Pontiac Grand Prix Key cannot be removed from ignition
Hello,
I have seen a few posts where others have described this problem. When shifting into park, if an audible "click" isn't heard, you know that the ignition cylinder ( or whatever mechanism it is) is stuck and won't fully release the key.
If you reach up inside the steering column from underneath the ignition switch, you can feel a small switch that - when pressed forward - will allow you to turn the key to its fully off position. You can then extract the key from the ignition switch.
Does anyone know of a permanent fix? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
2002 Grand Prix GT
I have seen a few posts where others have described this problem. When shifting into park, if an audible "click" isn't heard, you know that the ignition cylinder ( or whatever mechanism it is) is stuck and won't fully release the key.
If you reach up inside the steering column from underneath the ignition switch, you can feel a small switch that - when pressed forward - will allow you to turn the key to its fully off position. You can then extract the key from the ignition switch.
Does anyone know of a permanent fix? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
2002 Grand Prix GT
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I have a 2002 Grand Prix SE and the same exact problem... just today i was told it has something to do with the "pilot", but honestly i have no idea. have you found out how to fix it?
Thanks
I have toyed with the idea of attempting to take the steering column apart, but I don't want an airbag in the face should I force something that doesn't like to be fiddled with. I would love to see a schematic of the steering column, as I am curious as to why there's actually a little button to press that releases the lock. Have you tried this same method to extract the key? When I'm patient enough to actually wait for the cylinder to release it, it usually takes between 15 and 30 seconds, after which an audible 'click' can be heard and the key can be turned fully back for removal. The fact that it eventually does release indicates to me that something in the column is "sticking" rather than merely broken.
If I ever find out how to fix this, I will post the solution here. Once again, thanks for the reply.
Silverfox
The shifter is your problem.
It sends a signal to the Park Lock Actuator (mounted on the column). If No signal is recieved to actuator, no key release.
VERY common problem.
Parts about $250.00.
Labor time about 1-2 hours.
ease for DYI - 4-6.
Good Luck
Thanks for the info. I called the dealer I purchased the car from complaining about a problem that seems to an ongoing issue with GM cars! He told me to bring it in for a free diagnostic test to find out whats wrong with it. I did this and they called back saying it was the shift assembly. They also said it would cost $600 for them to repair it. I told him I could not and would not pay that much for a problem on a car the is only 5 years old and only has 40,000 miles on it (not to mention (again) this is a common problem with GM vehicles and there should have been a recall on it and fixed free of charge.) Thank goodness I was dealing with a great, understanding GM service manager. He made a deal that I would pay $100 and he would get GM to cover the rest of the cost. I had it fix the next day and have not had any problems since. Unfortunately I did not receive your e-mail until after I contacted the dealer and had my car fixed or else I would have tried what you suggested. But I will keep it in mind in case it starts to give me trouble again. Thanks again. Annette
I had this problem too (the key getting stuck). I was told if the battery is dying it could cause this problem. The ignition needs so many volts for it to release the key. I had my battery checked and unfortunately that was not the problem (mine was that the shift assembly had to be replaced). Since you cleaned your battery and it started working fine that would appear to be where your problem was coming from. You may want to have your battery checked also. You may be in need on a new one and that would take care of the ignition/key trouble in the future.
The Fox
I still haven't taken this problem to the dealer for repair because I'm convinced that doing so will only result in a lot of unnecessary, over-priced work. Can't believe there is no TSB issued on this from GM/Pontiac.
As it stands today, I'm continuing to use the method of reaching up into the column and pushing on the switch to release the key. It's kind on funny that when you do this...you are essentially "flipping the bird" to your car. Who says GM doesn't have a sense of humor?
Another method with which I have had some success is as follows:
- apply brake and come to a complete stop
- wait a few seconds before shifting into Park
- shift into Park, wait a few more seconds, then release the shift
After about 3 seconds, I hear the audible "click". Don't know why this works, but hey... :shades:
One gentleman here called the locksmith to remove the IGN Switch, poor guy, he's (the locksmth) is there to make $$$$$$$$$ just like everyone else,
Try this, go to the dealer and tell him something's "funny" sounding in the steering column, He respond with "just what kind of "Funny" sound or what ever you say, but don't tell him what it is, say "look, just zip it around the lot and you'll be sure sure and hear it, no $$ yet, now when he returns and starts to rattle off all these $$$$$ signs,Say to him, hey could you grab my keys for me, please (out of the ignition) BOOM they won't come out, now YOU have him pinned, chances are as he was driving around the lot thinking all sorts of $$$ pop up, then when he says oops can't get the keys out, You say, Thats the sound I was talking about, I say that same sound everytime I turn off my, looking really stupid at this point he may what sound? You reply' YES,YES THAT'S THE SOUND! "IT WON'T COME OUT", thats the sound I hear when I drive this car, now thats great if it happens to him, but it goes back to the day when the TV guy came to your house and your TV works fine, then I quess you might have to jump around and repeat and rinse LOL (blonde joke thing) sorry gorgous. I found my problem, someone here mentioned it earlier in one of the older post regarding THE KEY FACTOR, so I found what one guy did, and I still use that method today, I have a GMC truck, but all the steering columns are made in One big factory that just does steering components. so move your butts and look for this little plug, I admit, it's not easy to find, but ALL GM cars have this plug!! There sort of hard to locate this plug for theft reasons I imagine.
Now I have a new problem, 3 GM vehicles and the windows won't go up!!, now everyone mentions that there windows don't work, GM techs say bad motor, BULL all vehicles are designed with obsilesance (obsolete life time) things go on a car break at a certain time span, how else they gonna make any $$$ if the car last twice as long?? remember the old refridgerators (God my spelling) they still last today, but then, no one would buy another, aside from efficiancy factors the point is these cars have inadaquate power rated motors installed to perform this task, cost $$ to put the correct one in, hey for 20cents less, toss this one in instead.
gang, sorry if I rattled any cages or took up so much space, but just trying to help, everyones right to an opinion, right? well in todays america, who knows what rights, the government dosen't even know what it's doing anyways, the winners know before the ballots are even counted who's gonna win, Hey I love my country, vietnam era vet, repectable citizen and all but today, I just don't know anymore.
Later Gang
sorry bout the grammer and spelling,
Had the same problem with my '00 GP 3800. It was very erratic, 95% of the time, no problem, it was the 5% that ground my gravel. So I put a small amount of GM Heat Valve Penetrating Oil (Definite must have for any DIY'er) on the key, and ran the lock cylinder through a few cycles and repeated this occasionally. KEEP A RAG HANDY, THE STUFF KINDA STINKS AND YOU DON'T WANT IT ON THE UPHOLSTERY! Then I did the rear brakes - stay with me now - New pads and rotors. The pedal came up when braking and I've not had a problem since. That's what I did, for those of you who remember Fred Drier as TV's "Hunter" - Works for me.
Annette
Anyway, I keep seeing that people keep mentioning the 'Solenoid' (I hope I spelled it right) under the steering column. Could somebody give me an idea of where it is at? To the left or right? Somebody told me to try the graphite lube, but it has not worked yet in my case.
Right now I pulled the key out, but my park light on the dash is still on, so I'm thinking that it might run down my battery, but I am hoping not enough to drain it in one night at a time. I had to lock the doors manually since it still thinks the key is in the ignition and it won't let me use the automatic locks so that i won't lock my imaginary key in the car.
Also, someone else mentioned popping off the shift lock cover. Is that the little square thing to the right of the gear shifter? I am car-illitterate, so please forgive me for all of the questions! But thanks for anybody's help!
This problem came and went and the mechanic simply showed me that I should run the shifter slowly through the gears.
Worked for a couple of months until this week i could not remove the key no matter what i tried (for hours) then I found some idea's as posted here.
On my Grand-Am i was able to locate a small plastic cover under the steering column which exposed a chromed (cylinder like) switch in which i simply pushed it upwards towards the steering wheel direction and volla it released the key.
It seemed that i needed to apply a small amount of force to pull the switch cylinder up.
Perhaps the hard winters did not help this switch.
Hopefully this will solve my or others similar problems.
To bypass this switch, remove the plastic surrounding the ignition switch and steering column, and ziptie this plunger so that it is permanently engaged (depressed).
Key comes out normally with no adverse effects on the rest of the systems. This permanent fix costs $0.00.
My mechanic spent half a day on the shifter and couldn't find the problem. It's just another Pontiac flaw that has been an issue for many years. Should have been recalled.
The thing is that it has been doing some suspect electrical things the last couple of weeks. Mainly my windows wouldn't work, no matter the trouble shooting steps I took, then after letting my car sit over night I'd go back out to find them working perfectly. Common trouble shooting logic would normally not lead me to make a correlation between the two problems, but after reading these posts and considering that the key stuck might suggest an electrical issue it might have something to do with it.
I've also learned that there is a leak in my roof, I've driven it in the rain and see no dripping, but my floor boards are soaked. I worry that this may have caused something to short out. As of now it looks like I'm stuck without a car for the weekend. I pulled the key out of the ignition but the switch itself is still stuck. It will turn to the on position but it won't go back into the off. Any advice as of where to start would be greatly appreciated.
I'm still not completely convinced that there isn't some broader electrical issue. The fact that I parked the car in perfect working order one night, and the next night there wasn't enough power for even the horn or the trunk release button makes me a little bit skeptical about solving this problem with a set of jumper cables.
But for now I've started the car a few times over-with no other issues-and my key has been released each time. My best hopes are that I will never again have to suffer this annoying issue, and some other technical natured young man, who has no mechanical abilities, such as myself will one day be spared a similar aggravation by stumbling across my post and learning he's not the only dumass in the world.
Tony Knox
Gallipolis Ohio