When the ignition switch refuses to turn, due to dust and coffee spills etcetera the contacts inside the ignition switch might be dirty. If this is the case, cleaning the contacts inside the switch is a good solution. Forum member jcliff of the Saab Central forum provided me with a clear description including the photographs.
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Move both seats backwards and remove both front side kick panels from the centre console. Both panels are fixed with a torxscrew covered by plastic caps. Remove the rubber mat under the ashtray (use a small screwdriver or something similar), and remove the two torx screws under the mat. Remove the plastic frame around the shifter, you can lift it up from the back end. For automatic gear, remove the torx screw at the base of he shifter and remove the plastic components around the shifter. |
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Remove cover underneath the parking brake and “cd holder” cover and remove torx screws.Cover underneath parking brake pulls out towards driver seat, “cd holder” cover (opposite side of parking brake) pulls up and off. Remove rubber mat inside center console and remove the two torx screws underneath. Remove the aluminium bolts holding the centre console to the floor. |
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Separate this electrical connection & move both halves out of the way. |
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Here is the switch installed, there are two stainless tabs on each side to release. |
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Here is another look at the switch from beneath, the tabs to be released are visual here. |
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Remove the ignitons swith from the centre console downwards. To gain enough space you might need to lift the centre console a bit. |
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Remove the harness from the switch & remove. It takes a little bit of work to separate the switch but the white plastic is pretty flexible. Jim ended up using a couple of small screwdrivers & a thin cake spreader that he used for body work to separate the halves. Here's what the inside looks like. |
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Clean the three sets of contacts, if needed gently bent them upwards to make sure they made good contact. |
| Remounting of the switch is a reversal of the removing instructions. | |