• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Key stuck in ignition

C

chumley

New member
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
 


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!!!
 
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
 


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:)
 
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:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top