Heads up on ignition key issue!
 

I went to start the car yesterday, and the ignition key was locked in the off position.....

After a little research, on LS2.com, it seems that this is a common problem, and it isn't exclusive to this car.

Removing the lock cylinder is pretty straightforward, IF you can turn the key! It took me quite a bit of finessing with various tools, but I was able to get it out. The problem is that there is a detent plunger on the switch side of the lock cylinder, and after a while, it peens a groove into the lock cylinder. When the groove gets deep enough, it locks the ignition!

Once it's out, it's about 15 minutes with the dremel tool to fix it.

There is a whole sticky article on it at LS2.com. I recommend at least inspecting it while you can turn your key, and preferably replace the cylinder while it is apart! I also modded the part that locks it into the column when the key is off, and made it so it can be removed with the key in the off position. This will make it MUCH easier next time, as I spent several hours trying to remove the thing.

Some guys on LS2.com have reported up to $1400 to repair this thing out of warranty! I'll wager that the "tech" at the dealer couldn't get the thing out, and damaged the housing trying to force it. The housing is an integral part of the steering column and the entire thing needs to be replaced!

Here is the article on how to fix it once it's out of the car......

http://kb.ls1gto.com/KB/article.aspx...2&cNode=8H6C2L

this is a well documented issue and covered at Ls1 site. no need for a repeat event here.

I've owned this car since '04, and had no idea this problem existed. A few guys on here own them, and I figured that it might be a good heads up thing.

FWIW, Commentary like yours is the reason I don't frequent that board anymore unless I need to fix something..... and even then I need to sift through that kind of mindless minutae to get to the good stuff.

13 pages on this subject in one thread alone and there are maybe 3 or 4 posts that address the actual problem and more importantly, how to FIX the problem. I am not interested in 13 pages of "I took the car to my dealer and he had it for 3 weeks while waiting for a $33 part and gave me a Saturn for a loaner" type of stuff.....

I get the impression that most of the folks on that board do not do their own work on their cars. Most of the folks here do. Hence my "repeat event" (even though I couldn't find one thread on HERE about this issue).

It is a non event to check or replace it before it locks up. Maybe someone else will appreciate the heads up over here on this board.

I certainly would've........

I hit that board alot and haven't read that deal. Thanks for the heads up.

I can tell you one of my 04's keys the remote wouldn't work to unlock/turn off alarm several times. Kind of embarassing to be in a car with eth alarm going off until you start it! Took it in to the dealer, battery worked fine for them no problems since they took it apart.

I'll agree with you most the guys there don't do most of their own work.

Skip, if you have a new GTO, take the half hour and check it out, or at least defeat the interlock that prevent's you from removing the ignition cylinder with the key in the off position.

It is not a difficult fix once the ignition cylinder is removed, but it is impossible to remove it if you can't turn the key! I spent a total of 5 hours on this problem over 2 days before I got the thing out, then about another hour dremeling, cleaning, removing the interlock and lubing it......

Oh, and this problem caused me to miss a car show, where I would've gotten to meet Jeff Beck!



It would've been a lot less time if I didn't have to mess with trying to turn the key!

Maybe my GM extended warranty will be a backup.

I think they will fix it under warranty, but it has to break first. This means a tow, possibly leaving you stranded somewhere. IMHO, that would be far more trouble than fixing yourself before it breaks.

I got lucky that mine broke in the driveway..... it could've been 185 miles away from home at midnight after a long workday.........

Who knows how long they'll have the car or what else they'll break trying to get the thing out. On top of that, all they're gonna do is put the same part in it again. Then, it's only a matter of time before it fails again.

I'd at least remove the interlock so you can get it apart easily when it won't turn......

Just my $.02......

We had the same problem with our 2005. Good for us it was still under warantee. I love the car, but I have to say we have had many more than our share of problems. Tranny has been rebuilt 3 times, among other things.

Well with the 90 degree weather mine has gotten hard to turn on initially so it might need a dealer checkup.

Mine's still working fine after Dremelizing it.....

Knock wood, my '04 has given me no trouble except for this since new......

I wonder if cryoing and then DFL coating a new one would make them tougher and then slide better??

One of my mechanic buddies said other GM cars have the same issue.

Link is broke or forums are down

Having too much weight on the key chain can induce this problem. The added weight of other keys applies downward pressure on the mechanism and begins to wear the internal workings of the cylinder. Once it wears to a certain point the key itself will begin to catch and then the $$ fix.

Powder or even spray Graphite would be the DFL of choice.

It seems GM has alot of problems with cheap A@S lock cylinders. I worked at saturn and they came in all the time with sticky locks and stuck keys and such. Always warranty them on base and extended warranty. Sometimes they would come in time after time same car. Techs would have to do the clean and dremel then if happened again replace per warranty.

Thanks TRIPOWER 455 for posting the links. Good info for all to have, and for two anyway who didnt know about the problem.

Mine started binding in warranty so dealer hits it with graphite, I recall.
It gets worse later and I think it was $400 + or so to replace, I dont recall exact amount. Out of warranty.

One key only on a light ring is all I have for this car.

Some of the guys on the other site were stranded, one in another state when theirs broke.

It looks like the knowledge base at LS1gto.com is down, temporarily, I hope........


Take my advice. If it is working now, at the very least, remove the interlock BEFORE it gets stuck.... It is very easy to remove the lock cylinder if you can turn the key

It is very difficult to get the key to turn if it is locked, and you can't remove the key unless it is turned, meaning that you can't FIX IT.

Here is another thread on the subject.......

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184864

Mine stuck (again) yesterday. Got it out, but its on its way to sticking for good.

I wonder if the dealer replaced part went bad like the first one?

Have they been redesigned, anyone know? The lock cylinder.

If not, then the place that is shown in the link pics on LS1 site will have to be ground down and polished to fix the problem.

Wonder if dealers know this by now? Anyone had recent service?

I had mine replaced last month. It did not lock up on me but when I would remove the key, the accesories would stay on. The cylinder would not "pop out" when the key was removed and the car would still think that the key was there. After much research I came to find out that this is often a warning sign before locking up completely.

Mine was replaced under warranty but the dealer had no idea that it was a common problem. This dealer had only one other GTO client and it seems that GM is either unaware of the problem or is ignoring it beacuse the 04-05 production run was low.

There are a few common issues with these cars. These are the ones that I experienced:
1. Ignition cylinder
2. AC idler pulley bearings shot at 16K miles
3. Radius rod bushings cause sloppy fron suspension travel and uneven tire where