Key Stuck In Ignition

I have a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix and just recently my key is getting stuck in the ignition when I place the car in park and try to remove the key. Does anyone know of a quick fix for the problem?

No. This is a common problem and there may be no quick fix unless you get lucky and find a broken or loose wire. Key removal in PARK is part of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system. It could be either a bad key release solenoid in the steering column, shift interlock solenoid in the shifter assembly in the console or flaky brake switch at the brake pedal.

This happened to me on many occasions. It happened while my GF had the car. When the key would'nt return to the off position my GF decided to just force the key to come out by pulling it out. When i went back to the car to start it , it would not allow it to start

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...

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 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.