Automotive Forums

I have a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire, and I can't get the key out of the ignition.  The automatic transmission is in Park.  The car starts fine.  But ignition will not flip back to 1st or 2nd position--2nd position is where the steering wheel locks and the key usually comes out.  I have the Chilton's manual, and I do not see any special sensor for automatic transmission in park, but it feels like the ignition does not know that the car is in park and will not release the key.  Does the Park/Neutral Safety Switch have an added feature of key release (this safety switch is primarily to prohibit the car starting when the automatic transmission is not is either park or neutral, right?)  I am disappointed in the Chilton manual--not helpful at all.  If anyone can help me on this, I would MOST appreciate it.  I have visited three forum websites today and have seen three other GM vehicle owners post this same problem, but no solutions posted for any of the three.  

I have a 98 grand am that has this intermittent fault too.  The dealer changed out the ignition cylinder but that did not cure the problem.  It seems not to be a problem in the winter, but reappears as the ambient temperature increases in spring/summer.  There is talk on other sites of an almost mythical "hole under the steering wheel" that conceals a 'button' which can be 'moved' to release the key.  Does anyone know 'exactly' where this is, if it exists, and preferably a link to a diagram so I can show my mechanic?  The dealer is a lost cause, because he just wants to replace parts until the problem goes away.  On my dime.

Thanks in advance.  Rana  

The shift interlock does prevent key off when not in park. On floor shift models it is nessesary to remove the center console to access. On column shift you need to take the steering wheel apart. The hole under the steering column is used by to remove the entire key cylinder on some models, not the key and your models have a screw behind the turn signal switch anyway.  

I got the car into the dealer this morning.  It took them one hour to take the console apart, diagnose, clean the parts and put it all back to together.  They say that the entire floor shift mechanism must be replaced--the part of it that is broken cannot be repaired--the part comes as one entire unit.  The part that they say that needs to replace is "Handle AS" GM Part # GM12552512 at $169.  (Labor will be $176 at $118 per hour.) There were none of these parts in stock in my city, so it must be sent from Memphis (a 3-5 day wait).

They did get the key out of the ignition, and I drove it home, and the key shut completely off and came out of the ignition when I got home, so the cleaning and re-assembling seems to have bought me some time (if not fixed it entirely).

The mechanic believes someone (previous owner of the car) spilled soda on the center console.  Sticky goo started to interfere with the shift unit and caused something to break when the weather got warm here last week.  (I have only owned this car a short time.)

I did look at many several sites last weekend.  An owner of a Chevy Blazer wrote me about a "plug" on the underside of his steering column that allowed him to access a key release button that is on the back of some ignitions.  He said that there was a small aluminum rod in the steering column that broke for him, and he was able to replace it fairly easily, and that fixed the problem for him.  My steering column has no access plug or panel, and it doesn't seem like that is my problem anyway.  (Chilton's manual says that the airbag must be disabled before the steering column can be worked on, so I didn't take the steering column cover off, which looked easy to ***

A Pontiac owner with a similar problem wrote me that her dealer replaced her ignition switch free (it was a recalled item), and that fixed the issue for her.  My dealer ran my VIN, said that this part had been replaced already on my car, and he doubted that this was my problem.  He zeroed in on the center console.  I think Shag is right on with writing about the shift interlock, and for me that is in the center console but for the Blazer owner and the other Pontiac owner, it must have been in the steering column.

I am afraid to drive my car, but I should be driving it to see if it is fixed or I really need to do the $350 fix recommended by the dealer.  

I really appreciate everyone's feedback.  This is one of the stranger issues that I have ever had with a car, and I have owned four cars that passed 200,000 miles.

Lisa  

I have had the same problem for the last 4 days and have found the solution.
Remove the steering column cover, top and bottom, you will need a Torx screwdriver for this. Locate the key cylinder and, I used a small mirror for this, look directly behind the cylinder and you will see a small rectangular opening with a rectangular metal button type of thingy protruding. Push on this thingy and VOILA, the key will come out and the steering will lock as it is supposed to. I went on to start the car and remove the key successfully three times and presume it will still work tomorrow.
Good luck and let us know if it worksfor you.  

I have worked on several vehicles with this same problem and each one was a relativly simple repair with no parts involved, first off the shift interlock has nothing to do with it and will not prevent your vehicle from going into park, it is designed to work ONLY when coming out of park. The problem your having depends on the type of shifter handle your vehicle has,
if the release lever is on the bottom and you have to push up with your fingers to release it, then the problem is...there is a rubber type cover that surrounds the release button, after time it becomes distorted and bunches up preventing the shifter from fully engaging in the park position (even though it appears the vehicle is going into park)if your carefull you can work the rubber cover out and your problem is fixed. If your shifter button is on the side and pressed with your thumb the cable needs to be adjusted, this cables only purpose is to prevent key removal except when in park and is easily adjusted, with the center counsil removed, if you look at the front of the shifter base you will see 2 cables that snap into the shifter frame, the larger one is the gear selector cable, the smaller one runs up to the steering column and operates tne mechanism that prevents key removal, where the cable snaps into the shifter frame is where the adjustment is done and is identical to a kick-down cable used on older vehicles with automatic transmissions, right where it snaps into the frame there will be a button you can press down releasing a spring loaded adjustment arm, make sure you first mark the arm for refrence then press down the button and adjust it a little either way until it functions properly, hope this helps and good luck  

Thank you!  I tried this on my 97 Grand Am, and it now works perfectly.  It is unreal what problems a simple rubber boot will cause.  You saved me a bunch of money and time, thanks again!  

I'm having similar problems and, in case the previous owner possible spilled soda or something into the steering column, was planning on breaking down the steering column to clean if not replace the locking solenoid and other parts. I was looking for a pontiac manual to make sure i was disabling the airbag properly and such, and have used haynes before, but couldn't find the right year. Any suggestions for good manuals for a '97 Grand Am?  

Thanks very much Mastermind. I could not get my key out of 1999 Sunfire GT ignition last night.  I read your post, tried what you said and it worked right away. Thanks so much. Jade