Author Topic: 96 grand am se stuck keys (Read 1446 times)

pancho_man · « **on:** December 08, 2004, 02:02:50 pm »

First off the car in question is a 96 Grand Am SE 2.4 Liter automatic. I stop the car, put it in park, and the ignition cylinder will not turn back all the way which will not allow me to get my keys out.The last time this happened I noticed the theft sys light was on. I have also figured out that the theft prevention system doesn't seem to work any more as I can start the car regardless of the position of the toggle switch. My initial thought was that there was a switch on the gear selector that wasn't working properly and the car can't recognize that it is in park which won't allow me to remove the keys.This problem has occured four times in two days so it doesn't appear to be just an odd event. I would like to know if I,m on the right track about the gear selector before I start tearing things apart. Any info would be appreciated.

jeeper · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2004, 03:45:16 pm »

96? maybe u hve a problem with the ignition cylinder...

jsut a thought

barrie1 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2004, 03:53:34 pm »

Pancho Man Welcome to the Forum. 1st. Do you have a lot of extra's on your key chain with all kinds of weight nail clippers so forth? 2nd look for a product at your GM dealer called DPL its a lock cleaner and lube all in one. Around $5.00 a can. If this dosen't solve the problem then it sounds like your ignition tumblers are do for a possible rebuild. A Good Locksmith can deal with this very quickly and reasonably priced as well. The last resort would be to pull the wheel and lube the sliders down in the column.

maritime_storm · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2004, 05:45:44 am »

Shifter not going all the way into park maybe? The boss's old Geo Metro used to do this, it was an adjustment issue on the park/shift lock cable. If it wasn't driven hard into park it wouldn't let you turn the key all the way back to pull it out. Check to see how to adjust the cable. Barrie's right GM ignition switch seem to be weight sensitive, S-Series Saturn being the suseptible to this malady.

ericthejet · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2004, 12:58:53 pm »

you could also replace the whole lock cyclinder and have it rekey'd for about 50 bucks also.

neil · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2004, 02:14:01 pm »

I've seen this on that vintage of GM's. Parts are worn as above, short term help is above with the shift lever (push it up while trying to remove key) Also I have had success (more common than the shift lever) with wiggling the wheel back and forth while turning back key. The worn ignition cyl effects the steering lock mechanism, and the wiggle on the wheel allows it it turn back.