2000 GTP Key Stuck in Ignition Please Help!

[tblake]

Originally Posted by wlkjr

Mine is doing the same thing, so when you figure yours out, come and fix mine.

Sure! I will

I found that if I dont hear the "click" in the steering column when I put my car in park, if I keep pushing in the button on the shifter and releasing it before I turn the car off. About the 3rd or fourth time, it will "click" and then my key will come out.

Still havn't had a chance to rip into it and see whats going on. Sounds more and more like a dirt issue.

Can I lubricate it with anything? wd40?

[wlkjr]

Originally Posted by tblake

Sure! I will

I found that if I dont hear the "click" in the steering column when I put my car in park, if I keep pushing in the button on the shifter and releasing it before I turn the car off. About the 3rd or fourth time, it will "click" and then my key will come out.

Still havn't had a chance to rip into it and see whats going on. Sounds more and more like a dirt issue.

Can I lubricate it with anything? wd40?

If you use lubricate, use a dry type, usually graphite.
I'm wondering if mine if electrical or a worn out cylinder. I can usually crank back up and move a couple of feet and keep brake applied, shift into park, and remove key slowly. If I try to do it too fast, it will usually stick. Mine has seen a lot of cycles.

[srlash]

Originally Posted by wlkjr

If you use lubricate, use a dry type, usually graphite.
I'm wondering if mine if electrical or a worn out cylinder. I can usually crank back up and move a couple of feet and keep brake applied, shift into park, and remove key slowly. If I try to do it too fast, it will usually stick. Mine has seen a lot of cycles.

Hey Guys,

I had the identical problem that you all
are experiencing. If I would move the shifter
back and forth eventually the key would come
out. By moving the shifter back and forth when
the key would get stuck the wire would once
again make contact with the BTSI solenoid
allowing for key removal. Try the lubricant
solution first as has been suggested before.
Then try more drastic measures,

LOL, Steve

[doctorhrdware]

What about a silicone lubricant.

[wlkjr]

Originally Posted by doctorhrdware

What about a silicone lubricant.

I wouldn't use it as it attracts dirt.

[grandprixgtx00]

Tim...idk if anyone posted this, i was too lazy to read all the replies

anyways, do you have an ungodly key chain...like heavy? i know that you have some automotive background, and your pretty hefty with cars but some people make the mistake of having a heavy keychain which in turn ruins the tumblers inside the ignition.

[dlcnws]

Originally Posted by grandprixgtx00

Tim...idk if anyone posted this, i was too lazy to read all the replies

anyways, do you have an ungodly key chain...like heavy? i know that you have some automotive background, and your pretty hefty with cars but some people make the mistake of having a heavy keychain which in turn ruins the tumblers inside the ignition.

I had the exact problem with a 2003 GT. I bet my right arm it's a loose wire in the shifter. Someone already stated to take out the wiring harness and you will probably see the broken or loose wire at once. Strip it down some and push back into the plug on the end of the harness. You may need another short piece of wire to fill up the hole in the harness so that the connecting wire stays in place. If you don't want to mess with it, and defeat the system, you can always wad up a piece of tin foil and stick it under the plunger in the steer column and it will always allow the key to be removed.

[dlcnws]

Originally Posted by Red Tipps

-Understood, and never stated to adjust the solenoid...nor can you. There is however an adjustment for the shifter correct? On the back side of the shifter you have a peice of spring steel bolted to the shifter to give you all your detents for P R N...ect. If that is out of adjustment(hence him having to jiggle the shifter to get it into "park") then the solenoid may not be closing. The transmission is in park but to the solenoid it is still out of the park position. It could aslo be sticky like BNaylor stated...or a wire loose as stated by yourself...It would be easier to diagnose once he gets the cover off to see whats going on in there.

Red...I went through the key not coming out issue several months ago and got a loose wire in the harness fixed. Problem I now have is there are times it won't start in Park...have to go to Neutral. How do you adjust the spring at the shifter that you were talking about. Or do you think it's the wiring harness and I should just order one? Mine is a 2003 GT with 28,000 miles. Thanks for your help.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by dlcnws

Problem I now have is there are times it won't start in Park...have to go to Neutral. How do you adjust the spring at the shifter that you were talking about. Or do you think it's the wiring harness and I should just order one?

Why would you want to adjust the spring at the shifter if the rest of the BTSI and key release system is working as I think you claim? And what wiring harness are you referring to? Does the shifter properly indicate you are in PARK to include the PRND321 indicator at the IP and is the tranny physically in PARK?

You may just have an issue with the Transmission Range Switch aka neutral/park safety switch or possibly the cable to it from the shifter. IMO the circuits to look at would be the ignition and starter for this issue. PARK and NEUTRAL share the same output wiring from the output of the transmission range switch to the crank relay and starter solenoid "S" input.

[dlcnws]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Why would you want to adjust the spring at the shifter if the rest of the BTSI and key release system is working as I think you claim? And what wiring harness are you referring to? Does the shifter properly indicate you are in PARK to include the PRND321 indicator at the IP and is the tranny physically in PARK?

You may just have an issue with the Transmission Range Switch aka neutral/park safety switch or possibly the cable to it from the shifter. IMO the circuits to look at would be the ignition and starter for this issue. PARK and NEUTRAL share the same output wiring from the output of the transmission range switch to the crank relay and starter solenoid "S" input.

Thanks for the reply BN. Key release is working and I've pulled the wire harness that connects to the BTSI. That checks out too, including the connection I fixed a few months ago. Shifter shows the car in Park when it physically is, but thought there may be some play in the shifter that was preventing it from starting in Park. I'll check the cable to the shifter, and I see where the neutral/park safety switch is on top of the trans. That looks to be a tight fit to get back there and will probably leave to the Pontiac tech
if the cable looks ok.

[Red Tipps]

Sorry guys its been a bit since Ive been able to get on here...turns out it was my lock cylinder on my ignition. Would have loved to fix it myself but since it was totally locked there was no way that I could see to do it. O well it is fixed and running well. I only have my key fob on my ignition key now and leave all other keys in my wallet. Not going to risk it again.

Thanks for all the help guys...I hope you others get it figured out. I came to realize after doing research on how to fix mine GM ignitions suck haha

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by Red Tipps

Sorry guys its been a bit since Ive been able to get on here...turns out it was my lock cylinder on my ignition. Would have loved to fix it myself but since it was totally locked there was no way that I could see to do it. O well it is fixed and running well. I only have my key fob on my ignition key now and leave all other keys in my wallet. Not going to risk it again.

Thanks for all the help guys...I hope you others get it figured out. I came to realize after doing research on how to fix mine GM ignitions suck haha

Thanks for the feedback.

Don't forget to annotate your original post which should help others amidst all the confusion on BTSI and Key Relaese. Thanks.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=906391

Out of curiosity how many GP owners or any car owner for that matter actually properly lubes all lock cylinders annually with the GM recommended lube?

[Rustypierce]

I have had the same problem for two years and could not figure it out. After reading this thread, I believe my problem
most likely is a wire that has pulled loose from the BTSI solenoid connector. When I have a chance I will look into it, for now here is how I fixed it.

Remove the plastic plug from underneath the steering column. Cut off a golf tee to correct length. Insert tee into hole. Cover with 1x1 inch duct tape.

When the key won't come out, push the homemade button and continue turning. It works so good, I doubt I will fix the original problem. Been working for two years! My friend do laugh!!!!

[tblake]

Hello Guys, yesterday it was way harder to remove my key, and today it took 20 minutes to get it out at work. So when I arrived home after work, I took apart the center console. It was fairly clean, however I did clean everything up with a couple rags. I took a picture, but its sort of hard to tell whats what.



I also checked all the wires for proper b+ and grounds at the BTSI plug. All good. None were over streched. At this point, I was feeling pretty confident I did a good job cleaning everything up so I put it all back together. When I tried it out, the key still stuck in the ignition. Problem didnt change.

Ticked off, I decided to remove the bottom cover on of my steering column to see whats going on.



I then removed the electric park lock solonoid and turned the car on. I worked the shifter pack and forth numerous times and observed the action of the solonoid. It was getting stuck pretty much 50% of the time.



At this point I unplugged the park lock solonoid and inserted a test light into the connector. When I turned the car on and worked the shifter, the light worked 100% of the time. YES!

For the time being, I completly removed the park lock solonoid, its held in on the bottom by a very small torx bit, and on top by just a snap. To access the top snap, I removed the top piece of my steering column. Be carefull to not break anything, there are also two small torx bits holding this in. You can see them with a flashlight by looking up, one is sort of buried. Be carefull. Here's what Mine looks like without the Electric Lock Solonoid. JUNK!



I put everything back together minus the park lock solonoid for the time being. When I finished the job, the dealership parts place has closed, so I'll probably order one or install a new one tomorrow depending on if the dealer has one on hand. Here's just another picture of the Park Lock Solonoid.



Again, thanks for the help guys! I'll install a new one and report back to let you guys know how everything turns out. In the meantime, I hope my information can help someone else out along the way.

[tblake]

Guys, Just check with the stealership and they want $57.82 for one. Anyone know of a place on the net to order one thats less expensive?

GM part number 26046984. Rockauto doesnt show a listing in their database.