I have a 2000 bonneville and I pulled into a local stores parking lot shut it off and went inside. When I come back out I cant seem to get the key all the way into the ignition. It seems to go all the way up to about 1cm in and then just stops like its jammed or something. Since the key isnt all the way in, I cant turn the switch to start the car. The store owner told me I can leave it there for now but he would really like it out of there tonight so he can run the plows. I tried wiggling it and everything common for about 30-40 minutes to no avail. I need quick help to know how to get it started in the next 4-5 hours.

A couple of possibilities:

1. Frozen. Have you tried heating the key to get it inserted? If water has turned to ice inside the lock, it can prevent insertion of the key. You can try warming the entire lock mechanism with a heat gun, or a torch even, but be really careful with that last one. Too much heat will permanently destroy the inner parts, some of which in many locks are lead.

2. Stuck. There are aerosols and graphite-bearing lubricants which might free it up.

3. Broken. If the internal parts have failed, the only real cure is a new switch. That is of course a real bummer, and you'll probably have to get the car towed to a shop to get the work done.

_________________
Alan Sheidler

Proud Third Caretaker of the Family Heirloom '93 SSE
Medium Garnet Red Metallic, Gray Leather Interior
Silver Cross-Lace Wheels (I love this car)

Thanks, I dont believe it is frozen, I was just driving it around about 3 minutes prior to that happening. Ill grab some aerosol lubricant before i head back over to it tonight to try it. I would be surprised if its a broken part. Its done this before but usually 30 seconds - 3 minutes of wigglying and trying makes it slide in place finally.

Try pushing the shifter ahead into park more, maybe even pushing the button in and pushing it up further, sometimes the park interlock cable can come out of adjustment and cause issues like this.

_________________
Ryan

2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one

It has to be broken on the inside. We managed to get it home via hotwiring (wire to the starter in the front and jumpers to positive on the battery ). Any suggestions on where to pick up the new part? I can take the dash off and radio out to replace the ignition myself i just need to know what part to get and where from.

Curious how you unlocked the steering and the shifter, if you could not get the key into the ignition or turn it...

_________________
Alan Sheidler

Proud Third Caretaker of the Family Heirloom '93 SSE
Medium Garnet Red Metallic, Gray Leather Interior
Silver Cross-Lace Wheels (I love this car)

It took a little work and force which im sure just further didnt help the ignition, but it will be replaced anyway. We somehow managed to get it to move over to the ON position (still wont go to the start position). So we can now freely turn it over to accessory or ON without having the key all the way in. Which when in the ON position it unlocks the steering and shifter. We have pretty much narrowed it down to just a broken piece in the tumbler is the issue. We have crafted our special little rig of a hotswitch for starting it right now but it will only be a temporary solution until we can replace the ignition.

Nice work-around.

Be sure to have the registration with you whenever driving the car. Any cop stopping you will assume the car is stolen when rigged like that.

_________________
Alan Sheidler

Proud Third Caretaker of the Family Heirloom '93 SSE
Medium Garnet Red Metallic, Gray Leather Interior
Silver Cross-Lace Wheels (I love this car)

Your problem sounds like the common issue the 00-05's have/

Jammed key thread

_________________
2001 Bonneville SSEi. 1598xx mi.
great car. Wrecked


Burnt Bonny.

Note if you pull the injectors to obserbe fuel delivery...make sure you leave the plugs in and disconnect the ign. Believe me