Stuck shifter and key

I have a 1999 GT that has an intermittent problem with the shifter. Sometimes I cannot get it out of park unless I press the shift lock release button. When this happens, I also cannot remove the ignition key because it will not rotate back to the "off" position. It has happened three times now, and each time it works fine after sitting for a few hours or overnight. I have heard that this is a somewhat common problem with GPs, and I was hoping that someone here knew the solution.

i have heard of torque lock before ., but not sure if this would be your problem, they should explain it in your owners manual

Thanks, but it is not torque lock. I've been doing a little research, and it sounds like it's a solenoid located under the console near the shifter that is the problem. Does anyone know how to remove the console so I can get to the solenoid?

Thanks, but it is not torque lock. I've been doing a little research, and it sounds like it's a solenoid located under the console near the shifter that is the problem. Does anyone know how to remove the console so I can get to the solenoid?

Selenoid does not lock your ignition key upstairs. To my humble understanding this is how it works. The ignition key depending on
the position will kick the selenoid to block the shifter. The selenoid
does not lock the key itself, the selenoid works like a relay for locking the shifter. The next time it happens try jiggling the steering wheel
from side to side as far as it the lock mechanism will let you while
turning the key to the off position. If this does not work then
check the key cylinder itself, I beleive the problem is there and
not the selenoid because the selenoid does not lock the key, it locks the shifter.

My '98 with tilt wheel has a solenoid attached to the ignition. It gets it's signal from the shifter.
I'm having trouble too.
It's been a year since this post. Are you still there? Did you fix it.
Thanks

On my 98 I can shut it off and the car can be on any gear and I can take the key out.

not sure if this helps much but today i just had a remote starter/alarm put in and i remote started then i accidently set off the alarm so i disarmed and tried to start with the key...nothing the key wouldnt turn to off the car would shit also there was no power inside the car and none of the remotes worked for the alarm i unpluged the new alarm system and after 30 seconds it reset and all worked fine when this happend is there power inside the car? mabey some kind of anti-theft thing puzzling

My 1997 Grand Prix has been giving me this problem for the last week and a half too! I have been told that it is the neutral safety switch, the ignition switch and the connectors???? To get by though, this works: Put the car in neutral, set your parking brake and just leave the key in the ignition and use your button locker. This has been getting me by till I can get my boyfriend to fix it. Avoid 'park' at all costs! A dealer wants to charge me $436 to install the parts!!!

My 1997 Grand Prix has been giving me this problem for the last week and a half too! I have been told that it is the neutral safety switch, the ignition switch and the connectors???? To get by though, this works: Put the car in neutral, set your parking brake and just leave the key in the ignition and use your button locker. This has been getting me by till I can get my boyfriend to fix it. Avoid 'park' at all costs! A dealer wants to charge me $436 to install the parts!!!