Key stuck in ignition

Key and lock oil might help. Basically, it's penetrating oil with graphite suspended in it. I had a similar problem being able to get the key to turn at all. This fixed it.

 

Try pulling the acc fuse for ur dash power outlets don't ask lol just pull the fuse and take the key out without the fuse in. Hope this helps

 

Excellent advice.....also turning the steering wheel to the left slightly will assist in unlocking the key in my experience.

 

Compare your key with the spare. Perhaps the metal has worn down on the key.

 

I believe the above responces are the reason for key not comeing out!

This past weekend I accessed the shifter column to see what kinda light was needed for a mod. I thought I put everything back together but apparently there was a piece of plastic the size of uuuhh maybe watch face that was jamming up, not allowing the shifter to fully engage Park. I removed it and viola....no problems thus far...knock on wood!

Thanks for everyones replies!

 

I had same problem with stuck key in ignition. only way it would come out(turn to lock position) was to disconnect battery. someone in this site suggested a shim on the shifter pivot bolt. I removed plastic console cover over floor shifter, had to remove three Phillips screws from white plastic/nylon unit passenger side of shifter to access 14mm bolt head.bolt is a shoulder bolt about4-5" long and has a tube around it . tube was worn on ends so left about 1/8" gap between sides of bracket. nut on other end of shoulder bolt is 12mm. remove nut, pull out bolt and get fender washer 1/8" thick to fit over shoulder(thicker part of bolt). insert bolt back through passenger side of bracket, into tube. push thru to drivers side of bracket, pull back enough to slide new fender washer into gap between tube and bracket and line up so bolt will slide thru hole in washer and then thru hole in bracket .reinstall 12mm nut. reinstall 3 screws in white nylon unit passenger side of shifter. should have suggested disconnecting battery first before any repair work is started. now connect battery. test by inserting key ,starting engine, drive, park,turn off engine . key should come out no problem. then reinstall cowling (plastic cover). other suggestion from my locksmith. do not spray wd40 directly into ignition.do not use graphite! instead spray wd40 onto key, insert into ignition and use sawing action ,pushing in and pulling out. do this several times to clean and lubricate.

 

Graphite, either liquid or powder (preferred) is the way to go. Available at hobby shops.
WD40 will leave residue that attracts dust.

 

I had the same problem and the fix is to shim the tube that holds the shifter. You will notice that your shifter gets looser as the truck ages. Because the shifter is loose, it is preventing the lever from fully going into park, thus preventing the key from being removed. Just put a few washers on the nut side, inside the bracket and you will not have anymore trouble. You will also have a tighter shifter.

 

Use graphite spray in your lock to lubricate it every once in awhile.

 

I have this problem, my key gets randomly stuck, trying on off on off it won't go past accessory, I simply remove accessory fuse at the dash " top middle on my 2001" turn the key on and then off, comes out every time. I'm sure it has something to do with the interlock, but now I have a sure fire way to remove it.

 

I have tried all of those on my 02. The only way i can get the key out is if i pop the hood and remove the negative termanl wire. I have replaced the ignition cylinder. Someone help me out do i need to go farther and remove the ignition switch?

 

if it were me, I would take it straight to the locksmith.

 

Well i just called my local locksmith and he said do i look like a mechanic...got to love small country towns. well i will have to deal with removing the acc fuse everytime i get to a job to get my key out till i can get it to my brother

 

You don't want to mix up the two

 

Ok so if you have a key that gets stuck and goes in and out normally, it is most likely the interlock switch. This switch is located inside the plastics covering your shifter. To diagnose if this is the problem, you can do a few things, me personally, I was getting hella pissed and basically slammed the shifter from park to 1st a zillion times. But I found the proper way is to open your fuse box, remove the Accessory fuse, turn key on, turn key off and then it should come out. If that works, I can guarantee that it is the interlock switch. The second thing you can do is press the button on top of your shifter a bunch of times, then hold the shifter over to the right a little and do it again, turn key on, turn key off, if it now lets it out then it is also the interlock switch. My truck has 254k miles on it, so my old key doesnt even open the doors anymore, I have a spare key i use. Ok, I still have not fixed the interlock switch, but I did take it apart to see that was the issue. What you will see when you take it apart is a white piece of plastic that gets pulled up when you put the shifter in park, and what happens is the little tab slides out of that. If you see that moving the shifter to park does not pull that white piece up, then that is the problem. Now that I know the problem with mine, I am lazy and just press the top button a bunch of times, turn to on, then off and if the key doesnt come out I do it a few more times.

 

Thats exactly what the problem was. Just spent a little bit of money and time to fix it now comes the fun part getting all my locks to the same key. The local lock smith is really going to love me when I ask him to rekey all my locks

 

I find that's better for getting it in, not out.

I don't think your doctor would recommend lithium in place of KY but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

WD40 is a solvent, not a lube...

 

Slightly off topic, but try to keep a "light" keyring, ie no more keys than you use regularly, to reduce cylinder wear.

 

I found that the key is worn out. That is what happend to mein my old 98'. On the ex-wifes honda, it was the solenoid for the "In Park" position for the shifter.