Tricky Ignition

This has got to be the most frustrating thing ever...in my '96 Jetta, when I go to start it, i have to wiggle the key back and forth numerous times before it kicks in the starter to turn the engine over. It's not that it's not getting connection to the battery because the radio, lights etc. still come on. Please help. Am I going to have to get a new ignition switch? If I am, how much is this going to set me back?

Sounds like the switch to me....

Thank you...I figured this was what it was...this seems like a very good forum and I'm glad that I found it. Ya'll have a good holiday.

My 96 has the same problem... I can barely even get it to start now...
Took of plastic, steering wheel, turn signals, and window wiper levers, but it looks like there is a spring and bearing holding ignition switch housing on... do I need to break out the drill like Eddie Van Halen on "Poundcake"?


This has got to be the most frustrating thing ever...in my '96 Jetta, when I go to start it, i have to wiggle the key back and forth numerous times before it kicks in the starter to turn the engine over. It's not that it's not getting connection to the battery because the radio, lights etc. still come on. Please help. Am I going to have to get a new ignition switch? If I am, how much is this going to set me back?

I have a '96 Jetta with a faulty ignition switch. It ended up keeping the starter engaged while the engine was running, thereby burning out the starter and slightly messing up the teeth on the flywheel.

I looked into getting the switch replaced, and they said it would be about $200 in labor, because it is such a pain in the ass to get to. You have to drill out the shear pin for the steering wheel.

Does anybody know the best way to replace the ignition switch (bringing the car to a garage does not count!)?

here's a site that walks you thru it. http://zpipedragon.com/Home/VW/Tinkering/Maintenance+Repair/Ignition%20Switch/ignition_switch.htm
hope it helps

I dunno. Its hella work and might even be confusing if you dont know exactly what youre doing. They charge $200 for labor because its a complicated process.

I just replaced my ignition switch on my '96 Jetta - it wasn't that bad. The worst part was pulling off the spline adapter thing, after the airbag, steering wheel, and directional/wiper controls have been removed. You need to clamp a set of vicegrips right behind the shallow lip of the spline adapter, then attach the 2 or 3 arms of the puller ($20-$30) behind the vicegrips. The only other trouble may be the shear bolt that has a round head. Mine was only finger tight, and therefore not a problem.

I would recommend that anyone with some kind of mechanical intuition replace the ignition switch themselves.

It cost me $127 for the same thing.

I have a '91 Jetta turbodiesel (155,000 miles) that seems to be destroying starters. Like the previous post, I believe the starter remains engaged while the engine is running, thereby burning out the starter. As you might guess, I'm interested in having the car start reliably and not replacing the starter on a regular basis.

My first two starters (the original and a boneyard replacement) failed when the wire braid leading out from the windings burned out just outside the starter housing; the most recent failure was a remanufactured starter. The day it failed, I heard a squeaking noise after starting the car, which I then (mistakenly) identified as a squeaky belt, but now believe the starter was still engaged after ignition (when I reached my destination the starter was very hot and smelled of burning, though the winding wire was still intact).

My question is, how should I proceed from here? Like the previous post, my first inclination is to replace the ignition switch in addition to the starter, under the assumption that it failed to disengage the starter properly.

Does anyone have experience with this problem? Are there any other explanations for these symptoms where I should search for possible culprits?

Acolson, you may need a new switch, but it may also be the wiring to your starter. Check out where you connect the wire that engages the bendix (or whatever they call it). Also, disconnect the ignition wire (not power supply) from the starter and put a voltmeter to it Have someone turn the keys a couple times. Check to make sure the voltage jumps accordingly.

Have you replaced the starter bushing in the transaxle?