Ignition barrel broken

jamesmtaylor · Postby **jamesmtaylor** » Sat Jun 25, 2016 7:56 pm

Had the metal tab snap off on the ignition barrel in my NB.

I've heard that I'll have to:

a) Replace all of my locks, the ignition barrel as well as the ECU just to start my car with it's key again (which seems extremely excessive)

b) find someone who can replace the internals of my ignition barrel with a new housing and put it back in the car

What would be the cheapest and easiest option to keep using one key for the ignition as well as the locks for the car? Or are there other options?

Does anyone know sometime who could do it in Sydney?

Thanks!

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:29 am

Not sure what you mean with the metal tab on the ignition.
Ignition barrel is held in by 2 metal pins.
once the guts has been removed. There are several parts to it.
Barrel , some sort of lever & spring as well as a possible small ball bearing. And the fall apart very easy once pulled out.
The tricky bit is getting the 2 metal pins out holding the barrel inside the housing. I can remove mine almost by hand. It's an old NA
It's not particularly complex if it falls apart. Just make sure you don't loose anything.

A mobile locksmith can do it for you. But it may cost a few hundred by the time they get it out. Also there is usually a minimum call out fee.

My key snapped off inside the barrel. Quote was about $250 to get on other one cut.removal of barrel & so on.
I got the barrel out. Cost $12.....

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:39 am

But having said that. Yours is an NB. The basics would be the same . Internals would be very similar but there will be differences.mainly because of the theft prevention thingy with your key.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Sun Jun 26, 2016 11:54 am

jamesmtaylor wrote:Had the metal tab snap off on the ignition barrel in my NB.

Also not quite sure exactly what you mean by the above, but a pic might help.
That said, if your NB8A has got the factory immobiliser like the NB8B, & you aren't able to reuse the lock barrel, & therefore your current key, then the key will need to match the ECU. However, the system (on NB8B at least) relies on proximity, so if the current key is taped under the ignition barrel it should work. Alternatively (on NB8B at least), a JDM non-immobiliser, as opposed to ADM immobiliser, ECU should be another way of getting around the issue.

Locutus · Postby **Locutus** » Sun Jun 26, 2016 12:16 pm

The factory immobiliser uses a coil around the ignition barrel to read the key. The coil and ignition barrel are two separate parts. You do not need a new ECU/immobiliser/coil/key.

Just get the ignition barrel housing replaced or source a whole ignition barrel and get a lock smith to get it to work with your existing key.

jamesmtaylor · Postby **jamesmtaylor** » Sun Jun 26, 2016 1:07 pm

Thanks for your replies so far. What happened is that my key spins freely in the ignition with no resistance, so I've just removed the ignition switch so I can get it started using a screwdriver (and look like a criminal trying to start my car...). Car also won't start without my own key in the ignition.

I haven't gotten the barrel off the steering column yet, so I've just heard it's a metal tab that has snapped off to connect the barrel to the switch, I haven't investigated it yet.

Would any mobile locksmith be able to remove the barrel and replace the internals of my old barrel into a new one? Or would it take a specialist?

I might be able to get an spare ignition barrel but I wanted to double check I didn't have to replace anything else, and that it could actually be done first!

Thanks again