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Can't Remove Key On 96 Grand Am

KCXLT

By KCXLT
in Ask A GM Technician

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KCXLT Enthusiast

KCXLT

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Hi, I'm trying to help my mother in law. The key won't turn past the accessories spot when trying to shut the car off. It starts and runs ok. I took the shroud off the steering column and there is what looks like a solenoid with a black/white wire going to it. If I push the back of that then the key will go to the off position and come out. I disconnected the wiring and tried to get a voltage reading with the car off, the car in the run position and the shifter in park and the car in the run position with the shifter in gear. I don't seem to get any voltage, I tried down to mV. Its a floor shifter so I popped the cover off and all the plugs look like there plugged in properly.

 

Any ideas what the next thing to look at is? My parts guy said it could be a module down by the shifter and he also mentioned the brake switch. I can shift out of park without putting my foot on the brake.

 

Thanks

tylerjenkins92@aol.com Senior Enthusiast

[email protected]

Posted
Posted
Hi, I'm trying to help my mother in law. The key won't turn past the accessories spot when trying to shut the car off. It starts and runs ok. I took the shroud off the steering column and there is what looks like a solenoid with a black/white wire going to it. If I push the back of that then the key will go to the off position and come out. I disconnected the wiring and tried to get a voltage reading with the car off, the car in the run position and the shifter in park and the car in the run position with the shifter in gear. I don't seem to get any voltage, I tried down to mV. Its a floor shifter so I popped the cover off and all the plugs look like there plugged in properly.

 

Any ideas what the next thing to look at is? My parts guy said it could be a module down by the shifter and he also mentioned the brake switch. I can shift out of park without putting my foot on the brake.

 

Thanks

 

Seems like the electric solenoid in the steering column has gone bad. It's supposed to keep the key from going to lock position when the vehicle is still in gear to prevent accidental steering wheel lock while going down the road which could cause a crash. But, it looks like it's bad and is keeping the key in all the time.

KCXLT Enthusiast

KCXLT

Posted
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Posted

After some more fooling around I think the problem is in the shifter area. Must be the contacts that tell the solenoid that the car is in park. I watched the solenoid as I moved the shifter around in park and after a few seconds I got the solenoid to go in which released the key. So I'll find out what that part costs. For now she will have to stick her finger in the hole on the bottom of the steering column and push the solenoid manually.

 

Thanks

tylerjenkins92@aol.com Senior Enthusiast

[email protected]

Posted
Posted
After some more fooling around I think the problem is in the shifter area. Must be the contacts that tell the solenoid that the car is in park. I watched the solenoid as I moved the shifter around in park and after a few seconds I got the solenoid to go in which released the key. So I'll find out what that part costs. For now she will have to stick her finger in the hole on the bottom of the steering column and push the solenoid manually.

 

Thanks

 

Oh, o.k. Sounds like the park/neutral switch then. But if it cranks up fine it can't be that. Oh well, good luck!!

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