[pmjm]

My '08 is parked in a pretty bad neighborhood. I came to get it to find that the battery is dead. Deader than a doornail, it doesn't even ATTEMPT to turn over.

The big problem is that the key is stuck in the ignition without power, and my manual door-lock has been broken for a few months now, so I'm unable to secure the car. I won't be able to come back with a buddy and jumpstart it until tomorrow, and I really don't want to leave it in such a bad neighborhood overnight unsecured. With the key stuck in the ignition and me unable to lock the drivers' side door, anyone who walked up to the car could jumpstart it and drive right off!

How can I get the key out?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Bluesulfur]

If its a manual you can try to push start it. If not i believe right under where the key goes there is like a button type you can press and it would release the key its on the owners manual. But once that has been done you will most likely have to take it in for service.

 

[Robssol]

Make sure your steering wheel isn't turned hard against one of it's locks. If it is turn the wheel to take the tension off and remove the key. If this doesn't do it jumpstart it and drive it to a dealer, you need professional help :willy:
Sorry couldn't help it :lol:

 

[pmjm]

Thanks for the replies, but I'm a new member and by the time my post was approved it was way too late.

I ended up having to leave it there, unlocked, with the key in the ignition overnight. I'm a photographer and had a wedding to shoot, so getting it towed was not possible in my timeline.

Thankfully it ended up being okay, I went the next day with my friend and jumped it to get it home, and will get the alternator looked at this week.

 

[pmjm]

Oh I should mention that as soon as the other car's battery was connected, the key popped right out of the ignition. So there is definitely something dependent on battery power there.

 

[GMCustomerSvc]

Where are you headed to get this looked at, pmjm? We're glad that nothing happened to your vehicle! If you're planning on visiting a dealership, please let us know as we're available to provide additional support.

Regards,
Sarah (Assisting Erica)
GM Customer Care

 

[MidniteBlues]

I had the same issue with my sky NA, I was able to remove the key just by getting enough juice on the system by trying to jump it, at that point I was able to remove the key and secure the car. However, even with a jump, it would not start, the only thing that fixed everything was a new batt..

 

[Bluesulfur]

Thats good that nothing happened. I was once in the same situation you where in and i refused to leave my car over night. I was thinking of having the car towed but i didnt want to. I even wanted to hitch some cables under the car and tow it but i figured that i would due damage to it (thats how i came about wanting to put a tow hook on the car) I was told i can push start the car. But i was skeptical about it. Till i finally said yes to it. So finally got car started and the next day changed battery and was working better. The other original battery was reading 8.2v.

 

[pmjm]

It appears that it's the transmission interlock solenoid that requires some power to get the key out. So just be aware, if your battery is dead (I mean REALLY dead), you won't be able to get the key out until you connect it to some (even minuscule) source of power. Same for shifting gears, so even to shift it to neutral to push the thing you need a slight charge.

 

[TX08manualGXP]

There's a plug at the bottom of the steering column you can pop out and a button that will release the key.

 

[TomatoSoup]

I assume the interlock is for auto cars only? So manuals aren't affected by this?

 

[TX08manualGXP]

Yes and they do not have the plug and button either. I was in the grocery store parking lot finishing a beer the other day and came across this in the manual.

 

[rob the elder]

OK

Someone needs to find a new hobby . . . .

 

[chickenwire]

?? There's nothing wrong with having a beer and reading a manual, Rob. It's about the only time I ever read a manual.

 

[Juggernaught]

I found this out when my manual '09 GXP had the ignition lock cylinder fail in the "ON" position with the engine running. I popped off the rubber cover under the key cylinder on the steering column and there was no key release button. So, I pulled the FI fuse to shut the car off. I could restart the car by reinserting the fuse and turning the key from "ON" to "START". But, I couldn't shut it off again without pulling the fuse (key refused to go to the "OFF" position).

GM replaced the ignition lock cylinder under warranty. Dealer told me that a revised part was installed so this shouldn't happen again.