warning: Do not buy this trunk lock

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

http://www.dieselvw.com/165827571ETrunkLock.htm

I bought it a few months ago and wish I never did. I also bought a locking gas cap from the same site. The two sets of keys were cut very differently yet they work in either the trunk lock or the gas cap. That got my attention a bit. Anyway I went to open the trunk today and the whole tumbler/push assembly came right out with the key!!! WTF? On closer inspection, the housing of the tumbler is plastic and the cir-clip which holds it in place worked itself loose because the tumbler housing is made of cheapo plastic instead of metal, which also explains why just about any key you stick in there will open the lock. Good I didn't throw out the old trunk lock which didn't come with a key when I bought the car. I took the tumbler out and filed some of the brass wavers down to fit the key for the door/ ignition, thrown out 2 wafers that were too long to file down, put it back together and it works fine. Should be good to go for the long run since the tumbler housing is all metal.

[Baron VonZeppelin]

98% of what he sells is geared for used car wheeler dealers and cheapo flippers.
Not geared towards guys who keep cars or drive them everyday.

How is the locking fuel cap doing ?

[NintendoKD]

another product produced not in the USA and in some other country who doesn't care about quality or the consumers who  buy from them like N Korea, or China.  On another note, we do kind of do this to ourselves here.  Good luck with the lock problems.  Try to find a good locksmith, they may be able to get you another lock and make it so that your original key works for it.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

Locksmith? Not needed. I made the tumbler of my old OEM lock  fit my door/ignition key. Now one key fits all and I'm a happy camper.

[Quantum TD]

Really? His stuff is crap?

Hmmm. That's odd. I've heard nothing but good about his products.

[Syncroincity]

Really? His stuff is crap?

Hmmm. That's odd. I've heard nothing but good about his products.

Hey, you're dripping irony all over everything

[Turbinepowered]

Really? His stuff is crap?

Hmmm. That's odd. I've heard nothing but good about his products.

Hey, you're dripping irony all over everything

Or sarcasm. I just stepped in some, ew.

[FoXBoXRaCiNG]

Bought these,

PR did me a solid and mailed them out of Canada on his vacation! So far so functional, even through our Calgary cold n snow. Mind you, they are cheap with lower quality specs, obviously, but we all remember the OE handles 

[lovinthedeez]

I have a lock set from prothe.  never had a problem with mine.  for 32 dollars, I wasn't expecting anything stellar.  but in my opinion, I've never seen a stellar oem door handle as well.  if you buy from prothe KNOWING his rep, and still get burned, you shouldn't be mad.  If you are that concerned about quality, go spend $$$$$$ on the hella stuff.  but you (as well as I) wanted a CHEAP lock set, and that is what we both got.  sorry yours didn't work out so well. 

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

I took the tumbler out and filed some of the brass wavers down to fit the key for the door/ ignition, thrown out 2 wafers that were too long to file down, put it back together and it works fine.

What I always do is swap tumblers until they are as close as I can get them when the key I want to use is in place and then file them down using a dremel.  Very fast, very easy and very effective.  I've never needed to toss any tumblers that way.   snip
Andrew

Did you mean swap wafers or tumblers???

[Jay]

Don't all Golf 2 keys fit eachothers locks and ignitions?    Thought that was a 'feature'   

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

I have a lock set from prothe.  never had a problem with mine.  for 32 dollars, I wasn't expecting anything stellar.  but in my opinion, I've never seen a stellar oem door handle as well.  if you buy from prothe KNOWING his rep, and still get burned, you shouldn't be mad.  If you are that concerned about quality, go spend $$$$$$ on the hella stuff.  but you (as well as I) wanted a CHEAP lock set, and that is what we both got.  sorry yours didn't work out so well. 

I didn't know his rep (that's reputation you meant??) at the time. I was referred to his site and at the time is a total newbie to VW diesels. This was back in 3/09. I am sure the person who referred me didn't know his rep either as he also bought parts from him, one of which was a head gasket. I know he had trouble with the head and had to do a head job 3 times. I do not know if his problems was head gasket related or not but it makes you wonder. I also do not know if all 3 head gaskets were bought from prothe. I'm not going to name names but if he wants to chime in he will do it on his own.

Good that your lock set is not giving you any trouble. With the plastic tumbler housing, I think trouble is inevitable down the road.

Another warning I can give you from first hand experience is the head light switch

http://www.dieselvw.com/191941531LHeadlightSwitch.htm

First, it wouldn't plug into the harness connector because a plastic key tang (which shouldn't be there) was in the way. Because the plastic is really cheap and brittle, the key tang broke in short order which allowed the switch to be plugged into the connector. But the switch is weird, the first click turns on the parking lights (the way it should), but the second click turns on the head lights but shuts the parking lights off!!!!!. Would you want to drive at night with just head lights and get rammed in the rear end? What really got me mad is when I called prothe up and got some woman who answered and I described the problem to her and was told "the switch works because you just told me it turns the head lights on, you can send it back on your own nickel for a refund less 15% restocking fee". WTF is wrong with her? So I am out $16 for the lock and switch but I learned my lesson.

[truckoSaurus08]

!. Would you want to drive at night with just head lights and get rammed in the rear end?
[/quote] No can't say that  I would . But seriously there is a price to pay when you go to the "cheapest" vendor. But there is some good out of this, we will know not to buy trunk locks from this douche.

[SolarSteve]

I have a lock set from prothe.  never had a problem with mine.  for 32 dollars, I wasn't expecting anything stellar.  but in my opinion, I've never seen a stellar oem door handle as well.  if you buy from prothe KNOWING his rep, and still get burned, you shouldn't be mad.  If you are that concerned about quality, go spend $$$$$$ on the hella stuff.  but you (as well as I) wanted a CHEAP lock set, and that is what we both got.  sorry yours didn't work out so well. 

I didn't know his rep (that's reputation you meant??) at the time. I was referred to his site and at the time is a total newbie to VW diesels. This was back in 3/09. I am sure the person who referred me didn't know his rep either as he also bought parts from him, one of which was a head gasket. I know he had trouble with the head and had to do a head job 3 times. I do not know if his problems was head gasket related or not but it makes you wonder. I also do not know if all 3 head gaskets were bought from prothe. I'm not going to name names but if he wants to chime in he will do it on his own.

Good that your lock set is not giving you any trouble. With the plastic tumbler housing, I think trouble is inevitable down the road.

Another warning I can give you from first hand experience is the head light switch

http://www.dieselvw.com/191941531LHeadlightSwitch.htm

First, it wouldn't plug into the harness connector because a plastic key tang (which shouldn't be there) was in the way. Because the plastic is really cheap and brittle, the key tang broke in short order which allowed the switch to be plugged into the connector. But the switch is weird, the first click turns on the parking lights (the way it should), but the second click turns on the head lights but shuts the parking lights off!!!!!. Would you want to drive at night with just head lights and get rammed in the rear end? What really got me mad is when I called prothe up and got some woman who answered and I described the problem to her and was told "the switch works because you just told me it turns the head lights on, you can send it back on your own nickel for a refund less 15% restocking fee". WTF is wrong with her? So I am out $16 for the lock and switch but I learned my lesson.

I do hope you are not referring to me, if so there are a few things in your post that are incorrect.

[turbosuzi]

I get tired of people tearing prothe down. I have bought stuff from that was good and stuff that is junk, but what do you expect when you can buy an item for 25% of retail somewhere else. When I need something important I go to the stealership. Its not like he is calling his stock OEM quality.