I packed up my Felicia Fun with the family this morning then could not get the key in the ignition, in the end I had to force the steering lock to get my old VW van off the drive and took that. The back of the barrel came off, I managed to get an in line switch for the ignition and shorted the starter but it would only run for a few seconds. There is a white wire in the middle but I have no idea what it does. Is there any way I could put a switch and straiter button in in the short term, Is it a big job to replace the ignition barrel, the bolts seem to be the sheer off variety.

the white wire goes to the immobilizer control unit iirc, either way it aint gonna start without the transponder key

Thanks mate, sounds lik a a new ignition and two keys, any idea how that transponder works?

I packed up my Felicia Fun with the family this morning then could not get the key in the ignition, in the end I had to force the steering lock to get my old VW van off the drive and took that. The back of the barrel came off, I managed to get an in line switch for the ignition and shorted the starter but it would only run for a few seconds. There is a white wire in the middle but I have no idea what it does. Is there any way I could put a switch and straiter button in in the short term, Is it a big job to replace the ignition barrel, the bolts seem to be the sheer off variety.

I would just take it to get the ignition barrel replaced. I had a similar problem with mine a few years ago just about a week after I bought the car. I took it back to the garage where I got it and they were wanting me to pay £120 to have it sorted. I refused to pay as it was one of the things I asked them to look at before I got the car as it did feel a bit stiff, they looked at the information on it and the car wasn't checked properly so I got it repaired for free.

any idea how that transponder works?

yes, hth

wouldn't wd40 down the barrel help? or have I missed something

If it's a VW ignition barrel, there is a point (described in Haynes) on most where you can drill the housing to release the lock barrel, leaving the housing in place.

Thanks mate, sounds lik a a new ignition and two keys, any idea how that transponder works?

There's a chip in the key that is read by the transponder coil that fits around the lock.

yeah sorry, i don't want to sound awkward, but i wont post up details on a public forum on how to defeat or cheat the immobilizer..

basically there is a transducer which passively reads the key and that signal is fed to the control box, if the codes match it sends another signal to the ecu to tell it do it's thing

Thanks for that, I will get to my local dealer today, I do have the key, I may try sticking it to that white wire to get it running in the short term.

I had a similar problem. The key would not go all the way down the barrel. I found that the metal flap inside the barrel had broken. I removed it, the key went all the way down and it worked for a while and then broke. I then removed the barrel ( remove the steering column - quite easy) and then remove the sheer bolts (they cam off quite easy). I got a barrel from my local dealer for some £50 which included all the bolts etc. It took 2 weeks to come as they had to get it made from the factory to fit my key and transponder.

With regard to the white wire it does not have anything to do with the transponder. If you have a Haynes manual - it will tell you what the white wire is for.

Have fun

Just been to the dealers, TWO WEEKS for the parts and its stuck on my Nambour's drive blocking it, I have the key, I can turn it over and get the ignition on with an in line switch, I have not got a Haynes manual so I have no idea what the white wire on the ignition is for but I think it may be something to do with the brake warning light, I'm not having any FUN at all:confused:

With regard to the white wire it does not have anything to do with the transponder.

you are quite right, i'm just looked up some of the schematics i've got here, the white wire is for the brake fluid level sensor.

there is few different colours that the transponder wire can be depending on engine and year

GOT it going!!!, must time out or something, at least in the short term I can use it and get it moved. Its sort of reassuring that some thief cant just force the ignition and nick it.