911mhawk

My key finally stuck in the ignition last night when I realized the lights were not working and pulled over to check a fuse.

Was thinking of doing just the electrical part first.
Question is, for those of you that have had the key act sticky, then get stuck and have to turn it hard left to pull out, did an electronic portion of the swith fix it?

Seems more like a tumbler issue?

Thanks guys -Mark

Link to Pelican repair:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...ering_Lock.htm

Carlo_Carrera

I would replace both the tumbler and the electrical switch.

Tim Wasmer

I had that happen on 2 996's and I just replaced the switch not the tumbler.

DIY: https://www.renntech.org/forums/tuto.../?_fromLogin=1

"02996ttx50

I've also replaced it twice. i would try just replacing the 12$ part first.

Carlo_Carrera

Okay, I have been swayed. Replace just the electrical switch first.

911mhawk

I'm grabbing a switch from my buddies shop this afternoon and will see if that works.
Also have the entire tumber/switch coming from the wonderful parts department at Sonnen too, just for when it happens again on a day I really need it.
I had a feeling it was coming, since the key has been getting "less precise" feeling in the tumbler.
Thanks for all you help and the renntech link.

FRUNKenstein

It's never the tumbler. I would have bet 10 to 1 that mine was the tumbler. It wasn't. It never is. Just replace the electrical part of the switch.

Spend the extra bucks to get the ~$30 part rather than the $12 part (ask me how I know). It is such a common fail item and the part is so cheap, that even after you replace the old one, just buy an extra one, put a small flathead screwdriver tip in the box along with the part, then throw it in one of the door pockets, just in case.

http://www.warehouse33auto.com/parts...14/14/0/4516/0

If you haven't had to replace yours yet, then definitely buy a replacement part and keep it in the door pocket. Murphy says it will go out on you at the most inconvenient time & place. If you don't have that part, you're probably screwed. If you do have it (along with the tiny flathead screwdriver tip) in your door pocket, you're back on the road in 30 minutes or less.

Hosewater2

I've fixed this twice, yes it seems like a tumbler issue but the electrical switch fixed mine. I used a Napa part the first time because it was available and mine is a DD, it broke 6 weeks later so I used the OEM part with the Audi logo on it and so far so good.

jason952

its the electric part, get the audi one, I have a picture in another thread about how its nicer than the napa part, but napa works in a pinch. kind of a PITA to replace at first.

Mtrboatvr6

My MKIV GTI eats these things like Skittles. Doesnt surprise me at all these would be a failure on our PCars as well. I am in agreement that the cheap ones are a waste of time. Been there done that.

pfbz

Links for replacement how-to?

Key on my current 996TT works fine and never had the issue with my earlier 996C2, but would like to have some idea how to replace the part if (when?) it fails...

Hosewater2

http://pedrosgarage.com/Site_3/Repla...on_Switch.html

pfbz

Looks like one of those 'easy to replace but hard to get your head/hands in there' kind of jobs!

Hosewater2

Yes I recommend a headlight and some sort of mini screwdriver. Small hands don't hurt either but I didn't have those myself.

Drinaldis

50/50 shot. I ordered the wrong one. The one on the left came out of my '03. The one on the right is 4AO 905 849B.