Sticky ignition barrel in hot weather?

[M4T VW]

Does anyone else find there key really hard to turn when the weather is hot?

Mine was parked on the drive for most of the day on Friday and i went out in the afternoon. It was boiling inside and the leather nearly burnt my legs!
But it took about 2 mins before i could turn the ignition on because when it gets hot it just seems to stick. Its like the steering lock is on but its not, It just wont turn.
After a few mins it turns and its fine.

Anyone else have anything similar?

Cheers
Mat

[RUM4MO]

I had this problem on a VX Cav GSI - it was really bad one year when on holiday in Brittany, so, with less than a week to go until the next summer holiday in France I panic'd and bought a new barrel - problem solved! If you are going to be as smart as I should have been, then you will wander down to your dealer with any forms that prove you own the car, and ask them to oder in a new barrel for your present key code number, though you might now have a damaged key as well due to needing to force it more than you should - so should buy a new key as well.

[capo]

The day I bought my first car (private sale - an old Metro), 18 years old.. happy as anything... drove it home to show my Mum, got back in car to take her for a drive, and key wouldn't turn in the ignition. What a downer. It did eventually turn but was so troublesome that within the week my first ever car repair bill was for a new ignition barrel + fitting.

Don't be tempted to use any grease in a VW ignition barrel - IMO.

I can't find the source atm but I've read some official stuff which says this is a really bad thing to do.

Update: Actually I've just found the info I remember... but it's for a Golf. I think the principle will be pretty much the same (avoiding grease) around/in barrel and lock. There is only supposed to be the lightest film of special grease present.

Also it highlights a couple of other things about stiff ignition barrel which might be worth a read. If yours is only causing a bit of trouble when left out in sun on the hottest days with leather seats scorching your legs, it might not be much to worry about. Just the excessive heat maybe?

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