Grand Prix ignition

[Eric Wettschreck]

2002 Pont Grand Prix, 3.8L,130000 miles.

I recently bought this car and this is weird. Aboot half the time I shut the car off the key won't turn all the way to off. I have to turn it to on and off a couple of times to get it to go all the way to the off position so I can remove the key.

Is this common and more importantly, where do I start? Is this something in the shifter or the ignition itself?

Thanks fellas.

[Macgyver55]

You"ll have to see if it is a tumbler problem or a shift interlock issue. The shift lock is somewhat common on those if I remember.

Make sure the button pops back out all the way when you shift into park, they can get sticky from debris over the years. There is also a manual release through a hole on the bottom side of the column. If the key still gets stuck when the shifter solenoid is manually released, it is a tumbler problem. If not its something in the shift interlock system.

[Scott K]

A wire breaks on the shift interlock, right next to the shifter, very common

[Eric Wettschreck]

Thanks guys.

Is this solenoid and wiring accessable by just removing the shifter cover or is it under the dash somewhere?

I don't want to start taking things apart that I don't have to.

[Macgyver55]

The solenoid is in the column, that is also where the manual release is.

Can you hear the solenoid clicking in the column when squeezing the button?

[Eric Wettschreck]

Can you hear the solenoid clicking in the column when squeezing the button?

I can now.

I just took the top of the shifter column off to expose everything. I played around with the wires (Didn't see a broken one) and wiggled the harness at the bottom of the shifter.

Now everything works. I honestly don't know if I could hear the solenoid clicking before, I never listened for it. I can hear it now, tho.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Update.............

I know wiggling a wire harness fixes nothing.

I've been messing with this, off and on, all day, and I can't get it to NOT go into the off position. It's weird but I'm fine if it works for a long time. When (not if) this problem shows back up I now know to listen for a solenoid in the column and go from there.

Thanks guys.

[Dozer]

Its a very common problem on Grand Prixs. Its in the wiring by the shifter which isnt accessable without a bunch of work. Easy solution is to remove the solinoid the locks the tumbler. I did it to my 99 Grand Prix. Only disadvantage is you can shut the car off and remove the key with the car in gear.