I can't get the key out of the ignition. The shifter sometimes don't want to come out of park. Are these problems related ? How do I fix.

THe shifter to come out of park requires you to press the brake pedal. And to get the key out just twist the steering wheel left and right to unlock the key and get it out.

Thats when everyting is working properly !

Can you please explain them what happens exactly when you face the problem?

The key will only turn to the off position, but not lock, therefor, I can't get the key out of the ignition.

lol

qball just AIM'd me tonight w/ the same problem

Try this:

http://www.clubgp.com/newforum/tm.asp?m=1156254&appid=&p=&mpage=1&key=key%2Cstuck&language=single&tmode=&smode=&s=

btw, this is a common problem

Look under the steering column. There's a 1/4" wide plastic circle. Pop it out. Stick a pen up in the hole and it will hit the solenoid to release the key. That's the emergency way out when you have no power.

the baterry is not dead. everything works fine. except the shifter sometimes dont' want to come out of park

key is stuck right??

then try the button

There is also a seloniod or some shit like that in the shifter area that sometimes gets gummed up i guess

Well try the pen thing if it works at least you would have your keys. I know that the shifter has an electric solenoid that locks it if the brake pedal is not pressed. You should check your car BCU(BOdy contro unit). THe BCU is a small computer that controls the light dimming, the door chimes and all the stuff that happens inside the cockpit of your car.

I just went ouside, 15 degrees out, and the button worked. You can also tilt the wheel up and reach finger to push it. The key gets stuck every time you put it in and use it. Is there a fix for this, or do I have to push the buttom evertime I want my key back?

You can either have it replaced ($$$$$$)

or read some of that link i posted, as people over at clubgp have many ways of rigging it up.

Search "key Stuck" on www.clubgp.com and you'll find all your answers.

Im glad the button worked for you.

If it keep happening and you do not find anything that suits you on the clubgp site you should check your BCU. Again this sucker takes care of all the happens on the cockpit and by reading the threads posted by Ripn12s from the clubgp site the ignition key locking mechanism has an electric component. Does not make any sense to me but looking at the threads it does. When I rebuild my 98gtp originally due to flood damage neither the chime or the dimming workes among other things. I even think that the heated seats are controlled by the BCU, not certain about it but makes sense. Assuming the BCU controls the heated seats and you said it burned you once could be that the BCU shorted and now the car behaves herratically cockpitwise

I checked out clubgp, lots of interesting fixes. I will try cleaning wire connections in shift console, if that don't work, it will be time to do a by-pass ! LOL. Thanks so much

Sorry this is late, but I just saw these posts. I had the same problem with the key not wanting to come out of the ignitition. What is happening is the button you depress to shift is getting stuck in the shifter when you put it in park so the car doesn't realize you're in parking gear. Just pull the button out by pulling on it slightly & the key will come right out.

I had the same problem with my 2000 GT. Guess what??? Here's what is wrong. I replaced the shifter ($250) thinking it was the solenoid attached to it, and the P R N D 3 2 1 lights on the dash still kept flickering, and the key would not release out of the ignition when I put the car in park... So despite what the so-called pros in these forums say it's not the shifter solenoid.

There's a 10 amp fuse for the BTSI (see your owner's manual) which is the Automatic Transaxle Shifter Module. Believe it or not sometimes the fuse doesn't make contact with the fuse housing causing an intermitent connection that causes the BTSI that controls or signals the solenoid near the ignition that the car is in park thus releasing the lock to work "off and on."

So here's what you do.... Take that fuse out clean it off, and then actually bend the 2 pieces of metal sticking out of the fuse in opposite directions so that when you put the fuse back in, it ensures a stronger connection to the pieces of metal inside the fuse housing. I did this and the lights no longer flicker, and everytime I have the car in park I can shift to other gears, and I can release the key out of the ignition.

It's funny sometimes you can't always listen to ASE certified techs in these forums 'cause they steer you into buying extra parts you don't need just like the dealers do.

i yanked it out with a tool and it started with out the key. ( was gonna replace it anyways) :dunno: . after i yanked it out i just replaced it and then a few months later i wrecked the car...damn foreign cars. :banghead: and if your shifter get stuck then when you shift it kinda pull up on it and then click it...check if there was anything spilt too because someone did that to my car when they barrowed it.