Key won't come out of ignition on 2003

hello kathy! i'm having the same problem with my 2002 and am curious to see how/if you resolved this problem? thanks!

 

The problem is from someone pulling the gear shifter and breaking the guide. My angry girlfriend did the same thing to my prius and I have the exact same issue.

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KathyinMinn easiest is to replace the entire steering lock assembly, shifter, shift position sensor with a salvage unit. The fact that you can remove key when 12V unhooked means something is most likely physically broken in the key interlock solenoid system. Contact a Gen1 Salvage yard like adoptapart in Denver.

Don't forget to move over your lock cylinder so key still remains the same.

 

Hi There,

Mine had the same problem. The fix is a new shifter assembly. What happens is the aluminum shaft that prevents the steering wheel from turning shifter from going into gear without pushing the button breaks off and doesn't allow the plastic cam to contact the key release switch. This deactivates the solenoid that keeps the key in the ignition. I was able to fix mine, but in the process ordered a new shift assembly.

If you need one I have one for $75 + $10 shipping that I ordered that I don't need anymore.

 

False. I fixed mine just yesterday. It's simple. Just take the cover off front under wheel and there is a white button that has to be pushed in to release the key. If you can wedge sum thing in to keep it pressed your good. I left a folded piece of paper. I'll post pics soon, or I may make a YouTube video. It was very simple. All that's needed is a screwdriver to remove cover

 

That is one way to fix it, but it won't have original functionality.
I guess as long as you cannot remove key while driving (and have steering wheel lock up on you) you should be ok.

 

Exactly. Its unsafe and not recommended. It's a temporary fix and that's the only reason Toyota designed it that way. If my wife or daughter would ever be driving the car, I'd be worried about it because that's when something would happen. Not worth a potential bad situation in my book for something I know I could fix relatively easy.

 

Is this a part fatigue problem?
Is t

 

No, it's an impatient or upset person problem!

The problem happens when someone forcibly pulls down the shift lever without pushing in the release button. Otherwise, there should be no problem if you depress the button as you are supposed to do.

 

Here are pics of the problem. I ended up glueing a paper down to the button so it stays pressed. The broken piece is useless and can get in the way of the shifter causing the car to be in between gears and sometimes it can be hard to press the button to shift the stick

 

It's pretty easy to avoid taking the key out while driving. As long as the car can shift into gears and release the key without disconnecting battery it's fine. Saves the hassle of opening trunk and removing terminal and dealing with possible p3191 errors when the fuel level is under 3 gallons and car misreads it as an empty tank

 

Hope my pics help. It can be a cheap fix or a costly one. It probably also depends on how the piece breaks off so it can be more complicated if your piece didn't make a clean break like mine did, but only way to find out is removing that cover to see.

 

I believe I've heard of this issue. Some things to consider:

1. Make sure the car is in park, with the "P" on the speedometer display selected. You may need to give the shifter a push up to get this.

2. A switch inside the steering column may be broken. It's possible to disassemble the column and remove the switch and the car will still run and allow you to take the key out. Beware that this may allow the shifter to shift into park while driving. A safer alternative would be to replace the steering column with a used one, which is not too expensive.

2a. Regarding the key cylinder of the new column, no, it won't be compatible with your old key, and the new key won't be compatible with your interlock computer. You'll need to either exchange the key cylinders between the columns or, failing that, just make a non-transponder copy of the key ($1.50-$3.00) that comes with the new column and attach it to the keyring where you current transponder key is. The transponder key will open the doors and trunk and the non-transponder key will turn the cylinder lock in the column. Since the interlock computer is only looking for the correct signal from the key, and that key is on the same key ring, it will start the car.

 

This problem has been identified in common with almost all Toyotas which employ so-called "split wafer" cylinders, usually in the last (innermost) positions of the cylinder, and which certainly includes Gen 1 Priuses (and possibly others) and even Prius c Ones.

A worn cylinder can be replaced, and a competent locksmith can re-key a new cylinder to match your keys (the mechanical portion, which is that which is causing the trouble).

A much simpler solution is to simply delete the "split wafers".

 

I would check the electric system first. Gen1 uses a solenoid to keep the key in unless certain conditions are met. Look at the wiring diagram and or search for similar problem before.