Picture of inside of Ignition Switch Housing Needed

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I need to know if anyone out there has a picture of the inside of the ignition switch housing. Specifically, the metal pin the engages the plastic switch on the end. I think that this part may be damaged on my own car and want to confirm that the pin is not damaged or missing a piece. It looks like it may be missing a woodruf key...


Here's a rough sketch of what im taking about..

[914GT]

Sorry I didn't take a picture of mine a couple weeks ago when I had it apart. I recall no Woodruff key, just that the center piece is shaped to fit into the switch. So what seems to be wrong with it?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

It looked as though it was missing a piece and it had worn out the inside of the groove on the switch, when you turn the key, it doesnt allow it to turn far enought o engage the starter.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I think there are three different versions of that part. With a 73, you would obviously have the "middle" version. I think the early one is 70 through mid-71, the middle one is late-71 through 74, and the late one is 75-76.

Not sure what the internal differences are, if any...

--DD

[E WA 914 2.0L]

Jared
I tried to get you a picture but I can'r get a focus with my camera,
Sorry.
Levi

[ss6]

Jared, I just went through a similar session with my ignition switch lock cylinder (see the other board). Don't have pix of the end of the lock cylinder you have sketched, but I did have the problem of not engaging start on an otherwise working switch.

There is no woodruff key on the cylinder, the lock cylinder engages and rotates the switch with a very flattened "D" shaped shaft stub that mates with the plastic switch. This stub is about 20 mm long, though I don't think all of that goes into the switch.
If your ignition key turns *anything* on, that shaft stub is probably OK.

In my case, it turned out that the chrome ring at the other end of the switch has two nibs that keep it from falling out when it turns. One of the nibs broke off, making the chrome ring ride cockeyed as it turned, interfering with the full rotation of the switch. I pulled the lock cylinder out by tapping out the roll pin near where your sketch arrow points (do it with the key in it so the tumblers don't launch on you). You can remove the chrome ring and see if your start problem goes away. Or not.

There is also a latch mechanism in the column lock assembly that only allows you to try "start" once (then you have to turn the ignition all the way off to clear this latch). If this latch is jammed, it could be the cause of your problems, not the ignition lock.

My car was a '76, so the latch I described may or may not be in your column assembly.

[ss6]

PS - FWIW, here is a pic of a replacement lock cylinder ('75 Rabbit, allegedly works for all 914's)...

[Conrad W Peden]

Any of these help? Its from my 72.
BTW my 73 is the same.

[img]

[Conrad W Peden]

[Jim Smolka]

DD, is correct... the '75 and 76 cars have somewhat different key switch step as compared to the earlier 914's

[914Ghost]

I had mine apart from my 70' and its different than any shown.
Its a VW bus part, almost identical- so I used bus replacement parts.
If its like mine you can insert the actual lock cylinder 180 degrees off and it wont turn far enough.
The little funny shaped wafer is pushed onto the lock cylinder AFTER it is assembled into its housing and NOT designed to be removed. The locksmith here wouldn't do a re-key for me. Had to do it myself.
The difference between the 914 and bus part was a fiber washer that regulated the rotation of the lock cylinder inside the housing- present in the bus part NOT the 914 part.
If its like mine, and you had it apart that far, likely you have the lock cylinder 180 out.
Maybe. ..?
Bob O
The pic shows my parts, the 'washer' is destroyed but picture the thing fully round- with a little 'square' notch in it and thats what it looked like.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Ok, ordered a new switch today and it looks as though I have solved the problem. The groove in the old electrical switch has worn out the "d" shape into almost a circle, preventing the pin from turning it to the start position. I also took the lock cylinder mechansim apart and cleaned it all out, and re-lubricated all the parts, works effortlessy now.

Conrad, that is exactly how my switch looks.