Mk5 Golf Ignition Barrel Removal - Steering Lock ON

[benuk78]

Hi. Hopefully, someone can help me.

The key stopped working in my 2008 MK5 Golf. Stuck in the drive position and I couldn't turn the engine off.

I tried spraying lubricant in and air and it worked for a day or two, then wouldn't turn at all (to the point of snapping a key trying).

I managed to turn it enough to remove the lock/key cylinder (using a paper clip through the hole etc). Inside the lock (stripping it down a little) there were some metal pieces from around the steering lock section (deep down in the locks body).

I decided to remove the entire ignition barrel. I've stripped it all down to the point of undoing the sheer bolts, which are now undone, but the ignition barrel doesn't seem to want to just slide out. I've been unable to find any youtube vids or posts on this bit.

What do I need to do when the steering lock is active and I've stripped it down to the point of removing the sheer bolts? Does it still just come off from this point (does the steering lock somehow lock it to the column so it cannot be removed even once the sheer bolts are undone?) or do I need to drill the ignition barrel and somehow release the steering lock before I can remove the ignition barrel from the car?

I've likely done abit of this myself as I've activated the steering lock with the key/lock cylinder out of the barrel - with the internal gubbings of the lock taken out (argh). Is there a way to put the lock back together so I can just undo the steering lock from within the lock mechanism itself? (as its all open and accessible).

Thanks very much for any help... Otherwise I'm going to have to try just, well, everything I can think off tomorrow with it, from proding it, poking it, drilling it, brute forcing it..?? I don't know. I'm a bit stuck at this point.

[pudding]

There is loads of info online about it.   Google search "mk5 golf gti ignition barrel removal".   Any of the replacement videos should show you the removal process.

There usually is a technique involved but I'd be surprised if drilling is still required these days.   I had to do that on my old Corrado to expose a hidden detent/spring, but I can't see MK4 and newer Golfs needing such crap because once drilled, the hole is there forever more, just waiting for a thief to poke a screwdriver into it and pull out the barrel 

[benuk78]

There is loads of info online about it.   Google search "mk5 golf gti ignition barrel removal".   Any of the replacement videos should show you the removal process.

There usually is a technique involved but I'd be surprised if drilling is still required these days.   I had to do that on my old Corrado to expose a hidden detent/spring, but I can't see MK4 and newer Golfs needing such crap because once drilled, the hole is there forever more, just waiting for a thief to poke a screwdriver into it and pull out the barrel 

Thanks for the reply Pudding. I think I watched and read everything I could find. All the youtube vids and the top 20 pages on Google. Plenty of information that got me through the job. Its all fixed now. I'm going to write a post detailing it below for anyone that finds this in the future and hits the same issues I did. I'm no expert so hopefully it will help someone.

[benuk78]

Right. I got this fixed in the end so I'm going to write it down now while its fresh in my memory.

I had to change out the entire ignition housing. I'm in the UK and got this from https://www.stevensvwspares.com/
(I checked with the part number when I ordered).

Remove the steering wheel using:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Volkswagen_Golf_GTI_Mk_V/87-SUSPEN-Removing_Your_Steering_Wheel_and_Airbag/87-SUSPEN-Removing_Your_Steering_Wheel_and_Airbag.htm

then use:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Volkswagen_Golf_GTI_Mk_V/90-ELEC-Steering_Column_Stalks_Replacement/90-ELEC-Steering_Column_Stalks_Replacement.htm

This gets you down to the key cylinder. Note that its alot easier if you pull the steering column down and towards you as far as it will go. The upper part of the plastic cover behind the steering wheel sort of pulls up and towards you. I started trying to pry the cover from its rear, then when it was off could see that its best to do it from the front.

After this I removed the key cylinder using:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Volkswagen_Golf_GTI_Mk_V/91-BODY-Replacing_Your_Ignition_Switch_and_Lock_Cylinder/91-BODY-Replacing_Your_Ignition_Switch_and_Lock_Cylinder.htm

I did this to inspect the inside of the lock mechanism without removing the entire thing, but in the end no amount of cleaning it out would stop it sticking/jamming so I opted to remove and replace the entire thing.

At this point its pretty much stripped down, i.e. the control unit is off, slip ring, stalks etc. You're right down to the ignition housing and its just a case of getting the thing off.

Figure 10 of the 'Replacing_Your_Ignition_Switch_and_Lock_Cylinder' page states that 'If you are replacing the whole assembly, you will need to drill out the two shear bolts that hold the assembly in place.'

This is the killer. Numerous comments on webpages describe how you don't need to drill these out - and I didn't either. With the stalks removed you need to remove just enough plastic from the 'frame' behind where the stalks clip on/attach so you can get a chisel onto the sheer bolts and turn them.

This was the best image / guide I could find and got me through it (probably took an hour - being very careful). Scroll down towards the bottom and you'll find a nice person thats put in the photos of the plastic they removed. I just copied this - taking time to understand why they'd done it.

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=181315

The sheer bolts come undone pretty easily; especially once you've got them turning just slightly. I think I sort of got the chisel on them and they took maybe 20 good hits to get them turning, so its not too hard once you've got through the plastic in the right places.

Next I got worried as the steering lock had come on and I worried that this might 'lock' the ignition housing in place (hence my original comment here). But once you've gotten this far the steering lock does nothing to hinder you. There are two plastic tabs holding the ignition housing in place - to the left and right ends of it; behind the plastic you've removed / behind where the stalks clip on. These push back easily and the ignition housing just drops down and out.

Putting it back together with a new unit is just a case of reversing all this. With the sheer bolts just use a hack saw to cut grooves in the top and screw them back in with a flat head screwdriver.

Thanks all.