Drove to work turned car off ----unable to turn key to left far enough to get key out. 2002 A4 car is in parkwill not come out accessory are still on What the......? Any ideas Thanks

 

There is a small cable that connects the shifter to the key lock, it's purpose is to prevent the key from being removed unless the shifter is in park. If you remove the console cover you can see the cable, it is between the shifter and the climate controls. Unclip the cable from the shifter and see if the ignition switch can be moved enough to remove the key. If this works then you might try loosening the four shifter mounting nuts and move the shifter forward to gain more slack in the small ignition cable.

 

Yelp that was it- cable had streched and that was easy to fix . Thanks

 

It's fantastic. I just got to work and the exact same thing's happened to me.

A quick search, and here it is. What a cool thing the WWW is.


The key has just turned far enough left to turn everything off but it still wouldn't come out of the ignition.
I managed to leave the key in it and lock the car anyway, so I've left it like that and come into the office.
I'm guessing that removing the console is not a simple "lunchtime with no tools handy" job, but I'll go check it out anyway.

Thanks for the post.

 

I just took it out of park and put it back in and the key came straight out.
Well, at least I know now.

 

It takes a 10mm socket and a 15 torx to get the console off. Details here along with how to change out your flasher switch when it fails.
http://myweb.cableone.net/kd5fx/HSwitch/HSwitch.htm
STW, Dave

 

I own a 1999 C5 automatic that started acting up last year. The key got stuck in the ignition. Could not turn the key all the way to the left. I had the gear in park, wriggled it from side to side and I got the key out. Problem solved, I thought. This year picking the car out of storage, everything seemed ok. Drove it home and the key was stuck again.
Tried to do the same as last year, wriggled the gear stick from left to right. Nothing happend. After siome time I got the message; Pull key and wait for 10 seconds. Well, the key was stuck, so I could'nt pull it. Left everything and started checking forums. This just made me more confused. Clearly a lot of people don't have a clue.
The day after I tried to take a ride (with the key stuck). Engine started ok and I could rev it with no problem. Asked my wite to join me for a ride. Too optimistic I think. Once I put it in gear, forward or backward, the engine cut off. So no ride. So I first had to solve the problem with the stuck key.
I removed the center console, Found the wire causing the problem. It was too tight and I mangaged to loosen it. And magic, the key came out. Then I disconnected the battery, waited for a minute or two, and then connected it again. A short flashing message still said: Pull the key and wait for 10 seconds.
So I did, pulled the key and waited approx 30 seconds. And this fixed it, the car runs with no problem! (and I got a good night sleep)