[
] So I spent a bit longer than the prescribed 20 minutes on this. At first I didn't want to remove the heater vent so I tried going in from underneath. I removed the air connection pipe - then found that I could quite easily get to the area with my head below the clutch and my elbow between accelerator and brake! Word to the wise: don't attempt this unless you are quite skinny. Seat needs to be fully back, door wide open and steering wheel fully out.
This is a (not great) picture from underneath with the arrows marking the lugs with the grub-screws in:
My main issue with this route was an inability to see what the grub screw entry points were like and what size of screwdriver to use. (I found later it needs to be a
3mm flat blade.) So eventually I went in with Richard's prescribed route.
Going in from the top I tried one of those micro-screwdrivers but I couldn't get enough torque with my fingers, even when I wrapped it in insulating tape. Then I remembered a superb little ratchet driver that I bought a while back in MachineMart. It was ideal once I found the right bits, both for the Torx screws which held the vent to the dash, and the grub screws.
In the above picture you can see my armoury for the day plus the failed mini-screwdriver.
I knew this was going to work when I pulled the old unit and there was a satisfying clunk from the steering lock. I was still amazed to find my key actually went in the barrel when I got the new part on.
Thank you very much Richard. Without your help and this thread my Boxster would have needed a tow to the nearest Porsche Centre and no doubt it would have been a large bill. In the end I spent just £16.48 to get the new switch from Germany via Amazon.
I'm absolutely chuffed to get my wonderful car back after a month out of action!
Greg