Thread: I can't take my key out of the ignition!

It's got progressively worse, but the past few days I've spent a good 2-3 minutes shifting in and out of park, turning the keys, and yelling and cursing to get my key out. The door locks are automatically locking and unlocking, the park sensor I think is working. What's keeping the key from turning to the off position? If I SLAM the shifter into park, the key comes out. But I'm afraid whatever I'm hitting to trigger something is going to stop working completely.

You have a cellenoid going out. This happened to me. I forget how much the part was, but a buddy replaced it in about an hour. I think the part was like 85 t0 125 bucks. Sucks, I know.

I was working on this kids 00 gt (wiring a amp & Sub) and the key wouldnt come out, i had to reset the battery and it came right out every time. Weird

I think I'll try resetting the battery first. A little cheaper...

It does it sporacticly. Gosh I stink at spelling. You actually have to change the whole shfter.

I am looking up the part number. If you are friends with autobody's or garages, they tend to get a discount on the part. GM Parts Direct: Your direct source for Genuine GM Parts Here is the part number that you need. Part #10323934 Depends on if you have leather shifter or not.

It sells for 297 at Pontiac parts counter. I only paid like 180 or something.

Originally Posted by Deezul_AwT

I think I'll try resetting the battery first. A little cheaper...

That wont be a permanent fix. Trust me. I thought it was fixed, but kept doing it. You need to have it replaced. Sorry to say that, but you will. Just one of those things.

Actually the battery reset wont do anything and shifting it into 1st, 2nd or reverse won't help either. What you want to do instead of getting all mad trying to get your key out. Just sit, wait, be quiet and listen. You will hear a little click. That is the release of the solenoid to the shifter, releasing the key. It will pull out like normal.

Hmmm, might check with Ed Morad. Car is falling apart on me. One of the dial controls on the AC broke yesterday. But since all the problems are mainly cosmetic, I just want to drive it into the ground before dumping it.

Originally Posted by Egleone6

You will hear a little click. That is the release of the solenoid to the shifter, releasing the key. It will pull out like normal.

I know what you're talking about. Just must always be at the right time with the shifting and what not that it comes out. I'm checking with Ed Morad now since I just bought the coolant level sensor from him and one of the dials on the climate control just broke. But it might also not be a part that's worth getting used.

Originally Posted by Deezul_AwT

Hmmm, might check with Ed Morad. Car is falling apart on me. One of the dial controls on the AC broke yesterday. But since all the problems are mainly cosmetic, I just want to drive it into the ground before dumping it.

If you run it into the ground, lemme have the K&N CIA

Okay, stop. There is a button located within the steering column. IF you reach up, you can get your finger on it and release the keys... temporary fix, most of the time its the solenoid that tells your car its in park...

I'll probably just press the button then. I assume it's what's under the rubber square next to the ignition on the steering column?

I won't be parting out hopefully for a while. I hope to get 2 years from the time I bought it out of it.

just another tid-bit for you. when I was putting my trans back in and I was trying to run through the gears, kinda the same thing was happening to me, my fix was to pull the clip out of the adjuster on the trans cable and push it all the way in.

Pushing the button has been working for me for the past few days. No big hurry to fix or replace anything as long as that works.

How to fix it:

If you take the bottom cover off of the steering column you can get to it rather easy and remove the solenoid.

1) tilt wheel all the way up and remove tilt wheel lever.... just pull, it comes out rather easy

2) take out screws in bottom steering column cover.... torx bit

3) pull off cover. you will have to tilt it a little to clear the rear clips.

4) remove screw(s) holding in solenoid.... very small nut driver or pliers will do the trick.

5) unplug wires to solenoid and discard solenoid into nearest trash can and save money for beer after job is complete

6) reverse order to reassemble column

7) use money saved from step 5 and go have a few beers

**It keeps you from being able to take your key out in anything but park. If you try, you will be able to turn your car off and take out the key in any gear now. Not a good idea if you want your car to still be in the same place as where you parked it.

I worried about it when I removed mine, but not really anymore. I've not even come close to accidentally parking it any anything but park.

I had this problem i just took a zipstrip(wiretie) whatever you like to call them an put that around the solenoid to hold the button permanently in. no probs since. Easy 2 sec fix.

My solenoid is sitting on my dresser, and has been for about 2.5 years