while the car is still running. I had something or other disconnected so the car is no longer running, but it's sitting in the driveway, key in the ignition.

I am just curious to know if this has happened to anyone else. I have a 2009 chevy cobalt, the last gm car I will ever get.

It was just the end to a craptastic day. Seriously I feel like the bad luck gods are on my side.

This happened to my mom in a rental car. The key got stuck, no matter what we did it wouldn't come out. She was able to use it to turn the car off, though.

Unfortunately, I have no advice; we just returned it to the rental agency and told them it was faulty. We later heard that they'd had to disassemble the entire key mechanism to get it out.

I had this happen to a car. At first it was just tricky to get out, but then it stuck for good. I was able to turn it off, the key just wouldn't come out. So, I drove it like that a long time. Like six months or longer. Lol, good thing it was an old POS because no body ever tried to steal it. I finally got it fixed. They had to replace the key cylinder. Too long ago to remember what it cost.

kk~

My brother nagged me in high school a lot about how heavy my keychain was and how it could damage the ignition. Not that that is why yours is stuck...but I do know that it happens!

Have you tried turning the wheel (kinda hard) to both sides? This is a common problem, and you can usually release the key by monkeying with the steering wheel.

Mmm, yes. And sometimes, if you have an automatic prindle (gearshifter) on the floor, push really hard when you put it in park. Sometimes, the parky-thingy gets a little funky and if you monkey with that it will let the key turn loose. (Did you love my awesome use of mechanic terminology? )

kk~

What panic said.

Also, I have a 2009 Chevy Cobalt. Never had this problem.

My mom drives a 1994 Ford Taurus. You can start it and take the keys out and it will still be running with no key in the ignition. Also, you can sometimes start it with out a key at all.

The steering wheel wasn't locked at all...

Maj... check because apparently it was a recall on the car! I didn't get notice of it nor did my friend with the same car. I hear rumors of a bulletin or something issued about it, but I would call your dealership. It's a royal PITA if it happens believe me.

They ended up replacing the ignition cylinder... and the power steering motor that was another recall.

They also had to replace the drivers side door lock because they bent it trying to jimmy their way into the car.

A heavy key chain can make that happen? I haven't driven since I moved to a city but I used to keep my car keys attached to my wristlet/wallet and that never happened to me.

This wasn't due to a heavy keychain, it was due to GM building a sucky car, or at least a sucky part for a car.

If there is a recall on the ignition cylinder, call the local GM dealer and let them guide you.

Years ago I had a key stuck in the ignition of a Ford van. The key was bent, and the car was old. I figured I had noting to loose, so I sprayed it with WD-40, let it set a while, then used a pair of needle nosed pliers to get a good grip on it and pull the key out. It may have been dumb luck, but it worked. The firm grasp as well as the leverage seemed to be the ticket.

It may or may not work for you, but if you pull it out straight, you have less of a chance of breaking off the key, which you definitely don't want.

The dealer may actually be willing to send someone out to fix it for you if there is a recall, because they can file a claim with GM and be completely re-reimbursed for the service call, depending on the conditions of the recall.

Good luck

Keep On Dancing*

It's already been fixed...

^Sorry about that....somehow I missed that important detail.
Maybe the information might be of use to someone else, though, especially if both you and your friend had the same problem.

I'm glad the crisis is over. You've had more than your fair share of bad luck lately.

xoxo

Keep On Dancing*

I just can't believe that there was no recall sent to me about this issue. The guy at the dealership said it definately was a recall.