fireblade69
Silverstone
- Joined
- 6 May 2012
- Messages
- 101
Surprisingly the two are unrelated. Took the hardtop off on Monday and as I was in the office on Tuesday and it was a nice day I decided to drive home with the roof down. Grinning pretty much all the way home and some strange looks from other drivers on the M25.
Anyway, halfway home and the heater blower packs up. Not good, especially as we were approaching sundown and the temperature was going down and I was getting colder but as I was a few miles from home, I decided to persevere.
Once home, I noted that the lights were only on sidelight rather than main beam despite the switch being on main, curious. Parked her up and put the roof up and went to switch off the ignition and...nothing! Key turned but everything stayed on, (that was working), and after some wiggling I got the key out. And then had to put it back in to try and get the engine to stop!! Key out, no steering lock, sidelights on, stereo playing, engine running. Oh crap I thought, here we go.
Key back in, serious wiggling now and got the engine to stop but couldn't get the key out. Inside for a cuppa and a warm up and then back out. Finally got the key out and everything off but no steering lock engaging.
Research time, and this is where the internet is an absolute blessing. Apparently, and if you know this you know what's going to come, there is a weak spot on the ignition electrics which is prone to breakage. It may have been the cold from the roof down on mine but it's a common problem for all 996 & 986 Boxsters. The electric switch itself is no longer stocked by OPC as they have the replacement barrel kit at circa £250. However, further research showed that Audi did some of the electrics for the 996/986 and this switch is still available from them for £30ish or Euro Car Parts for £20.34. That's more like it
Ordered one this morning which was delivered from another site this afternoon and I picked it up and armed with internet instructions I changed it out in 45 minutes this evening.
Perfect! Everything works/shuts/stops as before. Mucho relief. Further examination of the old one shows that this is an Audi part and not the OEM Porsche one so this has happened before. No doubt it will happen again but for £20 and 45 minutes, I'll take that.
Back to big smiley 996 owner again
Anyway, halfway home and the heater blower packs up. Not good, especially as we were approaching sundown and the temperature was going down and I was getting colder but as I was a few miles from home, I decided to persevere.
Once home, I noted that the lights were only on sidelight rather than main beam despite the switch being on main, curious. Parked her up and put the roof up and went to switch off the ignition and...nothing! Key turned but everything stayed on, (that was working), and after some wiggling I got the key out. And then had to put it back in to try and get the engine to stop!! Key out, no steering lock, sidelights on, stereo playing, engine running. Oh crap I thought, here we go.
Key back in, serious wiggling now and got the engine to stop but couldn't get the key out. Inside for a cuppa and a warm up and then back out. Finally got the key out and everything off but no steering lock engaging.
Research time, and this is where the internet is an absolute blessing. Apparently, and if you know this you know what's going to come, there is a weak spot on the ignition electrics which is prone to breakage. It may have been the cold from the roof down on mine but it's a common problem for all 996 & 986 Boxsters. The electric switch itself is no longer stocked by OPC as they have the replacement barrel kit at circa £250. However, further research showed that Audi did some of the electrics for the 996/986 and this switch is still available from them for £30ish or Euro Car Parts for £20.34. That's more like it
Ordered one this morning which was delivered from another site this afternoon and I picked it up and armed with internet instructions I changed it out in 45 minutes this evening.
Perfect! Everything works/shuts/stops as before. Mucho relief. Further examination of the old one shows that this is an Audi part and not the OEM Porsche one so this has happened before. No doubt it will happen again but for £20 and 45 minutes, I'll take that.
Back to big smiley 996 owner again
