Replacing an ignition Switch in a 348

I believe I have a faulty ignition switch in my 92 348. It fails when the car is hot. If I let it cool down, the switch will again work. It looks pretty easy to change but I don't know how to remove it. The cover comes right out. Can anyone share with me how to remove and replace the ignition switch? Thanks for any help.

 

I took mine out to inspect last year. I have a picture or two in the old archives. Once you get the steering column covers off, you can see the switch assembly pretty clearly. It is attached to the column with two of the special bolts that snap their heads off when you tighten them, so that they can't be removed quickly by thieves. You have to take a drift and knock a little dent into them, so that you unscrew them a little at a time using the hammer and drift. I've heard that you can also cut a little slot into the end of the bolt and unscrew it with a screwdriver, but access is bit difficult.

When I re-installed my switch, I went to the hardware store and bought a couple of hex socket bolts of the same size and thread pitch to use in place of the old bolts.

The wiring bundle to the switch unplugs easily.

Have you checked with your dealer on the price of a new switch? It's horrendous, because (so they told me) you have to buy the complete ignition switch, including the tumbler, AND the door lock tumblers, just in order to get the electrical portion of the switch. I think they called it "The Security Package" or something like that.

 

Picture of removed ignition switch at:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/112/306910.html

 

Thanks a bunch. The picture helps a great deal. I checked on the new switch and the cost is about $320. Not too much if I do it myself. After all, isn't this part of the price of admission? Thanks for the help. It sounds like I have exactly the same situation on my car as you had.

 

Jeff: I thought about doing the remote starter like you did and appreciate the pictures you mailed to me. I think I would be better to try to replace the switch then do the remote. I don't think I have the skill to put a remote starter button in. The key switch seems a little easier. Thanks for the information though!