A website dedicated to the building of a VW based dune buggy and some other random stuff too.

Crazy Cam's Technical Bits... Ignition Lock

How to remove an ignition lock, and what to do if you don't have the keys.

The Beetle I bought for £1 has got no keys. I do not care about the door locks - because the Death Wagon will not have any doors, but for the ignition switch this does matter.

There are several solutions, but first I had a look at what I had already.

How to get the barrel out Remove the Steering wheel - this was easy for me since there wasn't one fitted ! Remove the indicator switch - this was held on by 4 machine screw Carefully pull out the ignition lock assembly. Replace the indicator switch and screws before you lose them.
	How to get the switch out Undo grub screw A. Pull out switch. Replace grub screw A before you lose it.
How to get the barrel out Press a screwdriver or punch or whatever you have that will fit into hole B into hole B. Pull out the lock barrel. There is nothing to replace since it is held in by a spring !

What to do next

Take the barrel to a main dealer and get them to cut a key to match the serial number on the barrel.

Simple ?

No - Vindis (the VW main dealer) told me that the blank key required was obsolete !

Options at this point are :-

1. Get a key cut to fit from the serial number
   • Simple, accurate, and cheap
   • Difficult to obtain blanks
   • Best option so far ( only option so far ... )
2. Buy a secondhand lock barrel
   • Simple, quick, easy
   • Expensive - £10.00
   • 2nd place.
3. Buy a new lock barrel
   • Simple, quick, easy
   • Very expensive - £20.00
   • 4th place
4. Buy an aftermarket ignition switch and mount it in the dashboard
   • Not so simple but still quick and easy
   • Expensive - £10.00
   • Equal 3rd place
5. Buy a simple key switch and a start button and mount it in the dashboard
   • Not so simple but still quick and easy. Cool to have a start button
   • I will have to think more about the wiring loom, and find a suitable key switch - more work
   • Equal 3rd place
6. Don't bother with the ignition key and use an ignition switch and a start button
   • Not so simple but still quick and easy. Cool to have a start button
   • No security
   • Last place. Bad idea

Clive pointed out that if I went to a show and tried everyone's keys in my lock I will probably get a match and then can copy it from there.

More to follow when It happens.

Update ...

Well more has happened now- after souring the pages of VolksWorld I found an ad for Custom & Commercial who claimed to be able to cut a key from a code. So I have sent off my check for £9.00, and an S.A.E., and await a key to fit my ignition !

It turned up a few days later and fits beautifully.