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monty101
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Aug 16, 2014, 12:24 PM
Post #1 of 10
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Key stuck on my blazer
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I have a 1997, 4.3 ltr blazer with 225,000 miles on it. The key sometimes does
not come out unless I remove the rubber plug on the bottom of the steering
column below the key and stick a screw driver in to depress a metal button that
is mounted below the switch.
Evidently the button is there because if your battery is dead and you have the
key in the ignition you can't remove it unless you manually push the button in. Its
a solenoid with two wires. I assume one is hot and one is a ground. When you
push in the button on the automatic shifter lever to put it in park it completes
the circuit to the solenoid and activates a magnet that sucks the button up
(which clicks) and allows you to pull the key out. Sometimes it works and sometimes
it doesn't.
Does anyone know if the wire to the shifter nob button is a ground. If it is I
intend to splice into it and ground it. that way I won't have to constantly be
using a screw driver to trip the button on the column. I asked GM about what it
would cost to fix the problem and they told me a needed a new console kit and
that would cost over $300.
I can do this myself and it won't cost me anything about 70 cents for two feet of
14 gauge wire and the time it will take to remove the two bolts that hold the lower
plastic cover on my steering column. I need the $300 to help me pay my daughter's
tuition.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 16, 2014, 2:11 PM
Post #2 of 10
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Re: Key stuck on my blazer
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We won't assist in disabling a safety feature.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 16, 2014, 2:39 PM
Post #3 of 10
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Re: Key stuck on my blazer
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You can get the park lock solenoid for around $70 at the dealer. You might have to reroute the harness because they changed the design of it.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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monty101
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Aug 16, 2014, 5:21 PM
Post #4 of 10
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Re: Key stuck on my blazer
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Oh I never thought this was a safety feature.
I know that you can't start it unless its in park even if you can get
the key out. I guess it is a safety factor though because unless you
put on the emergency bake the vehicle could roll. You are right. I had
never realized this was a safety feature. I understand now. I definitely
do not want to disable a safety feature.
I believe the movement of the shifter may have internally broke some
of the wires in the wiring harness to the shifter solenoid. I will check this
first.
If not I will test with a voltage meter the wires to the ignition solenoid actuator.
that releases the key.
If the key won't come out and they are hot when I bare one of the wires and attach my
positive probe to it and ground the other probe then I believe I can conclude that
the shifter solenoid is not completing the ground cicuit when the vehicle is in park.
At this time I have not checked if the ignition solenoid is wired up with a hot
wire that has to be grounded to activate its magnet like a relay or is grounded waiting for
positive voltage. That was why I asked you this question. At that time I intended to
just bypass the solenoid. Now I realize I need to fix the problem.
Obviously if it has no voltage and the Blazer is in park then the shifter
solenoid is not sending the needed volts. In that case I can eliminate the ignition solenoid from being '
the problem by hooking a hot wire to the solenoid. If the key is released then the shifter solenoid
is the problem.
Thanks for your help.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 16, 2014, 6:14 PM
Post #5 of 10
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Re: Key stuck on my blazer
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It prevents you from locking the steering wheel while underway.
I assume this is a column shift
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monty101
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Aug 16, 2014, 6:47 PM
Post #6 of 10
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Re: Key stuck on my blazer
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No its got a shifter in the console.
It has an automatic transmission.
I will look at the wiring diagram and see if it will
be of some help.
(This post was edited by monty101 on Aug 16, 2014, 6:48 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 16, 2014, 7:21 PM
Post #7 of 10
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Re: Key stuck on my blazer
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That diagram was for a column shift. This one is the floor shift for the shift interlock.
This may or may not be what you need.
This will probably be more helpful
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 16, 2014, 7:32 PM
Post #8 of 10
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Re: Key stuck on my blazer
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OK, I found the diagram you need
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monty101
User
Aug 16, 2014, 7:55 PM
Post #9 of 10
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Re: Key stuck on my blazer
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Thanks for the diagram.
I don't have access technical info like that
and just have to figure stuff out logically.
There appear to be a lot of stuff
that could be defective causing my problem.
It does appear that the steering column solenoid actuator is not grounded to the console
shifter. It is grounded all the time to the engine. This is very helpful.
So, that ground may be bad. The switch may be getting power but the ground
is intermittent.
It does appear the same circuit that carries 12 volts goes from the console
shifter to the steering column solenoid actuator also goes the TCC brake
and cruise control switch. I am not having any problem with them so I
doubt there is a problem with it getting juice to the steering column solenoid
actuator.
I'll bare the dark green/white wire to the steering wheel actuator. I hope it will be hot
when I touch my meter's ground to a metal ground when the Blazer is in park
and it will not be hot if it is in drive. If the steering wheel solenoid actuator is
not activated when it is park so I can remove the key then the black ground
needs to be grounded or replaced. Once grounded if the Blazer is in park the
key should come out.
If I bare the wire and its not hot and the Blazer is in park then since the power
is ok to the cruise control and brake the wires from the TCC cruise control to
switch the steering wheel solenoid must be internally broke. I suspect that
control is also located in the console and the constant movement of the shifter
has broke the wire internally.
Since the dark green/white wire does exclusively operate the steering wheel
solenoid actuator and it does originate from the console solenoid it is also
possible that solenoid is bad but still supplies the correct current to the
Lt green wire that goes to the TCC brake and cruise control. I have no idea how
often that happens. It is a lot more likely I suspect that it is a internally broken
spot in the dark green/white wire and is located somewhere close to the console
solenoid where the constant movement of the shifter has caused it to break. I
will probably start there.
Now since you have given me this wiring diagram I know by the color code
which wires are which and where the steering wheel ignition actuator is actually
grounded. I was wrong in thinking it was ground by the console shifter solenoid.
I will have to locate the console solenoid and the TCC cruise control switch so
I can check them....Thanks again.
(This post was edited by monty101 on Aug 16, 2014, 8:38 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 17, 2014, 6:00 AM
Post #10 of 10
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Re: Key stuck on my blazer
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I don't know if you are just processing all possible scenarios or making this a lot more complicated that it needs to be. Your first step should be to just determine whether it's ground or power that is missing from the solenoid when this doesn't work. Then you have only one path to follow. You could find out neither is missing and the solenoid itself is bad too.
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