Heya, Some early VWs had interlocks in the drivers safety belt that prevented the car from starting if the belt circuit was not complete. These were the cars with the "auto" belts that you stepped into and did not (normally) have to buckle. An electric circuit is made throught he buckle. Sometimes the relays went bad and you had to short them to make the car work.
Also, check your battery leads, especially the negative battery terminal lead. This was grounded to the car frame and engine, however since it was under the battery, these tended to erode very quickly, not allowing circuit to be made , killing your battery and making the car not have enough juice to start.
To check other stuff: Pull a spark plug and try to crank the car. If it cranks, smell the open hole to see if gas is being injected. If not, look at the fuel loop, your fuel pump could be bad, a common problem. Also, check spark at the plug while you have it out, if no spark, then you might need to look a the points/distributor. If the buckle interlock or park switch are doing it, it will also prevent spark since the coil wire will not get power without these safeties enabled (or bypassed).
Hope this helps...
-Cabby
one night i went out to start the rabbit and it wouldn't turn over
> with the key.since then i've replaced the following
> parts,alternater,starter and sylinoid,ignition coil, ignition
> switch,fuseable links,the rabbit still will not start with the key.
> I've talked to several parts places and the only vw dealership in
> town, they all tell me that there isn;t a safety nutral switch on
> vw's.if this is the case why isn't my rabbit not starting with the
> key. if there is a safety nutral switch where is it and what is it > called.