In a message dated 97-04-03 01:58:21 EST, morrisc@belmont.edu (Chris Morris)
writes:

> At one point, when I attempted to turn the engine off, the key was stuck in
>  the on position. I was able to turn it enough to stop the engine, but I
had
>  unplug the wire harness from the switch and hot wire it to get home
>  (praying the whole way that the steering lock wouldn't engage) because the
>  lock was completely jammed. My question is this; can the electrical switch
>  part be separated from the key cylender 

Yes.

>or do they have to be replaced together? 

No.

>Is it possible that a short caused the electrical contacts to fuse together?

I haven't seen that before, but it seems possible to me.

Good luck,
Jim Davis
87 GL Syncro
88 GL Wolfsburg