Ignition switch

[Grant Lenahan]

Yes, that is one of the common modes of failure, but with that switch  
there are so many.  The most common is a failure to return to "run"  
from "start" whcih results in a drivable car in which most or all  
accessories - windows, lights, etc fail to work. Nudging the switch  
backwards sometimes corrects this.

But your situation is what I had occur repeatedly in my mom's car.   
It almost acted like an immobilizer were there.  Diagnosis proved  
futile, but swapping the switch ( nto terrible on a C4) did the trick.

I truly hate that switch.

Grant
On Apr 4, 2009, at 8:01 AM, Peter Orban wrote:

> Hello Everyone,
>
> Thanks for all the responses!
> I also checked the FA, indeed that is the switch on Audi cars I  
> looked up.
>
> A bit more detailed description of the symptoms.
> The car is in pristine condition, never winter driven, less than  
> 20K Km on it.
> I have not looked at the starter wiring, but I think there is no  
> chance of corroded wires.
> When turning on the ignition, the cluster always lights up. When  
> trying to engage the starter that is what is not happening always.
> I do not think it is the clutch lockout, if I try starting again,  
> without releasing and pressing the clutch again, the car usually  
> starts.
> When the starter does not engage there is no click from the  
> solenoid, just like as if the solenoid wiring were dead.
> Last year once when it did not start, there was a click from the  
> starter solenoid, that is why I will check the battery.  
> Unfortunately on this car (B5.5) one can not just simply disconnect  
> the battery, one would need to run the throttle adaptation  
> algorithm upon reconnecting it, or provide backup power. I do not  
> have VAG-COM or similar yet. VW, in their infinite wisdom, left out  
> the backdoor initiation of the throttle adaptation routine from the  
> ECU code.
> This acting up of car starting reared up it head about four years  
> ago first, may be once a season. Now it happens about half of the  
> times when starting the car.
>
> Just curious, is the failure mode of the ignition switch for the  
> others the same as for me?
>
> Thanks, Peter
>
>
>
>        
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Grant Lenahan
glenahan at vfemail.net
(201) 602-4702 mobile