Won't Crank (Will push start)

1996 Golf 2.0 five speed. Just helped a friend purchase this sweetie. Drove it home. The key doesn't feel very good in ignition. Very sticky. Must fiddle with the key to get the ignition to turn. I have started the car 10 times in two days while testdriving and looking the car over. Now I get the car home and it won't crank when you turn the ignition. All of the lights turn on and the car seems to cycle the fuel injection and everything seems normal. There is 12 volts at the battery and there is 12 volts at the post on the starter. There doesn't seem to be any volts that get to the starter from the switch. It appears like there is a sillenoid attached to the starter with a small red wire plugged into it. I put a multimeter on that wire and cycle the key and there is no volts at this wire. I assume if I jump 12 volts to this point of contact it will activate the sillenoid but this is only a guess and I didn't want to mess up any of the electical comoponents. I can push the car and pop the clutch and the car starts and runs great (starts easy). It just won't turn over with the key switch. I have heard these cars have a great deal of problems with the ignition switches. Could this be the problem or do I need to look elsewhere. I have also thought about the ignition relay. If this car has an ignition relay where is it? How can I tell if it is good or bad. I have also wondered if it is possibly an alarm issue although the alarm appears to work perfectly. Thanks for any tips.

probably ignition switch, there should be power at small wire when turning key

It could also be the clutch safety switch.

i just worked on a car like this a couple days ago. Disconnect the connector at the starter solenoid (not the wire coming from the battery or wire going into the starter) and put a test like clip on ground and the tip in the connector. have someone turn the key and attempt to start the car. If the light flashes-its either the ignition switch or the relay. If the light doesnt flash-the solenoid on the starter is bad and you just bought yourself a $250 starter =( Ign switches are about $170 =( and relays are about $20 =)

But if ur key has problems turning in the ignition cylinder its most likely a problem with the tumblers and the contact points for the power and ground.

I have an 95 golf III 5-sp.doing the same exact thing. I can push start my car but cant crank start it. i used a test light and have spark at the ignition coil when the key is in the on position but when i crank it nothing. same goes for the distibutor cap. i've replaced the starter. if its a relay thats causing the problem i dont know which one it is. any other iddeas would be great i haven't had a car for 2 months.

Are you saying there is no spark while cranking or that the engine will not crank with the starter at all?

i wish i explained it better the first time. When i go to start the car you hear the starter winding. the only thing you hear when you try to start the car is the starter. i pulled the main wire from the distributor cap (coming from the ignition coil) and put a jumper toI? see if i had spark when i crank. nothing. i put a test light to the ignition coil-i have spark when the key is in the on position but when i go to crank it theres nothing. i have never had to push the clutch in on my car to start it. -brand new battery and starter-the alternator was tested and is fine. like i said i can push start it and it'll run all day

If the car roll starts fine (meaning the ignition system works in the on position), but you lose spark while cranking then it's an ignition switch problem.

If the car roll starts fine (meaning the ignition system works in the on position), but you lose spark while cranking then it's an ignition switch problem.

is this going to be easy for me to replace(is it in obvious places?) or should i pay someone to do it? i've never paid anyone to fix my cars and dont wanna start. thanx for taking the time to even read this sh!t

It's fairly deep in the steering column. If you're handy it's possible, there are threads in here outlining the proceedure, but I'd get a good manual.