My 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix won't shift right and now I can't get the key out, why is this?

Question

For the past week or so I have had to push the shift lock release to get my car out of park. Now, I cannot get the key out. The engine turns off, but the shifter still moves, and my key is still in the ignition. I have sprayed WD-40 to clean away any gunk that was built up but that didn't help.

Answer 1

Sorry to say this... but American cars suck...

I had the key problem with an Oldmobile before... now our driveway has 3 honda's..

The cars least likely to develop mechanical faults after three-nine years of ownership:

1. Mazda: 8.04%
2. Honda: 8.90%
3. Toyota: 15.78%
4. Mitsubishi: 17.04%
5. Kia: 17.39%
6. Subaru: 18.46%
7. Nissan: 18.86%
8. Lexus: 20.05%
9. Mini: 21.90%
10. Citroen: 25.98%

11. Daewoo: 26.30%
12. Hyundai: 26.36%
13. Peugeot: 26.59%
14. Ford: 26.76%
15. Suzuki: 27.20%
16. Porsche: 27.48%
17. Fiat: 28.49%
18. BMW: 28.64%
19. Vauxhall: 28.77%
20. Mercedes: 29.90%

21. Rover: 30.12%
22. Volvo: 31.28%
23. Volkswagen: 31.44%
24. Jaguar: 32.05%
25. Skoda: 32.12%
26. Chrysler: 34.90%
27. Audi: 36.74%
28. Seat: 36.87%
29. Renault: 36.87%

30. Alfa Romeo: 39.13%
31. Saab: 41.59%
32. Land Rover: 44.21%
33. Jeep: 46.36%

.

Answer 2

There could be 3 possible reasons for your key getting stuck. The first is a worn tumbler in your ignition. This is fairly easy to replace, a Chiltons manual would be very useful. These you can pick up at about any auto store. The second possibility would be that the steering wheel has locked the key in the on position. all you have to do is turn the steering wheel one way or the other, and try and remove the key. The third reason is that the car is not in park or neutral, this would cause the lock to not release the key. The shifter on the other hand could mean that your shift button is broken, or does not depress all the way. the shift lock release just bypasses the initial press of the button to get it out of park.

Answer 3

There is a sensor near the gearshift that indicates when the car is put into drive. If the car thinks you are still in gear, it won't release the key. Take apart the console around the shifter and you can see everything that is going on. The only other thing you could try would be to force up gently on the gearshift after it is in park while you turn the key...... it may give it an extra nudge to let the car know it is in park. I have had this on several Pontiacs.

Answer 4

Have seen this problem recently in many forms.....my 97 blazer started doing this and to get the key out we start the car, put the shifter through all the gears and then shut it off again and the key comes out. My 02' mustang wouldn't shift out of park and when we got it to finally shift out of park we drove it right to the garage to have them check it out. It seems there was a problem with the brake pedal trigger switch so when we would push the brake to shift into drive the brake trigger wasn't actuating and since the car didn't recognize that we were pushing the brake it wouldn't let us shift out of park. My cousin wasn't so lucky with her 2000 explorer..her keys were stuck in the ignition and they wouldn't turn over and her steering wheel was locked and would not move...she ultimately had to get someone to pop out her ignition and get a whole new ignition unit. Not sure why this happens but i would try what we do with the blazer and if that doesn't work i would check with a local mechanic you know to see if you need a new ignition unit or are having problems with the trigger switch on your brake pedal. Good luck!

Answer 5

Juice is on with sensor.:::Make sure you depress brake to
engage gear:#2 the locking pawl that engages in trans.when you select park may have been (Bent) this happens when car is parked on slope and Emergency Brake isn"t set,BEFORE shift to Park,this is letting full weight of car on Pawl,size of pencil,
You stated you did have hard time shifting out of Park before,the problem with shifter still being able to move thru shift positions.

My guess Locking Pawl broken--you will have to remove transaxle pan you will see it.

This event caused a Malibu to total when Wife or Son parked on hill without setting Emergency Brake ,Before shift to park,
3500 dollar lesson for me,We, Wife --Sons ,Had a class at my
request .I went over the proper procedure of parking car on an Incline/

Answer 6

Broken wire at the btsi solenoid on the side of the shifter or bad solenoid, replaced many!!!!