Girlfriend's Saturn Ion problems

[gCobalt05]

My girlfriend has a 2005 Saturn Ion [auto] and shes had trouble with the key getting stuck in the ignition after she parks and turns the car off.
Sometimes you have to wait like 5 minutes for the thing to come out!

Ive read somewhere that maybe the car isnt registering in park?
How do I fix this?

 

[Jn2]

havent had that issue with mine, although i know there should be a key release button under the steering column...but i drive a 5spd...dont know if its there for the auto


ps. nice stripes

 

[gCobalt05]

havent had that issue with mine, although i know there should be a key release button under the steering column...but i drive a 5spd...dont know if its there for the auto


ps. nice stripes

Thanks!
Ok, I'll wait for some more replies.

 

[bryson87]

easy. the shifter is going out of the lock its self it. I know i have replaced alot of shifters on cobalts that are auto cause it gets stuck. it isnt going all the way into park so it wont release it. if you jiggle the shifter while turning the key sometimes it will come out. hope this is helpful

 

[ionit3]

Mine does it I jus push my shifter foward and pull it out but a lot of people have to get new ignition housing? Can't member off the top of my head check ionforums.net/phpbb3 its a common prob

 

[asherby85]

I had the same issue in my 03 automatic ion sedan. I usually had to hit the shifter into park in order for my key to come out. Like Kane said, this is a common problem in automatic ions...check ionforums.net..posted all over the place.

 

[bryson87]

its a common problem in cobalts also. just replace the shifter

 

[ACE]

i drive a stick glad i dont have to deal with this

 

[06ion2coup]

i drive stick and mine got stuck in the locked on position you might be close to breaking a tumbler...

 

[kezia]

advantages to driving stick.

 

[mrsilent13]

mine has done it twice....both times was a bad shifter...replaced under warranty....but now i know how to fix it...if you remove the shifter knob and then the cover with the PRNDL you will find a little switch there...its a bronze or gold looking strip....you might be able to fix it...just sounds like its losing its tension...with shifter in L and the ebrake on so the car dont happen to roll....push on the tab up so that u give it a lil more tension (careful dont break it) and it might last a bit longer...or you could just go in and get it replaced...
or just live with it and use the the switch underneath the steering column to release the key...if you look in your owners manual it tells you where this key release is located under the steering wheel. basically its located right behind a lil 1 inch panel underneath the steering