Stuck ignition key

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11-27-2019, 11:39 PM

esfop319

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Join Date: Nov 2019

Location: New York City

Posts: 28

Stuck ignition key

Here is one that I've been scratching my head at...... I put the key in the ignition of my 2007 H3...Turned the key and started it. I realized that I had forgotten something in the house and turned the H3 off, but it wouldn't turn all the way to the off position. I restarted to H3 and turned it off again, but I still wasn't to turn it to the off position. After the third time of starting it and shutting it was I able to turn it all the way off and pull the key out. Hasn't happened since. Was it just a fluke or is it something more? Thanks in advance.

11-28-2019, 02:47 PM

hummerz

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Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: C-Town

Posts: 7,941

Post, a pic of your battery, and battery resting voltage.

12-01-2019, 05:55 PM

WR3NCHE4D

Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2015

Posts: 219

There is a solenoid attached to the key tumbler. It's designed so that you don't remove the key with the transmission in gear and will release when in park. I removed my solenoid because I'm the sole driver of the vehicle. No sticky key. I also checked that my vehicle was going into park with an expensive scan tool.

12-02-2019, 02:12 PM

Doc Olds

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Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: Boat Town USA MI

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Why are you yelling with all that BOLD print font? Why?

Left it in gear/partially in gear didn't ya?

12-02-2019, 05:52 PM

650Hawk

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Join Date: Jun 2015

Location: SoCal

Posts: 714

Could also have been a slightly low battery. That will "lock" the key in the ignition. Might have had just enough juice to start, and after the third time, just enough additional surface charge from the alternator to remove the key?

12-02-2019, 06:17 PM

hummerz

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Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: C-Town

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 650Hawk

You got it! I'm disappointed that Doc didn't mention "crappy battery terminals".

12-03-2019, 08:00 AM

TAINTER

Senior Member

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: SE Michigan

Posts: 5,930

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc olds

i have posted that the first mod to do to every h3 & h3t is to replace the crappy azzed pos oem battery terminals with a quality aftermarket set, like stingers or your favorite brand...... Probably near 100 times. If you google "h3 hummer battery terminals" one of the first images to come up is my truck battery with stingers installed. I was not kidding. Every one of them will fail. Only a matter of time.

Always do the easy stuff first, before you waste time to chase down electrical gremlins. It may not turn out to be your problem, but it is a necessary mod none the less.