Key will not come out of ingition

[xokayxo]

my key still gets stuck in my ignition every time i try to take it out. having to press the button on the bottom of my steering column is getting REALLY old. last night it released the key randomly, and only once. if i lubricate it, where do i put the lubricant? (i.e.: in the keyhole, straight up into where the button is?) and do i have to use silicone spray? i have some oil/lubricant for like a bike chain haha

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by xokayxo

my key still gets stuck in my ignition every time i try to take it out. having to press the button on the bottom of my steering column is getting REALLY old. last night it released the key randomly, and only once. if i lubricate it, where do i put the lubricant? (i.e.: in the keyhole, straight up into where the button is?) and do i have to use silicone spray? i have some oil/lubricant for like a bike chain haha

You are SUPPOSED to push the button under the steering colum to remove the key.

[va3mw]

I've been chasing this for some time. I looked under the column on my 1997 (Canadian) Blazer and I can see a cover, which I popped off, but no sign of a release. What am I missing?

The key release is intermittant and so annoying that I have to keep a spare Key with me.

[01shavedblaze]

I did the lube thing and mine worked great for a couple days, now the problem is back. It sucks carrying a small screwdriver around to release the solenoid all the time. I guess I will just have to break down and order the new assembly, $159 from the chevy dealer. You can only find the solenoid near the ignition assembly if you have an automatic with the floor shifter. If you are having this problem and your blazer has an automatic with the column shifter then the solenoid assembly is further down the steering column.

[hp1]

I lubricated my switch in my 98 jimmy, and now it is sticking again, So this time I took some Duct tape and rolled a ball and made sure that it keeps that button pushed in by the ball pressing against the inside of the column and the switch, sticky side out on the tape so it can't sl;ide out of place., Since it is in now all the time it seems to never hang, up. the question is, though does it pose a danger by leaving the button pressed in all the time?? the keys come out fine and all.

[BlazerLT]

You are supposed to press that button to get the key out.

Why are people thinking this is weird or something?

[hp1]

Blazer, The button is intenal, on the bottom of the steering column there is a cover covering a hole, where you need to insert a screw driver or something to to reach a 4 inch gap to get the button. It is not really a button at all. There is a solenoid with a metal post that must be magnetically charged. When you push the button on the shifter, the magnet must activate and sucks this metal button in" that is where the clicking comes from. what is happening is the solenoid is only working sporatically the post is staying out therefore keeping the key from turning all the way to the off position, therefore you cannot get your key out. So NO you cannot push the button all the time since it is set up like a shifter that gets stuck on a hill, where you pop off a cover and get the emergency release. Some vehicles with manual transmissions have a button right by your key to push from what i have been reading. Ours don't. Thats where the problems are, so now i taped the Solenoid button in,My question is what is the Solenoid switch in there in the first place after all???

[BlazerLT]

Ah, ok, I was thinking you had the white push switch to get the key all the way out like on some models.

[hp1]

Well, any of you guys that have the stuck ignition, using somthing to keep the solenoid button pushed in is working great, No problems at all. Like i said before I took the two screws out of the bottom of the collumn, and then the bottom of the collumn will drop down, as you will notice is that the button (metal Thinggy) will be sticking out, especially if the key is stuck, once that is pushed in it lets the key back to where you can pull it out. I thought about Super gluing it in, but instead I just made a tape ball, Sticky side out, and put it agains the solenoid, and then when you push the collumn back in place, the tape ball pushes the button in, and then gets wedged so it can't slip out. NO PROBLEMS SINCE. It's kind of nice not hearing the clicking in there too, when you shift into park and press the button. No problems that i know of either, Auto start works, no lights or codes on, and the ignition works smoother than ever. Hope this helps some of you!!!

[steener]

Originally Posted by buckeyboy

Are you getting any error codes for transmission or does the service engine soon light come on? I had this problem, and from this forum I found out to change the ignition switch, and it worked. I never had the problem again. Maybe somone reading this thread can help you navagate to that thread there were detailed instructions on how to do this. hope this helps

I have a stuck key too. Im also getting codes p740,753,758,785,860,1860. Could all these tranny codes be the cause of a sticky ign. sw., or should I replace the switch?

[mschoppe35]

Lubrication didn't fix the problem for me so I installed a small hose clamp around the base of the button housing making it so the button would only drop to a certain point. Works great now.