Key is stuck in ignition and a whole bunch of other problems...

Coug · 05-15-2008, 04:36 PM

Okay... I hope you all can follow and kind of give me an idea of what to expect. I am in a Chevy Cobalt 2006....

Okay so... while shifting from Park to reverse or Drive... I kept hearing this pop every once in a while. Usually it wouldn't let me shift until I had pushed on the break, and even then there was some resistance.

So anyhow... the key would get stuck in the ignition. To get it out, I had to pop off this little cap thing under the steering wheel column and there would be a button inside that would release the key. Occasionally I had to do this... for a time I was doing it every day.

Then one day I heard a loud pop while shifting from park to reverse... NOW the key always gets stuck. AND... the shifter button is now stuck... and I'm able to shift from Park to reverse to drive without any resistance at all... and whenever. I could be driving and I could throw it up to park without there being anything to stop it. I could be parked... key out of ignition and not pushing on the break, and I could throw it into any gear I wanted. This is an automatic BTW.

So... I called the dealership and they said it was some belt thing.

What do you all think and about how much is something like this going to cost me?

likearock00 · 05-15-2008, 04:47 PM

Isn't it still under warranty?? Unless you're over with mileage, you should have it repaired free of charge.

Coug · 05-15-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by likearock00

Isn't it still under warranty?? Unless you're over with mileage, you should have it repaired free of charge.

Unfortunately, the bumper to bumper warranty has ended. I still have the power train warranty, but am told this is not covered under that. So this will be out of my own pocket.

**GMCSonoma** · 05-15-2008, 05:28 PM

Sounds like aq shifter issue with the BTSI...

I'd still ask (nicely) your selling dealer for a goodwill repair on that...

jkennedy293 · 05-16-2008, 12:25 PM

Another good reason to buy a stick.

osv_alero · 05-16-2008, 12:35 PM

Contact GM customer assistance and insist they help pay for it. 99% of the time they will pay for 70% to 100% of the cost.

Triple-X08 · 05-17-2008, 01:34 PM

shifter more than likely, repaired several of them for the same issue.
or ignition problem

malibus have the same problem, but theres is with the park lock cable adjustment.
or sometimes the slide mechanism for the park lock cable going into the ignition switch, they like to freeze up, so lubing them with super lube silicon paste works good as well.

CadiEldo67 · 05-17-2008, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coug

Okay so... while shifting from Park to reverse or Drive... I kept hearing this pop every once in a while. Usually it wouldn't let me shift until I had pushed on the break, and even then there was some resistance.

I'm not trying to be funny, but do you always push on the brake to go from park to reverse or drive, or do you just force it back. I'm pretty sure that the cobalt has that lock. And if you just pulled the transmission from park to drive without using the brake, it could have damaged something that stops the key from leaving the ignition. When the car isn't in park, the key won't come out.

Triple-X08 · 05-18-2008, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadiEldo67

I'm not trying to be funny, but do you always push on the brake to go from park to reverse or drive, or do you just force it back. I'm pretty sure that the cobalt has that lock. And if you just pulled the transmission from park to drive without using the brake, it could have damaged something that stops the key from leaving the ignition. When the car isn't in park, the key won't come out.

and yes there is a bulletin for this as well, and i give it to the customer to explain to them the proper way to shift the gears. you absolutely have to push the brake in first, and hold it and then press the gear shift release, and shift it.

people cant seem to figure that out anymore, so basically it destroys the shifter assembly.

Water Boy · 05-18-2008, 02:21 PM

Hummmmmmm
I thought that "press brake to shift from park" has been the standard procedure for years.

Butz · 05-18-2008, 02:50 PM

Wait! You wanna tell me that because you don't apply brake to shift from park, something went wrong with your car!
Imagine that! Who would of thunk?!

Coug · 05-19-2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CadiEldo67

I'm not trying to be funny, but do you always push on the brake to go from park to reverse or drive, or do you just force it back. I'm pretty sure that the cobalt has that lock. And if you just pulled the transmission from park to drive without using the brake, it could have damaged something that stops the key from leaving the ignition. When the car isn't in park, the key won't come out.

Haha! Yes, I always push the break before shifting. That was just kind of my round-about way of saying that you, in normal situations, have to always push the break and hold it in order to shift.

In this case, I'd push the break and I'd still be meet with some resistance. Not a lot... but there was some. It was one of these times where I heard a pop sound and now... I don't even have to push the break in to shift. Sucks!

Coug · 05-19-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osv_alero

Contact GM customer assistance and insist they help pay for it. 99% of the time they will pay for 70% to 100% of the cost.

Where do I get the number? BTW... the car in your picture looks exactly like my car. Same color.

05-15-2008, 04:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Coug Walking Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4	Key is stuck in ignition and a whole bunch of other problems... Okay... I hope you all can follow and kind of give me an idea of what to expect. I am in a Chevy Cobalt 2006.... Okay so... while shifting from Park to reverse or Drive... I kept hearing this pop every once in a while. Usually it wouldn't let me shift until I had pushed on the break, and even then there was some resistance. So anyhow... the key would get stuck in the ignition. To get it out, I had to pop off this little cap thing under the steering wheel column and there would be a button inside that would release the key. Occasionally I had to do this... for a time I was doing it every day. Then one day I heard a loud pop while shifting from park to reverse... NOW the key always gets stuck. AND... the shifter button is now stuck... and I'm able to shift from Park to reverse to drive without any resistance at all... and whenever. I could be driving and I could throw it up to park without there being anything to stop it. I could be parked... key out of ignition and not pushing on the break, and I could throw it into any gear I wanted. This is an automatic BTW. So... I called the dealership and they said it was some belt thing. What do you all think and about how much is something like this going to cost me? Last edited by Coug : 05-15-2008 at 04:41 PM.

05-15-2008, 04:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
likearock00 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NC Drives: 2006 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab Z-71 Posts: 8,437	Re: Key is stuck in ignition and a whole bunch of other problems... Isn't it still under warranty?? Unless you're over with mileage, you should have it repaired free of charge. __________________ Not even worth putting one up.

05-15-2008, 05:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
GMCSonoma GMI Staff Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 10,053	Re: Key is stuck in ignition and a whole bunch of other problems... Sounds like aq shifter issue with the BTSI... I'd still ask (nicely) your selling dealer for a goodwill repair on that... __________________ GM dealer parts manager...for a lot of years! *Please post all tech questions to the GMI Tech Forum, not my message box! Thanks*!

05-16-2008, 12:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
jkennedy293 6.0 Liter L76 V8 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Holly Springs, NC Drives: '03 Cavalier Posts: 2,371	Re: Key is stuck in ignition and a whole bunch of other problems... Another good reason to buy a stick.

05-16-2008, 12:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
osv_alero 3.6 Liter SIDI V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Dundee, Oregon Drives: 2004 Tahoe LT (Bob), 2005 Malibu Maxx LT (Harold t Posts: 1,034	Re: Key is stuck in ignition and a whole bunch of other problems... Contact GM customer assistance and insist they help pay for it. 99% of the time they will pay for 70% to 100% of the cost. __________________ The U.S. trade deficit with China increases by $1 billion a day The U.S. trade deficit for automobiles alone is $11 billion per month http://americaneconomicalert.org/ For every one transplant job added in the US, nearly five jobs are eliminated

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05-17-2008, 01:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Triple-X08 4.6 Liter Northstar V8 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Michigan Drives: 2009 Chevrolet Impala LT, 83 Camaro Z28 Posts: 1,752	Re: Key is stuck in ignition and a whole bunch of other problems... shifter more than likely, repaired several of them for the same issue. or ignition problem malibus have the same problem, but theres is with the park lock cable adjustment. or sometimes the slide mechanism for the park lock cable going into the ignition switch, they like to freeze up, so lubing them with super lube silicon paste works good as well. __________________ ASE Master Certified Technican ASE Advanced level L1 Engine Performance Specialist GM MOE - 2007 bronze level current cars in garage- 09 Chevrolet Impala - daily driver 83 Camaro Z28

05-18-2008, 02:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Water Boy 1.8 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Canton (NW of Atlanta) GA Drives: '03 Savana 2500LD 5.3 cargo Posts: 50	Re: Key is stuck in ignition and a whole bunch of other problems... Hummmmmmm I thought that "press brake to shift from park" has been the standard procedure for years.

05-18-2008, 02:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
Butz 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Old Miltia Posts: 6,539	Re: Key is stuck in ignition and a whole bunch of other problems... Wait! You wanna tell me that because you don't apply brake to shift from park, something went wrong with your car! Imagine that! Who would of thunk?! __________________ (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(") Down with the Anti-Smokers Nazis! Government stay away from my high-fructose corn syrup! Member of The: I will never buy an imported car in my life Club. I will never buy a locally built foreign car in my life Club. I only buy American cars that are built in America Club.

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