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Key got stuck in Ingition and Lost power to the whole car

Tiny
DEROCK
  • MEMBER
  • PONTIAC
Hi. I am having a problem with my 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix. I was parking my car in the driveway yesterday. When I put the car in park and went to turn the key back to take the key out, it got stuck. I could not get it out. I tired everything from turning the wheel to see if the wheel had just locked up. I tried shifting the car into Neutral but it wouldn't even do that. None of my dash light or door light or accessories would not come on. So to get the key out I went under the wheel and released the lock manually. So I figure okay ill try and crank it up again so I stuck the key in and tried to crank it up again and got nothing no power in the car. I talked to a couple of people that I know personally that knows about cars and they said that it was probably my Ignition key lock switch got lock and the tumblers are out of sync. So it doesn't know that the key is out of the ignition and probably is stuck in that sweet spot where the car doesn't recognize that is needs to give power. I also was told that if the if the ignition lock switch is screwed up then it would cause the car to lose all power. I think it is stuck between the Off switch and the switch that turns on your dash lights. So that probably would be the dead spot? I know my battery is not dead. If you have any suggestions on what could be going on please let me know.
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Saturday, July 22nd, 2006 AT 10:45 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
YANGALEX
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have the same question here. My car is a 99 Grand Prix GTP coupe, around 80K miles on it. I drove the car the day before and it was OK, but the second day when I was trying to start the car, the first thing I noticed is that the remote entry failed to work, so I figured it was probably out of battery, so I just opened the door with my key. Then when I inserted the key into the ignition, it didn't start the car, actually there was nothing happened, no crank or anything, it's like the car is completely dead, no power is on. Moreover, I can't get the key out either. Can anyone give me a hand? Thanks a lot!
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Monday, July 31st, 2006 AT 6:27 PM
Tiny
MIKEYBDMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 623 POSTS
Im not sure about the first guys car since he never said make and model and year, but for the Pontiac, it sounds like the ignition switch has gone bad.
In both cases, we think of the tumblers as a sure bet that they have gone bad and not allowing the key to turn. Not always true.

Lets do a few basic things that can clear it up. Manual release! Should be on the bottom of the column like the first guy referenced. If you can manually release the key, then your tumblers are not the problem (most likely). So, on to why your key wont come out. In most cars they have a park position switch that supplies a ground to the key unlock solenoid to release the key when you are in park. If the car would run and everything is perfect except the key wont come out, then I would suspect the park position switch as being bad. But, since you have totally lost power, then the solenoid has no power to release the key. Now to the problem at hand. Your ignition switch seems to have gone bad, and not supplying the car with power, which includes the solenoid to remove the key.

Now, I would make sure your battery is not completely dead. I have seen them short internally and just have no power what so ever. That two will fit the symptoms you describe.

Please post back the fixes to both of your problems and maybe I can learn a little also.
Good luck.
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Monday, July 31st, 2006 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
YANGALEX
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for the reply. I will follow your instructions step by step when I get home today. I did have tried to jump start the car, but it doesn't work at all. I also called a dealer and he said it should be about ignition cylinder something and will cost around 400 bucks for a new one. I hope it won't go that bad.
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Tuesday, August 1st, 2006 AT 2:17 PM
Tiny
MIKEYBDMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 623 POSTS
Those red lights are supposed to blink when the ignition switch is off. However, if it is bad, it may not be telling the alram I am off. Its not telling anything to any system. Not saying om off, and not saying im on.
I would take a volt meter, and check your battery to see if it has power. Check the cables and make sure they are clean, tight and free of corrosion. I would also check for power at the start relay. If you find the main power cable to the starter relay, and you place the positive terminal of your meter on that post, and the negative terminal to the case of the starter, or frame, you should read battery volts. The reason I say check it there is to eliminate the battery connections. Power has to flow from the battery to the start relay, thru your meter, thru your frame or case and back to the battery thru its cable for you to read voltage. At this point I would repace the ignition switch.
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Tuesday, August 1st, 2006 AT 4:07 PM
Tiny
RPD623
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I had a similar problem with my 1999 grand prix and the negative battery terminal came loose I couldn't get the key out it wouldn't shift into gear none of the instruments worked at all but as soon as I tightened the negative terminal everything worked
good luck let me know if it works
rick

jobsearch623@yahoo. Com
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Monday, October 9th, 2006 AT 5:48 PM
Tiny
KENNYPLAY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
After putting in the ignition key, at first, the wife couldnt get the shift lever out of park, then she coundnt get the key to turn all the way off. Some of the dash lights stay on too. She couldnt get the key out of the ignition. I later messed around with it, pressed real hard on the break pedal and got the automatic shifter to shift into drive. Car starts and drives well. When comes to a stop and to turn off car, car turns off but the key doesnt turn all the way off. Some of the dash lights stay on. I can pull the ignition key out too. Same Lights stay on. Any thoughts on what it might be? Thanks
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Tuesday, October 10th, 2006 AT 2:39 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,833 POSTS
This could be becasue of a transmission cable that is coming apart either at the transmission or the shifter, have someone move the shifter while whats the cable ends to confirm.

Please use 2CarPros anytime, we are here to help and tell a friend.

Best, Ken
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Friday, March 24th, 2017 AT 9:45 PM

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