KEy stuck in ignition

**EJRJR91** · 02-20-2011

Anyone have their key get stuck in the ignition?
I can turn it back enough to turn off everything (engine lights etc.) but it wont turn that last bit to release the key. this is a security issue too because it wont even let me lock the doors (yes with the key in) so that no one can just get in and start the car and drive off (i have a spare key so i wouldve locked the original without a problem), so for now my only fix is to either manually lock all the doors nd leave the key in the ignition, or to take a screw driver nd push it thru a hole in the bottom of the steering column which releases the key. But next time i try to turn the car off it gets stuck agaiin. I need a fix so i dont have to carry the spare key or a screwdriver around with me. Anyone?

**TheOtherNick** · 02-20-2011

Your ignition lock solenoid is junk pull it out. there is a write up on her on how to do it.

**EJRJR91** · 02-20-2011

its junk? lol what it broke?

**neel2008** · 02-20-2011

mine does that, you can tilt the wheel up and reach up under the plastic and flip the little thing up and then you can turn the key back all the way and pull it out. I dont know how else to explain it better than that, i bought my car from my uncle and he showed me and Ive been doing it ever since. lol

**TheOtherNick** · 02-20-2011

yeah they stop working and the key just locks in, remove it and dont put a new one in and the key will always come out.

**EJRJR91** · 02-20-2011

lol seems like a pain in the ass to be honest lol this has happened before but not in a long time maybe lik 10 months, i dunno what happened to fix it

**neel2008** · 02-20-2011

yea mine will work fine for like 6 months then not work for like 6 months etc. lol

**EJRJR91** · 02-20-2011

ok so u move the wheel all the way up? wheres the thing u flip up? did u do this while the car's on or did u turn it back then do it to get that last like quarter turn?

**neel2008** · 02-20-2011

i shut the car off, then tilt the wheel all the way up, then I have room to slip my hand up under the column and flip this little thing up with my middle finger, its about as far up as I can reach. I know, kind of hard to explain. lol

**EJRJR91** · 02-20-2011

so u flip off ur car basically lol

**neel2008** · 02-20-2011

kinda lol, when u look at the plastic under the steering wheel, you see this little round plastic piece about the size of a dime. its kind of behind that, so yea you have to reach up there kinda far, that's why you have to tilt it up all the way. but once you flip it up you can turn the key the rest of the way back and pull it out.

**dpzelenak** · 02-20-2011

mine had that same problem, but i didnt have to do anything like that,,it was a problem with my shifter not the lock, all i do is when it gets stuck i turn the key back on and i squeeze in the shift release until i hear a click from the instrument panel(where it shows what gear your in) then when i turn the key back it turns all the way bac and comes right out

**Silver GTP** · 02-20-2011

http://www.grandprixforums.net/i-can...tion-6277.html

^^^ Follow this. I had the same problem and this took care of it.

**2005GrandPrix** · 02-20-2011

another way is tht little hole under the steering column u can stick a screw driver in there. stick it in there and push up then it will make the key come back...i had the same problem i just put a piece of foam in there but the only problem was tht u can take the key out when the car was in any gear when the car was off. but it works.

**1LoudGrandPrix** · 02-20-2011

i just ripped it out lol
works good because the system don't recognize that its in park so i leave it in neutral

**Slick2500** · 02-20-2011

When I had my 01GT I made the mistake of taking my car in to get it fixed, they charged me $400 for a new shifter with labor, I'm like why can't you just replace the solenoid? That must only cost $5, they told me it could not be done that way, ****ing pricks, wish I would have known about this site before that happened.

**Reddcurrlz** · 02-20-2011

Oh WOW Mine does that too. Sometimes, I start it up, put it in reverse and then pull it back up into park after I move a lil bit, then turn it off and it releases. But if you notice, when you're shifting into Park, you'll not only feel the shifter real loose but also, the lights on the dashboard where the PRND stuff is, the light stays on. I never figured out what was wrong with it, but I deal with it. U just gotta work it. WORK IT MAN. It'll eventually come out, that's the only thing I've noticed works on mine.