Pontiac Repair: 1995 grand am ignition lock, gear indicator, test light

Question
I submitted a question a while back stating the fact that i can't remove the key from my ignition. i was told to check the plugs in my center console. I checked it and it was unplugged. however, after i plugged it back in there was no change in the ignition. the only thing that changed was the gear indicator light stayed on even when the car was off.

Answer
Hey Mike:

Does the key turn all the way back to the off position or does it stay in the accessory position? My guess is it will not turn all the way back to the full off and that's what the lamps are still on on the indiator. Most of the time on those older Grand am's the switch in the bottom of the shifter would go bad and not allow the solenoid in the stewering column to release the key back to the full off position. You can take the lower section of the steering column cover off and see the solenoid it's right by the key unplug that and use a 12 volt test light to see if the light lights up when the car is put back into park and trying to turn the key back and off if the light doesn't light it's either that swiatch in the shifter or a wiring issue between that solenoid and the switch. If the light lights the solenoid is bad. You can press on the end of it "the solenoid" and manually release the key. good luck :}