Sounds like it could be your ignition switch- cheap fix see Ken Wilfords
page at:
http://www.vanagain.com/how2ign.htm

-Andrew Fox

On Wed, 24 Apr 2002, Craig Oda - Personal email wrote:

> My 1983.5 Westy sometimes has problems starting.  When I turn the key
> nothing happens.  However, if I do it enough, it always starts (so far).  I
> have checked the connections of the battery and the starter and the
> wires are nice and tight.  I figure either the battery is low or the
> starter is going bad.  Or, it could be the switch that controls
> whether I'm in park or neutral on my automatic transmission.
>
> Since I'm still driving the Westy, sometimes to distant places (or
> course ;)   I was wondering how to cross the wires on the solenoid to
> try and start the motor if I wanted to.
>
> There is a large nut with a rubber boot that is connected to the
> battery.  Should I cross that and the red wire that goes to the
> ignition switch, or should I try another wire combination?
>
> I'm new to all this, so any help would be appreciated.
>
> -- Craig
>
> --
> Craig Oda   craigoda@communitybuilders.info
> VW Info: 1983 VW Westfalia, water-cooled, automatic
> http://communitybuilders.dhs.org/craigoda/vw/
>