Can't get the key out of my 95 Intrepid!

JDKELLEY

MEMBER
1995 DODGE INTREPID

I recently began having some trouble getting the key out of the ignition of my '95 Intrepid. Wiggle it, jiggle it, it still won't come out. The key will turn to the "on" position, and will start, but will not turn all the way to the off position and release the key to come out. Turning the steering wheel does not help. For a few days, I had to disconnect the battery to keep from running the battery down.

I've replaced the ignition lock cylinder, but the new cylinder with the new key does the same thing. I've put some WD-40 in the end of the cylinder, but that doesn't help either. Any ideas on what may be causing this? Thanks for the help.

2 Replies

STRATUS98

MEMBER
96 POSTS

Make sure you car is fully engauging park, I had an issue once where a nut had fallen just right and blocked off the last 1/2 inch so it would almost go into park but not quite.

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Saturday, January 13th, 2007 AT 10:43 PM

JDKELLEY

MEMBER
4 POSTS

The tranny goes into park fully. I disassembled the steering column this morning. Took the steering wheel off and everything. The ignition switch is on the left side, the lock cylinder is on the right side. I believe the problem may lie in between. Inside the housing. It's strange. The ignition switch works fine. I can turn the cylinder inside the column (where the lock cylinder goes) with a pair of needle-nosed pliers, and it will go into all positions (off, on, and start). The lock cylinder works, too. I can pull the key out, when the cylinder is not in the column. But when I add all the pieces together and assemble it, it won't work. Beats the heck out of me. I guess the problem is inside the housing, which is beyond my mechanical capabilities. Until I can get it to the shop to be looked at, I guess I'll have to just disconnect the battery cable to keep from running the battery down.