the famous "wont start" problem

[jbjslambert]

1996.5 jetta glx. no start/no crank condition . checked the battery its fine, just low charge 700 cca, actual right now is 595 cca.

i checked for voltage on the little wire on the starter solenoid with key in start position. but nothing there. shouldnt there be 12volts there with key switch to start?

ok, assuming that voltage should be there, i looked to the ignition switch.
2 big red wires, 1 black with stripe, and one little brn/red wire. 1 red wire has voltage all the time. black has voltage until you put it in start position and then it goes away until you let loose of start position then comes back. the other red wire never gets voltage any of the time. little wire with stripe has voltage all times.

shouldnt the other red wire get some voltage? maybe if someone has wire "pin out" for the ignition switch, or confirm normal switch voltage operation?

thanks for looking...helping

[Davez69gto]

I would go ahead and test your starter. You don't have to take it off but go ahead and connect 12v to the solenoid. It's uber easy to take off so you may want to do it off the car. Start there and work your way back.