Key will not come out of the ignition

Tiny
MEATYMCMEATMISSILE
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
Like the title says. It is stuck. It is in park and will start, but wont release the key. I tried the ignition at first. And when I disconnected the battery the key came out. So I knew it has to do with the gear shifter. Linkage is fine I think. Is it the the shift interlock solenoid?
Monday, July 15th, 2019 AT 12:51 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,371 POSTS
This can happen when the shift cable goes bad and does push the transmission completely into park. Can you go to the transmission level and try to push it further into park? Please let me know.
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Wednesday, July 17th, 2019 AT 1:09 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi. Yes. There is a contact in the shifter called the interlock and it is responsible for telling the ignition that the vehicle is in park and it is safe to remove the key. When this begins to stick it no longer sends that info and the ignition thinks the vehicle is still in gear.

If you look at the attached document this will explain in more detail. You have two portions of this. One to tell the shifter your foot is on the brake and it releases the shifter. The second (your issue most likely) is the Key Interlock.

I also attached the testing for this solenoid. Let me know if you have questions. Thanks
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Wednesday, July 17th, 2019 AT 2:02 PM

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