ignition switch
 

Trying to remove ignition switch from column. Lost though, any ideas? 1996
VW Jetta

ignition switch '96 Jetta
 

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/


"helomech" > wrote in message
lkaboutautos.com...
> Trying to remove ignition switch from column. Lost though, any ideas? 1996
> VW Jetta
>

ignition switch
 

helomech wrote:
> 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-

ignition switch
 

did that happen to you?


> wrote in message
ups.com...
>
> helomech wrote:
>> 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-
>

ignition switch '96 Jetta
 

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!!!

>
> > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>>
>> helomech wrote:
>>> 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-
>>
>
>

ignition switch '96 Jetta
 

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.

ignition switch '96 Jetta
 

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.


"helomech" > wrote in message
lkaboutautos.com...
> 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.
>

ignition switch '96 Jetta
 

> 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.

ignition switch '96 Jetta
 

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


"dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
. net...
> 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.

ignition switch '96 Jetta
 

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)

"Bill Kearney" <wkearney-99@hot-mail-com> wrote in message
t...
> 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
>
>
> "dave AKA vwdoc1" > wrote in message
> . net...
>> 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.
>