Remove ignition in '97 Cabrio

bkydhack · 04-16-2012, 04:02 PM

How is this done? Yesterday pulled into garage and shifting trans from drive to N to P sounded like starter engaged, awful racket. Shut it off right away but sounds like my ignition switch is bad?

Audicted · 04-16-2012, 05:24 PM

Remove steering wheel cover: Two screws on the underside, one on each side.
Remove Instrument Cluster(IC): two screws at the base of the cluster which you can see once the steering wheel cover, see above, is removed.
Turn IC and release wiring harness from back of cluster (three or four connectors). Now wiggle IC out of the dash.
Look down into space vacated by IC, you will see the switch body. It is held in by two small screws which may be covered in red loctite. If it is covered with loctite, this is the original switch. If not the the switch has been replace in the past.
Remove the srews, release the switch from the harness and you are done.

As Robert Bentley so aptly stated: Reinstallation is the above in reverse.

hope this helps.

hubturn · 04-16-2012, 07:18 PM

Just loosen, don't totally remove the two screws holding in the ignition switch or you risk losing them when they fall out and disappear. They require a small allen wrench to loosen. If your dash is all warped, you may need to slide a thin edge, like a butter knife, between the instrument cluster and the dash plastic to help the cluster slide forward (toward the steering wheel). Otherwise, Audicted has aptly described the procedure. Buy an OEM switch from the dealer, about $45. By the way, the ignition switch is just the plastic electrical component, not the metal key lock component.

04-16-2012, 05:24 PM	#2
Audicted AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 3,082	Remove steering wheel cover: Two screws on the underside, one on each side. Remove Instrument Cluster(IC): two screws at the base of the cluster which you can see once the steering wheel cover, see above, is removed. Turn IC and release wiring harness from back of cluster (three or four connectors). Now wiggle IC out of the dash. Look down into space vacated by IC, you will see the switch body. It is held in by two small screws which may be covered in red loctite. If it is covered with loctite, this is the original switch. If not the the switch has been replace in the past. Remove the srews, release the switch from the harness and you are done. As Robert Bentley so aptly stated: Reinstallation is the above in reverse. hope this helps. __________________ "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." GW Bush, Aug. 5th 2004. Do you think he succeeded? Audi History: 1999 A4Q Tip,APR Stage 1, Xenons, S4 Bumper(RIP) 1998 A4Q (sold) 1991 CQ (der money pit) 1995 S6 (with stuff on the bed)

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04-16-2012, 07:18 PM	#3
hubturn AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 450	Just loosen, don't totally remove the two screws holding in the ignition switch or you risk losing them when they fall out and disappear. They require a small allen wrench to loosen. If your dash is all warped, you may need to slide a thin edge, like a butter knife, between the instrument cluster and the dash plastic to help the cluster slide forward (toward the steering wheel). Otherwise, Audicted has aptly described the procedure. Buy an OEM switch from the dealer, about $45. By the way, the ignition switch is just the plastic electrical component, not the metal key lock component.