Earlier today, experienced play in ignition switch taking 5 minutes to finally start car. Drove to dealer leaving car on and was quoted 4 hours and $800 to replace ignition switch. Seems a lot, this seem accurate? Any other options? Thanks for any input.

 

Ignition switch can be bought for 15 online. Cheap part thats shared with Audi.
You'll be on your back in a limited space but really really taking your time...it'll take an hour.
Seriously do it yourself.
The whole switch and assembly does not need to be replaced....you just need the switch.

 

Sounds about right for the dealer, over $100 per hour labor. Check Pelican Parts for the cost of a switch. You could always buy the switch yourself and find an Indy to put it in.

 

Yikes!

I did mine in a couple of hours. The complete new OEM part was $180 or maybe it was $120. It's not that hard, but it helps to be small.

I would think that a new one installed would be about $300 to $400 at a reputable dealer.

You can buy just the electrical ignition switch itself for cheap as long as the metal assembly it mounts to is not worn out.

 

The dealer will replace the entire switch assembly not just the electrical blob at the end.

I've been told early on just the electrical blob was replaced but there were too many bring backs so the factory stopped selling the electrical part separately. Some have had good luck replacing just the electrical part but with that much play in the switch I would think the entire assembly would be required.

I had the switch in my Boxster replaced. I can't recall the cost now but I know it was not $800. The switch was under $200 and labor was an hour or so. I'd have to say the cost was under $500 and it could have been under $400.

$800 seems awfully high. But without a break down on cost of the switch and the labor required...

 

+1 to what everyone else here says. I looked at a car that had an ignition switch issue, and the indy doing the PPI quoted $300 to repair and replace. $800 should come with a lifetime supply of lube, and you getting a GT3 for a loaner for, oh, a week sounds about right.

 

read this at Pelican, Boxster and 996 are the same.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...ion_Switch.htm
The replacement electrical portion is ~$12-15 at NAPA #4A0905849B
If that doesn't fix it, then Replace the whole switch/lock assy for $$$.

 

Given that the ignition switch is $11 to $15 at Pelican, I'd just replace that (DIY) and see if it fixes the problem. If that doesn't work, try replacing the entire assembly.

Either way, $800 is way too high.

Here are some DIY's for replacing just the electrical portion of the switch, which is mounted to the back of the ignition cylinder assembly under the dash.

Renntech DIY (login required)
Pelican DIY

 

On my '02, replacing the electrical switch (the cheap part) didn't solve the problem, so I had my dealer replace the entire locking assembly. I think it was around $600 all in. Maybe a tad high, but the dealer had the part in stock which was worth it IMHO.

 

After the whole ignition switch has been replaced, will the same ignition key fit the car or does it have to have a new programmed key??? Does anyone know the answer to that please.?

 

I just did mine a couple of months ago. The part was $195 and the installation was $200. Check around and stay away from dealer

 

When I dropped my car off to have 30k mile service and the hard second shift "lurch" I posted about separately, my ignition failed literally at the shop (key pulled out very difficult, radio stayed on and then it would not go back in). They replaced either the housing or the switch but not both (I'm on vacation and don't have my receipt handy) and it was like $150 with labor.

 

If the shop does the work properly you keep the same keys--no programming required. They actually swap the key core from the old housing to the new one.

 

^This.

There is no need to replace the whole unit, just the "end" piece. Napa has them in stock.
Took a bit of contortion to get the old one off but worked like a champ.
Even if the key is sitcking, the "end" piece is the only issue.

 

FWIW, not all ignition lock problems are resolved with a single solution. In my case, the dealer replaced the "Steer lock hsng", PET# 996-347-017-07. Parts
($182) and labor ($308)...before PCA discount; net cost =$392.

relinuca