Ignition Switch

On my beetle, and the other volkswagens I have had and also a porsche, if the car doesn't start up when you try to start it, you have to turn the key off and then on again to try to start again. Something seems to be blocking it from just starting it like an american or japanese car.


On this 1999 beetle I have, every once in a while when I try to start it for the first time, it will act like that, I will have to turn off the key and then on again, and sometimes 2 or 3 times, before it will let me start it.

Could this be a bad ignition switch, or is there something else that works with the ignition switch that could cause this to happen.

Will it turn over and not start or is it that nothing happens?

I think he's talking about the mechanism in the ignition switch to prevent re-engaging the starter after the key has been turned to start once. It is a normal safety feature on Volkswagens. You have to turn all the way back to off before you can re-start.