Ignition key stuck in 2003 Chrysler Sebring LX steering column

Technical aspects of automobiles, et. al., post #6,570
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Gene
 2007-08-08 04:41:43
 Ignition key stuck in 2003 Chrysler Sebring LX steering column
I can't get the ignition key out of the ignition cylinder.
The car is in park.
The brake is held down with pressure.
I have tried wiggling, twisting, shaking just about everything.
Eventually, it will slide out as normal.
For the next few insert, start, and remove key - it works fine.
Then for some unknown reason, it hangs again.
It seems to fail at the last notch, when key is turned counter-clockwise
for normal extraction.

I will go try & locate the cable linkage from the automatic shifter
and see if there is an adjustment.

Are there any other things that I can check?

I'm pretty sure the key is good, as we just paid Chrysler $30 to
cut a new one from the VIN.

What is the procedure for removing the key cylinder from the steering
column? Does it pop out, or do you need to remove the steering wheel
plastic, etc?

Possible recall for this problem on a 2003 Sebring LX ?

Thanks,
Gene
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Bill Putney
 2007-08-08 06:14:57
 Re: Ignition key stuck in 2003 Chrysler Sebring LX steering column
Gene wrote:
> I can't get the ignition key out of the ignition cylinder.
> The car is in park.
> The brake is held down with pressure.
> I have tried wiggling, twisting, shaking just about everything.
> Eventually, it will slide out as normal.
> For the next few insert, start, and remove key - it works fine.
> Then for some unknown reason, it hangs again.
> It seems to fail at the last notch, when key is turned counter-clockwise
> for normal extraction.
>
> I will go try & locate the cable linkage from the automatic shifter
> and see if there is an adjustment.
>
> Are there any other things that I can check?
>
> I'm pretty sure the key is good, as we just paid Chrysler $30 to
> cut a new one from the VIN.
>
> What is the procedure for removing the key cylinder from the steering
> column? Does it pop out, or do you need to remove the steering wheel
> plastic, etc?
>
> Possible recall for this problem on a 2003 Sebring LX ?
>
> Thanks,
> Gene

There is an adjustment procedure for the interlock cable at the shifter.
On the LH car, there is a cable adjustment locking latch at the
shifter (at the shiofter end of the interlock cable sheath) that you
release with the key in trhe ignition and the ignition switch in the
fully OFF (steering wheel lock) position and the shifter in Park
position. This allows the cable to adjust itself to the correct
position. Then you re-engage the cable aduster latch. I can only
assume the Sebring is designed the same way (but I can't be 100% sure of
that - someone would have to check the Sebring FSM).

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 L.G.R. (enlever)
 2007-08-08 13:22:24
 Re: Ignition key stuck in 2003 Chrysler Sebring LX steering column
I would try to lubricate by shooting light oil from a spray can inside the
ignition key hole. Good luck.
L.G.R.
"Bill Putney" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de news:
5htjcuF3mso4nU1@mid.individual.net...
> Gene wrote:
>> I can't get the ignition key out of the ignition cylinder.
>> The car is in park.
>> The brake is held down with pressure.
>> I have tried wiggling, twisting, shaking just about everything.
>> Eventually, it will slide out as normal.
>> For the next few insert, start, and remove key - it works fine.
>> Then for some unknown reason, it hangs again.
>> It seems to fail at the last notch, when key is turned counter-clockwise
>> for normal extraction.
>>
>> I will go try & locate the cable linkage from the automatic shifter
>> and see if there is an adjustment.
>>
>> Are there any other things that I can check?
>>
>> I'm pretty sure the key is good, as we just paid Chrysler $30 to
>> cut a new one from the VIN.
>>
>> What is the procedure for removing the key cylinder from the steering
>> column? Does it pop out, or do you need to remove the steering wheel
>> plastic, etc?
>>
>> Possible recall for this problem on a 2003 Sebring LX ?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Gene
>
> There is an adjustment procedure for the interlock cable at the shifter.
> On the LH car, there is a cable adjustment locking latch at the shifter
> (at the shiofter end of the interlock cable sheath) that you release with
> the key in trhe ignition and the ignition switch in the fully OFF
> (steering wheel lock) position and the shifter in Park position. This
> allows the cable to adjust itself to the correct position. Then you
> re-engage the cable aduster latch. I can only assume the Sebring is
> designed the same way (but I can't be 100% sure of that - someone would
> have to check the Sebring FSM).
>
> Bill Putney
> (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address
> with the letter 'x')
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 philthy
 2007-08-08 22:01:24
 Re: Ignition key stuck in 2003 Chrysler Sebring LX steering column
go to locksmith, have them code you a new ing. key cylinder to your key. take it
home remove column covers then turn key to run position find small tab on bottom
side of column (directly under keyclinder but on outside housing) push in the
button and remove the cylinder with key at the same time. the rest is easy
dealer cost of said repair 200 or more yours 50 bucs
"L.G.R." wrote:

> I would try to lubricate by shooting light oil from a spray can inside the
> ignition key hole. Good luck.
> L.G.R.
> "Bill Putney" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de news:
> 5htjcuF3mso4nU1@mid.individual.net...
> > Gene wrote:
> >> I can't get the ignition key out of the ignition cylinder.
> >> The car is in park.
> >> The brake is held down with pressure.
> >> I have tried wiggling, twisting, shaking just about everything.
> >> Eventually, it will slide out as normal.
> >> For the next few insert, start, and remove key - it works fine.
> >> Then for some unknown reason, it hangs again.
> >> It seems to fail at the last notch, when key is turned counter-clockwise
> >> for normal extraction.
> >>
> >> I will go try & locate the cable linkage from the automatic shifter
> >> and see if there is an adjustment.
> >>
> >> Are there any other things that I can check?
> >>
> >> I'm pretty sure the key is good, as we just paid Chrysler $30 to
> >> cut a new one from the VIN.
> >>
> >> What is the procedure for removing the key cylinder from the steering
> >> column? Does it pop out, or do you need to remove the steering wheel
> >> plastic, etc?
> >>
> >> Possible recall for this problem on a 2003 Sebring LX ?
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Gene
> >
> > There is an adjustment procedure for the interlock cable at the shifter.
> > On the LH car, there is a cable adjustment locking latch at the shifter
> > (at the shiofter end of the interlock cable sheath) that you release with
> > the key in trhe ignition and the ignition switch in the fully OFF
> > (steering wheel lock) position and the shifter in Park position. This
> > allows the cable to adjust itself to the correct position. Then you
> > re-engage the cable aduster latch. I can only assume the Sebring is
> > designed the same way (but I can't be 100% sure of that - someone would
> > have to check the Sebring FSM).
> >
> > Bill Putney
> > (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address
> > with the letter 'x')
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 Bill Putney
 2007-08-09 06:21:01
 Re: Ignition key stuck in 2003 Chrysler Sebring LX steering column
philthy wrote:

> go to locksmith, have them code you a new ing. key cylinder to your key. take it
> home remove column covers then turn key to run position find small tab on bottom
> side of column (directly under keyclinder but on outside housing) push in the
> button and remove the cylinder with key at the same time. the rest is easy
> dealer cost of said repair 200 or more yours 50 bucs
> "L.G.R." wrote:

How do you tell if it's a cylinder problem and not a shifter interlock
cable adjustment issue?

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')
Author:
Date:
Subject:
 philthy
 2007-08-12 07:35:56
 Re: Ignition key stuck in 2003 Chrysler Sebring LX steering column
chrysler ingition cylinders have a real high failure rate and since the car is not in
front of me, i can only guess but i do more ingition cylinders than shift interlocks
on d.c cars


Bill Putney wrote:

> philthy wrote:
>
> > go to locksmith, have them code you a new ing. key cylinder to your key. take it
> > home remove column covers then turn key to run position find small tab on bottom
> > side of column (directly under keyclinder but on outside housing) push in the
> > button and remove the cylinder with key at the same time. the rest is easy
> > dealer cost of said repair 200 or more yours 50 bucs
> > "L.G.R." wrote:
>
> How do you tell if it's a cylinder problem and not a shifter interlock
> cable adjustment issue?
>
> Bill Putney
> (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
> address with the letter 'x')