Need to ask some questions...

[melissa]

I sold the Mk1 a few months back as my daughter would not drive it. I am getting sick of driving her around and picking her up late at night, she still has not got her licence, and as it was her 20th birthday on Monday, I bought her a Mk3. It was a bit rough and pretty cheap. Its a 3 door auto 12/95. Now for some questions...

• It only has one key and it has a push button that doesn't seem to do anything. When you turn the key in the drivers door, it unlocks both doors and rear hatch. Would this key have a chip? Oh and I just found out that if you put the key in the passengers side door, it just spins and you can pull the whol barrell out! oops.
• The spare is one of those skinny ones and it's shredded - Can you put a regular size rim and tyre in there or don't they fit?

• I need a rear wiper arm, a front parker light lense, a drivers seat and the auto selector strip has the "D" picked off - is Golf Loon my best bet for these?
• What is this thing on the dash? Was it supposed to be a speaker?

[The_Hawk]

It only has one key and it has a push button that doesn't seem to do anything. When you turn the key in the drivers door, it unlocks both doors and rear hatch. Would this key have a chip? Oh and I just found out that if you put the key in the passengers side door, it just spins and you can pull the whole barrel out! oops.

There is a little clip that sits in behind the mechanism, it's a common fault. The SEAT replacement is bigger and meatier than the VW one and will likely never break again (you can see it in this picture it's called the "eccentric" and it's the hook connecting this to the barrel that breaks):

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u163/myvr6/P1030013.jpg

I believe that a 12/95 will likely have a chip but your local key place should be able to clone it onto a new key.
The button turns on a little lights that is built into the key, nothing else.

You can see what it looks like on the inside in my old post here:

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f47/mk3-switchblade-18364.html

In face if you can source (or butcher up your own) an AH key blank I'm happy to give you the MK4 blank that I was using in that thread. The buttons might be useless but the switchblade is much cooler than the stock one. (You still need a second chip coded to use if you need one).

Better yet, if the stock central locking system is working one of these (again from that thread) is very easy to install and gives full remote central locking

Rightclick


The spare is one of those skinny ones and it's shredded - Can you put a regular size rim and tyre in there or don't they fit?
No you need a bigger rim. Steel rims are cheap.

I need a rear wiper arm, a front parker light lens, a drivers seat and the auto selector strip has the "D" picked off - is Golf Loon my best bet for these?
The only issue with the seats is you need the two door varieties so they flip forward to access the back, otherwise it's a matter of hunting up the parts. Loon would be a good place to start although it's also worth checking out the local wreckers since most of these parts just pop on and off easily.

The fogs lights cover/blank plate can be replaced with one of the many options on ebay if you would prefer a different look... in fact there are about a bazillion dress up options for the Mk3 available direct from China



What is this thing on the dash? Was it supposed to be a speaker?
It's the cover that sits over the speaker, grab a spare if you can find one.

[melissa]

Thanks Aaron, thats a big help.

[Water Boy]

Tell her its time to learn to drive.

[melissa]

Don't worry - I do all the time. She can drive, just too lazy to go for her test.

[camhaz]

I have a pair of Mk3 3-doors with similar build dates and one the same colour as yours. Good choice!

One has only one key and is driven by #1 son, also a 20 year old. Scared that I was going to lose the only key, I took the chip out of the key (you can split it in half with a strong fingernail or small screwdriver) and removing the steering column surround, taped it to the ring around the ignition switch. Whilst I admit this is not the most secure thing to do, at least now he just carries a thin metal key which is easy to copy if lost.

Just a thought, not everyone will agree no doubt.

Rob.

[brad]

The missing D on the prindle - just use letraset or a steady hand with a paint pen (make a template)

[The_Hawk]

I took the chip out of the key (you can split it in half with a strong fingernail or small screwdriver) and removing the steering column surround, taped it to the ring around the ignition switch.

That was one of the suggestions I was given when I was in that same situation with my MK3. Perfectly valid... just don't ever tell your insurer