key won't come out of ignition
#1
8th Gear
Thread Starter
key won't come out of ignition
C-4 Automatic. Shifter's button doesn't pop up when in Park so I can't get the ignition key out. Button pops up in all other gears. Any suggestions?
#3
Melting Slicks
Have you removed the brake-safety solenoid under the shifter cover? That can fail and stop the button from depressing, wonder if it somehow could be stopping it from popping out. Just a guess.
#4
I couldn't get the key out of my 85 (automatic transmission). turned out to be a faulty steering column, key lock cylinder.
Last edited by Joe C; 02-09-2019 at 10:55 AM.
#5
Rough up the shifter a bit when it's in park, and see if the bottom pops up. If not, you may be able to fiddle with the button itself by gently prying all around it with a small flat blade screwdriver. Be careful though, don't force it. The button in my '96 likes to stick every now and then, and all it usually takes is some light presses on it or rocking the shifter back and forth in park(there's a small amount of play in it) to get it to pop.
#6
I’d remove the top shifter cover and see if anything is blocking the shifter from moving the **** up. Maybe loose change? If all looks well it could be shifter cable linkage adjustment either up top, or on the transmission. Sounds like your shifter might not be getting all the way into park.
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Badaxident (02-11-2019)
#7
8th Gear
Thread Starter
Thank you all for your support. The button is not stuck down. It will pop up easily when pulled out of park. I have tried roughing it into park to no avail. Seems I'll have to take it apart and look for a foreign object lodged in the ratcheting track. Seems like the most logical solution.
#8
Thank you all for your support. The button is not stuck down. It will pop up easily when pulled out of park. I have tried roughing it into park to no avail. Seems I'll have to take it apart and look for a foreign object lodged in the ratcheting track. Seems like the most logical solution.
Last edited by Joe C; 02-11-2019 at 05:33 AM.
#9
8th Gear
Thread Starter
The car is a '91. I have seen some of the videos you mention but they don't seem to match my problem. The key does go through the other functions just fine.. on off start etc. just doesn't quite go all the way off.. sort of like on "newer" cars where you have to flip a little lever on the ignition before removing the key. The trans is an automatic. Shouldn't the button on the shifter pop up when I put it in park? It doesn't.
#10
The car is a '91. I have seen some of the videos you mention but they don't seem to match my problem. The key does go through the other functions just fine.. on off start etc. just doesn't quite go all the way off.. sort of like on "newer" cars where you have to flip a little lever on the ignition before removing the key. The trans is an automatic. Shouldn't the button on the shifter pop up when I put it in park? It doesn't.
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Badaxident (02-11-2019)
#11
Drifting
So it sounds like the car starts and runs ok, you can drive the car but can't get the trans fully into park. The ignition switch won't go into the lock position unless the trans is in park. May have a transmission problem, hopefully not the parking pawl because the entire trans has to come out to get at that.
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Badaxident (02-11-2019)
#13
Melting Slicks
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Not sure if its the same as 88, but there is a cable that runs from the shifter to the steering column, left side. If the cable came off the key will not come out and do what you described. Either cable came off shifter, broke, or has too much play. Id take cable off shifter and push it in and see if key comes out. The steering column cover would have to come off to access..Good luck!
#17
8th Gear
Thread Starter
As soon as the weather breaks, I will try this. Pretty cold now and the car is in my friend's garage. I agree that I think I will have to take the console apart to see what's up.
#20
8th Gear
Thread Starter