Pontiac Repair: grand prix wont start/ locks key in ignition, grand prix gt, leak acid

Question
I have a 99 grand prix gt and just replace the battery. However on occasions I will go to start my car and my car won't do anything not lights no radio no nothing and then when I go to take my key out it is stuck to where I can not get it out. What would cause my car to both not start and lock my key in the ignition at the same time?

Answer
Hi Jennifer:

I think you have some kind of issue with  a bad connection at the battery. If you turn the key and get nothing no lights on the dash and noting works then you have an issue where other is no battery power going in to the ckts in the car to run the lights starter motor etc... if may be a good enough connection to get the key to turn but when you try to there the car over the heavy draw on the batter y makes that bad connection open up and then you have no power flowing into the car it's self. there is a fuse that has to me powered up in order to remove  the key from the ignition. Actually it will not turn all the way back to the off position and that's why you can't remove the key. I would look really good at the connections at the battery. The side post batteries on these cars are prone to leak acid and corrode the  positive (red) battery cable. it the cable looks green,whit,yellow and has a fuzzy look like mouldy cheese you found the problem. if it's really bad then I would replace the battery cable. If it's marginal than there are all kinds of cleaners on the market to remove the corrosion from the cables try them and make sure you wear safety glasses the acid is nasty! when your done make sure the cable are good and tight on the battery. Hope that helps and good luck :)