My brand new off the lot 91 Westy (2wd) came with an ignition key that
opens the gas cap as well.

Separate key for the glove box.

And a small plastic basic key to access the water flap cover.

Steven
91 Westy

On Thu, Sep 29, 2016 at 9:39 PM, Steve <vwcarlocks@hotmail.com> wrote:

> 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>
>