One evening, several months ago, I jumped in this car, stuck the key in as
usual (the ignition lock is on the dash), but it would not turn. After
uttering a couple of expletives, and wiggling the key around a bit, it
worked. I assumed that was my fault ... probably in a hurry and hadn't
pushed the key all the way in.

The other morning it happened again. This time the expletives and wiggling
didn't work, so we walked the mile and a half back home to get the spare
key, thinking that might help. It didn't. Then, as I was disgustedly and
recklessly moving to withdraw the key, after pulling it slightly back from
full in while still imposing a little clockwise pressure, it turned. I was
able to start the car, and drove right over to the Pontiac dealer. The
service manager fiddled with it, but since he couldn't force a failure, He
advised that they could change the ignition lock cylinder, but that would
only be a guess, and one that would cost me about $200 for labor plus $120
for the new part. He didn't advise doing that, saying that he though one of
the tumblers in the lock might have just been stuck (it was cold that
morning ... only about 17 deg F).

As a maintenance man myself, I know from experience that problems never fix
themselves, so although the ignition lock has been working just fine since
this episode, I expect it'll happen again. It has also been my experience
that failures in a particular system usually develop a history, and a
skilled maintenance man will recognize the problem as "typical", and will
know what the successful fix is, based upon past experience. He evidently
wasn't that experienced, however. This car also has the "ticking emergency
flasher" problem that, according to my Internet research, is always caused
by fouled contacts on the multifunction (directional signals,
headlamp/marker lamps mode) switch. He was pretty sure (incorrectly) that
could be fixed by replacing my "shorted emergency flasher", and had never
heard about the grease problem with the multifunction switch. (There's an
article at
"http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliability.aspx?year=2004&make=Pontiac&
model=Grand%20Am&trimid=-1" which seems to suggest that the "key won't
turn" problem is typical with 2004 Grand Ams.)

Questions: Do you have any related experience to share? Any fix other than
changing the ignition lock cylinder? Can my regular mechanic do it for less
money, or does the dealer have to do it because of the anti-theft thing in
the key? Your comments will be appreciated.

-=jv=-

"Geoff Welsh" <geoffdubya (AT) some (DOT) rr.com> wrote

This happened on my 96 G Am(column mount) while still in warranty. Was real
PIA anyway. Dealer towed car. From length of time they had car(2 days) and
couple of shavings left in carpet assume they had to drill the cylinder out.
IOW, fix is a lot easier while key still works. If you elect not to get it
fixed make sure you have paperwork showing the defect existed while it was
under warranty.
This experience was the impetus for me to get a cell phone.

"Healthy Pleasures" <Exceptional_Guest (AT) webtv (DOT) net> wrote

problem once before but played around with it and as you say turning the
wheels was mentioned in owners manual. Don't remember what actually happened
to cause it to release. The second time it happened neither I or the
mechanic the dealer sent out could get it to release.

The service manager didn't act like it was an uncommon situation. No
problems in the ~8years since. Murphy's law says if it can go wrong it will,
at the worst possible time. If I'd taken another 10 minutes to figure out it
was a real problem I'd have had a several mile walk into town. Yeah, I need
the exercise but................................