Maybe I just need to get out more, but VW locks fascinate me.  A few minutes ago I was taking a break from working on brakes (Joy's convertible has stopped stopping).  When I pulled the interior out (carpet was soaked with brake fluid) I found an old nasty looking used ignition lock under the seat.  So I'm sitting here resting and looking at this lock . . . hummm . . . never tried one of these . . . wonder how they work?

I stuck the key in it, used a small nail to drive out the roll pin that holds the bottom part on, turned the key and pulled it apart.  It works exactly like a door handle.  If you have the key, it's no problem to take apart, without the key, you'll have to push a thin, stiff wire in the tumbler slot from the back to push the tumblers down so it will turn, but that should be easy enough.

So, where I've always started with an ignition switch and re-keyed the doors locks to use the same key . . . now I know it's not any harder to go the other way.  Or, I can even start with an old used key that doesn't fit anything on the car (as long as the profile is correct) and re-key everything to fit it.

 :cool: