Autostick clutch not disengaging only on startup

[MrKawfey]

I have a very strange problem that I can't figure out with my autostick.

(I am aware of vwar.com, if I can't get an answer here, I'll jump over there)

When I first start the car, if I try to shift into any gear, it grinds as if the clutch is not disengaged. This isn't the weird part. If I open the lid and disconnect the solenoid and then reconnect it, everything works as it should until the next time I shut the car off.

So for troubleshooting:

The shifter and clearance to the contacts is adjusted properly.
There is continuity through the brown wire all the way back to the neutral switch and then from the neutral switch to the solenoid.
The solenoid gets 12v when the car is running
The neutral switch works properly (the brown wire is grounded when in neutral and not grounded when in gear)
The solenoid clicks and activates properly.

Here is a more detailed account of the behavior

When I first start the car it behaves as if the clutch is disengaged (although I haven't truely verified this)
If I try to shift, the gears will grind and there is no sound indicating that anything changes as I grab the shifter.
If I disconnect the wire in the interior that goes to the shifter and try to touch it to a ground, there is no spark, indicating that it is already grounded at the neutral switch as it should be.
If I open the lid and go to the solenoid and disconnect one of the wires, there is a spark (indicating that it has 12V on one side and grounded on the other) and the solenoid clicks and, importantly, the engine runs slightly different as if the clutch is now engaged.
When I immediately reconnect the wire, the solenoid clicks, the engine changes tone again as if the clutch is now disengaged.
Now I can hop in and drive like normal. The car shifts smooth and runs great.

Additionally, I have the right carb and the vacuum line is plugged into the right port. The car just developed this problem and didn't have it before.

Any ideas?
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1971 Ghia Convertible Auto-stick

[Redlabel6]

Strange... the wiring circuit is pretty simple.
Power from the fuse to one side of the Control Vale, check that first.
Then it goes to the neutral switch, but that is just used as a junction. No switching occurs there I don't believe.
Then to the shifter switch.

I'd check for pinched and shorted wires. It sounds like the wire to the neutral switch/shifter is grounded somewhere.

I also wonder if you have a sticking control valve, The solenoid should not be energized on startup, only when you move the shifter. That leads me to look for a short.
d
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1957 Oval Window Beetle
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=666792&highlight=73+coupe

[MrKawfey]

As you said, it's a very simple circuit which is why it's so baffling.

I believe the solenoid is supposed to be energized on startup. The neutral switch does 2 things.

1 - it connects the starter wires together when in neutral to prevent starting in gear
2 - it connects the solenoid wire to ground when in neutral so that the clutch is disengaged in neutral.

This would imply that the solenoid is energized at startup and I have confirmed that it is working this way. As I said, I am only assuming the clutch is also disengaged because the engine changes tempo when I unplug the wire and then changes back when I replug the wire. Obviously the clutch isn't disengaged or the gears wouldn't grind. Maybe the engine tempo thing is due to the vacuum change from the solenoid, not the clutch driving the torque converter.

But the very strange part is that once i cycle it ONE time, everything works fine. I can drive the car until it's fully warm, shut it off, and immediately turn it on again and the problem will be there. One cycle of the valve (de-energize it, re-energize it) and it will work fine.
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1971 Ghia Convertible Auto-stick

[wagen19]

[MrKawfey]

I hate to sound like I'm being difficult, but all of the above has been checked and verified.
Not just continuity, but low resistance through all the wires and contacts throughout the circuit. Solenoid operates fine with in-car wiring or jumper wire.
I am pretty sure I have ruled out any electrical problems as I have checked and verified everything in the circuit for function, resistance, continuity, voltage, etc.

As I mentioned, once I cycle the solenoid once, everything works fine. What I didn't mention is that I need to cycle it with the engine running. If I cycle it with the car "on" but the engine off, it doesn't fix the problem.

I should also mention that the vacuum canister seems to hold vacuum fine. I can shut the car off, leave it overnight and when I turn it on (not start it) next morning and grab the shift lever, I can hear the cannister move in addition to the solenoid click. This is before starting it so no vacuum being supplied by the engine.
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1971 Ghia Convertible Auto-stick

[wagen19]

[MrKawfey]

I suppose either of those is possible. But I'm not sure it explains the fact that when it gets cycled once, everything works perfect until the car is shut off and restarted.

My gut tells me that the only solution is going to be to start throwing parts at it, but I was hoping to not have to do that.
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1971 Ghia Convertible Auto-stick

[wagen19]