Key sticking in ignition...

bowtie_pasta · February 2, 2005

Need a bit of help here guys. The key won't come out of the ignition sometimes after turning the engine off. It stops about 1/8 from the OFF position. We have to jack with it for a while to get it to work.

Has anyone else experienced this or had it repaired? It's doing it frequently enough that we need to get it fixed. I called my shop, but he didn't indicate it was something common or that he knew of, just advised they could check it out.

I bet it's something simple and I would like to fix it myself if I can. I already tried lubing with a bit of silicone spray, but that didn't help.

I'm so bummed, seems like everytime I turn around I'm throwing cash at my vehicles lately.

Roland

*excuse my poor spelling on the title...I tried to edit it, but can't.

bowtie_pasta · February 5, 2005

Guys I figured this out last night!

I ended up pulling the little plug/cover off the bottom of the column and pushing the release button. It worked and the key released like normal. All this got me thinking...what and why is this switch not releasing normally? I wanted to see more. Without pulling the steering wheel I removed the two screws from the bottom column cover and popped it down to where I could see inside the column okay with a flash light. *Note, you won't be able to remove the bottom cover without removing the wheel or the knee bolster.*

This allowed me to see the release mechanism which is nothing more than a solenoid. This solenoid is activated when you press the thumb button on the shifter. It locks the key in place and unlocks it in park. I noticed it only working sometimes when pressing the button. I wiggled the wires going to the switch and kept testing. After that I could NOT get it to freeze up again which was great! It almost seemed like the button was just hanging up. At any rate I must have tested it 100 times and it still worked flawlessly. I went ahead and sprayed a dab of silicone spray onto the button of the end of the solenoid hoping if it was just a lubrication issue this would keep it working smoothly. *Note if you are testing this with the key all the way forward in the ON position you will have to press the brake before the shift lever button sends current to the soleniod.*

So if you are putting your truck into park the instant you release the shift thumb button you should hear a click from the column. If not, they soleniod is not releasing.

This all makes sense because why else would Chevy put access to a button on the bottom of the column to release the key? Answer: Just in case you try to start your truck with a dead battery. If the battery is dead the soleniod will not release.

At any rate I'm thrilled with my progress and looks like the shop can eat my shorts!

Hope this helps those out with the same trouble. Ask questions if you have any.

Roland

Wingaman · February 7, 2005

Guys I figured this out last night!

...

This all makes sense because why else would Chevy put access to a button on the bottom of the column to release the key? Answer: Just in case you try to start your truck with a dead battery. If the battery is dead the soleniod will not release.

...

Hope this helps those out with the same trouble. Ask questions if you have any.

Roland

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank You for posting this. I had this happen when my battery went dead in my driveway and got my key back when I hooked up a charger to the battery, but I didn't realize the ramifications...if my battery goes dead away from home, I may not be able to remove my keys... including my house key... from the car if I had to leave it there. I will be examining my column this afternoon.

Further justification to keep a set of cables there. Still debating my tool box.

Does anybody else keep a toolbox in their vehicle? If so, where?

Wingnut · February 7, 2005

I'm so bummed, seems like everytime I turn around I'm throwing cash at my vehicles lately.

Roland

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Stop turning around then

*excuse my poor spelling on the title...I tried to edit it, but can't.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll get that for ya'

Glad you got it figured out

Wingaman · February 8, 2005

OK, I checked mine out and discovered...I've got no plug to pull off to push the button!

We are talking about a space beneath the ignition switch, correct? I remember seeing them on a '96 Yukon I drove for several years, but my '02 Envoy doesn't have it that I saw after a fairly quick glance.