ignition, or passlock

[skulemowski]

i have a 99 cavalier i have had problems with the passlock and ignition twice and i have taken it to the dealer and had it fixed twice. now its Messed up again but not like the first two times. the first two times it would start then the car would just shut off but we could still get our key out. now we started it and it did that again but we tried it again and it started however the a/c wasnt working nor was our radio, cooling fans and power windows. the car was able to drive however the key is stuck in the on position and we had to pull the fuel pump relay to get the car to shut off. the car acts as if it is not on and by some fluke the engine is running because if i press recall on my radio it tells me the time. WHAT IS going on?

[denisond3]

This is only a wild guess; but there is an interlock between the shift lever and the ignition. It wont let you remove your ignition key unless the car is in park. If that shift lever or that interlock cable has gotten shifted or has a softened grommet - the interlock might be preventing you from turning the key. The other thing to try; put a drop of light oil (3 in 1?) onto your ignition key and put it into the ign. lock. Repeat this a couple of times, to see if your ignition switch is hung-up due to lack of lube. If you cant get the key out to do this, try dripping oil onto the key where it goes into the ignition switch. Give it time to soak in, then try wiggling the key out. Is your key the type that has to be pushed in to release it? Or otherwise maneuvered?