Starting issues, possible clutch safety switch or ignition barrel

[osman]

Hi my van is a 2015 model around 130.000 is it common to have issues with the clutch key combo when starting up .. wear and tear etc etc
I have to increasingly repeat the clutch pedal in turn keys thing sometimes maybe four or five times before it lets me start up these days and it’s getting worse .. I’ve tried different sets of keys so it must be the actually key/starter mechanism ?

 

[osman]

so it may be the ignition barrel being worn has anyone come across this issue ?
basically it won't turn fully clockwise without several attempts and today it took 8 attempts !!
its definitely not the steering lock, the key turn just gets to the point where the engine should start but stops on the last notch and I can't move it.
sometimes re-pressing on the clutch helps sometimes it makes no difference .
HELP !....

 

[osman]

Clutch safety switch ? Is this possibly what I’m dealing with .
Just in case I’ve not fully explained my issue clearly . I turn the key no problem past the steering lock position ignition is on everything is ready to go my foot is on the clutch but the key jams and will not move to the start position to crank the engine .
This happens most commonly three times then it starts . However it is now happening indefinitely until it randomly … so far actually allows me to start but the big worry is soon it won’t start at all .
I’ve tried the spare keys older keys etc nothing changes this issue .
Am I really the only t6 owner to have ever experienced this ???????

 

[manfrotto]

I don't have a manual Gearbox,so cannot check, but I believe the clutch safety switch only activates power to allow the van to start, not physically preventing the key from turning.
It sounds more like a physical issue with the ignition switch. While not exactly your issue there have been some faulty igniton switch issues reported on the forum.

 

[Chugga90]

My 2018 dsg kombi decided to stop playing at just over 50,000 miles. Had to change the ignition barrel. That solved it. I have had the van from 6 months old and 1,800 miles and have never worn out an ignition barrel before. The person who built up the replacement said it was quite common.

 

[osman]

My 2018 dsg kombi decided to stop playing at just over 50,000 miles. Had to change the ignition barrel. That solved it. I have had the van from 6 months old and 1,800 miles and have never worn out an ignition barrel before. The person who built up the replacement said it was quite common.

How much did changing the ignition barrel set you back ?

 

[Broadside]

Clutch safety switch ? Is this possibly what I’m dealing with .
Just in case I’ve not fully explained my issue clearly . I turn the key no problem past the steering lock position ignition is on everything is ready to go my foot is on the clutch but the key jams and will not move to the start position to crank the engine .
This happens most commonly three times then it starts . However it is now happening indefinitely until it randomly … so far actually allows me to start but the big worry is soon it won’t start at all .
I’ve tried the spare keys older keys etc nothing changes this issue .
Am I really the only t6 owner to have ever experienced this ???????

It’s not just you. I had this problem on mine at around 100k miles. The ignition barrel needs to be replaced, it cost around £400 at my local garage.

I left mine too long and eventually snapped a key as it put pressure on the key blade that it was not designed to handle. get it fixed before that happens would be my advice to save having to replace the key fob also. It started off intermittent and then got bad, then got awful.

 

[Chugga90]

How much did changing the ignition barrel set you back ?

I paid £320 for the lock barrel to be rebuilt and then reassembled it myself. This was in 2023. Not sure if it was a good deal, just needed it working?

 

[osman]

For info my quote from breeze -
Supply & Fit New ignition barrel inc Coding

£710.12

 

[PhillH]

This is common on caddy’s so transporters will probably be the same. You can fit a second hand ignition barrel but it will be a different key blade. You have to swap the blade out of your fob as the fob is coded to the ECU. Hardest part is undoing the shear bolts that hold the ignition to the steering column. Which also means a you end up with two keys. One for ignition and one for doors incase your battery goes flat and central locking does not work.

 

[osman]

So now I’ve been informed after fitting a new barrel that there is a second section to the ignition barrel part that can also cause this exact issue that needs replacing it’s connected to the steering lock section although the steering lock is fine .. and it turns out the barrel was ok .. they told me they usually replace both parts .
So what kind of totally crap design is this ? it’s the most frustrating thing I can imagine a perfectly good van unable to start because of two possible parts that stop the key from turning to the ignition position .
A problem that cannot be diagnosed simply from the circumstances but needs a total strip down of parts to figure out . Devastated

 

[osman]

£945 later I can now start my van again without around 35 attempts to turn the keys .. if anyone needs what is apparently a perfectly fine second hand ignition barrel .. I have one !