Ignition Switch Replacement

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32wildbilly
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Re: Ignition Switch Replacement

Post by 32wildbilly » Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:27 am

FRUNKenstein wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:05 am Update: Neither Autozone nor NAPA carry the ignition switch in stock any longer. I tried the local VW dealer and Audi dealer. The nearest one in stock was Toronto. That means if you need one, you will need to order it. I will renew my recommendation from earlier in this thread that you should carry an extra one in the car, and throw a small screwdriver tip in the box with the part. It's small and cheap enough that it just makes sense to carry an extra - think of it like the spare fuses we all pretty much keep in the glovebox.

That being said, Amazon stocks 3 different versions - the OE part (now $45), the cheaper URO part ($15) and an even cheaper, unbranded part for $7.49. The cheapest part is available for same-day delivery, so I ordered one of those, and then I ordered the OE part because I know the cheapo one won't last long. The OE part will arrive the middle of next week. If I didn't need to drive the car to an event tomorrow, I would have just waited for the OE one to arrive. Of course, had I heeded my own advice and kept an extra on hand, I wouldn't have a problem at all, now, would I?
So is your switch showing the symptoms of failure or are you just being paranoid and trying to find a spare. I'm confused which is normal for me around here.
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Dr_Strangelove
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Re: Ignition Switch Replacement

Post by Dr_Strangelove » Fri Sep 23, 2022 10:39 am

U Regret Once

Good call on the OEM. I'll echo the why do you need a new ignition switch for sure?
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FRUNKenstein
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Re: Ignition Switch Replacement

Post by FRUNKenstein » Fri Sep 23, 2022 9:40 pm

OK, another update. What I've learnt today:
1. The same day delivery on the ignition switch from Amazon did indeed get delivered today. Thumbs up!

2. Once you stick your head in the footwell, you can indeed easily tell if you have the older part (4A0905849B) or the newer part (4B0905849), which has the white housing. Here's the view after only removing the heater duct (which takes 2 seconds to do):
IMG_3944.jpg
So, word to the wise, before you buy or order the part, take the 2 minutes to stick your head under the dash to see which switch you've got. In a post above, I noted that apparently the older part was used up through 2003, and the new part was only placed on the 2004 and newer cars. When I replaced the switch on my 2002, it was the older part. This car is a 2001 model, so I assumed it had the older part. But, as you can plainly see in the picture, it is the newer part with the white housing. Based on the red loctite on the set screws, this is the original switch from the factory.

3. Autozone ($61.49) and NAPA ($71.99) both stock the newer part with the white housing. Amazon has them starting at $8.99 and all the way up to $20.02 (Beck-Arnley). Apparently an alternate part number (maybe Audi's part number) is 201-1790. I ordered one from Amazon with next day delivery at $16.98.

4. I grabbed what I thought was a small width flat head screwdriver tip, but it was too big. It had a size "4" stamped on it. I had one size smaller, a "3" and that worked fine. In the below picture, the 3 is the one on the left and the 4 is next to it.
IMG_3945 (1).jpg
IMG_3945 (1).jpg (336.48 KiB) Viewed 731 times
5. Because this was the original switch, I just couldn't get enough torque on the screwdriver tip to turn one of the set screws. It was the lower one. I was able to use the bit holder in the picture above on the lower set screw, which gave me just enough grip to get it turned. The bit holder would not work on the upper set screw, but thankfully I was able to get it to turn with just the screwdriver tip alone.
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Re: Ignition Switch Replacement

Post by FRUNKenstein » Fri Sep 23, 2022 9:52 pm

32wildbilly wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:27 am
So is your switch showing the symptoms of failure or are you just being paranoid and trying to find a spare. I'm confused which is normal for me around here.
It's for the 2001 996tt I just bought last week.
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Current:
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Other toys:
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1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
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Re: Ignition Switch Replacement

Post by 32wildbilly » Sat Sep 24, 2022 5:52 am

FRUNKenstein wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 9:52 pm
32wildbilly wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:27 am
So is your switch showing the symptoms of failure or are you just being paranoid and trying to find a spare. I'm confused which is normal for me around here.
It's for the 2001 996tt I just bought last week.
Oh. I forgot about your latest purchase. So this was just for insurance purposes. You are the ignition switch King in my book. Ain't no way I could get into that area and if I did I would never get back out without assistance..."Hello AAA my stupid old out of shape husband is stuck on the floor board again. Please send the hook truck."
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Re: Ignition Switch Replacement

Post by theprf » Sat Sep 24, 2022 7:10 am

My '01 TT also has the newer ignition lock assembly with the newer ignition switch. I believe the ignition lock was changed at some time in the past. With 183k miles on the car it's seen a lot of use.
My '03 TT has the older ignition lock. Only 38k miles. The older ignition lock has a piece inside that breaks and jams up the lock assembly. I had to remove the ignition lock last weekend as the key was jammed in place with the car running. With the ignition lock out of the car, enough tapping on the lock assembly got it moving again until the new one is delivered.

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Re: Ignition Switch Replacement

Post by JayG » Sat Sep 24, 2022 7:12 am

I remember reading somewhere that the factory part can be sourced as Porsche $$$, Audi $$ or VW $
all the same part, just different part numbers
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Re: Ignition Switch Replacement

Post by FRUNKenstein » Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:23 am

theprf wrote: Sat Sep 24, 2022 7:10 am My '01 TT also has the newer ignition lock assembly with the newer ignition switch. I believe the ignition lock was changed at some time in the past. With 183k miles on the car it's seen a lot of use.
My '03 TT has the older ignition lock. Only 38k miles. The older ignition lock has a piece inside that breaks and jams up the lock assembly. I had to remove the ignition lock last weekend as the key was jammed in place with the car running. With the ignition lock out of the car, enough tapping on the lock assembly got it moving again until the new one is delivered.
Wow, you have the same as me, then, an ‘01 with a new model switch and a newer car with the old switch. Those crazy Germans. I wonder how the decision process went regarding which one to use on a given car? Did they start using the new switch on the ‘01 because it was the first year of the turbo version? Did they find a stash of old parts in 2002 so decided to use them up? I remember walking through the factory grounds back in 2003 and 2004 when I was traveling to Stuttgart regularly for the Navy. It looked so much different back then - just a collection of old buildings as opposed to the slick, modern architecture of today. In that old factory, I could envision a much more haphazard way of doing business.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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Re: Ignition Switch Replacement

Post by FRUNKenstein » Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:24 am

JayG wrote: Sat Sep 24, 2022 7:12 am I remember reading somewhere that the factory part can be sourced as Porsche $$$, Audi $$ or VW $
all the same part, just different part numbers
I don’t think Porsche sells just the electrical portion of the switch. I think you have to buy the entire “pistol”.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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Re: Ignition Switch Replacement

Post by theprf » Mon Sep 26, 2022 6:55 am

FRUNKenstein wrote: Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:23 am Wow, you have the same as me, then, an ‘01 with a new model switch and a newer car with the old switch.
I am pretty sure the new style assembly in the '01 is a replacement done under prior ownership.

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