Hey fellas, how is everyone?



Ok, so I got the fuel pump replace last month, and so far everything has been great with that.

I decided to take the wuss route, and paid my mechanic 100 bucks to do the work, but all in all I saved 350 dollars.

I didn't want to mess around, and blow something up, and since I have very little experience fixing cars, I figured it was worth it to just save myself the time and energy, and spend the money, and have peace of mind that the job would be done without any mistakes.



So anyways, check this out, now for some reason, I cannot remove the key from the ignition.

It started several months ago being a minor problem, but has gotten progressively worse.

I showed the problem to my mechanic a few weeks ago, and he suggested that I just need to press the brake when I put the car in park, and that triggers it..... but while that works somewhat, many times it doesn't.


Now it's to the point, that when I drive anywhere, it takes my about 5 minutes to get the key out.

I try shifting and pushing the brake pedal down.... heck I even try turning the lights on and off, just to trigger something in the electrical system, cause I'm figuring the problem lies there somewhere.



Anyways, do you guys have any experience with THIS problem, in a 2003 Grand Prix?


thanks in advance,
LBC

First things that come to mind are shift interlock or possibly a power issue. I cannot recall if the ignition switch going bad would cause or not but I know for fact that a loss of power will.

__________________
Scotty Hall
Bartlesville, OK
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it.

The only limitation you will ever face in life is yourself!

Hmmmm, well the car starts, but it DOES often times take a few tries. I wonder if that means a problem with the ignition switch..............


And I don't know if having a stereo amp hooked up to the battery might cause problems, but I DO have two amps, along with a capacitor, in the trunk.

try turning your sterro off a min before you get to your destinaton ??? idk

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track day in a few weeks

Nah, a lot of times I don't even put it on for the whole trip, and can't get the key out.

thanks anyways

Until you get it fixed, it's most likely something in the ignition switch, here is a way to get your key out in less than five mins.

Look under your steering column.


You'll see this little spot

Remove the cover





Insert something small and long and it releases the key, great for when you move the car without a battery and other stuff.

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L26,Xp, zzp trans,3.29's,2700 conv, slp headers/catback, diy ported heads/LIM, 3 angle valve job,.052 MLS hg, outlet ported Gen V, 3.6, N*, LQ4, 4" FWI, agx's, ssc's, f-bodys, gmpp sway's +stb's

Thanks Preotic.


Assuming it IS the ignition switch, how much should it run me to replace?


And should I go to MORAD to get a used one?

I'm just assuming it's the ignition switch. My buddy has this problem too, he just carries something suitable for sticking in that little hole and he uses it everytime he removes his key, it's like scratching your balls after awhile. You don't even notice yourself doing it.

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L26,Xp, zzp trans,3.29's,2700 conv, slp headers/catback, diy ported heads/LIM, 3 angle valve job,.052 MLS hg, outlet ported Gen V, 3.6, N*, LQ4, 4" FWI, agx's, ssc's, f-bodys, gmpp sway's +stb's

Wow, well if I can just do that and it doesn't cause any damage, then hell yeah I'll do that and save money!


But dag, seems to me that these Pontiacs have some defects due to poor design/worksmanship.

I won't re-buy one.

This is copied from our local boards. I did it to mine. You can get a replacement if you want peace of mind. I left mine out, but you do so at your own risk. If you leave it out, you can turn off the car and remove the key in any gear selection. This means your car may not be where you parked it if you don't make sure you're always in park. I've never even come close to even accidentally removing it in anything but park, but just so you know.

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