Ignition sticks - 2012 sportwagon

[34Shoes]

Wife's car - 2012 TDI Sportwagon

1st, she started having a problem turning the key to shut off the engine. she would be able to wiggle it until it would turn off. Eventually that no longer worked and my wife was unable to turn off the car.

I found a suggestion on the forum to tap the end of the key with a block of wood as it is turned off. That has worked for a couple months. Now we have to tap the key multiple times to kind of break it loose to turn to start the car and again while trying to turn it off.

My wife is being very patient, but I drove the car and it keeps getting worse and I don't want her stuck somewhere. It's time to have a real fix to the problem.

VW dealer says they can fix for $650.

Has anyone had this problem and solved it?

 

[oilhammer]

Are you kidding? I do one of those a month. You need a new housing. Sometimes I have to order a new cylinder.

 

[34Shoes]

Is there a do it yourself thread?

Thanks. I've changed a simple ignition switch on an old A3, but don't know what I'm getting into with this one.

Is there a instruction thread that will apply to our 2012 sportwagon problem?

 

[oilhammer]

As you can see, I do a lot of these:



It is only hard if the key is STUCK in them. If you can still get your key in and out, that makes it much easier, faster, and less expensive. Because you *should* be able to swap the cylinder over to the new housing.

If you cannot get the key/cylinder out, then that gets ordered VIN specific and it takes a week or so to get.

I do so many, I went to Fastenal and bought a giant bag of M8 Allen head screws to replace the ignorant breakaway bolts that hold the housing to the steering column. That is the worst part. Those need to be chiseled loose. The NCS cars are easier, since they are so much simpler, there is no Steering Column module. But on the A5s, you have to content with removing that too, which can be tricky because the one tab is a bit goofy to get at.

I do not have any pics, sorry. I am sure an appropriate shop manual will have all of this information, but basically:

Remove airbag

Remove steering wheel (if the car has any buttons on the wheel, there will be a harness that along with the airbag will have to be unplugged...some buttons are on the bag itself, some are on the wheel)

Note that the wheels need to be faced straight ahead when the wheel comes off, AND the steering angle sensor must stay oriented straight up while doing this job!

Remove the upper column cover

Remove the lower column cover

Then, depending on model, remove the steering angle sensor, steering module, stalk switches, and the electrical connector to the transponder ring, etc.

Chisel the breakaway bolts loose, once they start to move they will unscrew easily. This can be difficult to do, and I have had some that were SO STUBBORN that I had to take the whole column out and put it on the bench. Also have to take care not to break the windshield swinging the hammer!

Once the bolts are out, the whole housing just slides up and off. If it is stuck in a way that the key cannot be turned at all, and the steering lock pawl is engage, you have to cut more stuff, but usually I can weasel them out.

Then you use a little rod to disengage the cylinder's lock tab inside and slide it out of the housing.

Then you slide it into the new housing, but it has to be done a very specific way or the new housing will lock up and you will ruin it. They come in the "ON" position, so you have to orient the key cylinder to that before sliding it in.

Then put it all back together.

FWIW, the last one I did (I just looked it up) was $521 out the door WITH a new cylinder, but withOUT any new keys. So a dealer charging $650 is probably about right. It is about a 50/50 split P/L.

 

[dmp]

If you can't get the cylinder out you can always cut the housing and gut it (once removed) and then you will be able to turn the cylinder and remove it for reuse.



A die grinder and 5 mins of patience (max) makes quick work of these if you can get it in a vise.



Note: make sure you know how long the cylinder is and cut behind it!

 

[Mongler98]

vw at its finest.
ignitions switches seem to be a week spot on most vw. the euro Van my boss has is a total PITA, he broke the clock spring, dam thing is $350 just for it. rookie mistake on his part. his fix was well over $1,000 to me, i had to go get him 1.5 hours away and hot wire the van for him. THEN do the work, then do it again because the clock spring broke from him messing with it.