Over the summer the ignition switch on my '82 Westy started to act up.
It seemed like when turned to the final position where it energised the
starter, the contacts would "beak" to the ignition circuit.

Some finessing of the key would get it to start. I thought great, new
ignition switch needed. I put it off, or course.

Then last week, in town,  the van wouldn't start no matter how I turned
the key, doh!

Out of desperation I pulled off the steering column cover and pulled
off the multi-connector to the ignition switch thinking I could hot
wire it.

Before I tried that, I re-connected it and tried again. Voila, the van
started with no fuss.

I am guessing that in the ignition switch side of the connector, one of
the connectors was loose. I don't know how it is wired in there,
whether it is a slid bit of metal from the connector to the actual
switch part. In any event the switch has worked perfectly since.

Alistair

'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94

http://www.members.shaw.ca/albell/