I followed the instructions from “Pedro’s Garage.” If you go to the link for this (
Replace Ignition Switch),
and scroll down to the third figure you will see the following:
[IMPORTANT NOTE:
On model year 2004 and newer cars, the ignition
switch was upgraded and is different from the
one described above. The new Audi part
number for this upgraded switch is: 4B0 905 849.
These switches are not interchangeable.
The new version is substantially more expensive.]
My car is a 2001, but the switch I removed was the 4B0 905 849.
If you go to the Pelican Parts procedure for changing the switch (
Pelican Technical Article: Boxster Ignition Switch Replacement - 986 / 987),
they have these part numbers backwards (which is indicated in the comments people added after the “how to” instructions), and I am sure this has led to confusion on this issue.
Before I had the current switch failure, I had already bought 2 of the 4A0 905 849 B-5155 switches that are supposed to work on the 2001 (and earlier) cars. I only tried one of them, but they are not the same as the switch I removed.
Today, I bought a 4B0-905 849 from a local independent Porsche repair place ($42 vs. $92 quoted by the local Audi and VW dealers), although you can get them for $8 from Amazon. But I want to put this in the car tonight. I will disconnect the battery this time, just in case.
I’m in Southwest Houston in Meyerland, 5 miles W. of the Medical Center.