Unable to remove key from ignition ...

[GearHead]

Howdy folks

I am completely stumped here.

Last week, I brought my '03 X5 in for a ignition coil recall work and while they were at it, I had them look into replacing the cupholder (broken clips).

Got it back 1 day later and drove the truck to work (around 30 miles from dealership). Upon arrival at my office, place the gear into park and turned off the engine. I was NOT able to turn the key completely OFF to take out the key. In fact, the steering only raise very slightly when this happens and the key cannot be turned further. After playing with the shift knob and few times by restarting the car and shifting from park to neutral and back to park a few times, I was able to turn off completely and take the key out.

At lunch time, took the car out for a short drive around the block and the problem did not resurface. Thought this was an abnormality.

During the evening, drove home and upon arrival at home (another long drive --- around 30 miles), this problem showed up again. Completely fustrated.

Called the dealership the next day and dropped the car off again. Unfortunately, the drive from home to dealership is less than 5 miles, the problem did not surface. They troubleshot and after 3 days, they replaced the shifter.

I got my car back yesterday and drove it back to work. The moment I arrived at the office, put the gear in park, pulled the parking brake and turned off the engine .... the problem came back. The key will not turn off completely and the steering wheel only raised slightly. After stepping on the brake and reshifting the gear to Park, I was able to get the key out.

Sorry for the long post .... has anyone run into this problem before? Any ideas here???

Thanks for listening

[JV]

I have not, but likely someone round here has some idea.

Anyone?

JV

[PersonaNonGrata]

JV is right. I have had this problem although I can't give you a definitive answer as to cause and cure. You mentioned that you had the cupholder repaired and that triggers something in my mind. I changed out my wood trim and that required me to remove the center console. That is how you remove the cupholder as well. (Your dealer had to remove the center console to replace your cupholder from underneath. That's the only way it comes out.) When I reinstalled the center console and started up and then tried to turn off the ignition and take out the key, it was stuck. (SANguru was there and he remembers the frustration.)

I thought that the problem was that the gear shifter was not locked in which I think has a sensor to ensure the transmission is in P before you can remove the key. It did feel a little out of place and I banged it into P a couple of times. I kind of forced the key into the off position and was finally able to remove the key. It has been fine since and no further stuck key incidents. I suspect your problem is similar to mind in that it could have something to do with the gear selector and the P position sensor.

Good luck!

[GearHead]

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

JV is right. I have had this problem although I can't give you a definitive answer as to cause and cure. You mentioned that you had the cupholder repaired and that triggers something in my mind. I changed out my wood trim and that required me to remove the center console. That is how you remove the cupholder as well. (Your dealer had to remove the center console to replace your cupholder from underneath. That's the only way it comes out.) When I reinstalled the center console and started up and then tried to turn off the ignition and take out the key, it was stuck. (SANguru was there and he remembers the frustration.)

I thought that the problem was that the gear shifter was not locked in which I think has a sensor to ensure the transmission is in P before you can remove the key. It did feel a little out of place and I banged it into P a couple of times. I kind of forced the key into the off position and was finally able to remove the key. It has been fine since and no further stuck key incidents. I suspect your problem is similar to mind in that it could have something to do with the gear selector and the P position sensor.

Good luck!

Thanks Kevin and JV

I was getting 'dejected' with the lack of response. I know I am not Michelle (sorry Michelle ) but was hoping at least to get some feedback.

Seriously, there are some of the greatest guys here in X5world and because of you, my ownership of my X5 has been pleasurable.

Back to my problem, I indicated to my service writer that whether the swapped out of the cupholder had caused some cables to be pinched. According to them, don't think so.

In any case, they are ordering another link cable that goes between the ignition and the shifter to try to fix this.

The biggest headache is that this is an intermittent problem. This stuck shifter/unable to remove key ONLY happens when I drive long distance (around 25 to 30 mile and above). If I run just around the block or a few miles (between my house and dealership), it does not surface its ugly head. But after a long drive, when I stop my car, the steering wheel will not completely retract and the darn key will not come out. ONLY after 'slamming' the shifter at the Park position a few times then it recovers.

I'm fighting this as the X5 is my wife's primary wheels and I don't want her to freak out if she runs into it.

Thanks for listening

[JV]

Gearhead- don't be discouraged because you're not the world's greatest car chick/lesbian porn lover like our beloved Michelle I have a theory that the surge of members, while increasing the post count, has also decreased 'response time'.

There are at least 50 new threads each day and sometimes they just need a bump to get back into the scene.

Oh, I guess we should all start writing catchy headlines, too!

I think PNG was right on with his tip: the first step in troubleshooting, is retracing the steps you most recently took before the problem surfaced.

JV

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by JV

Gearhead- don't be discouraged because you're not the world's greatest car chick/lesbian porn lover like our beloved Michelle

Me JV

[GearHead]

Sorry Michelle for 'dragging' you into this discussion.

I have been amazed that you are able to garner the responses while sometimes when I and many others post questions, they just wrapped around into a black hole. Maybe next time, I will use my wife's pics when I post .... NOPE .... on 2nd thought, she'll kill me.

Thanks JV, I will work with the dealership and see what are the possibilities. At this time, they are equally stumped. In fact I spoke with their shop foreman on Friday and without seeing the problem when it is happening, he is speculating too.

If others have run into this, pls jump in.

Thanks again