Help! My key no workie..

[bombsquad21]

Long story short, my wife drives the golf for the first time in 3mths. She calls me..The key no longer turns the engine over!!

For a very long time I have had to turn the key all the way right quite hard to get the engine to start. I remember seeing a DIY to fix this somewhere?

Car is a 1997 2.0, so it has the chip. I have tried both keys and still no luck. There is also a starter button mod available i think which i could also use i guess..

Thanks in advance, im sure someone will have the quick fix!

[peedman]

Ignition switch i presume. U can make a start button to bypass the switch but the better way is to just replace the switch and not mess with the wires.

[bombsquad21]

Ignition switch i presume. U can make a start button to bypass the switch but the better way is to just replace the switch and not mess with the wires.

So what your saying is shouldn't do what's listed below? Cause it's cheap, and ignition switches are expensive?



2.0 Push-Button Start howto: (might be same on vr6)
This worked on my 96 2.0, so now Ill tell everyone else how to do it properly after i made the mistakes
You still need a key to start the car. you put the key in the ignition, and turn it to the on position, then you can hit the start button.
1. Find yourself a hefty starter button (should have 2 electrical terminals and be able to handle a decent amount of power.) available at most speed shops.
2. get some 10 GA wire, cut 2 pieces off approximately the length of the distance from the ignition switch to where you want to mount the button.
3. Disconnect the negative battery terminal
4. Take the 2 screws out of the bottom of the plastic shroud around the steering column
5.Disconnect the connector on the passenger side of the steering column, it should have like 6 wires in it, 2 big red ones, a black, i think a brown.. you'll know which one it is, it plugs directly into the ignition switch.
6. Splice one of the 2 lengths of wire that you cut into the fat solid red wire. Solder them together to ensure a good connection. This will be your "hot" wire. Be sure not to cut this off the conector as it supplies the rest of the stuff on the switch with constant power.
7. Here's where you get to make a decision. There is a fat red wire with a black line on it. this is the wire that delivers electricity to your starter selenoid. You can either clip this off the connector, or you can splice into it. Chose whichever you are more comfortable with. (clipping the wire off the connector means that when you put the key in, and turn it all the way to the start position, nothing will happen.) If you clip it off the connector, splice into the side of the wire that goes into the cars wiring harness, not the connector. Solder this splice to ensure a good connection.
8. Use shrink-wrap or electrical tape to be sure the bare wire from the connections you just made wont touch anything on accident.
9. Connect each wire at the other end to one of the 2 terminals on the starter switch.
10. Mount your starter button wherever you decided.
11. you're done, this should have also over-ridden the clutch safety switch, so watch out.
I did this mod out of necessity, not for glory or fun. my ignition switch was going screwey and wouldnt allow my car to start very easily, so rather than pay $160 for a new assembly and dealership labor ( i guess they have to install it for some reason) I paid like less than $20 in parts and did it myself.

[Lorenz]

I had the same problem. It worked everyday fine until all of a sudden I went to start the car and it wouldnt start with the key. Pulled apart the steering wheel surround to find a push button start button coiled up inside already wired up ready to use. Have been using this ever since, but obviously still have to put the key in and turn it all the way to ignition for it to start up! Was a pain in the ass to start with, but now used to it and cant afford to replace the barrel with two new keys

[peedman]

What i meant was that for my mk3, i would prefer to just replace the faulty ignition switch so i wouldnt have to splice the wires. Just prefer the factory stuff. Btw a switch isnt expensive. I bought ray one from the US cost under $10USD!!

Edit: You dont need to replace the lock barrel, just the switch at the back.

[bombsquad21]

I had the same problem. It worked everyday fine until all of a sudden I went to start the car and it wouldnt start with the key. Pulled apart the steering wheel surround to find a push button start button coiled up inside already wired up ready to use. Have been using this ever since, but obviously still have to put the key in and turn it all the way to ignition for it to start up! Was a pain in the ass to start with, but now used to it and cant afford to replace the barrel with two new keys

Please explain! How much pulling apart was required to find the button? I will do this right now..!

Ready made button FTW!

EDIT cause i'm an idiot. Previous owner had a button installed right? Back to splicing!

[bombsquad21]

What i meant was that for my mk3, i would prefer to just replace the faulty ignition switch so i wouldnt have to splice the wires. Just prefer the factory stuff. Btw a switch isnt expensive. I bought ray one from the US cost under $10USD!!

Edit: You dont need to replace the lock barrel, just the switch at the back.

Awesome..thanks for the info..no splicing wires then. VWW FTW!

[Lorenz]

Please explain! How much pulling apart was required to find the button? I will do this right now..!

Ready made button FTW!

EDIT cause i'm an idiot. Previous owner had a button installed right? Back to splicing!

Yeah sorry mate, was there from the previous owner!

[rayray086]

Replacing ignition switch isn't too hard (if I can do it, 99% guaranteed you can too ).

1. Unhook battery negative terminal.
2. Make sure steering wheel is straight.
3. Take off the steering column shroud and plastic trim under the steering wheel.
4. Unplug all the looms connecting to the steering wheel.
5. Take off the steering column cover down at the footwell near the pedals. It'll reveal a U-joint. Use liquid paper or something visible to mark out where the shaft sits on the U-joint.
6. Remove the bolt and nut that holds the U-joint to the shaft (don't remember the size sorry). Don't lose the spring around the shaft.
7. You should be able to remove the whole steering column out. From behind you can remove the ignition switch. You need a really thin screw driver to pop it out though. Once that's done, put the new one in and do the reverse to fit it back on.

Remember to place the spring back into its original location. Getting the bolt back onto the U-joint is a **** of a job though. It's tricky getting it into the right position because of the notch but isn't too bad if you have a helper.

Edit: If you have a Bentley, don't follow their method unless you have a puller. Also, I reckon it's easier doing this method anyway as the Bentley way requires you to remove the airbag and all. It's a bit of a bitch!

[bombsquad21]

Thanks Ray!

I'm gonna try and source a switch tomorrow. I found similar instructions on the vortex (yours are better). I might even take my drivers seat out cause i'm kinda too big to be messing around down there with limited space. I'll let ya'll know how i get on.

[bombsquad21]

Replacement ignition switch

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]

cont...

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!?