Thread: Key release

Mine did it and I took it to the dealer and they offered the shifter ($$$, no!) and then one mechanic offered to bypass it for $30. The key can be turned off while the car is in motion, so it takes away that safety feature but its better than the $4xx quote I got for the shifter. I'm not sure what he bypassed, but it works. I haven't had any issues with it since.

shift lock solenoid......you can also tilt the wheel up, put your hand up under the steering column and feel the little plastic button and flick it up with your finger and it will let you turn the key the rest of the way back and pull it out....mine does it on and off all the time....

YouTube - ‪Pontiac Key Release Ignition Problem / Workaround / Fix‬‏

That video shows usually what happens, sometimes it can be the The BTSI (Brake Transmission Shift Interlock) as well which I have been told is the whole shifter assembly and there is no way around it besides pulling the console apart and spraying a bunch of contact cleaner stuff all over the connections and hope that helps for a while....

I ran into the same issue on my 02 as well. I ran across another thread which goes into more detail than this one does or the video above. Basically the easiest fix imo is to take the bottom off of the column, unplug the white solenoid and just remove it. I left mine out since that's what the majority of ppl seem to be doing with out any negative results. The only thing the solenoid does to my understanding is prevent the car from being turned off and keys removed while in gear. So as long as you know how to opperate a vehicle normally, this shouldn't be an issue. Lol. I hope this helps someone who runs across this thread instead of the more detailed one that's floating around somewhere.

mine does this on and off and i just sit there clicking the shifter thing like 1XXXXXX number of times untill i hear it click and it works but about the thing talked about in the post above, can you just unplug it or does it have to be removed?

I tried just unplugging it, but it seems to engage anyways, so I just took it out. Its really easy!

There is a solenoid release tab that can be accessed through a hole in the bottom of the column cover.

Your car might still have the rubber close-out plug that was installed in the access hole on most cars. Remove the plug and you'll have easy access to the solenoid overide mechanism.

I keep a golf tee in the console. If that solenoid ever sticks, I just push the tee up through the access hole to actuate the release tab.

Much easier than trying to reach up under their with my fat fingers!

i used that day..but i just tilted the wheel up and reached up and pushed the tab with my finger, worked perfectly