cannot remove ignition key at shut down
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
cannot remove ignition key at shut down
I have an 88 C4 automatic with 128,000 miles on it. Drives and runs great for it's age. Car is well maintained by myself. Just yesterday my wife was driving it home from work ( she keeps the battery charged once a week) and she could not pull the ignition key out of the cylinder. I hopped in started the car put it in "reverse" then "park", shut it down and the key came out at shut down as normal. Same thing happened this morning except the reverse trick didn't work. When she drove it back home at lunch the key would come out as normal. Sounds like a transmission thing but other than a small leak in the front that a new gasket and pan would not fix I have not have any transmissions problems.
Anyone have any ideas. Sounds like the transmission is still in gear after shut down but the shifter lever goes into "park" as normal so the key should come out.
Anyone have any ideas. Sounds like the transmission is still in gear after shut down but the shifter lever goes into "park" as normal so the key should come out.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 1
From: Tucson Arizona
I have an 88 C4 automatic with 128,000 miles on it. Drives and runs great for it's age. Car is well maintained by myself. Just yesterday my wife was driving it home from work ( she keeps the battery charged once a week) and she could not pull the ignition key out of the cylinder. I hopped in started the car put it in "reverse" then "park", shut it down and the key came out at shut down as normal. Same thing happened this morning except the reverse trick didn't work. When she drove it back home at lunch the key would come out as normal. Sounds like a transmission thing but other than a small leak in the front that a new gasket and pan would not fix I have not have any transmissions problems.
Anyone have any ideas. Sounds like the transmission is still in gear after shut down but the shifter lever goes into "park" as normal so the key should come out.
Anyone have any ideas. Sounds like the transmission is still in gear after shut down but the shifter lever goes into "park" as normal so the key should come out.
There is a spring loaded mechanism on the shifter that operates a cable going to the ignition lock assembly. When I took my '86 console apart, I found the lubricants on that mechanism were more like a gum or putty than a lubricant. Also, the spring that operates the mechanism seemed like it might have lost some tension. I cleaned the old lubricant from the pivot points and sliding areas as best I could and relubricated with fresh Lubriplate. I could have probably done better but I did not want to take the mechanism apart.
The cable between the shifter mechanism and key lock still feels stiff in my car. I did not remove it to lubricate it because the disassembly looked extensive and, being in Tucson, I will not face cold weather too often. I did try to spray a little Tri-Flow lubricant into the cable end hoping it may migrate through the cable.
Good luck.
Steve
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
AZ rocketman,
Saw your forum question after I wrote my forum question. I have a GM shop manual so I will see if I can find the cable adjustment that jhammons01 is talking about. If I can't find the adjustment page "I'll be back".
Yes it is cold here in North carolina. Just snowed 2 days ago.
Saw your forum question after I wrote my forum question. I have a GM shop manual so I will see if I can find the cable adjustment that jhammons01 is talking about. If I can't find the adjustment page "I'll be back".
Yes it is cold here in North carolina. Just snowed 2 days ago.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 1
From: Tucson Arizona
AZ rocketman,
Saw your forum question after I wrote my forum question. I have a GM shop manual so I will see if I can find the cable adjustment that jhammons01 is talking about. If I can't find the adjustment page "I'll be back".
Yes it is cold here in North carolina. Just snowed 2 days ago.
Saw your forum question after I wrote my forum question. I have a GM shop manual so I will see if I can find the cable adjustment that jhammons01 is talking about. If I can't find the adjustment page "I'll be back".
Yes it is cold here in North carolina. Just snowed 2 days ago.
Steve
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
My '96 will do that sometimes. I narrowed it down to the button on the shifter not popping back up completely. That may be your case since you changed the position of the shifter and then the key came out.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,641
Likes: 2
From: Southern California
If you push the auto lever forward too much it will lock the key in. Push the lever to park (depress button), then pull it back towards you (don't depress the button). The key should realease.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
By the responses I see, there needs to be a cable adjustment. The GM manual with the drawings are confusing. So other questions need to be asked. How does one remove the auto shifter ****? Not sure how the shifter console come out to expose the cable. I know how to get the cluster and radio but not the shifter. The drawings don't come with instrustions. My Haynes manual makes it look easy but I don't think so. Also, How do I get to the steering column cable? Do I need to remove the lower I.P.trim pad or am I suppose to look upside down from the floor to the column to see the cable? I have plenty of time, ha, ha.
Jim
Jim
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
OK. I found the Tread on console removal. But how do I get to the Cable that connects at the ignition switch to the shifter without tearing the interior apart? Does anyone know where exactly to adjust the cable?
Thanks,
Jim
Thanks,
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
I also have the above problem on occasion on my 96'. It is button related but a once a year problem, I can deal with.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
I think "Feature" is a bit generous as a descriptor for this "procedure"
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
Discovered the problem with the shifter/removing ignition key. The release button on top of the auto shifter was not coming all the way up. I can hear the ignition inter-lock cable move when I move the shifter through the gears out of "park". For a quick fix I removed the button and sprayed some WD-40 down the metal shaft. This does not solve the whole problem. I found that I had to "tap" the shifter **** once in a while to get the button to pop all the way up. The button is very sensitive and the slightest depression will cause removing the starter key impossible. So until I have time to go into the shifter console this fix will have to do.
Sorry to make a big deal out of this bit I was very concerned when this happened. You can't drive a vehicle any where and leave the key in it.
To all that helped, thank you,
Jim
Sorry to make a big deal out of this bit I was very concerned when this happened. You can't drive a vehicle any where and leave the key in it.
To all that helped, thank you,
Jim
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,147
Likes: 452
From: Port St. Lucie West Florida
this happened to my 95 when I first bought it home-I called p.o. and he told me what to do. It was the button on the shifter not popping back up completely
