please help! ignition cut out/ barrel change!!!!

[pads1111]

hello everyone, my name is paddy, me and my girlfriend jane own a vw t25 1.6 diesel and we embark on a trip around europe in a week today... unfortunately ive made a school boy error!!

making some last minute checks i pushed in one of the relays that seemed loose, but the ignition was on : ( resulting in the ignition cable starting to smoke... i pulled the fuse that was overheating (but not breaking!!!!) and i then couldnt get the van to start.... although it was close too.. then when i retried to start it, i realised it would start if i didnt fully turn the key.. but the engine wouldnt continue ticking over unless i kept the key in the 3/4 position that it was in to start! im thinking i may of fried the inside of the ignition... do i change the ignition barrel? if so where would i find one and is it any easy enough procedure? any help would be greatly appreciated!!

thanks in advance pad and jane..

[CovKid]

No, just the ignition switch which is a separate unit behind the barrel. Search for 'ignition switch' in the search box although its probably all in the WIKI (top left) anyway.