General Key stuck in ignition

[Money_Pit]

I apologise if this problem has been posted before (I did notice a similar thread in the Brava forum)...

...I have an absolute pup of a Punto (51 plate Sporting Speedgear). Bit of background: have had it almost 4 years. I have taken exceptional care if it until very recently when I'd gotten so fed up of it I haven't investigated or repaired a water feature in the footwell. But it's cost me at least the purchase price in repairs so I figured enough's enough. I've had enough of it and want to get rid of it. (Amongst other things, it frequently tries to select reverse when I'm driving it. Most notably on the M8 at 70mph(!), that was a fun day)

It's been off road due to aforementioned footwell issue. The left hand side footwells were water-logged but we can't find where water is getting in. I'd taken it offroad until I could get rid of it. Having been unused for about three weeks, I attempted to turn over the engine and the key is stuck in the ignition! Now, I know that's not exactly a surprise but I was offshore...

The battery has been out and checked, and it's fine. I'm guessing the electrics are no longer with us due to it's taking on water over winter but would like to know of any other reason this thing is trying to eat it's own key! I have tried everything short of using wild horses to pull the key out and it just ain't budging.

All I want is to be able to use the gearbox in order to get the car out of park, so that it can be dragged up onto a salvage truck! I don't see much chance of that since the gearbox is governed by temperamental electrics

If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be most grateful!

 

[jaybee]

not sure about your model but I think there is a little button on ignition by the key --you will need to turn it to on, then press button and pull barrel out with key which will allow you to turn steering wheel

 

[Xen]

water in footwell is most probably the heater matrix... have you checked your coolant level?

 

[dave]

is it in park? key wont come out if it in gear,

there is a solonoid under the coloum cover that controls that, you can remove it if its playing up.
how much you want for the car?

 

[Money_Pit]

The steering isn't locked, so I don't think that's what's sticking the key. But thanks jaybee, I'll give that a go, just in case.

The coolant levels were checked very recently as the head gasket was replaced just before Christmas. Upon removing the battery last night, we discovered what might have caused the water build-up but it's too late now as the damage is done.

dave, the car is in park. If I'm feeling brave I might tackle the solonoid but to be honest I think the electrics are knackered what with it taking on water. I'm open to any offer on the car but I'm in Aberdeen and, key issue aside, the flippin' thing doesn't start. It may have to be craned onto the back of a lorry! Just when I thought I couldn't spend any more money on it...

 

[dave]

aww Aberdeen miles from me, you sprayed all electric plug joiners on gearbox with wd40?

 

[Money_Pit]

WD40 has been my friend with this car! But sadly in this instance it hasn't worked FYI, sometimes punching the fuses in the engine can work miracles with twitchy electrics. I found that out by accident in a moment of sheer frustration, bit of a John Cleese moment...

Thank you for all your suggestions, we have just about figured out how we will get it onto the back of a salvage truck, key still in the ignition and all. Shame really, it's been a fantastic car to drive (when it works) and has worked very hard for me. But I think it's vocation from now is to be parts for other cars

I was told today by one salvage yard they'd give me £150 for it

 

[Xen]

if u were closer, id have it for double that, then convert it to manual transmission and sell the box to dave

honestly tho, stick an ad on here and put an ebay auction up, you should easily get double that!

 

[dave]

£150 is a rip off, sell it in bits yorself here or ebay, i got quoted 200 for just the planetry gears out of a speedgear box used.
people will pay you £150 for a sporting interior

 

[The Sultan]

ok well to start with your reverse antics at speed are caused buy bad earth's on the rear lights sending power back down the reverse circuit every time you brake

the rest of your electrical problems are because the ecu for the gearbox is in the passengers foot well meaning if what you said about water is true then it will be soaked if you lift the plastic cover you may be ale to rescue it with your trusty wd40 and make it work again

getting it out of park if the brake switch is not triggering the lever release is a case of dismantling the gear shift lever removing the top chrome cover and manually pushing the inhibitor across

getting your key back is a case of removing bottom column shroud and manually pushing the little red lever under there on the ignition barrel and removing it

but it seems like you have things well under way now for it's recovery

and you should get allot more than 150 for that lot

engine is worth more than 150 alone

 

[Money_Pit]

You are a font of information! Thank you!!!

I knew the car's earthing points were, um, questionable but I had them cleaned up. But when I press the brake, I get a short. It's very occassional, but it's either a light on the dash which flickers on for a sec, or the gearbox beeps....

We will try out what you said for the ECU and gear lever this weekend. Very much obliged.

I have also decided it might be worth selling on eBay (I wasn't sure I could be bothered with the hassle), but it'll have to stay with me a little longer as I'm due offshore again. Boo!

Thanks again for your help folks

 

[The Sultan]

you have to kind of press in the chrome bit and pull the outer plastic off then lift the other chrome bit with the lights in


the rear lights is always the actual conectors on them need cleaning with a small needle fle

then in the plug use a very small screw driver to prise the pins inwards making them grip better then put lots of grease on them all and the problem will never happen again

 

[Money_Pit]

Well, just to update. I took all advice on board from here (Thank You ) but before I even got around to prodding around the car, my mechanic suggested taking the battery back to where I bought it from. Even though it was only 14 months old, he said there was a chance it might be a dud. I bought one of those battery chargers and it was showing that the battery was fully charged, so I really didn't think it would work. But since the battery was under warranty and it wouldn't cost me anything to change it, I gave it a go.

Lo and behold, new battery, attempted to turn the key and the flippin' thing only fired up first go! Key comes out and everything, imagine that

I'm probably going to put the car up for auction locally but will put an ad up on here soonest in case anyone would like to rehome it?