S.O.S.! I have searched these threads for hours, and wasn't able to find my particular situation. Turned off the car today, and couldn't get the key out of the ignition.

Normally the key turns all the way back, and comes out. There's usually a barely audible click in the column when the shifter is put in Park. Today, no click, and no amount of jiggling the wheel or the ignition switch would release the key.

The strange thing is, the car starts just fine. I just turn the key forward. Now, if the Neutral Safety Switch was faulty, wouldn't the car fail to start? It seems to think it's still in gear, but still starts--ie. normally, when the shifter is in drive, I can't take the key out. (Is this normal?)

I haven't tried graphite yet, will do that in the am. For tonight, I'm going to pull my fuel pump relay, and put the club on it.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

Had a extremely similar problem with my old '84. What I found out was, there is a cable that goes from the ignition switch (on the lower part of the steering column under dash) to the shifter that locks out the shifter when it's in park and the ignition is locked. Age, jarring the shifter or just looking at it wrong can cause the lock part of the switch to break/jam and it will prevent the the key cylinder from being turned all the way back.
Mine broke bad enough that I had to disconnect the coil to stop it from running and disconnect the batt to turn it off.

 

had that on my 89 formula last week theres a bunch of plastic gears in the column that broke. the whole column has to be pulled and most of the upper part plasdtic gears replaced

 

the cable that goes from the shifter to the column is broken or held up. good luck with it, there is a way to disable it, but its been a while since i delt with it - one thing to check is to make sure the shifter is still attached to it.

Steve

 

So no one thinks it's the neutral safety switch? My reverse lights still work. Thanks for all the replies, by the way.

I read about someone bypassing their NSS, or just connecting the neutral safety switch wires, so the car will start in any gear and won't lock the key. Kind of dangerous though. One guy started his car and drove into a building.

Looks like I've got the day off today, so I'll try opening the console first. Also, if I pull my steering wheel, will I be able to get to whatever is jamming the key?

P.S. Like my car was trying to apologize, last night it was running so good, like it had another 50hp. Cold night air seems to make a huge difference. Cowl induction hood is on the wishlist...

 

The NSS is just that, an electric switch. It's an intergral part of the switch on the actual shifter body. The power from the ignion switch passes through the NSS on shifter, the shifter has to be in park or neutral for the switch to be closed and the car to start.

The lockout cable is a smaller cable attached next to the trans cable (iirc... been awhile since fixing/having my old camaro). It travels under the radio and directly to the rear of the ign switch on the column. After removing the underdash trim, you should see 4 -13mm nuts holding the column to the dash, removing these will allow you a little more access to the ign. switch to see what's going on with it.
The part the cable attaches too apparently becomes brittle over time and just falls apart (like the pull down hatch motor slides). It took almost zero effort to accidentally pull my shifter out of gear (no key in ignition). I knew right then there was a problem with that, the car started fine, no problem. Tried to turn it off... problem.

I wish I had access to diagrams like Trickster but, hopefully this will give you an idea of where the cable runs to and where to look (disregard the fact my car is not an auto.)...

 

Thanks a lot! That makes sense. How did you reattach the cable? Is there a part I need to buy before I start taking things apart? How's that manual transmission? Can't wait to drop a T56 in mine. Can we say new back tires every week?


P.S. Have the day off work today, yeehaw! So who knows, might slap on that Grant GT steering wheel today as well.

 

I'm pretty sure I can take my key out when I kill the motor in gear... they always do that at the mechanics cuz their lazy.

 

maybe in neutral you can...

 

Here is a picture of the Park/Lock cable and how it mounts. This is the cable that won't let you remove the key.

 

Thanks a lot--just got home from work and I'm going to have a look for this cable. Up to now, that whole deal was a total mystery. I almost went out and bought an NSS, too. Thanks for the awesome diagram Trickster! Will let you know how it turns out.

You guys just saved me time and $$, as usual. This site rules!

 

why the heck would they even have this cable? Why not let the user take the key out while its in gear? You can shut the car off while its in gear, why not take the key out? Is it only because they don't want you starting the car in gear? I guess there are people dumb enough to leave their car in gear and forget and start it... good thing they don't drive a standard.

 

*nice edit.... It's a safety feature. The feature locks out the shifter when the car is off and no key present. This prevents (when working as should) the shifter from being knocked out of park and the car rolling to where ever (is possible and does happen). It also is a function to assure the car is in park when you remove the key and leave the vehicle.

Standard shift cars have a neutral switch on the clutch to assure the car cannot be started in gear if the cluch pedal is not pressed to the floor.

Good thing you don't design cars...

 

must be on only brand new vehicles, because every standard I've driven can be started in gear with the cluch not depressed... I think its a safety issue so that you can get off of railroad tracks and the like...

I know other cars have strange features, like our minivan, where you have to push the brake somewhat before you can switch out of park... that's a bit extreme if you ask me.

plus, I should think that the fact you need to push the button on the shifter is sufficient to keep the shifter from sliding out of park while parked... no need for complexity.

also.. if I designed cars, no car would come with less than a 300hp motor... that would be my motto... "Not 300hp, then it ain't gonna be" I almost cry when the only cars I can beat are mid 90's 1.8litre civics... but that's a bit off topic, sorry.

 

Gentlemen,

Let's keep this on topic with the original post and not go wandering off for whatever reason. Thank you

 

Thanks Trickster, have located cable, but haven't been able to get the round column housing off. Thinking of checking the linkage at the console next, that might be where it's disco'd, and easier to get to.

 

Console is apart. Note: BE CAREFUL OF SHIFT POSITION INDICATOR. I broke mine, putting console back together. (Cable connections for Park Lock Cable are fine, so problem must be in column.)

There's a little orange tab attached to the clear plastic slider that fits over the shifter (auto). The ROUND HOLE in the slider must be over the shifter. There's a slot ahead of it that the shifter will also go into if it's in the neutral position, which mine was. I put it back together, pushed the lever into P, and snap, the tab broke. So I've got it apart again, going to crazy glue it back on and reassemble. Thank the car gods for my Ryobi drill driver kit, which has all the necessary sockets and heads for GM cars.

It's dark out now, planning to research how to get the column housing off, and check out what's going on tomorrow. GT steering wheel will most likely go on too. Just have to fix my column, put it back together so I can drive tonight.:lala:

 

The reason that cable is there is so you cant take the key out while your moving, the steering wheel will lock.

 

This information goes with the first picture I posted here and should have been posted at the same time. My apologies.

 

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Thanks again Trickster, I can't say how much I appreciate the help. Will be taking the column apart today to adjust the cable, and hopefully putting on my black GT steering wheel in the process. Awesome diagrams/instructions!

 

Ok, so here's the good news--when I was under the column, I found the park lock cable--couldn't get to the adjustment because column housing was still on--even so, I jiggled it a few times, seeing if that would help. Well, something happened, because after I put the console back together, I turned the key to test the lights, and lo and behold, the key came out when I turned it back! Can hear the Park Lock Cable functioning as well. Tried it several times to be sure, and yep, it's fixed.

Even so, I'm going to print out the diagrams, etc., for future reference. Thanks again!

Fixed broken shift indicator tab (on clear plastic slider in console) with crazy glue, replaced console bulb. Thinking of changing some of my interior bulbs to red bulbs, saw em at the store today...

1991 Pontiac Firebird 305 TBI T-tops
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