96 Grand Am Ignition Cryout!

[vipersilver]

Alright! First off, this is really bothering me haha, so any help would be great!

Sometimes, 60-70% of the time, when I go to turn OFF my CAR, the ignition LOCKS just before the last turn, therefore the lights and accesories are still powered.

I mean locked, by it won't turn completely off...
Now my short fix when this happens..... doesn't work all the time, I turn the car back on ( key foward ) then SLOW SLOW SLOWLY!!!.... turn back...

and if I'm lucky I can turn the key all the way off.

Now when the ignition is locked, I can take the key out and start the car without it hahah, but only when this problem occurs.

And there was "ONCE" when I waited 5 minutes, then just turned the key off no issue.

This has become a real hassle, when I get somewhere and want to get out of my car, I'll be sitting there for 5-15 minutes... repeately turning my car off and on trying to slowly turn the key back to fix my nightmare of mine.

Its more annoying then anything, please help and thanks!

[gmack221]

try your spare set of keys! If that fixes your problem get new ones made of the spare set that work, if not replace your ignition.

[vipersilver]

All keys do the same thing.

Anyone have this problem before
what part should I replace if thats the issue.

It feels like something is stuck on the turn, it just won't turn completely off. Really annoying.

[gmack221]

Sorry, I overlooked something, you mentioned it only happens when your trying to get the ignition in the off position, im assuming you never have a problem getting it to turn initally to start the car? If im correct in this statement its your neutral safety switch (park if its an automatic like I think). It just doesn't sense that its in park, so it will not let the key turn far enough to let the key come out of the ignition, like if you shut off the car in neutral. Its under the center council (I believe its the electronic circuit board that shows P R N D L3 L2. Give it time & someone on here will tell you what the part looks like for sure, everyone on here is great and will help you out as much as they can from your description.

To get by for the mean time & check to see if im right, next time it happens do nothing but move it from P to R back to P and see if that solves the problem, maybe push it a little harder into park, but not too hard (don't break anything).

[jhendri5]

I had this very similiar problem. If you look under the steering column, there is a little plastic tab there, like a little door. Take that off and there is a little button there when you reach up in there. Push it and then turn your keys and the keys will slide right out. It happens to me once in awhile so i just left the little door off. Its only maybe an inch by an inch size. Just take a flat head and pop it off. Good luck!!!

Jason