Newly cut key won't work

So, as well as losing my immobilizer fob, my 1 spare key, which is newly cut, doesn't work. This is turning into a saga.

I've had this before on other cars, the locks/ignition etc are 25 years old and worn/smooth in places and my new key is all shiny and sharp.

I've tried a bit of Vaseline (haven't we all), but that's no good. Do I go to a key cutting place and get them to smooth it all off a bit?

Anyone had any experience of this?

Matti

no, but a key should be cut the same as the original key its cut from.

and so if the original key is worn so will the new key.

take it back and ask for your money back.

or better still ask them to pay for new locks as its there fault that you need then, and see what they say,

but really, you should have checked it when you brought it.

You might need to wiggle the key a bit whilst turning it - badly worn locks can allow the key to move too much when inserted.

I can rebuild your lock to match your keys if needed.

Cheers

Rich

have you got into the car yet then? possibly use a coat hanger job to get in then wire up some sort of starter button to get you going again?

Luckily, the boot lock doesn't work, so I can get into the car. Not that that is much use to me.

Cheers Rich on rebuilding locks, will probably have to do that, it's the ignition I'm worried about, doesn't work on that either. I've given it a good wiggle on all locks and doesn't work, so Ross' suggestion on starter button might be worth looking into. Hmm.

if the original key is worn so will the new key

true, but I think it's more about the sharp edges rather than the worn shape.

but really, you should have checked it when you brought it

clearly.

try putting it in a vice and use a stiff wire brush on it, run round the whole thing (without snapping it). then give it another go. this should do the trick. i had to do it with a scooter key i had many years ago.

hold on a second……………….don't the ingnition and door locks have differant keys anyway???????????

hold on a second……………….don't the ingnition and door locks have differant keys anyway???????????

Lots do these days, cos of lock/ignition changes, but they're not supposed to be different!

Thanks for wire brush tip  

sounds like his made the key wrong?  go back and get him to check it

The keys for my doors, ignition, and glove box are all different, and this is as the cars were made, on a cabbby anyway. I have the original manual and it says there should be a seperate key for all of these, and another for the petrol cap, but luckily my ignition key works the petrol flap.

So yes, your golf SHOULD have one key for the doors and a different one for the ignition.

Forgot to add, the keys I have for my doors didn't work at first (they're newly cut ones) but I noticed that they're slightly too long. If I only put them in the lock 95% of the way they work perfectly. Perhaps that's worth a try?

all_whiteGTi said

The keys for my doors, ignition, and glove box are all different, and this is as the cars were made, on a cabbby anyway. I have the original manual and it says there should be a seperate key for all of these, and another for the petrol cap, but luckily my ignition key works the petrol flap.

So yes, your golf SHOULD have one key for the doors and a different one for the ignition.

Hi Sorry but No the door and ignition lock are the same key, glovebox had a different key, the only way you will have a different key for the ignition is if the lock has been damaged ie through key snapping off or a breakin and the ignition lock getting broken off, my 1980 Golf GLi Cabby Had two Keys (both the same) for the doors and ignition and one for the glovebox.
they never left the factory with different locks.

Ok my bad, just re-read the manual page and it says this:

Key A: Main Key (Black with hollow metal VW in centre) This key fits ALL locks except lockable tank cap

Key B: (Plain metal VW key with oval head) Only for doors and ignition

Key C: (Plain key, no VW, squareish dimpled head) Tank cap only.