2005 malibu Key won't come out of the ignition

[fishhuntwork]

Can't remove the key from the ignition cyl. Any idea other than an ignition cylinder. I've made sure the shifter is all the way in park. Does the ignition cyl have to be reprogrammed with a scan tool after replacement?

[Jeremy airjer W]

You should hear a click in the column when you put in in park. That would be the solenoid that allows the key to turn off when the shift lever is in park.

You shouldn't have any problems installing a new one. Get it from the dealer. They can key them to you original key and they will make sure it is the correct lock cylinder for your passlock system.

[Jungda99]

2005 with a bad ingintion seems a bit premature if you ask me. Do you have a bunch of keys hanging on your key chain? If so get them off of there. Only a couple keys on the key chain. the ignitions can't handle all that extra weight.

Try jerking the wheel around..sometimes it doesn't sense that the wheel is locked and it doesn't release the keys.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Its a GM thing! Age and mileage are not a factor.

[fishhuntwork]

So sounds like an ignition cylinder or an solinoid?

[deadeye]

Its a GM thing! Age and mileage are not a factor.

Pretty much sums it up! I still drive a chevy, but have learned to not be surprised with stuff like that. It just happens.

Like airjer said, the dealer is the best spot to get it.

[Fishinguy40]

I had this issue a few years ago with my wife's 2000 malibu. Except the key ended up breaking off in the ignition switch. You don't want to do that. Makes it tougher to change out. I think I had to drill out part of the cylinder to release the shift interlock cable because the switch wasn't in the correct position. Got the procedure off of All Data. When I brought the new cylinder/switch to a locksmith so that he could re-key it, he commented that it was a very common problem and not just GM.

Another problem that I had....about 9 months or a year after the switch was changed, wife would call me and say that the car wouldn't start. The anti-theft system was activated. She would have to wait ten minutes and try again. Most times it would start but sometimes it would lock her out again. Very frustrating for both her and me. Imagine being out ice fishing and your wife calls. She spends ten minutes complaining at you because her car won't start. Several times I took the dash apart and verified all wiring was tight and in tact. I finally ended up bypassing the anti-theft system with a procedure I found. Basically you start the car, cut the right wire and the computer assumes that since the car is already running, noone is trying to steal it so the theft system must have failed. It disables the theft system.

[fishhuntwork]

I got around to looking at the car today, found that there was a pair of sun glass infront of the shift interlock cable under the shifter. Ask me how they got there, I have no idea its my sister in laws car.