '70 convertible autostick bug. It
>> seems to only start when it wants to. I am starting to think we got
>> Herbie's little sister! It will be in neutral, you turn the key, and
>> nothing happens. Sometimes you will start it just fine, go to the
>> store, and it won't do anything when you come out. Turn the key
>> several times and nothing. Then, out of the blue, it will start
>> right up. Sometimes it won't for a long time, then you come back and
>> it starts on the first turn. When it does this, there are no clicks,
>> no noises, but lights and other electrical will come on. I was
>> thinking maybe a neutral safety switch? Please help!
>> Do you notice this problem only when the motor is hot or does it
> refuse to start when cold also, like the first start of the day?
> Sometimes starters absorb heat and don't like to start when they are
> hot. Scott.
>
>

The neutral safety switch is a big plastic plug down on the side of
the trans, I think the driver's side, towards the nosecone, but it's
been a while. There are two plugs there, one is the NS switch and
the other is a trans. fluid temp sensor. If I'm remembering right
the neutral switch is the one closer to the front of the car, with
three wires...Make sure that the it is plugged in securely and has
the rubber boot over it. Trace the wires back into the harness, make
sure they haven't rubbed through and are shorting somewhere. Also
the contact points in your shifter could be dirty, I'm not sure if
this would cause your specific problem but for autosticks in general
they have usually never had the points adjusted. There are also all
manner of relays and wiring under your back seat, you might want to
trace the wires in there and make sure everything's good and clean
and tight.

Another thought, and I'm not sure if your '70 has this or not, but
sometimes the seatbelt/starter interlock messes up and won't let the
car start. If you have a curly wire under your seat that plugs into
a plastic recepticle on the floor, you might want to check that out
too.

Good Luck,

Jordan

4 Reply by Guest

  • Guest
  • Guest

Re: Autostick Trouble

Hiya niceguy,

Jordan is on the right track here.

And you too! This is almost certainly a problem with your nuetral
safety switch or the wiring to it. Were it my car I'd climb under
the tranny and clean the contacts on both switches (the nuetral
safety switch and the temp switch), check for breaks in the wiring
insulation, and make sure everything down there look nice and
clean.

If it still persists, then look at changing out the switch itself.
Great part about going this route is that it won't cost you a dime
unless you actually do wind up pulling the switch. Then it will
only be about 5 or 6 bucks.

By the way, your 70 will not have the seatbelt safety switch.

Mike

1970 AS Bug