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Car Forum / Volkswagen / Water Cooled Volkswagen Cars / January 2007

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ignition switch

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helomech - 27 Dec 2006 02:04 GMT
Trying to remove ignition switch from column. Lost though, any ideas? 1996
VW Jetta
dave AKA vwdoc1 - 27 Dec 2006 03:58 GMT
Bentley is the best source.

Briefly/basically you.................
Probably disconnect battery
remove air bag
remove steering wheel (mark position with steering shaft for correct
alignment)
remove both upper and lower shield pieces covering the turn signal switch
remove switches
remove steering wheel collar with puller
remove entire ign switch assembly (might need key turned to unlock position)
remove tiny screw to remove ign switch
Reverse above procedure to reassemble.

good luck!
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)
http://vwdoc1.tripod.com/

> Trying to remove ignition switch from column. Lost though, any ideas? 1996
> VW Jetta
helomech - 28 Dec 2006 03:24 GMT
Ok, so i got the part where i need a puller to remove the column. Here's my
problem, the reason why i am removing my ignition switch is because i
rewired another switch that i installed in the dash, but i cant unlock my
steering column. So using the puller is very difficult. Any idea's on how
to unlock my steering column. That's all i need is to unlock the steering
column.
dave AKA vwdoc1 - 29 Dec 2006 05:01 GMT
So you don't have the key?
You  might need a repair manual, Bentley, that might show you how to remove
the ign switch tumbler/lock.
BTW You should not need the key to remove the steering wheel collar, just
remove the switches to have access to the ign switch/lock assembly.

> Ok, so i got the part where i need a puller to remove the column. Here's
> my
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> to unlock my steering column. That's all i need is to unlock the steering
> column.
Bill Kearney - 07 Jan 2007 21:43 GMT
> Ok, so i got the part where i need a puller to remove the column. Here's my
> problem, the reason why i am removing my ignition switch is because i
> rewired another switch that i installed in the dash, but i cant unlock my
> steering column. So using the puller is very difficult. Any idea's on how
> to unlock my steering column. That's all i need is to unlock the steering
> column.

Ah, you're not removing the switch, you want to remove the actual lock
cylinder.  You'll have to drill it out.  The Bentley series service manual
discusses how to do this.  The manual is VERY useful, a must have for anyone
working on their VW.
Bill Kearney - 07 Jan 2007 21:44 GMT
There's a MUCH easier way.

Center the wheel
Pull the fascia panels (top/bottom of column and lower panel).
Pull the wiring to everything on the column.  It's about 8 connectors.
Center the wheel  (you don't want to be realigning this repeatedly, do you?)
Remove the screw holding the lock cylinder.  It's a secure screw, the head
will have sheared off.  You'll want to get another one from the dealer, or
use another regular screw of the same size.  To properly remove this screw
you drill it out.  Mine was lucky enough to be loose enough to get a
visegrip on it.
Loosen and remove the bolt on the bottom of the steering column.  It's the
one that clamps the steering column shaft into the universal joint.  It's a
13mm bolt and nut.  Mark the position on the shaft if you can, it'll ease
alignment when reassembling.

Now pull the ENTIRE assembly right out.

You'll see that little philips head screw on the back of the lock cylinder.
It's a TIGHT fit but you can get to it without removing the whole lock
assembly.  Use a very narrow shaft screwdriver.

I know, I did it this way just yesterday afternoon.  Took about 2 hours
(including interruptions)

Yes, you want to be VERY careful about the airbag.  If that sucker goes off
while you've got the column removed like this it could be VERY bad.  The
explosive force of the bag would propel that sucker like a javelin.  This is
why they say to set the bag down FACE UP (sorta like a claymore).  The bag
itself could cause some injury, but the metal on the back of it (or the
column) could end up causing a fatality.  So don't screw around with it more
than necessary.  I propped mine up such that the bag was facing away from me
and the bottom of the column was wedged tightly against something.  I just
turned the column until I could see the screw, removed it, pulled the switch
and replaced it.

When you reassemble it connect the single wire to the airbag LAST and do NOT
be anywhere in front of it.

-Bill Kearney

> Bentley is the best source.
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> remove tiny screw to remove ign switch
> Reverse above procedure to reassemble.
dave AKA vwdoc1 - 07 Jan 2007 23:32 GMT
Geez and I though being able to do it all in less than 1 hour was easy.  ;-)
How long does it take your way drilling out the secure screw and all?

thanks
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

> There's a MUCH easier way.
>
[quoted text clipped - 60 lines]
>> remove tiny screw to remove ign switch
>> Reverse above procedure to reassemble.
Bill Kearney - 08 Jan 2007 14:21 GMT
> Geez and I though being able to do it all in less than 1 hour was easy.  ;-)
> How long does it take your way drilling out the secure screw and all?

I didn't take out the lock CYLINDER.  I took out and replaced the lock
SWITCH.  The cylinder is the thing that controls the peg that locks the
steering column.  That cylinder also has a tab on the back of it that fits
into the ignition electrical switch.  Your first post didn't discuss that
you've replaced the SWITCH with something else (although why is an
interesting question).

I've no idea how long it takes to extract the cylinder and the column lock
peg.  That and the manual does not specifically mention handling the locking
peg.  From the looks of things you'd still have to pull the steering wheel
in order to get at the drilling location.  I'm assuming that the removal of
the cylinder, combined with the extraction of the steering column would give
enough access to allow removal of the locking peg.

So in your particular case it seems you will still have to deal with
removing the wheel.  There's a collar that can be had to get a grip into the
space for pulling the lock bracket.  Or apparently the collar is cheap
enough that it's easier/faster to simply cut the collar and replace it
instead.

All this for a changed switch location?  Why?

-Bill Kearney
dave AKA vwdoc1 - 09 Jan 2007 04:21 GMT
Yeah I did not fully understand WHY and/or WHAT was actually needed.
I ASSuMEd that the OP could not unlock the steering wheel like the ign lock
tumbler was damaged.
Maybe a damaged ign lock assembly due to theft.  :-\

Kinda would like the FULL story of this ignition switch '96 Jetta!!  ;-)

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

>> Geez and I though being able to do it all in less than 1 hour was easy.
> ;-)
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> -Bill Kearney
eastwardbound2003@yahoo.com - 27 Dec 2006 06:20 GMT
> Trying to remove ignition switch from column. Lost though, any ideas? 1996
> VW Jetta

BE CAREFULL!  If your car is equipped with an airbag it might explode
in your face when you are working on the steering column and fracture
your neck in several places creating cardiac arrest on the spot once
all your nerve endings are severed.  i.e. no more connection from your
brain to your heart and lungs.

HTH
East-
Lost In Space/Woodchuck - 27 Dec 2006 13:23 GMT
did that happen to you?

>> Trying to remove ignition switch from column. Lost though, any ideas?
>> 1996
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> HTH
> East-
dave AKA vwdoc1 - 27 Dec 2006 13:47 GMT
Geez you're no fun!!!  lol
But yes be very careful working with explosives and remember that your car
is potentionally a bomb!  8^o
And there was this Jag tech. trying to change the clutch in a Porsche 911
that lost some fingers.
Watch any neckties or loose clothing near rotating fanbelts too.

Bottom line is please be careful using common sense and safety measures!!!

>>> Trying to remove ignition switch from column. Lost though, any ideas?
>>> 1996
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>> HTH
>> East-
 
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