Key Stuck! Ignition Switch Replacement VW Jetta 

I just want to say , I am 30 year female , who is NOT in any way a mechanic and I studied this video for two days and successfully replaced my cylinder and attached the old key lock switch and the back sensor….I’ve been doing the George Jefferson all day! I never comment on videos even if I am successful but I felt so compelled to leave this much worthy praise ! Thank you so much ! This saved me 1200 dollars !

Thank you so much. The mechanic quoted me $1,000 for this. I did it for $50.

Hey ! First of all I want to thank you for both your videos about this issue. I just fixed my car 5 minutes ago, it’s finally run!!! Spent around 4 hours yesterday to take apart everything inluding steering wheel and lock, if you guys struggle , it is how it’s supposed to be , so just keep trying, I was about to give up a couple of times but this Tech’s success made me keep trying ! Just listen and pay attention to every detail this man said , or you will struggle like me. Few tips. 1. Get different picks ! 2. If you can’t achieve success in removing cylinder lock out of housing - USE DIFFERENT SMALL needles , picks , everything that you can find and try, I pulled it out only after 4th pick that I tried. If it doesn’t come out - then pick is not in the place , it should come out easily! Thank you so much good man ! Shout out from BMW of Dallas trainee tech 🎉

Thanks a LOT! This saved me around 800$ and only took 1.5 hours in total. Especially thanks for showing the repair without the need for removal of the airbag and steering wheeI. Much appreciated!

My neighbor has a 2010 Jetta in mint condition but it has a broken ignition. He’s asking $1500 for it ? Think it’s worth it?

Thanks I was able to replace the key assembly I wouldn't have attempted this without watching your videos! Great video.

Thank you! Your video is extremely helpful. I had one mechanic tell me they couldn't repair so I am attempting to repair on my own. Fingers Crossed! :)

Bro, seriously, thank you! You saved me a ton of money and I’m trying to save up for my wedding! Appreciate you! 🙏

I noticed that you tested whether the key works in the new ignition housing without being installed on the car. I recall other videos mentioning to not spin the ignition lock unless it is installed on the car, as it could permanently damage the mechanism. What do we need to be aware of? Thanks a ton!

Thank you so much You're right on I did forget to plug it in . I owe you a beer . You're a good individual.

GREAT video, I watched 6 or 7 other videos before finding yours. I was ready to go out and buy an angle drill and set of easy outs expecting to fully dismantle the steering wheel, air bag, steering column, etc just to be able to drill out the bolts, until I watched your video. What seemed like an all day job just to get to the retaining bolts took me 90 mins, and removing the bolts with the dot punch, 5 mins, and thats with a claw hammer not even a half size brass mallet. Thank you so much, and yes, you are right, the hardest part was finding the clip that held the barrel in place. I would imagine that it also saved a small fortune. Thank you so much.

Wow this video saved me a bunch of money thought I'd have to go to the dealership to get a new keyed for the anti theft but didn't. You are a lifesaver my friend I did this project in about 6 hours.

You save me, buddy! Thanks so much for your detailed video. I was able to walk right through the process. Thanks to you. Great job!❤

This vid made life easier for all parties involved. Thank you. 🙌

Thanks for the tutorial! My dealership wanted $250 to diagnose the issue (even though they already knew what it was) and possibly $1,500-$2,300 to fix it. I did it in an afternoon and only spent $110 for the new ignition switch.

Great video! Does the key have to be turned fully in the ignition before removing the ignition from the old housing (the part where you drilled the old housing)

I guess I’m the only one having a problem with a stuck bolt🤦‍♂️

not very versed with every tool. any recommendations on a name that you would call the little pin? im having a hard time finding something that will work.

Great video, this is on my to do list. My beetle key won't turn in the ignition. I bought the ignition switch but I believe its more this problem.I have dash lights, and all the things but the key won't turn even with jiggling. Did you get the new assembly from the dealer?

Came for some advice stayed for the 24 karat gold hammer, Thanks a bunch

You are a Professional at this!! Keep up this amazing content

My son's GTI is having this problem with the key. He also is experiencing a fast battery drain. Could this cause that? And, thanks for the video!

hey quick question great video by the way, i was wondering what tools you used or if i could get a list of them

Completed the whole installation with no issue but after putting all the housing back, it’s saying “No Key”. Car starts but won’t stay on, any suggestions?

Can we buy an ignition and just plug and play or does it need to be programmed by the dealership? I am finding keys and ignition for like 1-250$

Thank you for the video, my friend just bought a 2015 Jetta and broke the key because that cylinder is tough to turn off.

You saved me a lot of money!! Thank you so much!

A trick to removing the two shear bolts is glueing a longer bolt, with a nut on the end, to the top of each bolt with some JB Weld. Left it overnight and the next day I could easily unscrew them with a wrench.

I have a question if the key is broke off can you still use it if you I get it out

My 2010 jetta has been at a shop for a whole month for exactly this repair but their issue is that they cant get my key to reprogram to the new ignition. Was there something that could have been done to prevent this?

I’m going to do this job soon, where did you get your parts from?

Hola, me sirvio,, (Mexico), Yo mismo cambie el cilindro de encendido,,, ! me costo $600 ! (TENGO EL MISMO VEHICULO), seria excelente que el audio estuviera en español,,,,

Yo this video helped me out a lot, thank you!

Just the new switch for my brothers 2016 Jetta cost $900 and VW wants $500 plus to install it ????

Does the car need to be reprogrammed after replacing the cylinder?

Thank you!

Hello deamonmachine, i did the installation and the computer says no key .I installed the old key that the car was already working before , it starts the car for 2-3 seconds and shuts off after and says no key. And i cant close my windows, they are open. Is there something you can suggest me to do?it would be very helpful

Much appreciated

So, I have had the EXACT same issue with my 2009 VW Jetta SE Sportwagen. My ex tried to FORCE the key to turn and start after a good year of having to make sure you held ur mouth right and jiggled &turned the key just right all at the same time in order to start it. I still have the original key &fob and the original ignition module after I replaced with a whole new module etc... now I am trying to remove the original ignition switch and replace the new one with it instead of using the new key that came with the new ignition &switches attached. Because he tried to start it with it the first time after the initial replacement if I remember correctly. Now the vehicle is in SAFE mode via the display in the center of the instrument cluster and after starting up strong as hell again without any issues first try, it runs a few seconds and blinks SAFE again &the immobilizer cuts the engine. It does exact same thing even when I've thought I was successful in hard resetting the ECU by touching the two battery cables together for a length of time to clear it out. But again, that was with the new module and key it came with while the original fob key was on the dash. If I can ever beat this old engine module enough to get it to let my key turn, &I'm successful in removing it & switching it out with the new1, will that solve my issue? I'm in a horrible spot rn having just escaped a LOOONG violent marriage and I truly NEED this vehicle atm for my daughter and I. He has tried to destroy it but I fixed everything else already. Mostly switches, interior oh &he sliced all 4tire sidewalls and I jacked up the back end, put it on stands, &removed two tires at a time to replace them which pretty much broke me but uk it is what it is. If I can fix the s issue she &I will at least be mobile &I can get a good job I don't have to work where I can walk to it. Thx for anything you may think of. &Btw I am a woman but my daddy taught me how to do everything a man can so I am mechanically inclined lol. Should be able to follow u. Thx again especially if you made it this far &God bless u for ur AMAZING VIDEOS!

I have jetta 2011 .My car shifts first two gears at 3000-3500 and not have that much power but if i accelerate the rpm goes same but car moves with power. No engine light . Sparks plugs changed. I also clean the valve . Any suggestions????

Great video, I used a .05 Allen to get the ignition out of the housing. Key is working like a charm

Would the process be the same in a VW golf?

So I completed the whole process now my car say key not in range but I can unlock the doors with it

Are you sure we shouldn’t take a 2” whole saw and drill up through the bottom of the steering column? I mean right before we back the VW off the flatbed through the glass of the dealership floor and tell them they should’ve fixed this bullsh in testing when it happened to their test drivers 100 times.

Shot in the dark but do you know why the radio wouldnt be turning on after this repair? There was one plug i left unplugged. It was attached to the clear box, buti dont believe it was plugged in to begin with

Could you explain the drill step further? I drilled a hole in the same place as you but my key still won’t turn far enough.

Could I buy an assembly form a salvage yard? Its about $100 for the whole column, but people are telling me I will need to program the key.

You could provide a link to where you purchased the part??

Which direction are you tapping to get the bolt to turn

Do you have to get a new key how does that work

I'm an automotive locksmith and what we do is take a die grinder and grind a slot in those bolts after they are out and use a flathead screwdriver to reinstall them.

Dude I can’t get the pin all the way in the whole for the life of me.. don’t know how long it needs to be

I watched your video and changed it in no time. Your vide was super informative. Unfortunately i didnt realize that the the immobilizer harness wasn’t fully plugged in. The car started and dies with a NO KEY DETECTED. I looked over it and found the mistake. I then fully seated the plug and tried it again and now the car starts and dyes after a second with a Driver ASSISTANCE/BRAKE ERROR Message. I tried unplugging the battery for 15 min and no luck. Any idea of a correction? The keys still operate the doors and are the original keys. Any advise would be huge.

How about a 2008 vw Jetta, 5 speed 2.5, it has a circuit board under the lock cylinder it a plastic housing. How do you remove that, or will it drop with the cylinder after i drill the top bolts?

What is that needle pick thing called. Can’t find it

How do you drill out the dark grey circle thing to get the key to turn more to line up the holes for the paper clip to properly work its magic?

I cannot see what im looking at in the video when youre talking about the tabs to get the ignition to drop…. where are these tabs

@deamonmachine, what brand lock cylinder do you use to replace the oem one?

Amazing video. On the first video (How To Remove and Fix the Ignition Switch in 2012 VW Jetta DIY), you disconnected the speed shifter and moved the car out of park position. Why is that necessary? I don't see this being mentioned/required in this second video.

Awesome video(s) on this replacement! I did mine today, and it took me less than two hours of working time (I did have to go back to VW to swap the lock housing, because they originally gave me the wrong version of it, but I'm not counting that in the time it took). Not an "easy" job, but easier than I expected it to be. Taking pictures of where the wires go as I went, and referring to the video made all the difference. (Also make sure you have all the tools you'll need before you start). Things I learned along the way: -Getting the security bolts out was easier than I expected; maybe mine were not cranked in too tight? -Make sure the T25 bolts are all the way tight on the sides of the wheel before trying to clip the plastic back into place, or else things won't line up right. Thanks again!

Would you suggest going ahead and changing this anyway at a certain mileage?

hey, I don't have the piece at 12:43!! Is this piece on all models? What does it do?

Great Video!! Seeing you do a couple of these makes me wonder how often they go bad

I've got to change this on my daughter's 2009 Jetta. Just curious, what should a normal or average shop price be on this work? I think the VW dealership is trying to have an office party on what they want to charge. Thanks!

My mk5 golf key will only turn to position one in the ignition it will come out, is it the same to take apart. Great video 👍 didn't know it was a vw problem.

I swapped out my ignition switch and tried to turn on my car, it turned on for a second but then turned off and went in to SAFE mode. What do I do next. Please help me.

Didn't see where you took off the steering module that's under the cylinder lock.

i have a black box with a computer board inside covering the ignition switch. one small torx screw and i still can't get it to come out of the way. i unplugged the 2 connectors hoping they were blocking more screws but i don't see any. 2006 jetta

knowing my luck the 'tamper-proof' bolts will be a bitch

Can't get the 2 bolts on top to turn

Why do the mechanics tell me the need to reprogram it ? They have to get a lock smith to reprogram the car ?

I replaced the cylinder and put back the old key .so it turns now but starts then shuts off . Not sure what to do Any help help.thanks .

Great video. Thank you. Did you use the same bolts ?

My ky snapped in that cylinder too

My problem is the key won't go in. Is it possible to just replace the lock cylinder part (the black part that holds the key cylinder) and if yes do you still have to remove the whole lock housing as shown in this video?

I'm trying to get all the tools together for this job. How long should the punch be? I see most of them are 4-5 inches. Would that be long enough?

So why does the top cover not come out?

I NEED HELLLP DIRECTLY ONE ON ONE LMBO

Wondering if you have a suggestion of what I did wrong. After I installed it thinks key is in even After I remove it. So I can't lock the car.

So you just replace the housing and it still works with the same key no need to go to the dealer and get a new key to work with the chip in it?

Thank you very much.Video was really helpful.

cut a flat spot in the bolts and use a screw driver in it for next time ;)

Are there any other ways to get the bolts loose? I have been trying almost day and it doesn’t want to budge at all. I have bought a punch and hitting it at different angles like you are with no success!

Thank you for the great video! I’m at the part trying to remove the key mechanism from the cylinder and the hole (where you stick the T-pin through) doesn’t align with the side of the mechanism that yours does.. I can turn the key but it seems to be 180 degrees from yours. Can I still get it to release that way?

I took the bolts out. How the hell do you take it out

Ok so the key remains the same? Because it has the microchip in it that is super expensive. Im going to give this a go. My key wont turn at all, so I'm pretty sure this is the fix. Thanks for your videos

I really want to thank you for responding. But it's in safe mode would the Ring cause safe mode

What was keeping the key from turning?

What tool you used for the screw that holding the housing??

Like your video John

You can use small needle nose pliers and they spin off

My key doesn’t turn fully and im going to buy a new housing and replace it with the old one. The new one comes with 2 keys. How would i code it to work for the car or will it just work like normal?

Thanks very much, also found this useful for my 2011 Skoda Octavia. Saved me a £600 bill from the local Skoda Garage

Waiting for my replacement to arrive but I find this video very handy. Don't know if I'll to need to remove the steering wheel or not (will like to avoid that). I own a 2011 Sportwagen with the 2.5. Cost at the dealer $250USD, Amazon: $25. I'm also waiting for the sunshade replacement for the panoramic sunroof: Dealer: $800USD; Amazon: $20 Whatsup with the dealers cost this days? I remember it was not so bad to give them the car.... Grat video

what is the big center piece called?...the one that the bolts screw into...thanks

If you happen to be in AZ, give me your number, thanks