Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

KEYS STUCK in ignition

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-28-2010 | 09:12 PM
  #1  
93XJRTSmith's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Princeton, N.J. / Kings Point N.Y.
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Jasper 4.0L
Default KEYS STUCK in ignition

Hey yall,

I havent been around a lot or driving my jeep for that matter i am away at a Military academy parents called and said they got the keys stuck in the ignition. My dad said he tried changing what gear the jeep was in and rotated/tilted the wheel and they still will not turn back far enough to be removed.

If anyone has had this problem or could give me some new ideas to fix this i would greatly appriciate it.

Thanks,

Ryan S

PS: If there is any kind of list for maitnance that i should do for the jeep while its sitting that will keep her strong for when i come back, id love to hear what yall would do in this situation. Thaks Guys i really do appriciate it!!
Old 11-28-2010 | 09:21 PM
  #2  
HighRoller's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 510
Likes: 3
From: Chadbourn, NC
Year: 88, 89, 93 & 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Not recommending you do this, but I had the same thing happen to me last year on my '93. It occurred at work and kinda had me in a jam. I finally forced it back using a pair of pliers and it popped lose and has worked fine ever since....Go figure?
Old 11-28-2010 | 09:22 PM
  #3  
odgreen's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,581
Likes: 8
From: some small town oregon
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

mine does the same thing... i have to turn the key to the on pos. and slam it up into park. after i do that the keys come right out
Old 11-28-2010 | 09:23 PM
  #4  
XxXJ99xX's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 4
From: WNY
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 High Output
Default

If its a standard push the button behinde the ignition on the collum. If its an auto wiggle it up and down, had this happen to a shop car and it took about 3 minutes of constant wiggiling and it eventually came out.
Old 11-28-2010 | 09:46 PM
  #5  
93XJRTSmith's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Princeton, N.J. / Kings Point N.Y.
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Jasper 4.0L
Default

Ok so i called my dad he tried this and no success yet. But he said when he turns the jeep on and tries to shift into reverse or drive when u click the button on the shifter it shuts the jeep off and sometime the key gets stuck forward. Thanks gunna keep trying. o BTW it auto
Old 11-28-2010 | 09:54 PM
  #6  
odgreen's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15,581
Likes: 8
From: some small town oregon
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

woah never seen one do that before... did he run over anything ans screw the linkage up?
Old 11-28-2010 | 10:04 PM
  #7  
thesundancekid's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: straight 6
Default

on the top of the column internal of course there is a rod that is attached to the key cylinder and the other end of the rod gose into the ignition switched which is bolted to the top side of the column with 2 10mm nuts loosen them a little and the key cylinder will be able to go back alot further and you will then be able to get the key out if this is the case you should try adjusting the ignition switch if its not in the right position it will either not let you take the key out or it will not let you get to the start position if still not able to adjust it or its not going all the way back and forth then it might need to be replaced last time i checked they were about $12 at autozone


Last edited by thesundancekid; 11-28-2010 at 10:07 PM.
Old 11-28-2010 | 11:47 PM
  #8  
quadsworth18's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Kelseyville,CA
Year: 1983 yota
Model: Cherokee
Engine: SBC 350
Default

mine does this to this day i replace the cylinder and found that you stick it in park and tun the key back to where it gets stuck and push on the shifter no force on the keys and it will click keys will turn back and come out
Old 11-29-2010 | 12:50 AM
  #9  
TheQ's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Kyle, TX
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

I had that happen to me a few months back...but it was stuck in the on position and my jeep was running!!! So I finally killed it and it ended up being the ignition cylinder coil thing. The one that comes with a new ignition key. Less than 20 bucks at the zone.
Old 11-29-2010 | 01:36 AM
  #10  
CheapCherokee's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 1
From: La Habra, CA
Year: 1988
Engine: 4.0 RENIX
Default

Originally Posted by odgreen89on35s
mine does the same thing... i have to turn the key to the on pos. and slam it up into park. after i do that the keys come right out
X2 thats what i have to do every time to get my keys out! just push park again after its in park and you hear a click (at least i do) and then it'll give me my keys. if i dont do the click the keys will be stuck.
Old 11-29-2010 | 07:15 AM
  #11  
Jamie57's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 11
From: London Ontario Canada
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

I've got the exact opposite problem.
Mine won't turn the ignition.
Put key in and try to start and no movement.
I'll try pushing the shifter next time.
Anyone else having this, been able to fix it?
Old 11-29-2010 | 07:31 AM
  #12  
caged's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,874
Likes: 98
From: Northern Ontario, Canada
Year: 1990, 1999, 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

sundance kid is correct, you can just remove the black plastic gauge bezel cover to access the top of the steering column.
there is a small cast block about 1/2 an inch square where the rod attaches to. you can just stick your finger on the back side of it and pull it towards you and then you can turn the ignition to get the key out.
i have to do it whenever i drive my xj, which isn't very often, so i haven't worried about it.

that will atleast get the keys out for now. then you can fix it when you get home.
The following users liked this post:
asyankeesfan (05-14-2023)
Old 11-29-2010 | 08:43 AM
  #13  
CAEMI's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 889
Likes: 2
From: Detroit, MI
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by thesundancekid
on the top of the column internal of course there is a rod that is attached to the key cylinder and the other end of the rod gose into the ignition switched which is bolted to the top side of the column with 2 10mm nuts loosen them a little and the key cylinder will be able to go back alot further and you will then be able to get the key out if this is the case you should try adjusting the ignition switch if its not in the right position it will either not let you take the key out or it will not let you get to the start position if still not able to adjust it or its not going all the way back and forth then it might need to be replaced last time i checked they were about $12 at autozone

THIS was a lot of work (the post, I mean) and the poster deserves some kudos. I'm bookmarking it for when my keys jam up.
Old 12-03-2010 | 12:16 AM
  #14  
thesundancekid's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: straight 6
Default

haha i get bored and i work at autozone spend alot of time explaining how things work to people
Old 08-10-2015 | 01:05 AM
  #15  
ets63's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
Default

Mine did this for the first time today when i went to shut it off it would not go all the back and the would not comw out. When i finally got it out about an hour later i went to start it and the ignition switch was locked up. Finally got it started about an hour later.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:37 AM.