Turn key, battery goes flat, ignition switch smoky. Options

[jaredmcginness]

Me again.
It’s gonna be one problem post a day, until next years Octeener fest. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

So close here to firing this motor (in the car)(works fine outside of it)
I’m thinking I have a short somewhere in the ignition, but everything seems to check out.

Notes:

Early car, early VW style switch. (After market)
Turn key, ACC works fine, fuel pump relay clicks, all electrics work.
12v to coil, 12v to starter, power supply relay is good.

Turn key to run, Nothing - power goes flat, as long as I hold the key down.

Messing around a bit, tried again and the ignition switch/column starts
smoking and the IGNS wires are warm.

I believe once she smokes she’s done.

I’ll buy a new switch tomorrow, but I’m trying to probe if this sounds like more than a switch.



All my wiring matches the bowlsby pages. Battery is new.
Switch was new (but probably Taiwan crap), new ground to battery and new ground strap. Cleaned every ground I can find. Does not even considering the idea of cranking.
Starter cranks fine when manually jumped.


Now that my smoke is out, queue the ‘Replacement Can’ comments. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[Superhawk996]

Good job finding that pinched wire! No shame there.

Would have been a shame to start guessing at fixes, modifying wiring, adding solenoids, etc., just hoping for a fix.

We all learn by our mistakes. Been there done that!

I'm going to suggest that you do one more homework reading assignment on half split method. Here's the punch line to encourage you to read it.

"Lesson learned: do not take short cuts, do not assume the part you can easily test is the part that is broken, and do not assume you have found the problem the first time you find something that does not look right. "

So unless you've fully verified your new switch and repaired wire circuit to have low resistance continuity with a DMM all the way back to the starter solenid - You're not done.

https://rule11.tech/troubleshooting-half-split/