Passat starting - ignition switch again?

[Peter Orban]

Hello Everyone,

The starting gremlins are back. The car is a '03 Passat, V6, 5-SPM.
Last year the car gradually became hard to start, I turned the ignition and nothing (dash lit up, but no cranking). Then after a couple of tries the car started up all right. At the end I had to try about 4 - 5 times, though the required number of tries was random. This spring I replaced the ignition switch with one from the dealer, as suggested here. Starting improved, though a number of occasions it did not start at the first try. Now it is getting worse again. 
The car has the original battery, but I do not think that is the cause. When cranking the battery voltage drops to about 10.5V - 10.7V. When the engine cranks, it always turns over quite lively, and the engine catches right away, nothing like a dying battery.
I do not think that it is the clutch lockout. I keep the clutch depressed, the engine does not crank, and then the engine starts up fine after a number of tries. 
Just like a failing ignition switch! 
Are those switches that bad?
The switch that I took out looks pristine, no discoloration, burns, or anything...
Any other reasons for not starting? Could a flaky immobilizer cause things like this? I do not think that I have water in the driver's side footwell (the other side is a different story).

Obligatory Audi content: I just sent my '83 4k to car heaven recently :-(

Thanks, Peter





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