Key stuck in ignition?

i have a 97 impreza outback sport that i just picked up (auto) and the key is stuck in the ignition, car turns off but the key won't release. i am not sure what exactly is causing this.

i tried the shift lock controller, that wasn't it.

the other thing i noticed is you don't need to press the brake to move the shifter so that has me thinking that that has something to do with it.

anyone have any ideas?


thanks.

 

is it in park all the way?

 

yep as far as i can tell, i tried moving the shifter around while trying to remove the key but nothing.

 

is your steering wheel locked? you can try jiggling the steering wheel around and trying to remove the key, or try starting the car and shutting it off and then removing it. happened on my old prism a few times.

 

sounds like it has somthing to do with the shift lock mech

 

Turn the wheel all the way to the left or right and kind of wiggle it, see if that works.

 

lol, i am not a newb:laugh: the wheel is not locked, it is not the shift lock controller(already tried it)

i am assuming it is something with the park/neutral safety switch in the center console down by the shifter, so i guess i will have to take it apart and have a looksy :biggrin:

 

Well I figured that, but you didn't say you tried it, so....

 

i know i expected that wheel lock thing to come up sometime :laugh: either way thanks guys for your thoughts, anyone else have any ideas let me know.

 

Hate to tell u this...but try spraying Silicon, just don't flood it..I did that one time with a fresh trade-in and turned it 3-5 times to on and off...and it just released afterwards. Sorry NewBie, I can't think of anything else...Another idea would be to shfit it up and down...because it may have not locked into park even though it is on P.

 

key issues??? i know on the earlier honda's the key shape is shorter and the newer ones are longer but could still start the vehicle but the older key could be stuck in the ignition. dont know about suby keys.