[Brian in Tucson]

I'm terribly cheap and lazy. When I got my cheap Boxster (no such thing?!) the lock wouldn't reset and turn off the electronics, ie the dash. When it did reset, I could hear that it was a switch in the ignition switch. So I figured it might have gone bad, so why not try to clean the dirt out? I used brake cleaner with tube and then spray gun oil--Tri Flow and worked the switch turning it on and off. Took more than one cycle, but eventually the function returned so that it works everytime.

You might try cleaning and lubing the mechanism. It may be gummed up and cleaning it will loosen it and lubing will help.

BTW, if I leave the key in and have the battery connected, it discharges to flat, no voltage. Already replaced the battery once, now I just charge it and disconnect the ground cable.