Thread: Key stuck in ignition

Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1 Key stuck in ignition 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    California
    Posts
    27
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Shut the engine off this morning, and the key would not move to the removal position. Owners manual pretty useless, just said this might happen if battery voltage is low. Battery seems fine, AC/Delco factory replacement 4 years old. Checked voltage, was 13V. Car starts fine, runs fine, no indication of low electrical power. Something going on with the "PARK" position perhaps? HELP, please! Chumley
    Reply With Quote  
     

  2. #2 Re: Key stuck in ignition 
    I live here. Below Average Joe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    'Merica
    Posts
    7,358
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    1
    Dislikes (Received)
    1
    What model and year?
    Quote Originally Posted by Sven The Sexman View Post
    Bill had a major role in all of the Star Wars movies; he was the force.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  3. #3 Re: Key stuck in ignition 
    GXP Level Member coolone's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    2,374
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    3
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Searrrrrrrrrrrrrch!!!

    Google or here... Pretty common thing, easy fix!

    : )

    Pop the little cover off the underside of steering col., about dime size, stick a straw or pencil to push release and whoola!!!
    Overkill BBC Cam, YT 1.8 RR's, Rhodes Lifters, STGII Heads, GenV, Pacesetters, 3" Exh to Tips, TEP Trans. N*, ID 75# injectors/E85 coming soon
    Reply With Quote  
     

  4. #4 Re: Key stuck in ignition 
    I live here. Below Average Joe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    'Merica
    Posts
    7,358
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    1
    Dislikes (Received)
    1
    if you tilt the column up you can reach up and get it too under the plastic
    Quote Originally Posted by Sven The Sexman View Post
    Bill had a major role in all of the Star Wars movies; he was the force.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  5. #5 Re: Key stuck in ignition 
    GT Level Member firstdue's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Toledo, Ohio
    Posts
    341
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    My 2000 had the wire break at the connector that must've been the park sensor. I disassembled the center console around the shifter to get access to the wiring. Just slightly moving the wire you could hear the key release activating when the connection was made. Its been a few years.....but I think I carefully soldered the wire back together.....and that solved the key release issue.

    Much easier than manually releasing the key every time.

    Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
    2009.1 Liquid Red G8 GT
    2001 Grand Prix GT Bright Red

    Reply With Quote  
     

  6. #6 Re: Key stuck in ignition 
    GXP Level Member 91parkave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    2,930
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    1
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    I threaded a bolt to that little detent so it never happened again
    06 GXP | 222/227 cam/cartuning turbo kit on 8psi/meth/e85 coilovers/ still on stock trans at 130k
    Reply With Quote  
     

  7. #7 Re: Key stuck in ignition 
    GT Level Member Madness's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    A little late
    Posts
    468
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Favorite Quote: You can't fix stupid!!


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gxKStPXyn8
    Reply With Quote  
     

  8. #8 Re: Key stuck in ignition 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    California
    Posts
    27
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Thanks, I got it to release thru that little opening on the bottom of the steering column. I don't have the stuck in PARK problem, just the stuck key. I watched a You-tube video on the broken wires under the shift console, and that seemed like it might be the culprit. I want it to work like Pontiac designed it, so I'll go that route before I "neuter" anything. Thanks for the help, Chumley
    Reply With Quote  
     

  9. #9 Re: Key stuck in ignition 
    SE Level Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    California
    Posts
    27
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Got it fixed last Sunday. After getting the console apart, I found exactly what all the posts suggested. The green wire and the purple wire literally just broke off the terminal ends. With the constant current these wires carry, they just cannot hold up with their small gauge (18) size. The old terminals were a bear to get out of the connector, but I was able to do so while keeping them intact so I could reuse them, which I did. I stripped the ends and soldered them back onto the terminals. If you need to do this repair and cannot get new terminals(nearly impossible to find) be very careful when reusing the old ones. I spent about a half hour spreading open the crimped ends, getting the old wire out, and reshaping them for reuse. Why Pontiac didn't use heavier wire, I dont know, but fortunately this a do-able repair for the common layman like myself. There are some helpful You-tube links on posts for this subject. Thanks for all your input....Chumley
    Reply With Quote  
     

Similar Threads

  1. Ignition getting stuck again
    By vertebrate in forum General Tech Discussion
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 08-30-2012, 09:34 PM
  2. Key stuck in Ignition
    By NIKGTP98 in forum General Grand Prix Discussion
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 08-17-2012, 08:17 PM
  3. Key stuck in ignition
    By tigers40 in forum General Tech Discussion
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-01-2012, 05:22 PM
  4. Key Stuck in Ignition and Shifter Stuck in Park
    By GRAFIX in forum General Tech Discussion
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 02-25-2012, 02:50 PM
  5. key stuck in ignition?
    By jaketrey32 in forum General Tech Discussion
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 05-15-2009, 05:28 PM
Tags for this Thread

View Tag Cloud

Bookmarks
Bookmarks
Posting Permissions
  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •