Ignition switch- Polo Playa

[VAG Fan]

Question on behalf of a work colleague.

My colleague has a 2003 Polo Playa (Type 6K?- the old re-branded Seat Ibiza). The car was broken into and the ignition badly damaged. The radio and ECU were stolen. He had it repaired by someone who has, unfortunately, left town. This person installed a new ignition lock barrel and an ECU.

The car drove fine for a while, then developed a sporadic starting problem. Sometimes the starter didn't crank when the key is turned. Lately, it stopped starting altogether. We've bridged the solenoid on the starter, and it's fine. Also, when the starter failed to crank, the terminal 50 cable didn't carry any voltage.

This basically leaves
... a break in the cable (terminal 50), which I think is improbable, because for a while, it started on-and-off, and at the times it failed, it didn't carry any voltage
... a fault in the ignition switch (which is my first guess)
... some immobiliser issue.

So I'm wondering whether the actual ignition switch is one unit together with the mechanical lock barrel, or a separate unit? If it's separate, perhaps only the mechanical barrel was replaced, and now the electrical switch is giving in.

Is the actual switch separate from the barrel? Available at Goldwagen, perhaps? Any advice welcome.

[panic-mechanic]

Yes seperate unit, yes the electrical part is faulty. Yes goldwagen stocks them. Yes it's a huge pain in the ass to change it.

[VAG Fan]

Much obliged... I'll scour the Interwebs for procedures.