Can not remove Key from 96 Bravada

[Daniel Blair]

What a great site this is!!!
Here is my problem. The ignition key in my 96 Bravada won't turn all the way back to the off position so the key can be removed. I found that there is a small solenoid in the column that prevents this unless the vehicle is in park. I have replaced the solenoid but that wasn't the problem. There must be a switch somewhere that activates this solenoid that I can't find. Does anybody have any idea where I should look next? Is there a switch in the floor shifter or in the transmission that activates this solenoid or am I barking up the wrong tree entirely.
Thanks for all of your help.
Dan

[jharris26]

i had this problem and it was just the wheel needed to be cranked in both directions very hard to get it to release the key. a friend had the same problem with an alero and we had to rock the car back and forth and turn the wheel to get it unstuck. hope that helps

[minocqa]

Originally Posted by Daniel Blair

What a great site this is!!!
Here is my problem. The ignition key in my 96 Bravada won't turn all the way back to the off position so the key can be removed. I found that there is a small solenoid in the column that prevents this unless the vehicle is in park. I have replaced the solenoid but that wasn't the problem. There must be a switch somewhere that activates this solenoid that I can't find. Does anybody have any idea where I should look next? Is there a switch in the floor shifter or in the transmission that activates this solenoid or am I barking up the wrong tree entirely.
Thanks for all of your help.
Dan

hi
i had the same problem
and it was the battery that was bad.
hope this helps
Don

[biv343]

There's a switch in the floor shifter as well. I had the same issue with my 99, but my issue was a bad battery, same as the above poster mentioned. Voltage was high enough to turn on the dome lights, but not high enough to let the key release.

[Daniel Blair]

My Bravada's battery is fine, it runs well except for the key problem.
I have found that there is a small access hole on the underside of the steering colum that you can use to manually active the seleniod to get the key to release. I will look for the switch in the floor shifter. Thanks all for you assistance.

[455_SS]

i had the same problem with my wifes after dealership replaced ignition switch still problem..... i took apart the column housing it is a little silver cylinder button i taped it down (trusty ol' electrical tape) never had the problem again.
might be primative to some of you but do what it takes to save money and keep it going...

[Chris Stewart]

Thanks for the info 455SS

[vy20]

Same thing happened to my 97 bravada
The key cannot be removed from the igntion switch

So I actually opened up the panels under the dash area and took a look. There's this little silver cylinder on the passenger side of the steering colm, basically just press it down and remove the key...

[ZL1power69]

vy20, welcome to af. this thread is almost 2 and a half years old. please refrain from posting in old threads.