when I put my car in park it doesn't want to unlock the key in the ignition
Asked by pima Jul 28, 2013 at 09:01 AM about the 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GT
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I have a 2002 gran prix gt with the 3.8.Sometimes when i put it in park it doesn't release the key in the ignition.I have to hit the release on the shifter several times until I hear it release the ignition.
9 Answers
2 answers from 6 years ago that may help you: Anonymous answered 6 years ago I have a 1999 GP with intermittent similar problem. I dont know the cause, but Ive found that if you start the vehicle again, turn the wheel 3/4 to 1 full turn either direction, Then try again to remove the key. This usually works for me. Hope this helps!! --------- lightGear answered 6 years ago Did a little bit of research and found that there is a little sensor in the steering column that a few GM consumers have had problems with. Maybe a call to your dealer to see if they know what the issue is. Also I found this site. Not sure if it will help but I'm sure at this point anything will help. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_to_remove_a_stuck_key If you already got it out let me know how you did it!
migration_judge_roy answered 11 years ago
are you sure it isn't mashing the brake what makes it release your key? There is an interlock so you wont leave without your key~
migration_judge_roy answered 11 years ago
http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-c3306_ds40408
migration_judge_roy answered 11 years ago
http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-c3306_ds40547
You just may be right there @ Judge Roy....I had a 2000 and a 2005 Grand Prix and seems like I remember an interlock of some sort as a safety measure so that your key wouldn't get left behind...and that may have involved stepping on the brakes as you mentioned. But it's been years since I've owned either one, so not 100% certain on that.
migration_judge_roy answered 11 years ago
yes chop stick or soda straw at the column under the lock assembly...seems so perfect~
joshuaboysis answered 9 years ago
i changed my head gaskets on my 2002 grand prix i did everything right and now it miss fireing it wont cach
Nipponliving2015 answered 9 years ago
Here's the solution to a stuck key issue. My friend couldn't turn her ignition completely to off position. Her car is a Nissan Cube with a "keyless" entry (although it does have a key if needed). So this is what happened to my friend. She parked her car, turned the engine off but couldn't turn the ignition completely off in order to lock the steering. She tried everything she could, moved the shifter back and forth, move the steering wheel, played with the parking brake, drove and parked again, nothing worked. She put the actual key in the ignition and almost could pull it out. She called me and I tired the same things and everything I found when I googled the problem. She called the dealer the next day and they said to check her shifter on her steering color as sometimes people, mostly women, put hair bands and other things around the shifter that eventually slide into the shifter and get stuck this preventing the shifter to actually go into park completely. Sure enough when she checked with a flashlight she retrieved over 5 hair bands. The rubber and type with a cloth coating. All of fine now. So even though I wasn't having any issues, I checked my car and found three rubber parts of an air fresheners I have hung on the shifter. Problem solved. Hope this helps.
HappyMom88 answered 8 years ago
Someone mentioned WD40. DON'T use WD40, use silicone spray. Spray the shift button on the shift lever while holding a rag underneath to catch drips. Push button in and release several times. Then shift a couple times till key will release. If that doesn't work, may need new shift lever. Button under steering wheel will release key as well by removing cover and pressing a long thin sturdy object into hole to release ignition to remove key. Again, DON'T use WD40.