1997 Saturn L100 Key stuck in ignition

Tiny
HASSELL549
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 SATURN L100
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 780,000 MILES
Got back home from grocery store and turned off car and key would not come out of igniton switch.
Sunday, June 6th, 2010 AT 9:42 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If you do have a 1997 it's not a L100 model.I really need to no the correct year and model so I can help you with your problem. Also when you turn it off does it stop at acc postion?Let me know the more information the better.
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Sunday, June 6th, 2010 AT 2:54 PM
Tiny
HASSELL549
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I am sorry, it is a SL1 1997 Saturn
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Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 AT 8:09 AM
Tiny
HASSELL549
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  • 4 POSTS
I am sorry, it is a Saturn SL1 1997
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Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 AT 8:11 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Alright it's a S model car now I need to know what I asked you in my first reply what postion does the key go back too?Is it stuck in the run postion or the acc postion?That will decide what I tell you to do next.
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Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 AT 11:18 AM
Tiny
HASSELL549
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The key is stuck in the ignition switch in the ACC position
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Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 AT 5:32 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Here's what your going to have to do get a thin 5.5mm nut driver and remove the two upper steering column shroud cover screw's. The way you tell them from the rest is because the are deeper set in then the rest. Remove those and then pop the top cover off. Then unplug the wire's going to your wiper switch then look down below where the wire's were you will see a button sticking up threw the ignition housing. Push the button while pulling the cylinder out. Once the cylinder is out see if the cylinder will go into the lock position. If it does then the problem is in the ignition housing some where. If the cylinder is good could you take a picture of where the cylinder came out of so I can clearly see inside the housing and post it on here. Let me know what you find.
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Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
EUGENE19
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Hi I followed all the steps as I had the same trouble, now I think I have to get a new cylinder. Would that be my only choice left?
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Friday, January 13th, 2012 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I cant see what the cylinder looks like but the reason it wouldnt turn off wasnt because of the cylinder. You bitsi cable is out of adjustment casuing the cylinder to not turn off. Was the car in park when you took the pics?What year and model car?
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Friday, January 13th, 2012 AT 10:22 PM
Tiny
EUGENE19
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
1997 Saturn Sl1, The car will turn off but the key wouldn't come out, I think I accidentally used excessive forced and pushed park and the key to hard. Normally I parked and turn the car switch off the key stayed the same way and then I had to push park up until I heard a click and then that allowed me to unlock the key while pushing it down and out was the key, but now I push park up and it won't make the click and that is what I used to do normally to get it out. The key stays stuck right before the lock out.I would load up a video and link to it. So if it is the bitsi cable then I shouldn't worry about getting a new cylinder it would work up the same way if I do, I'm I correct? Should I give the bitsi cable the first shot or the cylinder? Because I had a problem few weeks ago my belt tensioner pulley felt off and at that moment I turn the key all the way to shut it down and even took the key out and the car stayed on so I had to cut the battery before it started overheating the engine, but after installing the new pulley it worked normal until now that I think I used a bit extra force up in parking and pushing the key out to hard.
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Saturday, January 14th, 2012 AT 8:46 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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You need to adjust the bitsi cable thats what I would do. Remove the cup holder in front of the shifter. It just pops out then you have to move it a side. Then you will see the cable adjustment its the right cable. You will see the release you can slide up and then the cable will slide in and out of the cable lock down. Line up the two dots on the right side of the cable so they are just on the other side of the adjusting sleeve so they just barley come thru so you can see them. Then post a pic of the cable adjustment for me to see and a pic of the hole where the cylider slides in. That way I can tell you if the cable is adjusted correctly. Do all this while the car is in park.
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Sunday, January 15th, 2012 AT 5:07 AM
Tiny
DIXIEBOOKS
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I have the same problem in my 98 Saturn SW. Key is stuck in "Push" position. There is no button sticking up through the cylinder housing that I can see. What can I do to get the key unstuck. The shifter cable seems to be OK. -James
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Thursday, August 25th, 2016 AT 10:44 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Can you take a picture of the housing hole without the cylinder in it and post the picture?
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Thursday, August 25th, 2016 AT 12:14 PM

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