My car is possessed, or do u have an answer...

[Melissa]

soooooooooooooooooooo  YEAH umm I think I've mentioned my cars (2000 Dodge Stratus) key problem here on the boards, but here is the run down.  My car has abandonment issues and decided that holding onto the key in the ignition would make me spend more time with her.  *sigh*  so I took her to a mechanic, and another mechanic, and asked friends/family trying to figure out the issue.  Nobody could come up with a solution and after spending money to have a new key cylindar installed.. it was still sticking.  Of course, said mechanics said when it left the shop it was coming out with no issues.  The key would get stuck for sometimes seconds and sometimes up to 10 hours, but once it popped free it was as if nothing ever happened.     

This caused a few problems for me starting with the fact that I could never trust it to bring it to the grocery store, mall, or anywhere that I would have to leave the car for more than a few minutes.  I couldn't just leave the key in the ignition, a few times at Jewel by my hosue I did and was extremely nervous.  The second problem was that keeping the key in the ignition left the dash light on which of course drained my battery sooo short of me driving it 2-3 times a night so I could get to work the next morning or having someone jump me every morning I had no solution.   

Okay, so I finally had enough of this and went out and bought my new avenger which I do actually love.  I decided to keep my old stratus because my son just started driving and having an extra car around I thought would be helpful.  I needed to get the problem fixed, however, in the mean time my battery totally fried out.  My guess was too many jumps.  The last few times I tried to start it, the thing just clicked and wouldn't turn over.  So I left that project (the battery in this car is in the wheel well, go figure) for a nicer day.  Last night my husband calls me and starts asking me questions about said car and he decides to start the project on his own before I left work.  whoo-hooo.  He calls me back and says "ummm it started on the first try"... yeah so what is your answer.  How could a batter go from basically dead to nooooo issues.. AND it's sat for almost 2 months without being run!

[LSixer]

Is the transmission selector (i.e. stick shifter) on the floor or on the console? It doesnt sound as if it is the battery, or the ignition switch to me. There is a sensor (switch in some cars) that tells the car when the gear selector is in drive, neutral, or park. This is just a thought, as I am not an ASE certified pro. Im gonna post this on SCF this morning and see what I get.

[S POWRD]

Is the transmission selector (i.e. stick shifter) on the floor or on the console? It doesnt sound as if it is the battery, or the ignition switch to me. There is a sensor (switch in some cars) that tells the car when the gear selector is in drive, neutral, or park. This is just a thought, as I am not an ASE certified pro. Im gonna post this on SCF this morning and see what I get.

I think you're on to something there, Adam. (and I AM ase certified) 

And Melissa, as for the battery thing.... the battery could have recuperated from being drained... it could have had only one cell that was low on "juice" and the other cells slowly recharged itself. ALSO if it was warmer (not HOT) then batteries love that.

[LSixer]

The only question I have, is if it truly is the gear shifter not completely in place, would it "click" when the key was turned as in turning the car over? 

That doesnt sound 100% to me.

[Melissa]

the gear shifter is on the floor/middle (not on the steering column).  the car would go click click click when I tried to start it before.   The gear shifter was in place, I never moved it even when the key would pop out.  I was guessing that the car didn't think it was in park, hence why it wouldn't let go of the key but it's strange that it would just pop out randomly!

[LSixer]

Well any movement as in you exiting/entering the car may have jarred it enough to find its place, a small rocking of the car back and forth. The older BMWs like mine are notorious for having shifter placement issues, the automatics like mine. Juggling it a bit, very gently while playing with the key would justify that theory. Of course that theory could be way off too.

As a interim fix, you can install a battery disconnect device on the battery terminal to make sure you battery doesn drain IF the key should remain stuck in the ignition. They are cheap and can be found at any parts store. The downside is that you have to raise the hood to switch it on and off.

[Melissa]

well each time I had this issue I would try to jiggle the key (as hard as possible without breaking it) and also I would try jiggling the shifter.  I also tried restarting it, moving the car, reparking it, using my foot to push the shifter.  I tried it all.  sometimes I would just sit and wait in the car and it would pop out.  So strange.

[LSixer]

I finally got an intellectual response from a knowledgeable member. Lee (Heretic here) posted this on SCF.

Response:
tell her I will fix her dodge for the 928 (I always wanted one of those)


Anyway, the slide is hanging up in her steering column. The key lock is just a tumbler mechanism. It works a mechanical rod that operates the switch under the dash, in the bottom of the column. a good cleaning and some diastolic grease will most likely fix the problem


He may show up here later and add to it, Melissa I would try this if it came from Lee.

[Melissa]

wow thanks!  I'll let my dad know to check that out when I make my stratus/928 swap!

[S POWRD]

Well any movement as in you exiting/entering the car may have jarred it enough to find its place, a small rocking of the car back and forth. The older BMWs like mine are notorious for having shifter placement issues, the automatics like mine. Juggling it a bit, very gently while playing with the key would justify that theory. Of course that theory could be way off too.

As a interim fix, you can install a battery disconnect device on the battery terminal to make sure you battery doesn drain IF the key should remain stuck in the ignition. They are cheap and can be found at any parts store. The downside is that you have to raise the hood to switch it on and off.

The battery disconnect would also keep someone from stealing the car!

[Melissa]

ya think I'm worried about someone stealing it?  puhhhleeeze!

[S POWRD]

 

ya think I'm worried about someone stealing it?  puhhhleeeze!

This caused a few problems for me starting with the fact that I could never trust it to bring it to the grocery store, mall, or anywhere that I would have to leave the car for more than a few minutes.

 

[Melissa]

lol! I don't think someone would purposely seek it out to steal it, however, if they keys are stuck in the ignition it would probably be more tempting!

[LSixer]

Joy riders. The worst kind.

Any updates? 

[Melissa]

no updates.  I think I would be more worried about kids stealing it and getting themselves/someone else hurt more than anything.