74 Super Starter Trouble

I have a 1974 Super Beetle that when I turn the ignition, nothing happens. So I read in my idiot guide and did eerything it said and it still will not start. I jumped the starter solieoid with a screwdirver and nothing happened so I replaced the starter with a brand new, not remanufatured, starter and solenoid, still nothing when I turn the ignition. So I replaced the electircal switch in the ignition and still nothing. I cheked the voltage across the battery and it is 12.4 volts the minimum needed to turn the starter over. I tried jumping the carr off of my truck and still no success. I cleaned the battery posts and checked all of the wires and they are good. Now with everything new I tried jumping the starter solenoid again and I get a huge spark. I asked all my friends and no one knows what is going on! PLEASE HELP!!!!!

first of all, get rid of that Muir idiot manual and get a factory Bentley service manual. It has better, more informative and usable info for the real world.
try www.shoptalkforums.com and ask for Marc.

It could be anything: Have you checked for corrosion on the fuse block? Are the battery cables corroded? Is power even being supplied to the ignition switch? Did somebody knock a wire off the fuse block while installing a radio? Since the last time your switch/starter worked, what has been done to the car? Go back and check that particular area first.

On the Back of the fuse panel (Which you can "take down" by removing the screws on either side) you will find 3-4 relays--the longest (or largest) is the Starter Interlock relay. You can remove the cover on this and will see a board and two coils. If you turn the ignition to the start position and use an insulated screw driver, you can manually close the coil points on the center (starter side) relay and the starter will engage....If this is so, you could remove the relay and clean it up to hopefully work...



The problem comes in as to where you can get one of these original relays...Haven't had much luck lately...

hey is your seat belt plugged in my car will not start unless it is i also have 74 super

recheck all the wiring... if everything is good and you have 12 volts to the starter it should crank or you have a faulty starter