ign. switch prob.

[don gilbert]

My ign. switch went out on me last nite, luckly at the house. Lock cyl. seeems fine. question, can i replace the swi. without removing the cyl, from the dash? Went through archives, to much info. to go through, except for finding out that cyl is a pain to remove. thanks, don

[pete3799]

I've never replaced the electrical part of the switch but others have done it in situ.
Not easy to get to the upper screw. Good luck.

[Targa Me]

I've done it on my '84 911. Replace just the elect portion.
+1 on the upper screw, its a toughy.

[techweenie]

Be prepared to modify your screwdriver to get the top screw. When I last replaced one, I replaced the screws with allen bolts and cut an allan key to the correct length to make the task easy.

If the failure is in the electrical module, you're fortunate. If the failure is in the mechanical portion of the switch, you will have to pull the lock cylinder.

What are the symptoms of your problem?

[don gilbert]

My key turns fine in the cyl, fuel pump comes on, but no starter engagement. Then i noticed the spring tension was gone when you turn the key to the start postion, and then it felt all "crumbly" turning the key back and forth, like plastic falling apart, and then no detents for acc, and run position, key turned freely in cyl.

[techweenie]

You will need to pull the entire lock cylinder mechanism and likely replace it.

Even though the spring for the starter engagement is in the electrical portion, you shouldn't have the 'crunchy' feeling.

If your key releases the ignition lock, you can disconnect the electrical portion and maybe start the car using a screwdriver. If the electrical portion is the only part that's bad, it's fairly inexpensive compared with a lock cylinder.

[don gilbert]

It is so cold here, gonna wait for a warmer day to get to it, waiting on switch from PP rite now, hope thats all i need, prob. wont be. what kind of screwdriver TW and what modification. I like the allen bolt idea, will go with that on assembly.

[techweenie]

Your electric component will have a little cross slot that looks like a phillips head. Earlier ones were just a slot like a common blade screwdriver. I drove my car for weeks with the electrical component hanging down while I looked for a good ignition switch/lock assembly. It's not a huge challenge to operate the car this way.

If the electrical component solves your problem, you can remove the old one and swap in the new. Don't be surprised if it stops working. There's an interaction between the mechanical and electrical components. :-/

It cost me a fair amount of money to learn all this. :-(

[RSTarga]

I just finished with this job. The ignition switch does contain the spring portion of the starter engagement. I had to replace the whole assembly.

[don gilbert]

ok, finally got around to it. The switch is fine, the pot metel tab on the back of the cyl that engages the switch has broken. The screwdiver aproach works great, but would like to fix it. Looked up the cyl from our host, 600.00 bucks, ouch. would one of you fine gents happen to have one laying around off a parts car you could part with for a reasonable price, thanks, Don

[Joe Bob]

place a wtb in the classifieds.....