VW Beetle Starting Issues | Ignition Switch Problems

Had a similar issue with my 2014 VW Golf TDI last summer. Coming from someone with moderate car repair experience, these symptoms instantly reminded me of what I went through. The dashboard lights would flicker before the engine shut off, and the starter motor would sometimes struggle to engage. After a few frustrating attempts at starting, the car would eventually run, but quite roughly. Took it to my regular workshop where they diagnosed a blown fuse in the ignition switch circuit. The entire diagnostic and repair process was surprisingly quick, total cost was 52€ including the new fuse and labor. Before jumping to conclusions though, could you share: Are there any warning lights on your dashboard? Does this happen more often when the engine is cold or warm? Have you noticed any electrical issues with other components? What is your current mileage? These details would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if its potentially something else in the car electronics system. The symptoms you describe are quite similar, but VW models can have different quirks even within the same generation.

Had my last service done in January, currently at 114842km. When this happened to me, it turned out to be a failing ignition coil. The symptoms were identical, unusual stalling, rough running, and starting issues. The mechanic tested the car electronics and found the ignition coil was sending irregular signals to the engine control unit. The dashboard light would occasionally flash but no permanent warning lights stayed on. The repair was straightforward, replaced two ignition coils and the issue completely resolved. Total cost was around 280€ for parts and labor. Worth checking if your fuel filter is clean too, as dirty filters can cause similar symptoms in TDI engines. A diagnostic scan would quickly identify if its coil-related or something else in the ignition system.

Thanks for sharing those details about your repair experience. Your ignition coil diagnosis actually makes more sense than my initial fuse theory, especially given the similar symptoms in our VW TDIs. After you mentioned this, I remembered my 2014 Golf had a follow-up issue a few months after the fuse replacement. The engine start became unreliable again and the rough running returned. Turned out the initial fuse problem was masking a failing ignition coil. The workshop found irregular voltage readings from the coils during testing. The starter motor would crank normally, but the engine would either not start or run very roughly. Replaced all coils preventively since they tend to fail around the same mileage. Cost was about 320€ for parts and labor, slightly more than yours but included an extra coil. Have you noticed if the starting issue improves after the engine warms up? In my case, cold starts were notably worse, which is apparently typical for failing ignition coils. The key turn would work fine, but the engine just wouldnt fire properly until it warmed up.

Thanks for the detailed feedback. Your experience with the ignition coils matches what I am seeing. The cold starts are definitely worse, sometimes it takes 3-4 key turns before the engine catches. Once warm, it usually starts first time but still runs rough occasionally. Going to book it in for a diagnostic scan next week. The starting issue is becoming more frequent and I dont want to risk getting stranded. Your repair cost of 320€ gives me a good benchmark for what to expect if it turns out to be the ignition coils. The dashboard light does flicker briefly during these episodes, similar to what you described. No other electrical problems though, headlights, radio, windows all work perfectly. Engine start troubles aside, everything else in the car electronics seems normal. Interesting that you mentioned preventively replacing all coils. Will discuss that option with the workshop, especially since my car is at 114842km. Rather fix everything while they are in there than have another coil fail a few months later.