Diesel golf ignition problem...any ideas folks?

:dontknow:
Hope someone can offer advice…maybe someone with a pick-up diesel? I've got a 1983 1588cc (hatchback) diesel, but it's started to have an intermittent problems with the switch. You normally turn the key 'til the ignition lights come on and the plugs heat up & then it clicks after a few seconds and you strike her up.
Unfortunately it's started, quite often, either failing to light up altogether now or only lighting up half of the lights and flickering…and doesn't click to tell me the plugs are heated and doesn't turn over to start up. When it works…which it does in the end if I wait 5 minutes, often longer…the engine / battery are fine and there's no other probs.
As you can probably tell I'm no electrical expert! Just wondered if anyone could shed any light on the situation. Will it need a new ignition switch?
Hope it's not a more complex problem.
Apart from that of course, it's a bloody nice car…just want to get it sorted!
Thanks for your help!

You should have a yellow glow plug LED right in the middle of the dash lights with a curly coil of wire symbol above it. This should come on for 5-15ish seconds and go out telling you the engine is ready to start by turning the key a bit further. The fact you are relying on hearing the relay click means the LEDs not working?

Check all the earths, battery, battery to chassis+ gearbox mount, rose near the fuse box. Not sure if diesels have the wire to the cam cover? Pull the relays out and check for water damage (rusty stains) as MK1s are notorious for leaking on to their electrics. Also there is a big blade fuse on the engine side bulk head for the glow plugs. Also check the connections to the starter and glowplugs for corrosion.

Many years ago I had intermittent starting problems and it turned out to be the switch at the bottom of the ignition barrel. Quite cheap and easy to replace.

As Early-1800 said that is a classic ignition switch problem .

Haynes Manual provides a good section on how to remove it and repair it . I would think it will still be available from VW ..

chudd said

As Early-1800 said that is a classic ignition switch problem .

Haynes Manual provides a good section on how to remove it and repair it . I would think it will still be available from VW ..

Thanks very much for your advise guys…I'll have a look around to see if there is water damage etc. Let you know. Cheers!