Is the ignition switch wearing out

[Gavin]

What do you think the diagnosis is....

Lately, sometimes when I go to start the car (turn key in ignition) nothing happens. After I repeat this a couple of times things work and the engine fires.

THen when I go to shut off the engine (turn key) the engine doesn't shut off. Sometimes it does AFTER I pull the key out from the ignition (after I have turned it to the off position) and sometimes it doesn't and just keeps firing.

Does this suggest a wearing ignition barrel?

What would be a good solution?

thanks

[Marc]

...What would be a good solution?..

ummmm....fix yer damn car before you're stranded somewhere?

Seriously, the symptoms you've described are most likely caused be the electrical portion of the ignition switch not being held securely in the lock housing. That's rare, but if the last person to work on it left the setscrew loose it may have backed out, or the plastic "ear" on the switch could be broken.
More commonly, the plastic substrate of the switch either cracks or melts so that the "crank" (Term 50) contact isn't where it belongs, making for a hit-or-miss situation when you attempt to crank the engine...or the ignition (Term 15) contact doesn't function when in the crank position so the engine won't start until the key is released after cranking. I've never seen either of those common scenarios degrade to the point where the engine won't shut off properly (although I suppose it's possible, I've never waited that long) which is why I speculate that the setscrew may be loose. If that's all it is, it'll be easier to fix than replacing the switch but you've still got to pull the wheel and get under the t'signal switch.
`71 is the first year of the "X" terminal (an auxiliary current path for power to the headlamps and certain ignition-switched accessories) and the last year before the "modular" ignition switch was introduced. This makes it a "one-year-only" part, the similar `68-`70 311 905 865A switches won't do. It's also the most difficult to replace, at least of the Type I and III. If you have the orange Bentley manual you should be fine.
You must use 111 905 865F:

IIRC the replacement part's wires are finished at the appropriate length for a Beetle and may require slight alteration for a `Ghia.