Have owned the vehicle for about 4 years. Started having the key stuck in ignition about a year and a half ago. Was very sporadic. Used to start and pull it back and forth, stop, foot on brake and then once in a while it would work. Kept foot on brake when we started it, and held foot down on brake for about 30 seconds or so after I parked and it would sometimes work. Then would not work at all for quite a while. Stopped driving it until I got on Youtube (there are many, however, one really stood out and was very simple) and found a solution.
Under the steering wheel on the wrap around section, in the middle, there is a small little "knockout"; you pull (or punch) it out and stick your finger up at a steep angle and you can feel a movement: That movement pushes down on the solenoid switch. You can feel only a little bit of the "stem rod coming from the solenoid, however, you will feel it if you put your finger up far enough. As you are pushing down on the small section (it is the only one you will feel) and turn the key, it will come out. This procedure is so great as it works every time!
I talked to my mechanic and he said that is why the "pop-out" is there in the first place. GM dealers will not tell you this. They want to replace the whole ignition switch, key, etc and will charge anywhere from $600-$800.
And than the problem starts all over again in a few more months. Youtube has many answers for these bastard problems. However, I still work with my mechanic on most everything else.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Have owned the vehicle for about 4 years. Started having the key stuck in ignition about a year and a half ago. Was very sporadic. Used to start and pull it back and forth, stop, foot on brake and then once in a while it would work. Kept foot on brake when we started it, and held foot down on brake for about 30 seconds or so after I parked and it would sometimes work. Then would not work at all for quite a while. Stopped driving it until I got on Youtube (there are many, however, one really stood out and was very simple) and found a solution.
Under the steering wheel on the wrap around section, in the middle, there is a small little "knockout"; you pull (or punch) it out and stick your finger up at a steep angle and you can feel a movement: That movement pushes down on the solenoid switch. You can feel only a little bit of the "stem rod coming from the solenoid, however, you will feel it if you put your finger up far enough. As you are pushing down on the small section (it is the only one you will feel) and turn the key, it will come out. This procedure is so great as it works every time!
I talked to my mechanic and he said that is why the "pop-out" is there in the first place. GM dealers will not tell you this. They want to replace the whole ignition switch, key, etc and will charge anywhere from $600-$800.
And than the problem starts all over again in a few more months. Youtube has many answers for these bastard problems. However, I still work with my mechanic on most everything else.
- David G., Grand Junction, CO, US