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Date:         Fri, 30 Sep 2016 01:39:02 +0000
Reply-To:     Steve <vwcarlocks@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve <vwcarlocks@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      A bit more on keys...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

The glovebox key is an SC profile, which is a single-sided key. It appears that the middle seat compartment is also that key profile. I doubt they were originally keyed alike, though I can find no documentation from my old VW archives addressing the issue. In fact, there is no mention of the middle seat compartment. I would think they could be rekeyed, if we can get them apart. The glovebox locks are very difficult to take apart, because the plastic has now become very brittle due to age. We don't rekey them, though we can generate keys for them. I've never, in 16 years of servicing VW locks, run across the middle seat lock, so I can't say for certain about the rekeying except that it should be possible.

The gas cap many times will open with the ignition key, though it shouldn't, except for Syncro Vanagons. The cap is different for the Syncro and is keyed to the ignition. On the 2 wheel Vanagons, the majority of the gas cap lock is plastic. Due to wear, but primarily caused by fuel fumes softening the plastic, almost anything will turn the gas cap. Correctly, though, if you have a 2 wheel drive Vanagon, it will use a different key than the ignition/doors.

While we are at it, early Westfalias used a locking cap inside the water filler. If you lift the cover to the filler, there is a plastic cap with a small lock. That uses yet another key. There are no code numbers on that lock and there are 34 possible keys. We need the lock to make a key. It can be removed fairly simply to send to us. The later campers and the replacement fillers use a cover hinged at the bottom and have a keyhole on the outside. It is a simple plastic key that Bus Depot stocks. We have made a trial run of metal keys for that application, but do not currently market them. We have to hand make them, and the labor cost is just too much to justify.

The doors and ignitions came from the factory keyed alike. We see many people who have replaced the ignitions. The currently available ignition does not use the same key as standard Vanagon keys. In addition, the wafer placement internally is different. The correct ignition lock is not available in any source I've located. Many vendors will say they have the correct lock. They offer the generic VW lock from Jettas, Golfs, etc. It will fit and work, but must use a different key. As I say, we have made that lock work with the Vanagon key, but it involves some re-machining internally, and removal of some of the wafers resulting in a lock that is much less secure.

Now that we're all confused, there's a brief synopsis of Vanagon keys.

Steve

Sent from Outlook<http://aka.ms/weboutlook>


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