Pontiac Grand Prix Key Stuck and No Power

I have the same question here. My car is a 99 Grand Prix GTP coupe, around 80K miles on it. I drove the car the day before and it was OK, but the second day when I was trying to start the car, the first thing I noticed is that the remote entry failed to work, so I figured it was probably out of battery, so I just opened the door with my key. Then when I inserted the key into the ignition, it didn't start the car, actually there was nothing happened, no crank or anything, it's like the car is completely dead, no power is on. Moreover, I can't get the key out either. Can anyone give me a hand? Thanks a lot!

Im not sure about the first guys car since he never said make and model and year, but for the Pontiac, it sounds like the ignition switch has gone bad.
In both cases, we think of the tumblers as a sure bet that they have gone bad and not allowing the key to turn. Not always true.

Lets do a few basic things that can clear it up. Manual release! Should be on the bottom of the column like the first guy referenced. If you can manually release the key, then your tumblers are not the problem (most likely). So, on to why your key wont come out. In most cars they have a park position switch that supplies a ground to the key unlock solenoid to release the key when you are in park. If the car would run and everything is perfect except the key wont come out, then I would suspect the park position switch as being bad. But, since you have totally lost power, then the solenoid has no power to release the key. Now to the problem at hand. Your ignition switch seems to have gone bad, and not supplying the car with power, which includes the solenoid to remove the key.

Now, I would make sure your battery is not completely dead. I have seen them short internally and just have no power what so ever. That two will fit the symptoms you describe.

Please post back the fixes to both of your problems and maybe I can learn a little also.
Good luck.

Thanks for the reply. I will follow your instructions step by step when I get home today. I did have tried to jump start the car, but it doesn't work at all. I also called a dealer and he said it should be about ignition cylinder something and will cost around 400 bucks for a new one. I hope it won't go that bad.

[quote:8bdfc9fc50="yangalex"]Thanks for the reply. I will follow your instructions step by step when I get home today. I did have tried to jump start the car, but it doesn't work at all. I also called a dealer and he said it should be about ignition cylinder something and will cost around 400 bucks for a new one. I hope it won't go that bad.

Just to add one more detail, my car has the alarm system and there is a red light that is supposed to be on when the car is turned off. But now it is dead too. Also, I just had my driving belt and air in-take changed by a mechanic one day before the car was dead (I did drive the car at that night and has no problem, but it was dead the next morning). I am not sure whether this information is helpful to identify the problem. Thanks a lot![/quote:8bdfc9fc50]

Those red lights are supposed to blink when the ignition switch is off. However, if it is bad, it may not be telling the alram I am off. Its not telling anything to any system. Not saying om off, and not saying im on.
I would take a volt meter, and check your battery to see if it has power. Check the cables and make sure they are clean, tight and free of corrosion. I would also check for power at the start relay. If you find the main power cable to the starter relay, and you place the positive terminal of your meter on that post, and the negative terminal to the case of the starter, or frame, you should read battery volts. The reason I say check it there is to eliminate the battery connections. Power has to flow from the battery to the start relay, thru your meter, thru your frame or case and back to the battery thru its cable for you to read voltage. At this point I would repace the ignition switch.

i had a similar problem with my 1999 grand prix and the negative battery terminal came loose i couldn't get the key out it wouldn't shift into gear none of the instruments worked at all but as soon as i tightened the negative terminal everything worked
good luck let me know if it works
rick

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After putting in the ignition key, at first, the wife couldnt get the shift lever out of park, then she coundnt get the key to turn all the way off.some of the dash lights stay on too. she couldnt get the key out of the ignition. i later messed around with it, pressed real hard on the break pedal and got the automatic shifter to shift into drive. car starts and drives well. when comes to a stop and to turn off car, car turns off but the key doesnt turn all the way off. some of the dash lights stay on. I can pull the ignition key out too. Same Lights stay on.. Any thoughts on what it might be? thanks

This could be becasue of a transmission cable that is coming apart either at the transmission or the shifter, have someone move the shifter while whats the cable ends to confirm.


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Best, Ken