1999 Sunfire - Ignition Problems

[caseyosullivan]

Hello. Ok, i just bought a 1999 Sunfire that won't turn off. Even while in Park, the ignition will not turn to the off, locked, position. I thought it might be the ignition cylinder, but even with a new one installed the problem persists.

The ignition has been rigged so the key can come out, even when not off and locked, and in order to turn off the car's electrical systems I have to disconnect the battery. I thought at first the Neutral Safety Switch may be malfunctioning, but wouldn't that cause codes to come up in the computer? Also, I had a Chevy once with a bad neutral safety switch, and it had problems starting because the computer couldn't tell when the car was in park. The Sunfire has no problems starting.

I am looking for opinions on what the problem might be. Shift lock solenoid? Parking lock cable? I just don't know.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[tomgp]

its your ignition switch that is bad. Not the cylinder.

 

[ericv1984]

Hello. Ok, i just bought a 1999 Sunfire that won't turn off. Even while in Park, the ignition will not turn to the off, locked, position. I thought it might be the ignition cylinder, but even with a new one installed the problem persists.

The ignition has been rigged so the key can come out, even when not off and locked, and in order to turn off the car's electrical systems I have to disconnect the battery. I thought at first the Neutral Safety Switch may be malfunctioning, but wouldn't that cause codes to come up in the computer? Also, I had a Chevy once with a bad neutral safety switch, and it had problems starting because the computer couldn't tell when the car was in park. The Sunfire has no problems starting.

I am looking for opinions on what the problem might be. Shift lock solenoid? Parking lock cable? I just don't know.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

I just bought a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire SE 2.4L and I also could not get the key out of the ignition a few days after buying it. I started to get really pissed off then drove the car an hour away to my fiance's moms house. On the way, I stopped at Target, parked and put the gear shifter into the P position. Then I pressed the button on the shifter, slid it into 1st gear nice and hard then slid it back into the P position just as hard. Turned the key and was able to get it turned all the way and pull out the key. I think putting it into gear as hard as I did might of did something to the cable and that's why I was able to get the key out, I don't know.

But after that we went to her mom's house, had her bf look at the ignition. He took the ignition switch out and found a bad tumbler in the ignition switch. Not sure what we exactly did but now the ignition switch works just fine.

 

[msmith1956]

Good to hear you have the problem fixed, and didn't cost you a pile of money to fix.