Help! My key no workie..

[bombsquad21]

Well after some help from all the friendly folk in the MK3 area of VWW I set about replacing my ignition switch. Best thing is, the switch cost $15 new from imparts at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

But first I had to remove the old switch..


The car in question..



Disconnected the battery..



Removed the drivers seat. (note the ghetto Vr6 bolster repair, ignore the E30)

[bombsquad21]

removed the clamshell and associated trim pieces..



Six week old Francesca was supposed to be helping out from the back seat..but she kept getting flathead and phillips head mixed up, when I told her off she cried.



wires unplugged



Infamous U joint!

[bombsquad21]

Disconnected the unijoint, easy. The gold bolt which holds the column to the dash frame had already been removed previously it seemed. And was easy to unscrew. With a swift tug out comes the steering wheel.





Unscrewed the old switch..new one is on the right.



Reattaching the uni joint was a pain in the a$$, especially as I was operating solo. But i eventually got it to co-operate.




After that it was just a matter of connecting everything back up. But get the this!!

The car now starts, but it still requires too much of a twist of the key for my liking. Can anyone hazzard a guess as to why it's not as it should be. Could the imobilizer ring thingy be to blame?

[rayray086]

Let's hope Golf Loon chimes in!

Congrats on the daughter by the way!

[KI11Z]

wow, thats a wicked ass write up man! thumbs up!

should this be stickied somewhere!?

[Golf Loon]

Man up mate and twist the thing.

Maybe put some wd40 into the barrell assy to loosten it up for your new switch.

I see heaps of cars with a push button starter, its an aussie thing I think.
Good work in keeping it original, the switches are not exxy.

Cute Baby shot by the way, she`ll be ready for spanners soon

[MattyT]

Nice write-up!

I think the start button was more thanks to the ricer crowd and the Honda S2000 which really started the trend.

Now all the euro supercars have em so of course we want our own 'supercars' to have a starter button!!

Been thinking about it for myself for ages, but of course I want a green one. Providing harder to find then first thought!

[bombsquad21]

I think I've sussed out what the issue is. My actual ignition barrel is worn, so it doesn't engage the switch fully when I turn the key. Do you wanna know why it's worn? Cause my keys are too heavy!

1 Lexus key and remote
1 Garage Remote
1 Mk3 golf key
2 house keys
2 Steel VW symbol key rings

Believe it or not they are necessities, so i'm now pretty much resigned to the fact that I have to install a starter button.