Ignition Switch Problems

[Danimal16]

BLUF: My 1971 911 has not been starting. The key will not engage the starter. Yesterday when pushing it out of the garage to work on it, I discovered that if I were to turn the steering wheel from side to side with wide turning action, the key would engage the starter and the car would start.

Is this an indication that the mechanical part of the ignition is bad?

Background information:
After a spring of hard runs/rallies, I have developed a couple of starting issues.
First a little background. During one of the more vigorous drives, I discovered that my battery hold-down strap had broken and sheared the battery ground strap. I made all the needed repairs and the car started and ran fine.
A few weeks later, the ignition switch intermittently stopped working. It had all the tell tail signs of a bad ignition switch electric module, so I changed that out as well. Ran fine.
Last week the ignition stopped working and it was exhibiting signs that my starter solenoid may be going out or had failed. Yesterday when moving the car I found that I could engage the starter when I moved the steering wheel from side to side AND the engine would start.

[Nditiz1]

Best course is to remove your ignition switch. I commented on a recent post about the cross piece breaking and the switch no longer functioning as it should. Find that post and compare yours to the pics I posted. More than likely you will need a new ign switch.

As far as turning the wheel, that should not do that. I would check for something loose causing that as well.

[Schulisco]

Originally Posted by Nditiz1

Best course is to remove your ignition switch. I commented on a recent post about the cross piece breaking and the switch no longer functioning as it should. Find that post and compare yours to the pics I posted. More than likely you will need a new ign switch.

As far as turning the wheel, that should not do that. I would check for something loose causing that as well.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1124862-ignition-switch-modification-questions.html

[Danimal16]

Well, I sorted the problem with a bit of Tri-Flow. Also, did a search and found some great threads that deal with this, so I kinda answered my own question. It appears to be the starter lock out indent. It is now sporadic but will require removal to make the needed permanent repair.

[Walt Fricke]

I resolved this issue on my '77 (now in '82 garb) by installing a push button for the starter. It has a black rubber cover, so fits right in with the dash. I'd replaced the various parts of the ignition a couple of times previously. It is tricky to replace the electrical switch part - a replacement is apt not to be as securely fastened to the mechanical/key part, and the multi-pin plug is very tight, so pulling it off the switch puts quite a strain on the punched indentations holding the two together. Since this is now a track only car, if I have any more trouble I'll probably just replace the ignition apparatus with a toggle switch, though that's not a good idea for a street driven car.