My guess is you have a flip key, for a VW Transporter or Caddy, and the blade has snapped away from the rest of the key. The problem of the broken VW key also affects Skoda and Seat Keys. It’s a bad problem that’s getting worse.
This week we fixed a key from a three year old VW Transporter, one of four keys fixed in as many days. How is it possible that a vehicle just a few years old, you end up with a broken VW Key?
This article explains why they read, and we’ll show you how to fix your own broken VW key. Follow the instructions to get some more life out of the old electronics, rather than pay for a whole new key.
We think they should be replaced through a recall, as they have done with the newer type Seat key. However this is only happening in certain dealerships. Read more about how the new style key is already breaking.
Broken VW Key Why are they breaking to soon?
There are four problems that have met to make the perfect storm for owners, leaning a trail of broken VW Key problems behind.
Broken VW Key Problem One
The ignition locks feel very stiff to turn. This is especially true on VW Transporter and Caddy vans. We think it’s ok up to the point where the ignition lights come on. However when you turn the lock the last part to crank the engine, it feels very heavy.
Broken VW Key Problem Two
The ignition lock is held in place by a lock housing. The steering lock and electrical switch are part of the housing and unfortunately, we believe they are faulty.
It’s common for us to see 5-6 year old cars with lock housings that have failed, jamming up. The extra pressure put on the key weakens it, causing a broken VW Key. Read all about the problem here.
Broken VW Key Problem Three
The key blade is held into the key by a pin, held inside the blade holder. This blade holder is too weak and a fracture occurs around the place where the pin passes through.
This is an example of inferior component design, and we see this throughout the range of new keys and locks.
Broken VW Key Problem Four
Both the VW Transporter and VW Caddy models are used by businesses that do a lot of stop/start work such as delivery drivers. This constant on/off with the ignition lock brings forward the problem by years.
The VW transporter above had a mileage of 98,000 after three years, whereas the average family would probably take 5-6 years to get to this amount of miles.
So How can you fix your Broken VW Key ?
These are fairly simple to fix, but there are a couple of WARNINGS I need to let you know about
Warning Number One. These keys are different to Ford or Vauxhall keys. With these other makes we can take a ‘virgin’ key off the shelf, cut it and code it to your car.
However, VW, Seat and Skoda keys are different.
The chip that is fitted to your key has been specially formatted by the VW dealer, and if you break the chip, or it fails, replacing this key is more complicated.
Warning Number Two. If you open the broken key incorrectly, you will break the chip. This is not good. So read to the end and watch the video first please.
What do I need to fix my Key?
Only a few things really.
- A new repair case. You cannot reuse the old case, sorry.
- Some Circlip pliers.
- The YouTube video below. It’s ten minutes long and will show you in great detail how to carefully open the key, remove the electronics and then rebuild the key.
That’s about it.
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If my key is broken right after it ends off the fob then how can I rebuild it and use it
Hi David
Is some of the blade left in the blade holder?
This was a fantastic and very useful article. You are the only person I know who warned about pushing the pin too far when opening the old case. The key holder snapped in my case, so barring a temporary fix with super glue, my only choice was to get a new replacement case for the fob. It makes sense to just get the new key blade freshly cut, rather than trying to reuse the old key.
Thanks for the feedback Stephan. Yes pushing the pin nside can cause lots of problems!