Key intermittently won't come out of ignition

[atclarkson]

Hey guys,

01 GTP, 4 door, fully loaded.

I have an intermittent issue with the ignition.
About half of the time, after driving, the key will not turn far enough back to lock to let me take it out of the ignition. This is an issue because now sometimes I have to leave the keys in the ignition and lock the doors!

No matter what, if left for a bit (3-5 mins usually does it) it will unlock and turn backwards as it should. A tech friend of mine suggested it may be a heat thing. He said if you turn it really slow it should come out ok. Yeah, great, now 7/10 times it works, but is a big PITA!

Anyone know how I go about fixing this?

Thanks!
Andrew

[noreasonwhyy]

quicker answers are provided when you use the search and find the answer. no need to wait for a response that's already existent, right?

easiest fix is to pull the ignition solenoid. or you can override it by pushing the plunger on the solenoid by sticking something pencil-esque in the access hole on the underside of the column right by the ignition. you're probably looking at a bad ignition switch though.

[JoshsGTP]

Mine is doing the same thing it has somthing to do with the shiftlock.

[atclarkson]

quicker answers are provided when you use the search and find the answer. no need to wait for a response that's already existent, right?

easiest fix is to pull the ignition solenoid. or you can override it by pushing the plunger on the solenoid by sticking something pencil-esque in the access hole on the underside of the column right by the ignition. you're probably looking at a bad ignition switch though.

Beings I've worked on GM stuff most my life and never heard of this, I didn't think it was THAT common. Regardless, Thanks for the reminder.

Time to hit Rockauto... Thanks guys

[whiney6]

I had this issue on a 98 grand am and it was the shifter on the floor. the electric switch for the shifter was bad.

[QwikGT]

just remove the giant white ignition solenoid and problem solved. get up in the column with a long phillips screwdriver unscrew it and pull the plug

[atclarkson]

just remove the giant white ignition solenoid and problem solved. get up in the column with a long phillips screwdriver unscrew it and pull the plug

Did that a few days ago based on whoever told me to do a search. Worked like a charm! Thanks !

[Warbeaver]

father in law had problem with his regal. it was something in his shifter. had it fixed later.

i was haviing this problem, but it was because i didnt have the shifter pushed all the way forward while in park. it would happen randomly. haven't had the problem since.