Two nights ago, i tried to shut the car off, but the ignition lock would not let me. I could turn the key to the START position (thank goodness that we finally have figured out a way to keep the starter from engaging when the engine is running!) but i couldn't budge it in the opposite direction. Thankfully, the local dealer was still open and i could drop it off that night (had a little chuckle with the SA when he instinctively asked for the key ). They had it fixed under warranty the next AM; the cylinder "went bad" and had to be replaced. Anyone else had a similar experience?

Thanks Jim Ellis Chevy in Chamblee, GA for quick and professional service!

 

I haven't, but there's been several guys that have had the same problem....... You're not alone! Glad you got it sorted out.

 

Yes, mine did that. I drove straight to the dealer and they had it fixed in an hour. This is a common problem. There are numerous threads about it.

 

The temporary answer is in the owners manual..

Good to know for just such an occasion..

 

How can the owners manual help when the ignition tumbler has failed? I was told there is no way to override this without going to the dealer.

 

Sleeper is correct that there are instructions for key removal in the manual by using the trap door under the column. But when it's the ignition lock cylinder, which is common on 08 -10 HHRs, this will not work. The trap door method works when it's a bad shifter (06-07) or dead battery (all years).

 

this happened yesterday to my 2010 HHR. I took out the fuel pump fuse and disconnected the negative terminal, and in the morning took it to the dealership.

One thing that helped greatly was calling the Chevy 800 number. they were terrific help.

I didn't pay anything for them to put in a new lock cyclinder. Overall, I'm amazed at how much of a problem this is...but GM was pretty okay about fixing it.

 

Correct, I tried this, but it would not budge (being an old hardware tech and someone not afraid to get their hands dirty, I did RTFM and found this, to no avail.)

 

Thanks ChevyMgr- I did not know that.. I do now tho..

 

Yes, that happenned to my 09 with 18,000 miles on it about a month ago. I pulled up to my daughter's house and I could not get the key out or turn off the engine, the key was stuck in the on position, of course it was on a Sunday so I cound'nt go to the dealer til the next morning. After returning home all I needed was to kill the engine and why I thought disconnecting the battery would do it, but it didn't work. Next I thought theres got to be a fuse somewhere that will shut down everything. There must be a reason for that big red 50 amp fuse next to the battery, so I pulled it and the engine finally shut off.
The next morning I plugged the fuse back in, started the engine and drove to my local dealer, Graff Chevolet in Grand Prairie, TX where they replaced the key cylinder and keys under warranty. While I was there I had a list of other problems that needed fixed. They replaced both keyfobs, a couple of doorlock accuaters, and replaced the radio all under warranty at no cost.