Key stuck in ignition
 

It just started happening today, and whenever I put the car in park and try to get to the key out it will only turn back a little bit but won't turn back the whole way.

It's not really a problem because if I just mess with the shifter a little bit it will come out, or I can just play with the plug on the bottom of my steering wheel. It's more of an annoyance then a real problem, but any ideas?

Yeah I've heard putting it in park, then pushing the shifter forward helps with that. No actual fix though.

that happens in mine alot too!

This is starting to become an "everytime I put the car in park" it happens, and it's getting annoying quick.

Oh well she needs a tune up anyway.

i beg to differ there is actually a tsb for this an i have personally put in dozens of shifters take it to the dealer

it shouild be covered by the warranty shouldn't it?

Yea I have replaced alot of floor shifters (auto) for binding key cylinders.

Go to the dealership

(oh make sure there isnt a coke dumped on the shifter and center console either)

Sometimes mine simply won't allow me to remove the key from the ignition, which is always a neat party trick... :thumbsdow

It was happening to mine too a couple of months ago. Took it to the dealer, and now it only rarely happens.

never had it happen however only once in my SS.. the key was only half way coming out, try to push it back in.. won't go in and won't come all the way out. I pushed the plunger on the bottom and then it worked

damn im glad i read this.....this problem has just started happening....my key when i turn my car off it always stops in the acc. area so i cant take my key out..I always move the key back and forth without anything happening eventually after a few try it goes to the off position and the key comes out..its happening more and more and now that i read more people having the problem im definetly taking it to the dealership.....this sounds like a problem that is happening a lot..now i have to deal with those ass fucks at the dealership...i hate going there...late

lorenzo

I had to take my car in, the key wouldnt turn in the ignition

u my good man prob needed a lock cyinder diddnt ya :lol:

well i took my car into the dealership today and of course when they tested it the key didnt jam up...The guy was like are you sure the car wasnt in drive when you tried to take the key out... i was like no i sat there for five minutes trying to get the key out and it was in park..he was like oh thats weird...i said theres lots of people who are having this problem i told him i checked online. He said oh did you print anything off? I was like wow fix my car you piece of shit...actually i just said no....anyways ill let you guys know what happens cus they said they wuld take a look at it...late

Lorenzo

i work as a valet and MANY MANY times cars dont go all the way into park when you push the shifter up and you cant get the key out. its just some malfuntion on some types of cars. you said that you play with the shifter a little and then it comes out, that sounds like the problem. just push the shifter forward more, or even put it back in drive and push it back into park again. if either of these works then tell the dealer, so that they can check all the gadgets in there to make sure that they are working right. hope this helps!!!

Mine started doing it recently. I took it to the dealership and they said that the car isn't recognizing when it's in park so they ordered the part to fix it free under warranty

couldnt get to it today....imagine that....lets hope its in one piece when i get it back!!

I just started having that key problem to about 3 days ago. Im at 13,900 miles on the car. I started the car a few times an put it into (R) or (D) an then park it worked 1 time...Hmmm?:wtf:

always happened in my 2.4...never happened in the ss/sc

Ok guys this is now...well it has been a tsb if it happens to you call your dealership and reference tsb #06-02-35-004

heres the symptoms
Date: February 02, 2006

TECHNICAL

Subject:
Ignition Key Stuck (Replace Shifter Assembly or Ignition Lock Cylinder Assembly)

Models:
2005-2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit (Canada Only)

Condition

Some customers may comment that they cannot remove the key from the ignition.

Cause 1
The pin that activates the micro-switch may have moved out of position (refer to illustration above). This causes the micro-switch to fail to engage when the vehicle is placed in Park.

Cause 2

Metal flashing left in the cylinder may cause this condition.

Correction 1

Replace the shifter assembly.

Correction 2

Replace the ignition lock cylinder.







Parts Information

Warranty Information







For vehicles repaired under warranty, use the table.







Disclaimer










© 2006 ALLDATA LLC. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use

Ya that was exactly my problem. I just got off the phone with the dealership and he told me the problem was the shifter and he said it looks like their going to need to replace it. So thats good news to me that they found the problem and are going to fix it. Thats looking at the bright side i guess. Hopefully there arent any other problems down the road. Well thanks for the info everyone. Now i just have to hope it gets fixed right!!! laterz

Lorenzo

I've got the exact same problem. I took my 05 coupe to a local dealer and left it there at 10AM. I went there to pick it up at 4:30PM and all they did was change the oil. The tech apparently cranked it, ran through the gears and was able to get the keys out everytime. I'm pretty sure he didn't drive it at all.

A person in the service department said they couldn't replace the shifter it if it works fine for them because they'd get charged for it if GM tests it. Sounds like BS to me. I'll probably call GM customer service after I've cooled down a little bit.

I have had that problem recently as well, actually last week. i pulled up in my driveway, put the car in park and when i went to turn off the ignition it would not turn off. My problems were a little worst thought. i had the problem earlier and just pulled the shifter back and pushed it forward and it worked, but this time when i did that it was stuck in park and i couldnt do anything.. so i had to have the dealer come and pick it up and fix it for free.. which wasnt bad but it was a pain in the rear end having to worried about it..


PS I am a newbie and hope to get alot out of the sight. i am going to get a pic of my cobalt asap and i hope to get alot of suggestions and comments for everyone.. THANKS

Ok well I have some good news and some bad news.....lets start with the bad news....So they told me my vehicle wouldnt be ready until this week so they offered me a rental i said sure sounds good. I rented an 07 monte carlo which i only put 50 miles on over the weekend. I noticed a small crack in the windshield right after i left enterprise. I called it in and they said ok well make a note of it. I know for a fact i didnt put that crack in there basically to make it short there gonna try and fuck me and make me pay for a brand new windshield which is total bullshit. I wish i never would have even gotten a fucking rental. Anyways theres no way in hell there getting money from me there just tryin to screw me....enough of that....

I got my cobalt back today!!! YAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

So they fixed the problem and replaced the shifter. If any of you have any problems with your dealership tell them to check the "Bulletins". Thats what the guy told me he said they couldnt find anything wrong but they checked the bulletins and there was apparently a notice put out about the cobalts and the shifter assembly to replace them. Anyways its all fixed and it looks the same if you guys were wondering. 1st gear is called L and the next gear above it is labeled I for some reason i cant figure that out...I cant recall if thats how the old one was labeled..Anyone care to explain...heres a pic...well thats the good news...lemmi know if anyone has questions...latehttp://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...2/IMG_0121.jpg

Lorenzo, Know this is a little bit dated, but I have just had the same problem and when the shifter assembly is replaced they change the lettering. I think it's so they know if it has been changed or not.

The I and L stand for intermediate and low.