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#51959 - 04/17/10 08:23 PM Key gets stuck.
Pontiac Dude Offline
Member
Registered: 10/08/08
Posts: 216
Loc: Indiana
The ignition key gets stuck in my 2002
Pontiac Grand Prix with 67k miles.
When I turn the car off the ignition key is
hard to remove. I spayed some WD-40 in the
ignition key and on the key itself.
Anyone had this problem?
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#51960 - 04/18/10 12:42 AM Re: Key gets stuck.
RooK Offline
Member
Registered: 03/07/05
Posts: 5158
Loc: Southern KY
There is a solenoid that locks the key in, usually due to a bad switch below the front of the shifter. However, if that's the case I'm amazed you got it out. eek
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#51961 - 04/18/10 09:39 AM Re: Key gets stuck.
Igor Offline
Member
Registered: 07/17/06
Posts: 834
Loc: Columbia/College Park, MD
Underneath of the steering column is a little round plastic cover you can pop off. Pop it off and stick an extended tire pressure gauge or chopstick into it. You're going for a small silver button. As soonas you press it(make sure the key is rotated clockwise as far as it can go) you can rotate it more and the key will become unstuck. Mine has been doing it for a long time. It goes thru periods where it will work perfectly and times where it won't. You'll have to live with it unless you're willing to shell out 500 bucks for the whole new unit. Hope that helps.
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#51962 - 04/18/10 10:50 AM Re: Key gets stuck.
Pontiac Dude Offline
Member
Registered: 10/08/08
Posts: 216
Loc: Indiana
Thanks Igor. I really dont wanna spend the
500 bucks.
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#51963 - 04/18/10 08:07 PM Re: Key gets stuck.
Igor Offline
Member
Registered: 07/17/06
Posts: 834
Loc: Columbia/College Park, MD
I'd suggest keeping a tire gauge in the visor just in case it happens again
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#51964 - 04/18/10 10:39 PM Re: Key gets stuck.
98 gtp girl Offline
Member
Registered: 10/23/07
Posts: 243
Loc: dayton ohio
I'm having this same issue. I was told that it normally happens when your not on flat surface, however it happens to me regardless. He told me to put my e-brake on prior to putting my car into park because the issue is caused by that slight roll after brake is realeased while in park. This kind of makes sense to me because before to get the key to release I had to put it back into gear, sometimes even had to restart it a couple times. Anyway now by using the e-brake, about 99% of the time it seems to work..


(also was told its the Shift Lock Solenoid)
whatever it is, it is really annoying.
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#51965 - 04/19/10 12:44 AM Re: Key gets stuck.
GrindingNemo Offline
Member
Registered: 11/23/08
Posts: 255
Loc: Missoula MT
I know it sounds weird, but when I changed out my intake I started getting the same problem. This is because the cable to the transmission runs over the top of the stock intake (at least it does on my 98 gtp), and messing with it was apparently enough to make the car think that park isnt really park sometimes. Everything still works, but the key gets stuck now and then. To get it out I just pop the hood and wiggle the cable. Eventually I will have the time to adjust it, but for now this is good enough. So if the normal stuff isnt taking care of it, try wiggling the cable to the tranny.
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#51966 - 04/19/10 11:23 AM Re: Key gets stuck.
palsut Offline
Member
Registered: 08/31/06
Posts: 4021
Loc: Batavia, Ohio
Never thought about e-brake first before move the shift to P. I slide my finger under steering wheel to push the button. I used that for many times after I park it. There are some write-up for fix it yourself but I don't have time for this. Maybe in summer when I get my summer car running up.
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#51967 - 04/19/10 06:02 PM Re: Key gets stuck.
Pontiac Dude Offline
Member
Registered: 10/08/08
Posts: 216
Loc: Indiana
So guys, how do I know for sure if the problem
is in the ignition key/module or in the
shifter???
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#51968 - 04/19/10 06:20 PM Re: Key gets stuck.
Dre da GP man Offline
Member
Registered: 06/12/06
Posts: 2694
Loc: Alexandria, Virginia
Yea, it was my lock cylinder and it was replaced about a couple months ago and I had just got tired of hitting the button under the sterring wheel.
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#51969 - 04/19/10 07:04 PM Re: Key gets stuck.
Pontiac Dude Offline
Member
Registered: 10/08/08
Posts: 216
Loc: Indiana
So how do you know if its the lock cylinder?
How much does it cost to fix a lock cylinder?
Doesnt that require a new set of keys?
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#51970 - 04/19/10 10:47 PM Re: Key gets stuck.
98 gtp girl Offline
Member
Registered: 10/23/07
Posts: 243
Loc: dayton ohio
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#51971 - 04/20/10 05:29 AM Re: Key gets stuck.
Blackarrow98GP Offline
Member
Registered: 06/29/06
Posts: 3618
Loc: CT, U.S.A
From the 97-03 FAQ, Perf mods, common fixes read first section: Key stuck? wink
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#51972 - 04/20/10 09:05 AM Re: Key gets stuck.
snowcrash Offline
Member
Registered: 05/05/03
Posts: 868
Loc: charlotte, nc
somebody(or their mechanic) put jb weld on the button i think on here when their key got stuck
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black 98 gtp sedan, 222,000 and running great with the new used tranny! laugh
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#51973 - 04/20/10 09:44 AM Re: Key gets stuck.
AntGT Offline
Member
Registered: 07/26/08
Posts: 568
Loc: Brooklyn ny
I had this problem on every single GP.I just learned how to take it out by playing with button on tranny shifter
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