MK3 Golf || PMK's Ignition Switch DIY
Hey guys so i just thought i'd share my version of the DIY of the ignition switch.
Alot of common problems with the mark 3 golf is that the ignition switch dies meaning that there is a failure to start the ignition of the car not making it start nor go. I had this problem for two weeks and i fixed it with an instance with another DIY that helped me out almost all of the way. Now here is mine and some tips i got through with it.
So first things first. You need the essential tools. There isn't anything crazy you need and it should be in your handyman toolset. If it's not.. You've got a problem.. 
.
So you'll need ;
1 x Phillip heads screw Driveer
1 x Rubber Mallet
1 x Sharpie/equivalant marker
1 x Vice Grips
1 x Eyeglass/Tiny phillip/flathead set.
2 x 13mm wrenches( 1 x offset 1 x deep offset worked well. Other options may be easier)
1 x WD40 or Equiv.
That's all i needed to help with this and it worked throughout the way.
So first things first : Removing the Negative Terminal from the Battery source. [This will allow you to remove any electrics and not to short circuit any part of your car ! ]
So next thing is removing all the trimming on your cars driver side lower dash.
Removing ;
- The Steering column ( 2 x screws keeping them together )
- The Under dash ( 5 x Phillip head Screws)
- removing the middle garnish [inbetween the underdash and the steering column] (simply Yank it out ! )
After doing so, you'd have to remove a series of wires that are connected to the steering wheel of the mark 3.
There are SEVEN(7) wires that will be needed to be removed. I'm not sure about the wires but they are pretty basic when it comes to removing just plug and pull/play.
There is only one wire that isn't plug and play which is the one that is connected to the Ignition cylinder. (The one black wire that is attached to the ignition key barrel. The O shaped one around the key slot)
The Next step is ( you can choose to do either it's up to you) - Removing the Gold screw.
You can't really miss it there is only one located on the steering rack. The only problem with this one is that there is nothing to use to remove the screw so what everyone does is use the Vicegrips. You guess it !
I find that i had a major problem with this because 1. I used a set of old vicegrips aka not having great grip and also losing it's thread on the end. So make sure you have a good set which can hold it well. 2. Fustration. It gets to you. 
What i found easiest to get it out was using the WD40 or Equiv to remove it. And don't be angry to much though it may take you a few times. (trust me i had my fair share ! and i also chomped some of the screw itself). This screw will allow you to remove the steering rack from the car to start with the removal of the ignition switch.
This is why i said to either start with this or the U joint because either way, you'll need to remove both to get to fixing !
Okay now that's out of the way you have the U JOINT ! Which is the most fun part about this whole process. AM I RIGHT? 
Now looking underneath your dash you'll notice the Ujoing which is made up of two (U) shaped joints connected which actually helps you steer your car left to right !
What you should do is using the marker, mark down the units so that when REINSTALLING it, you'll reinstall it to the right position. With this, i found that the threads are important. I'll get to that later.
Now with removing the Ujoint to gain full access to the steering rack you have to remove a 13mm bolt attached to one side. On this it's 2 sided 13mm bolts. Easily done, Using 13mm offset wrenches on both sides to remove it.
With this amazing posture that you will achieve in doing so, you will remove that 13mm bolt ! 
Now that you have removed the vice gripped bolt and the 13mm bolt all you have to do is remove the steering wheel.
To do this, hold the steering wheel like your about to drive it and RIPP IT OUT ! Just kidding. Just give it a full nudges and pull it out slowly and the steering wheel should just come complete out ! If you do it slow... this way you'll know if you have cables or wires still attached. woo hoo !
Okay, now that you have removed it, laying flat with the steering wheel facing the ground, next to the steering rack of the steering wheel you'll see a very tiny phillip head screw in the middle. And guess what ? That eye glass screwdriver kit will come in handy !
Using the phillip head of the eye glass kit you will remove it. May take some time as it's a tough spot to fit it into.
After doing ALLLLLLLLLLLL of this, it's pretty easy the next step. RE IN STALL the same way you took it out. Easy ? Cool.
The only problem i really had with the reinstall was aligning the Ujoint into the steering racks thread. With this it'd be nice if you had an extra person if not you improvise like i did. 
What i did was with the thread make sure you HAD marked it where it needed to be aligned to make sure that when you put it back together your steering wheel and yoru steering is spot on where it was or else you'll be driving upside down with the steering. We wouldn't want that. now would we? 
What i did with doing so myself, the rubber mallet and a LOOONGG Flat/phills head screwdriver to help me realign and forcefully put the thread of the steering rack into the Ujoint. After along while. She was done and starting again and then you can get onto doing your grocery shopping !
I hope this helps someone one day that it has with what i have learnt. Also If there is any other advice or any other tips for fellow members, please share ! Enjoy !
Build and learn, not buy and earn.
Reply With QuoteOrdered one from GAP but then decided I needed one pretty urgently so got one from the dealer and put that in, a week or two later the one from GAP arrived and has just been sitting around since so I'm happy to sell it for what I paid for it, which is much less than the local dealers want for them
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