I have a 2005 Chevy Silverado. We just got home right now and tried to turn off the truck and they key won't turn! The key is stuck in the on position. My husband had to open up the steering column to use the ignition switch to turn it off, however the battery still has power running to the truck because the key is in the on position. My husband also had to unhook the battery to keep it from draining. Please help! How do we get the key to turn back to the off position?

 

i really dont know about this issue because it has not happened to me but my suggestion would be to go with a new ignition.

 

I have a 1991 Silverado, and I had this same problem some years back. This going to sound silly, but put the vehicle in neutral and try gently rocking it forward and backward a bit. This let mine go once when I first had this problem.

Bottom line is, the ignition is going bad and you need to replace it. I replaced mine, and it has worked fine ever since. Only thing is I miss having the matching door and ignition keys. Dunno if yours just has the one key or not, but mine has separate keys. I guess if you have to replace the ignition too, you'll soon have two keys too weither you did before or not!

Replace it as soon as possible, because even if it unsticks, and works for a while, it IS going to happen again and get worse too. Take this advice from the voice of experience.

 

my moms voyager had that problem not releasing the key.
you had to rock the steering wheel back and forth a buch of times
while wiggling the key to get the key to release.

Also try the above suggestion about messing with the gear shift lever.

good luck!

 

I've just had the same problem with my 1988 Chevy Silverado 2500. In pulling out of my driveway in reverse I sort of noticed the shifting (automatic) was a bit stiff. At the end of the driveway, now in the street, I could not move the shift out of Reverse. Totally stuck. Slightly later it did shift and I moved back into the driveway. Putting it in park, the key would NOT turn to the off position. I waited a while and moved the shift through all gears.
Still, the switch would not turn off. Finally I pulled the fuse from the fusebox for the ignition and disconnected the negative on the battery.
This being Sunday, I've got a day or more to search for a fix. I'm a novice at auto mechanics.
An additonal thought... seems a few weeks ago I noticed the windshield wippers would be slow to turn off. Something tells me this may all be related to the steering column. Ugh!

 

Could be a couple of things. I'd remove the bottom of the dash and remove the steel plate, then on the right side (with the parking brake set) check to see if both the shift linkage and the shift interlock solenoid are hooked up to the shifter. Both linkages are pop-on to a ball from the shifter linkage. If your parking brake is set and your engine is off, (I'd also disconnect the battery) you can move the shifter in and out of gear while looking to the right side of the steering column under the dash to locate the shifter linkage. In the end, I would bet that you have a faulty "Shift Interlock Solenoid" or one of the linkages has popped off the shifter linkage.

 

ANSWERS to questions in this old thread

@ Mark53 - the little white plastic piece is a secondary securing device which fits on the clip that secures the transmission to lock cylinder cable. Leaving it off will not cause the end of the world.

@ Dingle whooper - the white plastic Part (circled in purple) is a simple switch that fits into the top of the ignition cylinder housing. It holds a spring loaded stem that is depressed as the lock cylinder is turned from OFF to any other position. It's what tells the BCM (Body Control Module) that there is a key in the lock cylinder. The BCM triggers a buzzer if the key is left in the lock and the door is opened.

All this Ancient Tech is history that's been superseded by newer electronic "security" designs that feed the Stealerships rather than aiding the consumers .. IMHO.

 

@GTD speaking of ancient ... that's what this thread is, so please refrain from resurrecting them.
Nobody named Mark or dingle whooper posted in this thread.