Ignition switch problems

[spyder803]

Had trouble last week getting my key out of the ignition and noticed it no longer kicked back to on once started so I did a search and followed all of the advice in the DIYs.

Got the new piece in and changed them out this morning but ran into a pretty big issue, when I reconnected my battery and went to start the car I got the Airbag error and all other lights on, but the key would not turn. I have since disconnected the battery and removed the new part but does anyone have any ideas what might be wrong here? Do I reinstall it again and hope I somehow messed up the first time?

Any chance this airbag light wont come back?

I ordered the part from Autohauz and it is the Meyle unit. Has any else experience similar?

Okay, I took it out and reinstalled it and realized things were not lining up as necessary. Turned thrned the key back and forth a couple times and then reinstalled and all is well.

Edited June 26, 2009 by spyder803

[qikqbn]

Had trouble last week getting my key out of the ignition and noticed it no longer kicked back to on once started so I did a search and followed all of the advice in the DIYs.

Got the new piece in and changed them out this morning but ran into a pretty big issue, when I reconnected my battery and went to start the car I got the Airbag error and all other lights on, but the key would not turn. I have since disconnected the battery and removed the new part but does anyone have any ideas what might be wrong here? Do I reinstall it again and hope I somehow messed up the first time?

Any chance this airbag light wont come back?

I ordered the part from Autohauz and it is the Meyle unit. Has any else experience similar?

Okay, I took it out and reinstalled it and realized things were not lining up as necessary. Turned thrned the key back and forth a couple times and then reinstalled and all is well.

hey spyder

I just installed a new ignition switch last night and have a similar issue. car starts fine and everything seems to work , BUT now my airbag light is on. it was never on before so it has to be something with the new part or something was knocked loose.

Can you give a few more specifics about what was not working for you and what exactly was not "lining up" ?? maybe we have similar connection issues.

did you also notice that it takes a little more effort to turn your key with the new part?....

my boxster is a 1998... I think I know what may have happened. I took the gauge cluster out for much easier access to ignition switch...

I tested the car to see if the ignition worked with out having the cluster and a couple other things plugged in... maybe that did it... now i need to get the code cleared... hmmmm... just a thought, but not sure...

thanks, Bill

Edited June 27, 2009 by qikqbn

[spyder803]

hey spyder

I just installed a new ignition switch last night and have a similar issue. car starts fine and everything seems to work , BUT now my airbag light is on. it was never on before so it has to be something with the new part or something was knocked loose.

Can you give a few more specifics about what was not working for you and what exactly was not "lining up" ?? maybe we have similar connection issues.

did you also notice that it takes a little more effort to turn your key with the new part?....

my boxster is a 1998... I think I know what may have happened. I took the gauge cluster out for much easier access to ignition switch...

I tested the car to see if the ignition worked with out having the cluster and a couple other things plugged in... maybe that did it... now i need to get the code cleared... hmmmm... just a thought, but not sure...

thanks, Bill

Bill,

From what I have read I think your light may be coming on due to testing your switch without everything else hooked up. On mine I did not have the ignition switch in position 0. When my original piece failed it left my key stuck and I once I forced the key out I neglected to realign it before installing the new switch.

So mine was not lined up correctly when I tightened the set screws.

[qikqbn]

hey spyder

I just installed a new ignition switch last night and have a similar issue. car starts fine and everything seems to work , BUT now my airbag light is on. it was never on before so it has to be something with the new part or something was knocked loose.

Can you give a few more specifics about what was not working for you and what exactly was not "lining up" ?? maybe we have similar connection issues.

did you also notice that it takes a little more effort to turn your key with the new part?....

my boxster is a 1998... I think I know what may have happened. I took the gauge cluster out for much easier access to ignition switch...

I tested the car to see if the ignition worked with out having the cluster and a couple other things plugged in... maybe that did it... now i need to get the code cleared... hmmmm... just a thought, but not sure...

thanks, Bill

Bill,

From what I have read I think your light may be coming on due to testing your switch without everything else hooked up. On mine I did not have the ignition switch in position 0. When my original piece failed it left my key stuck and I once I forced the key out I neglected to realign it before installing the new switch.

So mine was not lined up correctly when I tightened the set screws.

Yup, somehow I triggered it while testing the ignition without having everything plugged in. Swung by the dealership and they reset all my fault codes.

there were fault codes for the unplugged gauge cluster as well as the seatbelt/airbag sensor... All good now. another lesson learned...

take care.

Bill