key stuck in the ignition *sigh*

Katie_maddcow · Post by **Katie_maddcow** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:35 pm

Hi,

I know i know, typical female with stupid problems... my key is stuck in the ignition, it starts fine, it just wont click all the way back so i can take it out...

i figure its either one of the following... the car is not going into park properly so i can take it out.... or i have a problem with the actual key and barrel... (yes its an auto / gpx)

I have not spoken to any locksmiths / auto electricians as yet... going to try wd40 when i get home.. i havent really had a chance to fiddle with it yet as it happened when my bf came home last night (lucky it happened at home and not at work!!) But yeh.. if anyone has any other suggestions please let me know.. most appreciated!

cheers!

tarkus · Post by **tarkus** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:54 pm

Hya
There is a cable from the gear lever to the ingnition switch, this can stick and stop the key being removed.
there is a thread for this subject but I am not sure where, maybe someone else will point you in the right direction.

where are you? maybe one of the experienced members can help as it is a little bit fiddley to get to.

CYA Tarkus (old fart in Lilydale, VIC)

Katie_maddcow · Post by **Katie_maddcow** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:22 pm

im on the Central Coast about 15 - 20 minutes out of wyong towards Newcastle in a sort of stick town called Gwandalan (NSW).... if anyone close by knows what they are doing

Thank you for your help

EURO · Post by **EURO** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:30 pm

this might sound really silly... but is your wheel on full lock? try turning your wheel with the ignition on...then taking the key out...

Katie_maddcow · Post by **Katie_maddcow** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:37 pm

im not that silly.. no the wheel is not locked.. i can drive the car.. i just cant take the key out...

Thanks

BuCkEt · Post by **BuCkEt** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:50 pm

Have you tried moving the shift stick into different gears, then back into Park??

Ok, as one of the most recent suckers for this problem I'll do my best to help out, albiet while at work and without pictures.

My first step was to remove all the plastic panels underneath the steering wheel column.

Next I removed the wheel, this isn't 100% necessary but does give you more room to move around with. Behind the wheel is the black plastic covering that goes around your steering column, take this off, it can be a bit fiddly but it definately needs to come off.

Underneath the ignition is a little white peice of plastic that folds down. I can't remember exactly how...but you need to get this peice of plastic out.

If you keep your hand under the piece of plastic while you take it out, a tiny bit of metal will drop into your hand, this is what has broken and is causing your key to get stuck. It's caused by lack of lubrication and grinding thus the metal breaks off and gets stuck.

Once you've done this you should be able to take your key out.

Just to be on the safe side I used a bit of silicon lubricant in the gap.

Now put it all back together!!

EURO · Post by **EURO** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:34 pm

sorry, I didnt meant it to sound like that....

I said, that because it happened to me when i first got my licnece....

wasnt aware that when the wheel was locked the car wouldnt start etc..

Katie_maddcow · Post by **Katie_maddcow** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:39 pm

totally know that feeling.. that happened with me with my first car.. hehe they dont put that on your L's / P's test?! stupid RTA..

Katie_maddcow · Post by **Katie_maddcow** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:38 pm

thanks to everyone that replied.. i will go home tonight and have a fiddle... hopefully i wont have to pull apart everything... i gave everything a quick jiggle this morning but was running late for work.. i reveresed it our the driveway and back into the garage and played with the shift stick and key for a little...

eh... il see how i go... thanks again... i will let you know tomorrow how i went!

Thanks

Jase · Post by **Jase** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:08 pm

I took mine in to the mechanic. $70 and a new switch and it was all fixed.

mr-charisma · Post by **mr-charisma** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:23 pm

I have a stupid suggestion, but just covering all bases, (I'm sure you've already done it with all the fiddling around... but just in case) the keys are a bit temperamental sometimes in that you have to push down on the key into the ignition and turn to get them out..
not sure what elese you could try that doesn't involve going to a pro.. soo wellz, good luck
aye & bye

Ther · Post by **Ther** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 11:57 pm

8i have that issue some times, no need to take anything apart, since it happend cos your gear lever does not click into park properly, just fiddle with the gears when your key is on the acc position and have the brake down...slowly change the gears until you get to park and make sure iit locks properly, if done correctly then you will be able to remove the key... this procedure is explained in more detail in another thread so if you can just use the search tool and find the relevant threads..

Post by **dstocks** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 9:15 am

Probably a little late for this reply, but another thing that will cause this is the adjustment of the cables (and the shifter) for the tiptronic box. These can move over time, causing the shifter to not go into park properly (This has happened to me). If this is the case, you will need to remove the console from around the shifter and play with the adjustment of the cables and possibly pull apart the shifter itself and play with the adjustment of the button. If you decide to have a shot at this, be careful as a lot of these components are easy to break (You should not need to force anything).

FTO AUSTRALIA

key stuck in the ignition sigh

key stuck in the ignition sigh

key stuck