Ignition key stuck due to shifter? Help Please

[bcrpc1]

I have a 2005 zx3 that we can turn on and off but the key is stuck in the ignition and will not come out we bought it used with 74k on it it has just over 80k on it now but we did notice that when we move it to park or any other gear we can do so without having our foot on the brake just want to make sure the sensor is our issue as well and if that will fix ours if we remove the console and either clean it or replace the sensor

[youzerfriendly]

Originally Posted by Feral

when you in the car depress the shifter and just slide your finder away from the shifter button letting it pop out on its own eventually it will free the safety switch.. mine does that on my new car already '02 wagon.. as mentioned tho I just depress the button with the edge of my thumb and just slide it out of the way letting the button pop out with force

This worked on my 07 se hatchback. Basically, let the button POP out with It's full spring force a few times.

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[doobious62]

Went to Ford dealership to get key out of ignition and they said "You need a new gear shift assembly". I asked them to show me the problem. They said that they has already put the assembly back together. Well the aassembly was dusty, and there were no fingerprints in the dust. So I took the car home. Called a mechanic friend of mine. He found that the little screw that holds the shifter knob in place was loose. He tightened the screw and the key came out.

[DrewN]

Well i'm going to play with my '05 ZX5 tonight and see if i can get the key out! thanks fot posting your experiences on this issue.

[DrewN]

Last night i tried popping the button with no luck. Removing the negative cable from the battery did the trick so i think i'm heading the right direction. I'm going to start taking the center consel apart this weekend. Any advice? Where is this sensor/any screw i might need to tighten be located?

Thanks!!

[DrewN]

i'm having the samw problem on my '05 zx5. i'm hoping to tackle this prob this weekend, where is the sensor located? Thanks!

[doobious62]

The sensor is inside the shifter column. The screw is a hex screw on the left had site of the shifter knob. Make sure that screw is lined up with the thread hole on the shifter. When the holes line up, you will not the little connectors inside are fully connected.

[DrewN]

thanks to everyone for your help. I found that the electrical connecter was a bit gooey from some type of soda, cleaned it up and so far so good, the car is back to normal!

[theradan]

Originally Posted by Feral

when you in the car depress the shifter and just slide your finder away from the shifter button letting it pop out on its own eventually it will free the safety switch.. mine does that on my new car already '02 wagon.. as mentioned tho I just depress the button with the edge of my thumb and just slide it out of the way letting the button pop out with force

I had the same problem today with my '06 ZX3...let that button pop out and presto! Thanks for posting this...I was going crazy!

[mikebontoft]

yup nice that happens to a few cars I get once in a awhile. interesting fix though I ought to try that.