Key Stuck in Ignition

25025 Views 21 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Big Blue, 12 mo ago

masonjeepmom

Discussion Starter · May 23, 2011

My key is stuck in the ACC position in the ignition of my 2006 Jeep Commander. It is in Park, and I have taken it out of Park and back into Park several times. The car will start and run, but I can't get the key out. Does anyone know how to solve this problem? Thanks!

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L_PIKL

· #2 · May 23, 2011

The spring in the gear leaver mechanism might be loose. Try this to check. Turn on the Jeep, while in PARK tap the shifter knob to the right - don't pull it down to R/N/D - listen for a click sound. Faint but you should hear it. If you don't hear it the spring might be loose or came off.

Worst case the tumbler has gone bad and you need to replace the lock.

Mongo

· #3 · May 31, 2011

This is challenging, Chrysler switched to a new ignition lock and then switched to an even new one two to three years later. My 2010 uses the RKE Fobik system with the WIN module, pretty sure that is different than your 2006.

So, you're likely to get advice for a different kind of lock system then you actually have, so take the advice with a grain of salt.

Pretty sure this is the older systems, and doesn't apply, but can't hurt to try; If the steering wheel locks, it might be pulling back against the lock mechanism on ignition switch, by pulling the steering wheel so that it is off the stops of the lock, that takes the pressure off and lets the ignition switch move and remove the key. (Again, pretty sure this is NOT the case for you, but it won't hurt to pull and the steering wheel a bit to make sure).

If you key or tumblers (which for the last 20 years auto locks use little metal gates as their tumbler) are worn or gummed up, you could have a situation where one of those gates won't lift/drop to allow the key to be removed.

Gummed up is the most hopeful, spraying WD-40 (WD-40 is unlikely to harm electrical stuff, its non-conducting) and working the key back and forth might free up the gummed up gate and let it move.

A worn key (i.e. instead of a ramp, there is a vertical edge that catches) is tougher, some lube will help, but you'll have to work the key back and forth, tilt, twist, etc hoping to bump the gate up/down a bit and keep it in that spot as you pull the key out.

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superheady

· #4 · Jul 17, 2018 (Edited by Moderator)

I wanted to bump this thread because between this thread and this thread (https://www.jeepcommander.com/forum...-rid-fob-key-stuck-ignition-xk-xh-2008-a.html) I was able to diagnose and solve my issue.

The first issue I was having is the FOBIK key was sticking in the ignition and preventing me from turning the Jeeper off. I can only turn it to the ACC position. Then, if I fiddle around with the shifter, and turn the key back and forth, after 30 seconds or so you hear a "click" and can turn the ignition to "off" and pull the key out.

It was frustrating.

My issue I believe is with the shifter. Yes, it registered "P" on the dash, yes it makes a light click when I go to "Park", but when looking down in the shifter, you can see the little grey switch does not fully click over when in Park.

So, I took notes from AByrvalg's thread, and pulled the little grey box out to mess with (see his images in the above thread).

What I noticed about mine is that when in Park, the shifter won't push the grey switcher all the way, so I pulled it all apart, cleaned it, then I glued a rubber ring around the plastic piece on the shifter stick to help it fully move the switch when going into Park. See image

Now, is this a legit fix? I dont know, time will tell. But, I have driven everyday and I have not had this issue come back.

I am still a little disappointed that my 09 is not part of the ignition key recall, because they replaced all the 08 FOBIKS with a newer version, yet my 09 still has the older version, it really makes no sense—but I dont believe my issue is key-related anyway.

Hope this can help someone in the future, I did a lot of searching everywhere to figure it out and there is very little information on the subject.

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Reactions: 2

Big Blue

· #5 · Jul 28, 2018 (Edited)

superheady said:
I am still a little disappointed that my 09 is not part of the ignition key recall, because they replaced all the 08 FOBIKS with a newer version, yet my 09 still has the older version, it really makes no sense—but I dont believe my issue is key-related anyway.

Hope this can help someone in the future, I did a lot of searching everywhere to figure it out and there is very little information on the subject.

Yes they did @superheady, I had mine replaced - it is actually the ignition switch recall - not ignition key, although they do give you a new set of key fobs when they change the switch out. It was the P57 safety recall; Recall attached.

I edited your post so you can see the image without having to click on that link. I also re-sized your image to get it down to a more proper size for the forum.

superheady

· #6 · Jul 30, 2018

Big Blue said:
Yes they did @superheady, I had mine replaced - it is actually the ignition switch recall - not ignition key, although they do give you a new set of key fobs when they change the switch out. It was the P57 safety recall; Recall attached.

I edited your post so you can see the image without having to click on that link. I also re-sized your image to get it down to a more proper size for the forum.

Well, agree to disagree. I have a 2009, everything Ive read, including your pdf, say 2008. I even called Chrysler, checked my VIN online and have 0 recalls for it. Like I said, Id love the recall because you get new FOBIKs.

Big Blue

· #7 · Jul 30, 2018 (Edited)

superheady said:
Well, agree to disagree. I have a 2009, everything Ive read, including your pdf, say 2008. I even called Chrysler, checked my VIN online and have 0 recalls for it. Like I said, Id love the recall because you get new FOBIKs.

Maybe you misunderstood what I posted @superheady - but I was actually agreeing with you, I just went into a little more detail about the recall itself for those who may not have been aware.

You are correct - It does not apply to the 2009 model year.

superheady

· #8 · Jul 31, 2018

Big Blue said:
Maybe you misunderstood what I posted @superheady - but I was actually agreeing with you, I just went into a little more detail about the recall itself for those who may not have been aware.

You are correct - It does not apply to the 2009 model year.

Lol, yes I did misunderstand. It's a bummer too because the 08's got newer FOBs than our 09's do--it doesnt make any sense...

Big Blue

· #9 · Jul 31, 2018 (Edited)

superheady said:
Lol, yes I did misunderstand. It's a bummer too because the 08's got newer FOBs than our 09's do--it doesnt make any sense...

Agreed, it doesn't make much sense to me either, considering the recall didn't come out until September of 2014, I'm sure they used the same ignition switches in 2009 & 2010 models.

Alinasmom06

· #10 · Nov 19, 2018

So just a little information on that recall. I have the 08 and getting that recall done when I had virtually no problems with my ignition etc before was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Now it’s just not starting. I’ll drive it somewhere, handle business come back out and can’t start my car. The check engine light and my electronic throttle control lights pop on and there’s literally no crank. Sometimes it gives half a crank and just quits. Sometimes it just starts right up like nothings wrong. Sometimes i try to drop my truck into neutral to see if I can start it that way and my shifter is locked won’t let me shift it at all, and there have been times that when I start it it’s almost like it’s idling High. My rpms look normal but it runs rough and usually when that happens if I turn her off she ain’t starting again for another 6-24 hours. Temperatures seem to be a non issue. I have replaced my alternator, starter, and battery to no avail. I will be having a new ground run soon along with some other fixes that hopefully find the trick but at this point I wish I hadn’t done it because everything has been an issue since I got that recall done and my mechanic just told me someone else who works there went through the same issue and ended up turning their truck in and getting a different make car altogether which really makes me nervous. Good luck guys!

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Big Blue

· #11 · Nov 19, 2018 (Edited)

Alinasmom06 said:
So just a little information on that recall. I have the 08 and getting that recall done when I had virtually no problems with my ignition etc before was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Now it’s just not starting. I’ll drive it somewhere, handle business come back out and can’t start my car. The check engine light and my electronic throttle control lights pop on and there’s literally no crank. Sometimes it gives half a crank and just quits. Sometimes it just starts right up like nothings wrong. Sometimes i try to drop my truck into neutral to see if I can start it that way and my shifter is locked won’t let me shift it at all, and there have been times that when I start it it’s almost like it’s idling High. My rpms look normal but it runs rough and usually when that happens if I turn her off she ain’t starting again for another 6-24 hours. Temperatures seem to be a non issue. I have replaced my alternator, starter, and battery to no avail. I will be having a new ground run soon along with some other fixes that hopefully find the trick but at this point I wish I hadn’t done it because everything has been an issue since I got that recall done and my mechanic just told me someone else who works there went through the same issue and ended up turning their truck in and getting a different make car altogether which really makes me nervous. Good luck guys!

It could be a bad ground, an intermittence or short in one of the wires going to the starter - if you were fine prior to having the recall completed and these starting issues only started after the P57 recall was completed you need to immediately go straight back to whatever dealership completed the recall and see the service manager A.S.A.P. and get this issue fixed.

There is a yellow wire that goes to the starter that is known to cause intermittent starting problems if it is not properly connected or if it has any corrosion on it that has not been properly cleaned off.

How long ago did you have the ignition switch replaced?

Alinasmom06

· #12 · Nov 19, 2018

March 7th I had the recall done. I had issues with the key sticking and whatnot that seems to have subsided but the no start issue is seemingly getting worse, of course until I have it towed up to a mechanic, then it starts up fine.

Big Blue

· #13 · Nov 19, 2018

Alinasmom06 said:
March 7th I had the recall done. I had issues with the key sticking and whatnot that seems to have subsided but the no start issue is seemingly getting worse, of course until I have it towed up to a mechanic, then it starts up fine.

I assume you mean March 7th of 2018 which was over 8 months ago - did the starting issue start showing itself right after you had the ignition switch replaced?

Or did it not start showing up until a few months later?

Alinasmom06

· #14 · Nov 19, 2018

Big Blue said:
Alinasmom06 said:

So just a little information on that recall. I have the 08 and getting that recall done when I had virtually no problems with my ignition etc before was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Now it’s just not starting. I’ll drive it somewhere, handle business come back out and can’t start my car. The check engine light and my electronic throttle control lights pop on and there’s literally no crank. Sometimes it gives half a crank and just quits. Sometimes it just starts right up like nothings wrong. Sometimes i try to drop my truck into neutral to see if I can start it that way and my shifter is locked won’t let me shift it at all, and there have been times that when I start it it’s almost like it’s idling High. My rpms look normal but it runs rough and usually when that happens if I turn her off she ain’t starting again for another 6-24 hours. Temperatures seem to be a non issue. I have replaced my alternator, starter, and battery to no avail. I will be having a new ground run soon along with some other fixes that hopefully find the trick but at this point I wish I hadn’t done it because everything has been an issue since I got that recall done and my mechanic just told me someone else who works there went through the same issue and ended up turning their truck in and getting a different make car altogether which really makes me nervous. Good luck guys!

Click to expand...

It could be a bad ground or an intermittent or short in one of the wires going to the starter - if you were fine prior to having the recall completed and these starting issues only started after the P57 recall was completed you need to immediately go straight back to whatever dealership completed the recall and see the service manager A.S.A.P. and get this issue fixed.

There is a yellow wire that goes to the starter that is known to cause intermittent starting problems if it is not properly connected or if it has any corrosion on it that has not been properly cleaned off.

How long ago did you have the ignition switch replaced?

The one thing that makes it hard is I purchased the Vehicle at the end of February and immediately had the recall fixed so I really have no idea how it ran regularly before the recall. My mechanic is convinced the new ground and whatnot won’t help but I’m going to jump into those issues next. This is my only vehicle so the sooner I figure it out the better.

Alinasmom06

· #15 · Nov 19, 2018

Yes 2018. The issue started about three months later after the recall

Big Blue

· #16 · Nov 19, 2018 (Edited)

Alinasmom06 said:
Yes 2018. The issue started about three months later after the recall

Since this is a starting issue - where you can at least make a valid argument that it could be related to the ignition switch that was replaced, I'd take it back to the specific dealership that replaced the ignition switch, talk directly to the service manager there, and have them look at it and see if they can diagnose the issue.

The only thing that really isn't working in your favor is that the ignition switch was replaced 8 months ago.....but, I would think they would still look at it without charging you - especially if you had the recall completed at the same dealership where you bought the vehicle.

DanMelb

· #17 · Nov 5, 2020

superheady said:
I wanted to bump this thread because between this thread and this thread (HOWTO: getting rid of the "fob key stuck in...) I was able to diagnose and solve my issue.

The first issue I was having is the FOBIK key was sticking in the ignition and preventing me from turning the Jeeper off. I can only turn it to the ACC position. Then, if I fiddle around with the shifter, and turn the key back and forth, after 30 seconds or so you hear a "click" and can turn the ignition to "off" and pull the key out.

It was frustrating.

My issue I believe is with the shifter. Yes, it registered "P" on the dash, yes it makes a light click when I go to "Park", but when looking down in the shifter, you can see the little grey switch does not fully click over when in Park.

So, I took notes from AByrvalg's thread, and pulled the little grey box out to mess with (see his images in the above thread).

What I noticed about mine is that when in Park, the shifter won't push the grey switcher all the way, so I pulled it all apart, cleaned it, then I glued a rubber ring around the plastic piece on the shifter stick to help it fully move the switch when going into Park. See image

Now, is this a legit fix? I dont know, time will tell. But, I have driven everyday and I have not had this issue come back.

I am still a little disappointed that my 09 is not part of the ignition key recall, because they replaced all the 08 FOBIKS with a newer version, yet my 09 still has the older version, it really makes no sense—but I dont believe my issue is key-related anyway.

Hope this can help someone in the future, I did a lot of searching everywhere to figure it out and there is very little information on the subject.

Big Blue said:
Since this is a starting issue - where you can at least make a valid argument that it could be related to the ignition switch that was replaced, I'd take it back to the specific dealership that replaced the ignition switch, talk directly to the service manager there, and have them look at it and see if they can diagnose the issue.

The only thing that really isn't working in your favor is that the ignition switch was replaced 8 months ago.....but, I would think they would still look at it without charging you - especially if you had the recall completed at the same dealership where you bought the vehicle.

Hi, how did you get the plastic cover off?

Vehicle Auto part Car Trunk

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Fred Zeplon

· #18 · Mar 26, 2022

superheady said:
I wanted to bump this thread because between this thread and this thread (HOWTO: getting rid of the "fob key stuck in...) I was able to diagnose and solve my issue.

The first issue I was having is the FOBIK key was sticking in the ignition and preventing me from turning the Jeeper off. I can only turn it to the ACC position. Then, if I fiddle around with the shifter, and turn the key back and forth, after 30 seconds or so you hear a "click" and can turn the ignition to "off" and pull the key out.

It was frustrating.

My issue I believe is with the shifter. Yes, it registered "P" on the dash, yes it makes a light click when I go to "Park", but when looking down in the shifter, you can see the little grey switch does not fully click over when in Park.

So, I took notes from AByrvalg's thread, and pulled the little grey box out to mess with (see his images in the above thread).

What I noticed about mine is that when in Park, the shifter won't push the grey switcher all the way, so I pulled it all apart, cleaned it, then I glued a rubber ring around the plastic piece on the shifter stick to help it fully move the switch when going into Park. See image

Now, is this a legit fix? I dont know, time will tell. But, I have driven everyday and I have not had this issue come back.

I am still a little disappointed that my 09 is not part of the ignition key recall, because they replaced all the 08 FOBIKS with a newer version, yet my 09 still has the older version, it really makes no sense—but I dont believe my issue is key-related anyway.

Hope this can help someone in the future, I did a lot of searching everywhere to figure it out and there is very little information on the subject.

You gave me a project for today. My 09 is doing exactly this. I'm glad these old threads are still available!! Cheers.

Reactions: 1

patf111

· #19 · Mar 28, 2022

@Fred Zeplon you will need to remove the center console and the shift know, a screw under the cupholder, and then two screws in the rear (remove the cover panel). take some time and clean that area up. shift knob - the bottom portion does a 1/2 turn twist, then the top comes off...

Reactions: 1

Fred Zeplon

· #20 · Mar 28, 2022

patf111 said:
@Fred Zeplon you will need to remove the center console and the shift know, a screw under the cupholder, and then two screws in the rear (remove the cover panel). take some time and clean that area up. shift knob - the bottom portion does a 1/2 turn twist, then the top comes off...

My 2009 does not require any tools except the plastic pry bar. I'm just in the process of mimicking superheady and attaching something to the top of that shift knob to fully press that grey hooked switch all the way up. The part is small and looks very cheap but I cannot isolate it on Rock Auto. I'm going to put more time into it. I'm still waiting for a front drive shaft...lol. Then I will get to work on my emissions codes.....lol...I've never worked on a vehicle so much in my life!!

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