Attempted theft of car - now keys have been nicked too! HELP!!!

TDA10

Hi there,

My brother has a VW Golf which some low life cretin tried to steal the other night by hot wiring but it seems they made a hash of it and gave up.

The car was locked (and then they locked it back up after all this! ) but the wiring under the steering column is all to c0ck now. They might have fused a couple of wires together 'accidentally' :rolleyes: cos there appears to be scorching on a couple of them and they have melted slightly.

Now as if this wasn't bad enough my brother had his bag nicked from work 2 days later which contained the only set of keys for the car!

He has managed to get the car unlocked (good ol' wire coathanger! :rotfl::p) but the steering lock is on so he can't even move the car anywhere. He was on about smashing the steering lock off - not the wisest idea methinks! He still aint gonna get it started by doing that eh?!!!

So, the main question is: Does anyone know of a SENSIBLE way of obtaining a new key that isn't gonna cost the earth please?

Or any info on wiring diagrams too?

It's only an old 1996 model (so why they wanted to steal it is anyones guess!) so it's not worth spending a fortune on just for a key, but it's in good nick so he really wants to get it back up and running asap.

As do I cos I'm sick of lending him my car which he seems to think runs on fresh air! :rolleyes:

Any advice welcomed

P.S Not digging at old motors - I've a 1996 Citroen and a 1999 Daewoo! Dunno which is worse!!!

Wig

TDA10 wrote: »

It's only an old 1996 model (so why they wanted to steal it is anyones guess!) so it's not worth spending a fortune on just for a key, but it's in good nick so he really wants to get it back up and running asap.

Well if it doesn't have factory fit standard immobiliser (chipped keys), I reckon that would be why.

Don't suppose he has the key code? try looking in the document folder there might be a card (credit card size) with engine number chassis number and radio code and key code on there.

Failing that, ask the scrappies if they have any VW with keys and look into swapping the ignition barrel and door lock barrel.

If he can break the steering lock it wouldn't be a bad idea, but don't do it until he knows he can hot wire it, there's not much point otherwise, except for towing of course.

As I remember to hot wire you have to twist 2 wires together and then touch those 2 with a 3rd and then take the 3rd away.

vaio

As it’s VAG group they will have a record of the key number and will be able to cut him a replacement (assuming the lock hasn’t been changed already)

Having said that, is there any chance that whoever has the keys now will come and steal the car? If so the locks need to be changed, you can get the steering lock barrel out by drilling a hole in the housing and pressing a clip in, Haynes manual give exact dimensions

anewman

It's interesting that a coat hanger can unlock the door of a 96 VW. My 94 (VW had just bought Skoda then) Skoda Favorit has plastic covers over the lock mechanisms inside the door, which even if you have the door cards off are a pig to remove and it would not be possible to pick that with a coat hanger. The rear doors on mine would be the weak spots.

TDA10

Thanks so far for all the replies.

I'm not sure if it makes a difference anewman, but the car had its door 'lining' off following a window replacement (stereo theft a few months ago and they got in by smashing the window). Maybe that would have made it easier for bro to get in?

Also VAIO - someone else suggested contacting VAG last night - I'm pretty sure the locks have never been changed so hopefully we can get a replacement, and no - the thief shouldn't be able to link the keys to the car - nothing with his address on was in the bag so that's good.

He doesn't have any documents for the car, Wig, (apart from the logbook of course!)so can't trace the key code that way.

If all else fails then we do have a good scrappies who may be able to help.

Any other advice still welcomed, thanks again so far :beer:

hartcjhart

remove the door lock'barrel' and the ignition 'barrel' carefully then take them to a locksmith that can cut keys to the barrels,

while this is being done remove the car battery to ensure that you are not helping the next scrote