IGNITION KEY BINDS, DRAGS, OR REMAINS STUCK IN IGNITION. Cadillac Catera 1997

SUBJECT: IGNITION KEY BINDS, DRAGS OR REMAINS STUCK IN IGNITION (SERVICE PROCEDURE)

MODELS: 1997 CADILLAC CATERA

CONDITION:

SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS WITH THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND KEY.

* UPON ATTEMPTING TO START CAR, OCCASIONALLY THE IGNITION CYLINDER BINDS AND CANNOT BE ROTATED TO THE "START" POSITION. SLIGHT ROTATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING THE KEY ELIMINATES THE BIND CONDITION AND ALLOWS MOVEMENT OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER.

* UPON SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, THE KEY REQUIRES A SLIGHTLY HIGHER EFFORT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER COMPARED TO OTHER MODEL CARS THE OWNER MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH.

* UPON SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, THE KEY CANNOT BE ROTATED TO THE "LOCK" POSITION AND THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION (IE. KEY REMAINS STUCK IN IGNITION).

CAUSE:

THE FIRST TWO CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CATERA'S IGNITION CYLINDER MECHANISM. THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE PRESENT ON ALL CATERA'S AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED PROBLEMS TO BE WORKED ON BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE THIRD CONDITION, KEY STUCK IN IGNITION, INDICATES A MALFUNCTION IN THE CATERA'S UNIQUE PARK/LOCK SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED PER THE PROCEDURES IN THIS BULLETIN.

CORRECTION:

THE CATERA IS EQUIPPED WITH A UNIQUE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO LOCK THE STEERING COLUMN AND PREVENT STEERING WHEEL ROTATION TO INHIBIT VEHICLE THEFT. THE CATERA IS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A UNIQUE PARK/LOCK SYSTEM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY IF THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THESE TWO SYSTEMS, STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND PARK/LOCK, HAVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES AND OPERATE INDEPENDENT OF ONE ANOTHER. BOTH THE NORMAL AND ABNORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE DETAILED BELOW.

NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS:

AS INDICATED PREVIOUSLY, THE CATERA HAS TWO NORMAL IGNITION CYLINDER CHARACTERISTICS WHICH SOME CUSTOMERS MAY CONSIDER A CONCERN OR ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT. THESE NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE NOT A VEHICLE PROBLEM AND DEALERS SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT ANY REPAIR WORK. THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE:

* UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, OCCASIONALLY THE IGNITION CYLINDER WILL BIND AND CANNOT BE ROTATED TO THE"START" POSITION. SLIGHTLY ROTATING THE STEERING WHEEL TO REMOVE THE LOAD ON THE INTERNAL LOCKING LEVER WILL ELIMINATE THE BINDING CONDITION AND ALLOW ROTATION OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND VEHICLE START.

* UPON SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, THE KEY REQUIRES A SLIGHTLY HIGHER EFFORT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION COMPARED TO OTHER MODEL CARS THE OWNER MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH. THIS HIGHER EFFORT COMES FROM THE FORCE EXERTED ON THE KEY BY THE KEY RECOGNITION SWITCH CONTACTS INTERNAL TO THE IGNITION SWITCH.

ABNORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS:

THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOM OF ABNORMAL OPERATION IS THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION (IE. KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION). THIS INDICATES A MALFUNCTION OF THE PARK/LOCK SYSTEM. THE PARK/ LOCK SYSTEM FEATURES A LIFTING MAGNET (SOLENOID) ATTACHED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH PREVENTS REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY IF THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THE LIFTING MAGNET IS CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH, THE "UNLOCK SWITCH", LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY UNDER THE CONSOLE. THIS SWITCH IS OPERATED BY A METAL "FOOT" ON THE END OF THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE ROD (REFER TO FIGURE 1). THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF THE KEY BEING STUCK IN THE IGNITION ARE LISTED BELOW:

SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT CONTACT UNLOCK SWITCH

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER RELEASE ROD MAY NOT BE DROPPING DOWN FAR ENOUGH TO CONTACT AND CLOSE THE UNLOCK SWITCH. THIS LEAVES THE LIFTING MAGNET (SOLENOID) ON THE IGNITION SWITCH ENERGIZED AT ALL TIMES AND PREVENTS THE KEY FROM BEING REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE THE MOST COMMON REASONS FOR THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE ROD NOT TO PROPERLY CONTACT THE UNLOCK SWITCH:

* A BLACK TIE STRAP MAY BE FASTENED AROUND THE SHIFT LEVER JUST ABOVE THE LEATHER BOOT. THIS TIE STRAP IS PART OF THE SHIPPING PROTECTION AND IF NOT REMOVED CAN SLIP UNDER THE SHIFT HANDLE RELEASE LEVER AND PREVENT THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE ROD FROM DROPPING DOWN FAR ENOUGH FOR THE "FOOT" TO CONTACT THE UNLOCK SWITCH. REMOVE THIS TIE STRAP IF PRESENT AND CHECK THE PARK/LOCK SYSTEM OPERATION. IF THE KEY IS STILL STUCK IN THE IGNITION, PROCEED TO THE NEXT ITEM.

* THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE MAY BE SLIGHTLY MISADJUSTED CAUSING THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE ROD "FOOT" TO BIND OR HANG ON EITHER THE FRONT OR REAR EDGE OF THE "PARK" POSITION SLOT. TYPICALLY IF MISADJUSTMENT IS THE PROBLEM, THE SHIFT LINKAGE IS ADJUSTED TOO SHORT AND IS PULLING THE RELEASE ROD "FOOT" HARD AGAINST FRONT EDGE OF THE "PARK" SLOT. THE SPRING IN THE SHIFT LEVER HANDLE CANNOT OVERCOME THE EXCESSIVE FRICTION AND "FOOT" HANGS UP AND DOES NOT DROP DOWN TO DEPRESS THE UNLOCK SWITCH. TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, RAISE THE LEATHER BOOT AROUND THE SHIFT LEVER AND OBSERVE WHETHER OR NOT THE "FOOT" CONSISTENTLY CONTACTS THE UNLOCK SWITCH. IF THE SHIFT LINKAGE APPEARS MISADJUSTED, ADJUST IT USING THE ADJUSTMENT BOLT UNDER THE CAR NEAR WHERE THE LINKAGE CONNECTS TO THE TRANSMISSION. TYPICALLY, LOOSENING THE ADJUSTMENT BOLT TO RELIEVE THE TENSION IN THE SHIFT LINKAGE IS ALL THAT IS NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE MISADJUSTMENT RELATED PROBLEMS. PROCEED TO THE NEXT ITEM IF ADJUSTMENT DOES NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. * THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE ROD "FOOT" COULD ALSO BIND OR HANG ON THE EDGES OF THE "PARK" SLOT IF THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE ROD IS BENT OR DAMAGED. IF BENT SEVERELY ENOUGH, THE RELEASE ROD CAN BIND AT TIMES INSIDE THE SHIFT LEVER AND STAY STUCK IN THE RAISED (RELEASED) POSITION. IF THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE ROD IS BENT OR DAMAGED, REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WITH P/N 90437437. IF THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE ROD IS PROPERLY CONTACTING THE UNLOCK SWITCH BUT THE KEY IS STILL STUCK IN THE IGNITION, CHECK THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND LIFTING MAGNET PER THE NEXT SECTION.

IMPORTANT: ON VIN'S PRIOR TO SEQUENCE NUMBER VR070031, THE "FOOT" ON THE END OF THE SHIFT LEVER RELEASE ROD IS COATED IN WHITE PLASTIC. IF THE PLASTIC COATING BECOMES FRAYED OR TORN, IT MAY PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE UNLOCK SWITCH. IN THESE CASES, REPLACE THE ENTIRE SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY WITH P/N 90437437.

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

SHORT TO GROUND IN CIRCUIT U900

WHEN THE LIFTING MAGNET ATTACHED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ENERGIZED, IT WILL PREVENT THE IGNITION CYLINDER FROM ROTATING TO THE "LOCK" POSITION AND THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED. THE LIFTING MAGNET IS ENERGIZED WHEN THE UNLOCK SWITCH CLOSES AND PROVIDES A PATH TO GROUND. IF THE UNLOCK SWITCH CONTACTS ARE STUCK CLOSED (SHORTED) OR THERE IS A SHORT TO GROUND IN CIRCUIT U900 ANYWHERE BETWEEN THE UNLOCK SWITCH AND THE LIFTING MAGNET, THE LIFTING MAGNET WILL STAY ENERGIZED AND PREVENT KEY REMOVAL. CHECK FOR SHORTED UNLOCK SWITCH AND THEN CHECK CIRCUIT U900 FOR A SHORT TO GROUND. REFER TO SERVICE MANUAL ELECTRICAL SECTION FOR A CIRCUIT DIAGRAM. IF THE SWITCH AND CIRCUIT CHECK OKAY, THEN THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE MECHANICAL PORTION OF THE LIFTING MAGNET.

FIGURES: 1 ATTACHMENTS: 0

FIGURE 1 - SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY - HANDLE - RELEASE LEVER - TIE STRAP (REMOVE) - LEATHER BOOT - SHIFT LEVER - RELEASE ROD + "FOOT" - UNLOCK SWITCH

Object Number: 169770 Size: LF

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.