I have just replaced a faulty ignition/starter switch on my 1996 Passat.

The radio used to stay on even when the key was turned to the off position, 
and only switched off when I removed the key. If I put the key back in 
within a second or so it came back on again.

This happened temporarily a couple of times before I replaced the switch, so 
I doubt it was caused by the switch replacement.

I have also noticed that the light on warning buzzer no longer sounds when I 
open the driver's door with the lights on and the key out - presumably this 
use the same mechanism.

There is a ring with a lead which fits round the end of the switch housing, 
and someone suggested that this was a key sensor, but I can't find any 
reference to it in the workshop manual. Was he right? If so, what is it 
called? Should I replace it?

Any advice much appreciated.

--
Chris Melluish

Chris Melluish wrote:

> I have just replaced a faulty ignition/starter switch on my 1996 Passat.
> 
> The radio used to stay on even when the key was turned to the off position, 
> and only switched off when I removed the key. If I put the key back in 
> within a second or so it came back on again.


That's what it's supposed to do.


> There is a ring with a lead which fits round the end of the switch housing, 
> and someone suggested that this was a key sensor, 


It is but it's for the immobiliser.

John

"John Greystrong"  wrote in message 
news:d9e2dq$qf6$1@helium.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk...

> Chris Melluish wrote:
>> I have just replaced a faulty ignition/starter switch on my 1996 Passat.
>>
>> The radio used to stay on even when the key was turned to the off 
>> position, and only switched off when I removed the key. If I put the key 
>> back in within a second or so it came back on again.
>
> That's what it's supposed to do.
>
>> There is a ring with a lead which fits round the end of the switch 
>> housing, and someone suggested that this was a key sensor,
>
> It is but it's for the immobiliser.
>
> John


I seem to have missed out the vital bit describing the fault - the radio now 
stays on all the time, even with the key out.

-- 
Chris Melluish

>
> I seem to have missed out the vital bit describing the fault - the radio 
> now stays on all the time, even with the key out.
>
> -- 
> Chris Melluish



Did you disconnect the battery when you replaced the faulty parts?  It may 
be that there is a setting in the radio that controls / sets this behaviour 
which has been lost / retruned to the default setting when the battery was 
disconnected.

Andy

"Andrew"  wrote in message 
news:11blgahe5o4s5e0@corp.supernews.com...

>
>>
>> I seem to have missed out the vital bit describing the fault - the radio 
>> now stays on all the time, even with the key out.
>>
>> -- 
>> Chris Melluish
>
>
> Did you disconnect the battery when you replaced the faulty parts?  It may 
> be that there is a setting in the radio that controls / sets this 
> behaviour which has been lost / retruned to the default setting when the 
> battery was disconnected.
>
> Andy
>


Yes I did, but have done so many times before without this happening.

--
Chris Melluish

"Chris Melluish"  wrote in message
news:d9ec2i$onl$1@nwrdmz02.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...

>
> "John Greystrong"  wrote in message
> news:d9e2dq$qf6$1@helium.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk...
> > Chris Melluish wrote:
> >> I have just replaced a faulty ignition/starter switch on my 1996
Passat.
> >>
> >> The radio used to stay on even when the key was turned to the off
> >> position, and only switched off when I removed the key. If I put the
key
> >> back in within a second or so it came back on again.
> >
> > That's what it's supposed to do.
> >
> >> There is a ring with a lead which fits round the end of the switch
> >> housing, and someone suggested that this was a key sensor,
> >
> > It is but it's for the immobiliser.
> >
> > John
>
> I seem to have missed out the vital bit describing the fault - the radio
now
> stays on all the time, even with the key out.


My Passat, M reg used to do this. I just thought there was some kind of
switch in the ignition barrel and over the years it had got gummed up and
was sticking on occasionally.

I squirted some WD40 on the key and shoved it in and out several times and
it resolved the problem.

> > Did you disconnect the battery when you replaced the faulty parts?  It
may
> > be that there is a setting in the radio that controls / sets this
> > behaviour which has been lost / retruned to the default setting when the
> > battery was disconnected.



AFAICR VW radios always stayed on with the key out of the ignition. Later
VW's with digital radios had a programmable option to cut the radio when the
ignition was switched off. It sounds like this setting has been lost
somehow.

I had a Polo for a while, and for the first few weeks I frequently left the
radio on by accident!  (I also had a Renault 9 where you could leave the
wipers on without the ignition, but that's another story altogether!)

If it's the original radio do you have the radio instruction manual/car
handbook?