Any gearheads here?

[Dan Cook]

Any mechanics here? I've got a 2002 PT Cruiser and the ignition won't release the key. I can turn it off and start the car, but it won't release it. I really don't want to spend oodles of $$ at a dealer to fix this but if I need to I guess I'll have to.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

The gear selector might not be going totally into park. Give it a swift shove into park and see if you can release the key. Not sure if it has one but some cars have a button or lever to release the key. Make sure you are on level ground. A incline or decline might be keeping it from releasing as well. Good luck.

 

[Dan Cook]

I'll test that out in the morning as it's freezing out (-1). There isn't a button or a lever that I can see.

Thanks Bill.

 

[David Drummond]

Sometimes the steering wheel can lock in a funny position and put pressure on the key release mechanism. You can try moving it a bit forcefully one way or the other against the lock and see if you can turn the tumbler enough to get the key out.

 

[Doug Lee]

To follow up on David's post: do you park with your wheels at angle? If you do, the larger the angle, the more likely this keylock situation might happen. If you park with your wheels straight ahead, your steering linkage might be worn, or your wheels might be out of alignment and cause you to steer at an angle and you don't notice it. So, when you park, the steering wheel is is at a strange angle, but you don't think much of it because your front wheels are straight.

 

[Dan Cook]

I fixed it. I checked it out this morning and I rotated the steering wheel, raised and lowered it, put the gear shift into 1st gear and then back into park a couple times and something clicked in the ignition switch and I was able to get my key out.