My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

My key is stuck in the ignition, and it will not turn to the LOCK position.

I have been having issues with my battery, but--at this moment--the battery is allowing me to start the engine. I have heard case where a dead battery might cause this problem.

I tried following some instruction on the forum for the H2, but I cannot get it to work for my H3.

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

I know you probably did this but:

Make sure the park lever is pushed all the way forward... I had my cell phone up there once and it messed me up.

I can vouch that a barely dead battery will keep the key. But it only happened once.

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

Another one of those, "You've probably tried this already, but ...." solutions .. did you jiggle the key while making sure it's fully in? I've had a dead battery ... not barely dead, but totally dead .. and the ignition released my key. Never held it. Hating to think it could by the starter, ignition cylinder. Have you thought about spraying some powder graphite alongside the key? (Not WD-40 .. just POWDER graphite). Can you jump your battery and try to turn the key?

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

Thanks Mark and Hmmm for your suggestions.

The battery still has juice to start the car, but I am guess it will be just a matter of time before it drains the battery with the key in th ACC position. I can turn the key to ACC, ON, and START, but it doesn't look like it will go to the LOCK position where it should release the key. I cannot lock the car manually because it senses the key in the ignition, so I lock it with my second key fob. Inside the car, I see the green light on the rear view mirror, the clock on the radio, and the shift position light under the P on the dash.

I tried cycling the shift lever back and forth, and I tried placing the steering wheel in different locations without success. My car only has 253 miles on it, so it still is empty of stuff and has the new car smell still. I don't want to go spraying anything yet as to not cause further complications to the matter.

I am in Europe, so my HUMMER dealer sadly isn't nearby.

I did the following steps I found in the H2 section, but they did not help (I am not sure what the "brake fuse" is, however, on my H3):

DO THESE IN ORDER TO UN STICK KEY!!!

CHECK THE BRAKE FUSE

CHARGE THE BATTERY

PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON

ROTATE THE KEY TO ACCESSORY POSISTION

CLOSE THE DOOR

ROTATE KEY TO IGNITION POSOTION

DEPRESS FOOT BRAKE

RELEASE EMERGENCY BRAKE

START VEHICLE

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

its happened to me several times that when i disconect the battery it kept the key in the if the key was on anything other than of at the time the battery was disconnected.

try what the other have suggested.

from what i am understanding is that your battery is not dead and the car works just fine, its just that the key wont release. heres something else to think about. It might be that the shifter thing that sends the shifter position is malfunctioning. Try disconecting the battery and then reconnecting it in an attempt to "clear its head", dont know if that will work.

Also try moving the wheel, you know how it wont let you turn the key to ignition if the wheel is locked, maybe the opposite is happening to you. Dont know if the H3 locks the wheel but try.

other wise take it to dealer as soon as possible, and make sure you keep an eye on the truck when you leave it parked somewhere with the key in the ignition, otherwise its a free ride.:D

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

it took me so long to write my essay :D , that you beat me to the posting. thast sucks that your dealer is far. try as many different and random things as possible, maybe something will work.

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

Tonight I have had the battery disconnected a few times as I am also trying to debug a battery problem. However, it would not surprise me to find out that is was the result of the battery at some stage.

Background: I had the OEM battery go bad, i.e., not accept a charge. I replaced it with a new Optima, and it was working. Next I worked on the lights to get them ready for Europe. After about 25% of the light work, I tried the battery -- it was dead. I figured it hadn't charged, it was new, I might of had something on while I was working, etc. So, I am not ready to say yet if I have a battery problem or not. Right now idle, it is reading 12V. With the engine running, it read 14.5V. Once started, I can disconnect the battery and it keeps running.

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

I didn't realize that your H3 was so new! Wow ..just 253 miles on it! I know there are a few guys on here who should have some ideas for you on the problem. F5fstop, H3 Builder, ChevyHighPerformance? Hopefully they'll be looking in soon. Good luck, mountainbiker. Keep us posted, ok?

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

Yepper. I bought it with 24 miles, by the time it came off the boat here it had 74, and the rest was mostly me driving home. I haven't got one nice relaxing joy ride yet :( It is, however, amusing my officemates as they tell me "put it back on the boat", or "how's that HUMMER working out for you?"

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

Try disconnecting the battery and see if the key turns. If not, reconnect the battery and see what happens. Worth a shot. GOOD LUCK!

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

Thanks HCUBE. Tonight I have had the battery disconnected a few times--as I am also trying to debug a battery problem--but it hasn't released itself. I have emailed my stateside dealer for him to ask the service department, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

A friend of mine used graphite on his ignition key and had all kinds of problems. Remember that graphite is an excellent conductor and consequently he had an engine that wouldn't stop a starter that wouldn't disengage anyways all solved with a new ignition. The rebel

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

Roger that. I feel like I am gaining more days on my "life odometer" than my actual odometer. I am surprise no one yet has said it's a "feature" of the H3, so you don't lose your keys.

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

I'm feeling REALLY guilty about suggesting the powder graphite now. :crying: Sorry guys. :( I knew a couple of people who had tried that and it worked, but on vehicles other than Hummers. HOWEVER, I mentioned it before I knew that mountainbiker only had 253 miles on his H3. Forgive me, forgive me!!:D

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

Original dealer said "It sounds like you may need a new shifter. It sounds like the vehicle may not recognize that the vehicle is in park and will not release the key."

However, as you know, I was having battery problems. When the key got stuck the battery went dead while the key was in the ignition. Keeping that in mind, look at this previous post:


I am wondering if my battery problem caused the key stuck problem???

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

Where is FStop? Is he on vacation? Maybe he's in Germany! :D

Sorry about your stuck key. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be because you have no dealer nearby.

If you place the car in neutral with the brake on and the emergency/parking brake on, will that release the key? Not sure that's even possible, but it's the only location other than park where I can see the key might release.

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

I haven't seen f5ftop online since last Friday. Maybe he's away on a long weekend. Not what mountainbiker wants to hear. Hoping f5fstop will check in soon ... he'd surely have some educated guesses on this problem. Hang in there, mountainbiker.

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

Hmm, putting the trans in neutral won't do it. The key still won't come out. I just tried on my H2.

Wow, quite a hiatus for FStop!

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

LOL- yeah it does seem quiet without him on here. And he's more than welcome to visit the lovely wine country. We even have Wal-Marts (but they are being offloaded) and a soft drink called Lift (made by Coke). Plus, the Christmas Markets will begin soon -- good food and good drink.

Oh god is it. Plus, can you imagine a base of trick-or-treaters out there tonight all walking by a shiny new H3 with a key in the ignition?![/quote]

I have tried in neutral, but I am not sure I tried in combination with the parking brake. I will have to give it a go. The manual says it has to be in park. Plus, in bold black text it says don't force it. (I wonder why they had to make it bold and to say that?!)

Re: My key is stuck in the ignition switch
 

LOL- you are so right :(

I sure am hoping; however, I do appreciate everyone's ideas and suggestions. BlueHUMMERH2 thanks for checking the functioning on the H2.