924Board.org

[!tom]

A couple days ago I hopped into the car and turned the key. Strangely, the starter cranked for a fraction of a second and stopped. I tried again, and it fired right up, but I noticed the radio didn't work.

Couple days later the radio still didn't work. I started to think the ignition switch might have died, because why else would the radio die, especially when it did its weird start thing?

Well, this morning I hopped in the car and the key wouldn't turn. And, it wasn't because of the steering lock; it felt different.

So, I'm about 99% sure I have an ignition switch failure.

I've done some searching, but haven't found any part numbers anywhere, just references that things are cheap and readily available.

It looks like the part number for the plastic piece that always breaks is 111 905 865 L ignition starter switch. A quick Google search shows it's a VW part number for around $15; exactly what I'd expect.

Is this all I'll need? Given that things are jammed up, will I need anything else like a new lock cylinder? If so, given that things are jammed up, can I even take things apart? Or is that only for replacing the lock cylinder?

The only pictures I've seen of this assembly are in Ideola's Howto, which is geared towards removing the lock cylinder rather than the switch.
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78 924 NA
5-lug

[ideola]

The electrical part has almost certainly failed, so you definitely need one of those. It is certainly possible that the lock cylinder has some issues as well, unfortunately, the only way to tell is to remove it from the car. When I was having problems with the 941 accessories, it wasn't the switch (it was new), it was the "nose" on the end of the lock cylinder which had been worn down to the point that it wouldn't keep contact even with the key inserted. If this is your problem, you will need to source another lock cylinder (I recommend used as they are quite expensive new), and switch out the "nose" piece as in my how-to.

The electrical part isn't all that hard to do. You do have to remove the steering wheel and the two plastic surround pieces. Remove the three or four screws that hold the wiper / turn signal switch assembly in place (BE CAREFUL! these plastic parts can be really brittle). Remove the ~inch long plastic retainer (will probably need a big screw driver to pry it off...working around the diameter where it abuts the lock cylinder. Then remove the Allen head bolt that holds the lock cylinder assembly in place. Reach up under and pull the wiring harness off. Then you should be able to slide the lock cylinder assembly forward to remove it from the steering shaft. Once off, you will see the small Phillips retaining screw that holds the switch in place. Remove this, and the switch will come right out. Once this is off, you can inspect the "nose" of the lock cylinder.

On reassembly, note that you will have to depress the locking tab to get the lock cylinder back in place.
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erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

[!tom]

Ugh. Took it apart. A PO has attempted removal of the lock cylinder in the past. Once I had the casting off, the key seemed to work just fine.

I continued with switch removal, and saw that the old switch looked like it was in excellent condition. It must have been replaced by a PO. I proceeded with sticking my new switch in (a Beck Arnley part), and noticed that the end of the lock cylinder nose looked a lot more like the one on the left than the one on the right:

After an issue with the wipers not working properly (courtesy of some pinched wires from a PO who didn't route them properly), everything is back together, and still no radio.

So, I'm left feeling like I accomplished absolutely nothing today, other than being able to start the car once again. I didn't find the cause of the jammed ignition barrel, and I didn't fix the radio.
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78 924 NA
5-lug

[Ian89C4]

Check the fuse on the radio? Sometimes you can't hear them pop.

Good luck!
Ian
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Ian Edgerly
North Carolina

Current:
1981 924 SCCA/ChampCar Weissach Race Car ("Serenity")
1987 924S ChampCar Endurance Car ("Der Weg")
1980 924 Euro ("Wahala")