Ck986

Tonight I changed out my 2 year old ignition switch with a new one as I was almost left stranded this weekend. It seems when my ignition switch goes I get two distinct issues, excessive battery drain and car won't crank. I'm kinda of tired of replacing these so will likely replace the entire mechanism next time.

I'm a bit surprised it failed so fast as the car was not used much since replacing the original switch (5-6k miles ago). I opened up my old switch and it's a very simple device so not sure why it goes faulty. Also the vw part is the same as the factory porsche part, both were manufactured by LK.

"02996ttx50

concur part is vw/audi and i would also replace the entire unit now you've had recurrent issues with the simplest internal piece itself.

i got lucky apparently as the generic replacement i bought and R&R'd has lasted some 6/7 years and the cost was about 8 bucks@amazon. gl with the entire unit r&r. i think that's the prudent next step.

Atrox

Try another one, as cheap and simple as the fix is.

fpb111

Third was the charm for me. When I sold it 5 years later it was still working.

FL-03Carrera

Top Tip here.... Remove that 5 pound weight you have attached to your keychain

FRUNKenstein

Make sure you spend the money to get the $30 part (I think $26 at warehouse33auto.com) rather than the $12 NAPA part (which the parts vendors also sell).

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

Took me all of 19 minutes to swap mine out last time I did it. I keep both a spare ignition switch and the tiny flathead screwdriver tip that you need to do the job in the car just in case.

Brother Atrox did a poll on this issue over on the NA 996 forum that you might want to check out:

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...ment-poll.html

602996TT

Excellent advice I replaced my ignition switch about 4 years ago for around $12 at Napa took like 5 min to replace, ever since I only use a single key with a small Porsche key chain IMO having multiple keys swinging around while driving wears out the ignition switch prematurely.

khiroshima

This is the direction I went year ago for all my cars . . . Car key only, house key and such on a separate key ring, two benefits:

-Less wear on the fragile 996 ignition
-less bulk in your pocket when you are walking around with your keys

Win-Win KH

ANJ-911

Single key is def the way to go for all cars. I use a small S-Biner and detatch all other keys and put them in the center console while driving, then reattach when I get out of the car.

"02996ttx50

i sure hope you guys are wrong about the multiple key deal, although i suspect you're right and have too many keys on the key i use most frequently when i take the turbo.

when i don't *need* the other keys i just take the one with the porsche crest fob but thats like 1 outa 10 times.

but i'm still on MY 1st ignition switch replacement. maybe i'll stay lucky, as i believe that extra weight can't be helping. one more thing to think about lol

Kevinmacd

It could be due to what's in inventory. The way I understad it the switch has been updated a couple of times. This may be the reason some experience an issue and some dont after the first replacement.
Suspect it could be due to the level of the replacement part.

jimq

Mine gets hard to turn the key occasionally. Is this the plastic part or a problem with the metal frame it mounts in. Would getting some dry graphite in there hurt or help anything? I bought a new switch but am hesitant to go up in there to replace but its happening more lately.

RDS928S

My ign. switch started to fail slowly about tow yrs ago.
Key would not go in or was hard to pull out, Switch would not return to normal position once the car was started or when shut off, thus draining battery.

I started to lubricate the switch on a regular basis with WD -40 and other spray lubs.

Now the switch functions properly and actually clicks back into the normal return position was started or the key is removed.

Worth a try IMO.

Rich

Ck986

I have only ever used one key on both my 986 and 996, but I don't think it made a difference on the 996 once the mechanical portion has probably already been damaged. I need to remove the vent and see how easy replacing the whole thing is. I have studied it a little bit and it shouldn't be too bad, but its a very tight space.