VW Up Starting Issues Point to Faulty Ignition Switch

Had almost the exact same issue with my 2016 VW Move Up. After dealing with similar ignition coil troubles, here is what happened: Initially thought it was the ignition switch too because the key felt slightly loose, but the workshop found it was actually a blown fuse causing intermittent power supply to the ignition system. The dashboard lights would flicker occasionally which was another clue. The repair was straightforward, they replaced the faulty fuse and checked the entire ignition circuit. Total cost was 52€ including diagnostic time. The car has been running smoothly for months now. Before jumping to conclusions about the ignition switch, could you share: Does the check engine light come on? Do you notice any other electrical issues? When did these symptoms first appear? Is there any pattern to when it fails to start? This information would help determine if you are dealing with the same fuse issue or potentially something different in the ignition system.

Thanks for the information about the fuse being the culprit. My check engine light started flickering last week, along with the starting issues. Just had my service done at 56426km and everything was fine then. The starter motor seems to work normally when it cranks, but you might be onto something with the electrical system. I notice the radio sometimes resets itself when trying to start, which could point to power supply problems like you mentioned. Will definitely get the fuse box checked first before moving on to more expensive ignition system repairs. The timing of these issues appearing right after my latest service makes me wonder if something got knocked loose during maintenance. Could you confirm which specific fuse was causing your starting issue? The wiring diagram in my manual shows several fuses connected to the ignition circuit.

I checked my repair records, it was fuse number 32 (15A) in the main fuse box that was causing the intermittent ignition system problems in my VW Up. This fuse specifically handles power distribution to the ignition coil and related electronics. The radio reset issue you mentioned is exactly what I experienced, it is a classic sign of unstable power supply to the car electronics. After my regular service at around 55000km, I started noticing similar symptoms. The connection between the timing of your issues and recent service definitely sounds familiar. Just to add to my previous response, before replacing the fuse, my mechanic tested the entire ignition circuit and found voltage drops when turning the ignition key. The flickering check engine light turned out to be directly related to the poor power supply through that blown fuse. One quick test you can do: if your dashboard lights dim significantly when turning the ignition key, it further confirms the electrical supply issue rather than a mechanical ignition switch problem. This helped diagnose my case faster. Worth mentioning that while my fix was just a fuse, have the workshop check the fuse box connections too. In my case, they found slight corrosion on the fuse terminals which they cleaned as preventive maintenance.

Thanks everyone for the help. After getting this feedback about the fuse issues, I checked fuse 32 myself and noticed it looked slightly discolored. Taking the car to my workshop tomorrow to have them check the entire ignition circuit and fuse box connections. The symptoms match exactly, flickering check engine light, radio resets, and unstable starting. Having the service history timing match up too makes me more confident this is likely an electrical supply issue rather than a mechanical problem with the ignition key or starter motor. Will update once I get the results from the workshop. Really helpful to know what specific parts to have them inspect first, especially the fuse box terminals and voltage testing during key turn. Could save quite a bit of diagnostic time pointing them in the right direction with these details. Really appreciate the thorough responses about the electrical system checks. Much better than potentially replacing expensive ignition components without checking the basics first.