Key Won't even turn... I don't know what the problem is...

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MissAmazinAzn

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SO the other night I drove to the store and back home. 20 minutes later went to start up my 04 grand am and the key won't turn its like its locked up. Some mechanic is telling me now it might cost $800 dollars and he's gotta be blowin smoke up my ass. what is the issue with this car?? Its not the key itself and the car dings if i put the key in. HELLLLLP! :( Thanks
 
Have you tried turning the wheel left and right as you try to turn the ignition key?
 
Oh for sure. Some say its the ignition and housing or something but ANother person I trust said it could have something to do with the gear shifter or the solenoid... Is this a possible theory? Bc its like the mechanic doesn't know what the problem is so I don't think I want to spend hundreds of dollars on a new ignition and switch....... He doesn't know what to do bc the key won't turn over
 
I don't even know if that made sense. I just want my poor broken car to get fixed right, ya know?
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Make sure the transmission lever is fully in park. You can also try spraying some WD40 into the lock cylinder but in all probability the cylinder has to be replaced.
 
Chances are if it is the Ignition, you can junkyard the parts cheaply. These rarely from what I know of have issues. If you need to, a locksmith can rekey the salvaged one to your key. Nomally costs about 30 dollars.

Fords are notorious for having an issue simular to this and the easiest fix it to chip in a hole on the column for access with a needle nose to manually pull a small bar in the top of the column. Generally for this fix to be required you will notice that you gotta move the steering wheel back and forth until it finds the right spot to make contact. This was also most noted in early to mid 90's trucks.

I have noted on some GM vans and Trucks, you need to actually fiddle with the gear shifter, moving it back and forth because it seems that the gear indicator is not pointing to the propper spot. Because of this, it looks like you are dead on, but the shifter is just a little bit off. Meanning you need to find a sweet spot before turn the key or start it.

I also do faintly remember some of them do have a soloniod I think on the tranny that can go bad causing a simular issue but not sure on exact year range and / or model. It has been a while and I cant remember who told me about it.
 
Sounds like the same problem i had with my 96. Talk about leaving you stranded and scratching your head. The tumbler keeper fell out of my key cylinder Keeping the ignition from turning. I used super glue to secure the keeper and it has been working fine for over a year.
 
i just bought a 2000 grand am and my keys a little tricky too!!! i have to jiggle it up and down while puching it in to get the car started ..doesnt do it everytime but 9 times outta 10 it does
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Same in my car
I think its from having a wife that has 2000 keys on it and weighs 10lbs.

The mechanize I was told is like 600 - 800 bucks or something stupid so I took the key down and re cut it for 6 bucks which fixed the problem.

Key only works one way though so I marked it yellow up haha
 
the pontiac grand am 99-04 were known for having weak lock cylinders the best way to make it last the longest is only have car key key fob and house key on there the weight from all the keys most people carry strain it and make it quit working this is a big problem for all year model gm vehicles of the year models i listed usually the lock cylinder from gm runs about 230 dollars (around) plus the time it takes to reinstall it and test to insure it works can you believe some dealerships are charging people minimum 3 hours labor for even a 1 hour job thats 300 bucks in just labor maybe thats where the dealership you went to is coming up with 800.00
 
I'm not sure if this will help you or not but I have a similar problem with mine and if i slightly push down on the key before turning it,it will turn good...
 
Did you ever get it fixed? And if so what was the problem?
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