so it won't let go of my key

[hamiltonaudio]

my new to me 1998 GA SE just started "not giving me my key back". I can insert and crank/start just fine, but when it comes time to shutdown, it kills the engine but stops there.

I know the little trap door covers the solenoid (??) that I actuate manually to release the key which then works fine. Intermittently it'll let the key go normally.

Where's the trigger for this bad boy? is there a switch in the console thats flaked and not seeing it go into park? or is there something more? I really don't care if I permanently disable this feature - is there a quick trick to disabling it altogether?

just want some inside info before I pull the column shroud off ;)

bmoney

[Hayoka]

I just started having the same problem with my 1998 GA GT. It's intermittent so it is driving me nuts. Sometimes I can cycle the key and then it will decide to let it go. Sometimes I have to turn it off and then wait several minutes before it will release.

For me, one good thing came out of your post. I did not know about the manual release on the solenoid, if that's what it is. It could be that the solenoid is going bad. I don't really know.

Anyone else have any ideas? :???:

[rixGAphx]

I just started having the same problem with my 1998 GA GT. It's intermittent so it is driving me nuts. Sometimes I can cycle the key and then it will decide to let it go. Sometimes I have to turn it off and then wait several minutes before it will release.

For me, one good thing came out of your post. I did not know about the manual release on the solenoid, if that's what it is. It could be that the solenoid is going bad. I don't really know.

Anyone else have any ideas? :???:The 'cycling of the key' is the, uhm, 'key' here.

It is NOT a failure of the 'Park' feature/shifter cable failing to send a signal to the device.
Rather, the ignition switch is failing to sense the key is 'off', so it isn't sending a signal to the solenoid to engage the steering column lock; finaggling the key sometimes sends the signal, so the lock is activated and the key is released.

The solution is to replace the $150 ignition switch.

A solenoid is a simple winding of wire around an iron core, thus making an electromagnet.
If the wire is continuous, then the solenoid actuates upon flow of electricity through it; if the wire is broken, then it won't work.
There's no intermittent, process of deterioration where a solenoid is 'going bad;' it just fails.
BUT, you do want to make sure that the wire to the solenoid, the ground from it, and the electrical connections are intact; if they are intermittent for some reason (dmage, corrosion, looseness), then the power isn't going into the solenoid, even if it comes from a brand-new switch.

If you go deeply into the steering column, you can just physically remove the steering column lock (and its solenoid) with no ill effect (except the car is now easier to steal, which could be seen as a bonus depending on the status of your heater core, LIM gasket, etc :eek: ).
'The Club' is more effective, anyway.

Good luck,
-Rick

[Jibo]

Rick why do you know everything? :lol:

My 96 SE was doing this off and on for the last year or so, the last week I had it, it was doing this for 90% of the time, but typically i would just turn the key back on, shift out of park, back in to park and off again and it would release...

[theMessenjah44]

I find it easier to just push the release button on the underside of the steering column. saves money and doesn't involve having to turn the key back on and shift out of park then back in park and turn the key off

sometimes several times

[martybaker]

I'll tell you what I did when my 99 started doing this. For a while I just left the key in it. One night I decided that key was gonna come out. So I went outside and grabbed the key with pliers, pulled as hard as I could, and it came out. After I got it out, I sprayed electronics cleaner in the hole and worked the key in and out several times. It's been probably 6 months now, and no problem since. Just be sure to use electronics cleaner, and not lube or graphite. I know I'll get some comments about "NO, you should NEVER do this!", but I'm just telling you what I did, and it worked.

[theMessenjah44]

You're lucky you didn't break your key off in the ignition ;)

[g4mbl3]

You're lucky you didn't break your key off in the ignition ;)

well then you could use a high-tech screwdriver to start it, and be the talk of the town ;) :cool: :roll2:

[theMessenjah44]

The leader of my audio team was using a screwdriver to turn on his car for a while, it was pretty comical.

today I met him in a Wal-Mart parking lot so I could buy his Battcap 2000 off of him. We went inside, bought a new battery, took the battcap 2000 out, but when I touched the factory power wire to the 1/0 wire running to the trunk, his alarm started going off. I didn't realize what I did and he couldn't figure it out either, then we realized that the alarm was getting power from the Battcap 300 in the trunk.

The guy working in the garden center kept staring at us like we were trying to hotwire the car or something, haha

[brently]

Like Rick said.

The 97 ga did that and I couldn't get the key out I took it to a locksmith. I can't remember what the part was but I know it was a safety switch in the steering column. - and he said it was just one of the safety devices the car has and it would work fine without it. So it was removed for $40, that is if you wanted to avoid the $150 mentioned earlier.