'97 GP - Key stuck in ignition ?

[oncedesired]

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.

[2000GPGTBlue2dr]

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.

[winn_27]

i yanked it out with a tool and it started with out the key. ( was gonna replace it anyways) . after i yanked it out i just replaced it and then a few months later i wrecked the car...damn foreign cars. 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.