VR/VS key barrel sticking

[Andrew426]

Recently the ignition key barrel on my '93 VR exec has begun sticking when you try and turn the key - at about the same time it also started happening on my mums '96 VS exec wagon. when you put the key in it simply wont torn, you have to wiggle it a bit to get it to work. I had a talk to one of the mechanics at my local holden dealership and he said that its been happening on a lot of them in the past few months (humidity maybe?) and that to fix it they just pull the key barrel apart and lubricate it with a bit of powdered graphite.

Has anyone else had these issues? Any idea what could be causing it?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

You will need a new barrel. Replace it before it jams completely. The little tab on the end of the barrel breaks and starts to jam the barrel. Also the tumblers in the barrel are only made of brass, so they wear out too.

To get the barrel out, take the plastic shroud off the column, on the side of the barrel assembly is a hole, turn the key to the "ON" position and insert a paper clip or a pin of some sort into that hole. The barrel will then slide out.

With a new barrel you will get a heap of new tumblers, they are numbered. Put them in the new barrel in the same order that they in the old barrel. You could also take your old barrel and the new one to a locksmith for them to set it up, but it's not tat hard to do it yourself. Make sure you use DryLube on the new tumblers when assembling the barrel.

[helix41]

I would like to know exactly how ya get the tumblers out ?
I have just replaced my barrel and want to keep the same key, I can't figure how to get the main center out to get at the tumblers
Any help appreciated

Helix 41

[undar8ed1]

I would like to know exactly how ya get the tumblers out ?
I have just replaced my barrel and want to keep the same key, I can't figure how to get the main center out to get at the tumblers
Any help appreciated

Helix 41

TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION and locate a small hole on the barrel housing, you need a paper clip or small wire etc.. to stick in the hole and push then pull the barrel out with the key still in it ( and still in the on position)

[undar8ed1]

I would like to know exactly how ya get the tumblers out ?
I have just replaced my barrel and want to keep the same key, I can't figure how to get the main center out to get at the tumblers
Any help appreciated

Helix 41

Your lucky My hole barrel craped it and I had to cut off my housing using a angle grinder to go through the housing and through the sheer bolt.
If you can`t find the small hole and no-one here can tell U ( unlikly) exactly were to find it on the housing ask you local holden head mechanic/spare parts manager.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The small hole is on the outside of the barrel about 1/2 way down. Once the plastic shroud is off, get down and look up at the side of the barrel, you can't miss it.

[controlled chaos]

i recommend u change the barrel NOW, mine jammed in the lock postion when it was in a car park now i have a large bill to fix and no steering lock and no ignition, but still starts with out key for some reason

[VR_SeriesII]

i recommend u change the barrel NOW, mine jammed in the lock postion when it was in a car park now i have a large bill to fix and no steering lock and no ignition, but still starts with out key for some reason

This just happened to ours. How do you get the ignition off if it as described above?

The key won't move to the on position.

Also, anyone know how we can get the car started temporarily to move it into the garage? Live on steep hill so pushing is out.

[undar8ed1]

This just happened to ours. How do you get the ignition off if it as described above?

The key won't move to the on position.

Also, anyone know how we can get the car started temporarily to move it into the garage? Live on steep hill so pushing is out.

Yer its a pain alright, I`m guessing you parked outside your house. Before I begin have you tried CRC WD40 (with the straw) and sprayed in the barrel and then tryed the key again also wrigge the key as you slightly pull it out out of the barrel a few mm. ok um moving the car with no key, when this happened to me I promtly went through the steps above ( to no avail ) and already had it in the shed so it was ok but I did notice when you pull the ignition switch ( black electrical thing that attachs to the end of the barrel "on the left hand side of the wheel" to send the electrial signal to turn on the car ) is turned on by a flat bit of metal that comes out of the barrel so maybe you could rub your immobiliser nub on the imbobiliser ring and use a screwdriver to turn this. Though it does make it easy to steal so I am doughtful but curious to wheather this will work.
I`ve got more if that does not work for you, as I know how to take off the housing etc.. and lucky for you I did it just last month. so post back and if any of the above don`t work I`ll pull out the big guns.

[VR_SeriesII]

Will gove that a go, thanks mate

First will try the WD40

I was looking at that end of the ignition and did a bit of reading on the net about it here

How To Hot-Wire a Car | eHow.com

Does anyone know if this works on a VR? Also, do you need to disengage the imobliser as it is already unplugged?

[undar8ed1]

Will gove that a go, thanks mate

First will try the WD40

I was looking at that end of the ignition and did a bit of reading on the net about it here

How To Hot-Wire a Car | eHow.com

Does anyone know if this works on a VR? Also, do you need to disengage the imobliser as it is already unplugged?

Year that thread is exactly what I thought as all the key does is turn a screwdriver blade looking thing on a black plastic (panel) round mechanical/ electric switch the only thing that will stop someone is the immobilsier which we have already covered. sweet let me know how it goes

[undar8ed1]

Will gove that a go, thanks mate

First will try the WD40

I was looking at that end of the ignition and did a bit of reading on the net about it here

How To Hot-Wire a Car | eHow.com

Does anyone know if this works on a VR? Also, do you need to disengage the imobliser as it is already unplugged?

Yes you do.

[VR_SeriesII]

ok.. tried the WD40, no luck

With the screw driver, in the ingition barrel itself with the end cover with wires attached off?

Or is it the cap itself with the indendation that you need to try and turn?

[undar8ed1]

Ok here`s some pics, take out the plug with brass teeth ( half in half out in pic 1 ) and then use a tiny (jeweler) FLAT head screwdriver and take of the black switch of the metal housing ( it has 2 tiny screws one facing you one facing the motor/dash you can see it in pic2 ) that the teeth plugs into (also viewable in pic 1 ) and you will see the blade thingy and the hole it goes into. So with that off reconect it to the loom put a screwdriver in it and turn and don`t forget the immobiliser

One you get in the shed I`ll tell you how to get the housing off (you need to go to holden and get a housing, new blank barrel with a bag of slides and springs
You can get holden to make the blank barrel up or like me you can save $30 and do it your self its easy but ask the spare parts guy where to put the other little bits we will get to that part later.
I`t will cost you $160.00 (I got it at cost price that is charged to holden) for the housing and barrel, $30 labour to make a barrel ( but not if you do it yourself ) set to your key and $12 for the upper strap ( you don`t need to buy another one if your carful)
If you got holden to do the whole thing it would cost about $300+ so doing it yourself is the best way.
OH do you have access to a 10cm angle grinder? you`ll need that for the next phase.

[undar8ed1]

Well I`ve got some more spare time and thought I`d post a how to when you get it in the shed.

First line the drivers side with alfoil as you dont wan`t to ruin your carpet and trim.
Now grab your 100mm angle grinder equiped with a cutting blade and a face sheild or goggles and use the picture below to see where to cut.
you wan`t to cut through the dreaded "sheer bolt" this bolt is put on at the factory it has a fragile grip star at the top of the bolt that is striped off when tightend and leaves no gripable surface and is impossible to undo with tools. but you can..
1. Drill it out. Very hard as you need to come up through the bottom of the bolt and you need a very shrp drill bit.
2. Angle grind. best way for the "need to get it done now man" it will slice through it nicely.

PIC`s

PIC 1
1. upper strap
2. lower barrel housing
3. sheer bolt lcation
also there is a blue line indicating where to cut.

Pic 2
1. Sheer bolt
2. steering lock mechanisim

Pic 3
Show`s the cut.

If you are going to go through with this let me know and I`ll help you with making up the blank barrel.

[VR_SeriesII]

Ok, I just got the car running, thanks whiteknightVR94

Now I've got another problem.. the steering wheel lock is on, any ideas?

[undar8ed1]

Ok, I just got the car running, thanks whiteknightVR94

Now I've got another problem.. the steering wheel lock is on, any ideas?

WOW no I never thought about that been linked to the key only.
JUST do the job out on the road use a extention cord, when you cut off the housing the sterring lock button will come straight off thus having no lock and your free to drive it to your garage. Just lock it up tight use the dead locking function on all VR/VS,s instead of using the keyless remote put the key in the drivers side door and turn left and the key will remain side ways and take out the key now even if someone breaks the glass they can`t open the door from the inside and have enter/exit through the window dukes of hazard style. and also lock your shed up tight till you get the parts.

[VR_SeriesII]

thanks mate, will do

[VR_SeriesII]

All done

Thats a million for your help whiteknight

[undar8ed1]

Glad to help. (and B helped)