I need help getting into a Jetta....

Looks like your roommate is going to have a big parking bill when she gets back. Not much you can do about it now.

snipped-for-privacy@my.fun (Papa) wrote in news:FolGg.6837$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net:

How so?

I thought the purpose of a valet key was to let you open the doors and drive the car while not allowing you to get into the trunk.

If he has a valet key, what's stopping him from driving the car?

I'm wondering about the bit about setting off the alarm though.

Please provide more detail: "Cannot start the car is too vague"

If the car is a manual transmission, then you have to press the clutch in.

You may have to turn the steering wheel slightly to unjam the ignition key steering lock.

The Valet key is supposed to work just fine so if it does not then there is something wrong with the car or your key.

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:

Well, I assume the OP had already unlocked the car and tried to start it. That's certainly what I would have done.

Yeah, me too.

VW been making the Jetta for over 20+ years... so it would be GREAT if we knew which one you have?

well remote + valet key sounds like no A1 or A2 so it's at least an A3 I bet.

I have no idea which Jetta it is - sorry

I unlocked the car, opened the door - the alarm went off - and then I got in the car and tried to start it - the car wouldn't start

I do know how to drive a stick shift, so I did step on the clutch - thanks for that :)

I couldn't make the alarm stop - but it did after a while - not because of anything that I did - so I tried the key in the ignition again and the alarm started going off again - and the car still wouldn't start

Try unlocking the other front door with the key.

Sounds like the immobilizer is kicking in for sure.

Unless there's a professional VW theif on this board (let's hope not) you might be out of luck w/o the remote to disarm the alarm.

Sounds like an A3 I'm familiar with :(

This is gonna sound nutty, and well it is, but it might work. Open and close the rear doors a couple times. The wiring harnesses back there get fouled up, and sometimes doing that a time or two or more will move the wires around enough it doesn't automatically think it's supposed to lock out.

Worked on mine the weekend before I replaced that F$%*&!ing harness!

Have you considered getting it towed if the expense of parking there is so great?

Good luck, Mark '95 Jetta GLS

Or maybe I answered the question and didn't tell anything about 'how to steal it.'

The wiring harness is a common thing, especially in the back. Does happen in the fronts and trunk too, but in my experience, not nearly as often.

Mark '95 Jetta GLS

NOT A THIEF..................but email me and I can tell you how to get it started easily. you will still have that alarm sounding though. ;-)

of course this is depending on the year of this Jetta and if you REALLY HAVE TO MOVE IT! you can open the driver's door and find out when it was made. If the right door allows for the use of a key then I would assume '97 or earlier.

We got it moved!

Thanks so much for all of your help.

I don't really know what did it, but we went back and turned the key in the lock twice before we opened the door, and the alarm didn't go off, and we could start the car.

So my roomate's parking bill is going to be considerably less than it would have been.

But I really do appreciate all your ideas!

Thanks again,

Allison