Remove ignition barrel on 04 140TDI Touran

[suityou01]

Got a call from the Missus today as she was stranded with all the kids in the car. The key would not go in the ignition, and then it would but would not turn. I managed to start the car with some patient wiggling of the key and rocking of the wheel but the barrel is fotally tucked.

I have removed the upper and lower cowels and can see the barrel but not how to remove it. There is a yellow sticky label beneath that says "Unplug airbag first". Any idea how to get the barrel off without risking a facefull of airbag?

Any suggestions on where to go for the cheapest option for a replacement barrel that would match the existing key blade?

Thanks in advance.

[suityou01]

Really surprised no one knows how to do this. I have figured it out and just wanted to report back.

Having removed the cowels (one torx screw under the bottom cowel, and two behind the steering wheel which you have to rotate the wheel 90 degrees right and left to get at).
Then with the cowels removed and the rubber gromet that goes around the ignition lock removed now insert the key. Turn the key round to the first click. On the metal surface where the key goes in there is a small hole. By inserting a metal wire (I used a paperclip) into the hole this releases the mechanism and allows the lock mechanism to be removed as a single unit. Even with the wire in place and the key turned I still needed to prise it gently with a screw driver but I came without much force.

The assembly has one wiring connector which can be unclipped quite easily. In this instance I gave the unit a WD40 bath and then the mechanism starting behaving so I refitted it to the car and all is well.

Sadly now I have an airbag warning light on having removed it but I did reconnect the wiring and did not dislodge anything else. That one is for another day though.

I also found this youtube vid for dismantelling the ignition barrel (for a golf) but it is identical to the 04 Touran.