We have a 99 Sunfire. The other day the key would not go to the off position. Shifter (on the center console) was in park, but the key stopped at the first click after "off". All gauges, etc were still "working". Finally, twisted, jiggled, etc and got the key out, but gauges still on. Tried another key....now key won't turn at all. Gauges still on. Disconnected the battery for now. Could this be a tumbler in the ignition, as some locksmiths are telling me, or something in the shifter. Someone mentioned something in the shifter goes bad and the ignition doesn't register as the car being in "park" so the key won't go to the off position. If this is the case, what is involved in repairing it at home?

 

most likely it is the tumbler in the lock. i dont think that the neutral safety switch would stop the key from being removed it would just stop the car from being started in park

 

it could be either....having worked as a valet in college...i have driven Many cars where you had to fight the lock out of the ignition, while wiggling the shifter...

 

that sucks.. if that ever happens to my car, i will break the ignition switch off and run a hidden push button lol

 

i have actualy had someone who had a bad iginition run a hot wire switch, but it is a VERY VERY bad idea, because it makes your car very easy to steal...

 

It's the tumbler in order to fix it you would need patience. lol j/j but yea you have to remove the stearing wheel cover and stuff id have a lock smith do it i got mine done for 80 bucks once. hope this helps

 

I have a 96 sunfire and the ignition switch in it went kaput in about 1998. I wasnt driving it at the time but my wife was. She and her dad tried for days to remove the keys from the ignition switch - they thought it had something to do with the steering lock but it was a broken ignition switch. They had to get a new one installed. Sounds like a similar problem.