Key will not come out of ingition

[AR-15OZZY]

Hi guys I am new here but am glad I found this forum. I have a 1997 blazer 4.3 4x4 with a floor auto shift. My Ignition key is stuck in . It has happened before and I pulled the shifter apart put back together (it was bent) and would not let the little switch in shifter move. That is not the problem now however. When I pull the power wires off then back on the switch in the shifter sometimes I hear a click in the steering colum by the key switch when I here it it will work then I start and turn off it is stuck again. Can anyone help? Thanks OZ

[bowtie_pasta]

I have the same truck and the same problem bro. Can you elaborate on the switch removal?

[Cadillakin'98]

amatures!!!!

[bowtie_pasta]

What's your point of even posting if you are not here to help?

[Cadillakin'98]

Oh I do help others, but not on stuff like this. Not usually, today is your lucky day..my advise...try putting it back together AGAIN, I bet you missed something.

[bowtie_pasta]

My advice to you is to skip these posts and move on where you can actually help. Calling someone an amatuer in response to a valid question isn't anyway to act. Of course some people get real tough behind a keyboard.

It's like speaking just to hear yourself speak.

[crazys182003]

If there are two people with the same problem and they both tried than I am sure they did not miss soemthing. They would like to know what the problem may be. Cadill if you are calling them an amatuer than that should mean your a pro? And if you are such a pro why not post your experiences in order to help them. But if your not gonna help than please don't post.

[buckeyboy]

Originally Posted by bowtie_pasta

I have the same truck and the same problem bro. Can you elaborate on the switch removal?

Are you getting any error codes for transmission or does the service engine soon light come on? I had this problem, and from this forum I found out to change the ignition switch, and it worked. I never had the problem again. Maybe somone reading this thread can help you navagate to that thread there were detailed instructions on how to do this. hope this helps

[buckeyboy]

Originally Posted by Cadillakin'98

Oh I do help others, but not on stuff like this. Not usually, today is your lucky day..my advise...try putting it back together AGAIN, I bet you missed something.

Whats your error code man these people are looking for help not hinderance. Don't be such a "Richard" you know the short name for Richard being as smart as you are.

[97blazr2]

i had the same problem with my 97, right around the area of the ignition theres a little rubber piece? mine has been removed but if you take it off, leaving the plastics on and look inside you will see a white plastic switch thing with a little round metal piece maybe 1/4-1/2 inch long. the metal piece is down while the key is in and up when you turn the key back, if you reach in when your key is stuck and lift up the little metal piece up (it slides up into the white plastic piece" while its up turn the key back and it should come out. i would try a little bit of lubrication on the metal piece. oil, any type of grease might get too thick and not let the metal piece move freely. let me know how you make out and if it is any help

[bowtie_pasta]

Guys I figured this out last night!

I ended up pulling the little plug/cover off the bottom of the column and pushing the release button. It worked and the key released like normal. All this got me thinking...what and why is this switch not releasing normally? I wanted to see more. Without pulling the steering wheel I removed the two screws from the bottom column cover and popped it down to where I could see inside the column okay with a flash light. *Note, you won't be able to remove the bottom cover without removing the wheel or the knee bolster.*

This allowed me to see the release mechanism which is nothing more than a solenoid. This solenoid is activated when you press the thumb button on the shifter. It locks the key in place and unlocks it in park. I noticed it only working sometimes when pressing the button. I wiggled the wires going to the switch and kept testing. After that I could NOT get it to freeze up again which was great! It almost seemed like the button was just hanging up. At any rate I must have tested it 100 times and it still worked flawlessly. I went ahead and sprayed a dab of silicone spray onto the button of the end of the solenoid hoping if it was just a lubrication issue this would keep it working smoothly. *Note if you are testing this with the key all the way forward in the ON position you will have to press the brake before the shift lever button sends current to the soleniod.*

So if you are putting your truck into park the instant you release the shift thumb button you should hear a click from the column. If not, they soleniod is not releasing.

This all makes sense because why else would Chevy put access to a button on the bottom of the column to release the key? Answer: Just in case you try to start your truck with a dead battery. If the battery is dead the soleniod will not release.

At any rate I'm thrilled with my progress and looks like the shop can eat my shorts!

Hope this helps those out with the same trouble. Ask questions if you have any.

Roland

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by Cadillakin'98

amatures!!!!

If you can't help, shut the f*** up.

Keep it up and you will be removed.

[Rick Norwood]

Great Job Roland in fixing your problem and Thanks for sharing the results. Too many times we never hear back from people asking for help.

And THANKS BlazerLT for keeping this forum Clean!

[BlazerLT]

No problem.

[01shavedblaze]

Thanks for the repair tip!!! I was having the same problem with my ignition. I lubricated mine and now it works perfectly. Easy thing for anyone to try before testing or buying new parts.