96 escort starting problems

i am having problems with my ignition. the car wont start if i move the key slowly, but if i turn the key fast and hard it starts just fine. i cleaned my battery and starter connections and it didnt help any. do you think it is in the ignition switch. do i have time to replace it or will it eventually just stop starting all togethor. i can find the lock cylinders in auto parts stores but i cant find the actual electrical switch part. do i need to go to a junk yard for it. please help. i am taking it on a road trip this next weekend so i need this problem taken care of.

Our 92 may be different from a 95. I was able to get just the electrical part of the switch at the nearest auto parts store for about $60. We had replaced the entire switch and lock with one from a junkyard a few years earlier - but I just wanted the new switch. Installing it involved taking the steering column top and bottom covers off. The electrical part of the switch came off with a clip or two and one screw I think. And it unplugged from the electrical connector. Now the car starts when I want it to, not when it decides to cooperate!
I also disabled the key-in feature, by cutting a small white wire. I was tired of the key-in chime when I wanted to be listening to the radio with the door open!
The first time when I replaced the entire switch and lock - I had to use a hacksaw to cut slots in the top of the two bolts clamping the mechanism to the column. The two bolts had 'tamper-resistant' heads that a wrench wouldnt unscrew.
I have no guess whether it will continue working (worse) or just cease suddenly. While trying to figure out the problem we had, I ran a wire from the small connector on the starter solenoid over close to the battery. When it would decline to start after a couple of tries with the ignition key, I could open the hood, (leaving the ignition switch in the 'on' position) and connect the bare end of my added wire directly to the postive post of the battery. That always made the starter work.