ignition switch does not turn

Hello,

It sounds like the ignition key tumbler is worn out which is common. You must start by removing the air bag and steering wheel. Here is a guide that will give you a good idea on how to do that.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/air-bag-removal-steering-wheel

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/steering-wheel-removal

Here are diagrams (below) on how to replace the ignition switch and tumbler.

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken

I have a 2007 Jetta 2.5 Liter and the key will go into the ignition but will not turn all the way. The lights in the car and the radio will come on but it wont turn enough to turn the car on. The steering wheel moves freely from left to right and will not lock while this is happening, But will lock when the key has no problems. It feels like there is something inside the ignition that has fallen and will not allow the key to turn. So I used these guides and got the job done. Cost me $154.00 for parts.

2003 Volkswagen Jetta 80,000 miles

steering wheel is locked, key will not move, have new spindle to put in, but cannot move steering wheel or key will not turn to beable to remove casing to put new spindle in. How do I get steering wheel and key ignition unlocked so I can put new part in?

My sunroof stopped moving and I saw no jam. I decided to check the fuses and did not realize that the keys needed to be out of the ignition not just the car turned off. So I pulled fuses while the car was off and the key was still in the ignition. Now the car will not start. It is like the battery is dead but it is not. The doors will still lock but the windows will not work and the instrument panel does not come on at all. Please help! I do not have enough money to take to a shop or to have it towed. Thanks so much!

Check your main fuses underhood to see if anything is blown, also to see if thay're making good connections.

Try disarming you security system by locking and unlocking the doors using the key FOB.

Try resetting your key FOB according to the owners manual.

Will the headlights come on?

I will go check headlights now and the rest! Thank you brb

I went and pulled some fuses. There two large gray box fuses in there with the numbers 370 on them. The car will now start and all lights work but I have a steering wheel light on on the dash and what I believe is the esp light on. ( a yellow car with squiggly lines under it. They were not on before. Is it safe to drive with those on? And how can I tell which fuse it is?

ESP means: Electronic Stability Program (or traction control; as it is normally called)
Your car has an ESP button and you've pushed it by accident. Push it again to turn the ESP back on. (unless you plled its fuse, in which case you just have to put it back and make sure it gets a good connection)

P.S.: The ESP button is near the gear selector.

Ok my owners book does not tell me which slot is ESP or steering. I have a box 30 type and there is one thing called DSG. Could that be it?

Oh and I have tried to push the button didn't work will try again

I have a 2005 VW Jetta. The key will not insert into the ignition switch. Is this some type of security setting I can fix; or, do I need to bring the car into the dealer and have them look at the ignition switch?

Either you have the wrong key or the ignition lock key cylinder is bad or something is lodged within.

This is not a security system problem and a locksmith might be able to help.

Nope button won't work

I went ahead and drove it, within a quarter mile everything went back to normal, the steering wheel light went out and the ESP button worked. Thank you so much for your help you were a lifesaver.

Glad to be of help to you. Thanks for posting the final outcome to your problem. Hopefully in the future if someone has a similar problem, they'll be able to come here and read about the solution, thanks to you.

Electrical problem
2004 Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl Automatic 78000 miles

I recently broke the timing belt in my 04 Jetta and bent almost every valve in the car. At any rate, $4,700 later I have had my car back for 3 days BUT the stereo (monsoon) turns on for 5 seconds exactly then the sound shuts off but the display stays on. I could do this a million times and it would still stay on for 5 seconds, then the sound cuts. Additionally, my key clicker works when I hit it ONCE to unlock the driver door but when I click it the 2nd time for passenger doors, it does nothing. I needed a car more than I need music so I took her home anyway but need to figure out what's up, any thought?

Also, note that the check engine light came on this morning driving to work... could it all be related? Because the light came on I need to take it back but can't today and they are clueless at Firestone about the radio so I wanted to see if I could gather more info. Thanks a million!!!

The check engine light could be related to previous repairs.As far as the stereo goes, it could be an anti-theft feature, but I have never heard of one working for a short amount of time then shutting down.When you takeit back have them try reprogramming the keyless entry, it may be having issues from when the battery was disconnected to do the engine work.

My car is running and the key will not turn so i can shut the car off. I have tried different gears, turning the steering wheel back and forth, pulling on the steering wheel, nudging the steering wheel and no luck. How can i get it to shut off so i can get the key out?

Unfortunately the lock cylinder has seized up which is common on these vehicles. To kill the car you must unplug the ECM relay located in the underhood fuse box. It will be a big black relay with the number 01 on it most likely. Pull it out, the engine will shut off. Then you can disconnect the battery so the battery doesn't drain. To resolve the problem the ignition lock cylinder and housing should be replace as a unit.

The key is stuck in the ignition and we cannot get the ignition switch removed to fix it. Help!

I have seen a lot of the jettas do this your going to have to replace the ignition cylinder and steering lock housing that's what we do at the vw dealer to fix the customers cars.the steering lock housing we usually stock but the ignition cylinder has to be order by your vin number takes at least a week to get.If you don't have another key you will have to order a key blade also that's a two piece key and fob that snaps together.Also the new key blade will have to be programmed to your immobilizer for the new key to work.Which takes a factory scan tool and a geko id which you have to be a be tech to have one.Unless you can find a lock Smith etc to do it but those are hard to find one that can.

Once u get in car and crank it up no problem but when u want to turn off car and take out key u have a problem. Key is on and won't allow u to turn off car or take key out. Worked on trying to take key out and car off for two hours yesterday. Doesn't give me any problems cranking car just when I try to turn car off the key won't turn towards u at all. Is my switch going bad or my key

Try to lube the tumbler. A special lubricant is made for key tumblers. See if that helps. Also, if you have a different key, see if it works better.

Let me know.

Electrical problem
2005 Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 57000 miles

I can't get my key in the ignition, what will cause this?

If you can't get the key inserted into the ignition, you should check for any debris in the lock cylinder. Possibly a broken key or attempted theft damage.
If the key goes in and doesn't turn, the steering wheel lock my be jammed. Usually wiggling the steering wheel while turning the key can un-jam it.

Sounds like you need a new ignition cylinder and steering lock housing once they start jambimg up they need to be replaced.its pretty common to happen.

First of all, I am here to tell you that if you have a problem with your VW GTI key cylinder, in most cases that's not the problem, it's the housing. Secondly, you do not have to remove the steering wheel or airbag or wiper and indicator control like I have seen in most YouTube videos to replace the housing. I have had the worst 3 weeks dealing with this problem and finally, finally it's fixed. The reason I joined this group is so that I can save you the trouble that I went through. At first after watching many videos and reading posts about this I decided to fix the problem so I went to VW and ordered a new lock cylinder. I then proceeded to remove the air bag, steering wheel and a few other plastic parts and changed the cylinder. I then called a locksmith because my key broke off from the remote but was still usable. He came over put my chip from the remote into another remote and attached key.Great!!!. Well he told me that he looked at my old cylinder and said, nothing is wrong with it, it's the housing. Well I doubted him. Two weeks later same bloody problem. I went to VW bought the housing and called him again. He came to where my car was parked up and unusable for 3 days and within 30 minutes, removed the cylinder and housing without removing the airbag and steering wheel. I was shocked and happy. All you have to do is remove the plastic housing on the top and bottom (turn the steering wheel left and right to get to the screws). Once that is done, you will see a circuit board under the steering column. Carefully remove the cover of the circuit board and a very small screw. You can then get to the clips to remove the circuit board. Once that is done, you have to drill into the screws on top that are holding the housing in place, then reverse the drill and back out the screws. These screws cannot be reused as they are breakaway screws. They are cheap, like five dollars. Once you have changed the housing, reinsert the cylinder and you are good to go. WARNING. Make certain when you remove the cylinder that the key is all the way in the on position. You will need a strong paper clip to remove the cylinder. Stick it in the open slot while the key is in the on position and pull it out. That's it.

Great addition to this thread! Please feel free to help out whenever you are on the site :)

Cheers, Ken

Thank you Ken!