I can't get my key out of the ignition. It won't turn all the way back. Anyone know what is wrong and how to fix it?

Simple fix, this happens to mine fairly regularly.

The cable linkage between the gear selector and the key switch hasn't seated properly. Push the gear selector further forward into the Park position (I know it is already in park) or give it a good quick slap forward. It should then release the key.

This doesn't help. I've removed the center console and the only way to free the key it is to manually push the ignition interlock cable back. It feels a bit stiff or possibly as though there is a spring broken but I've not figured out how this mechanism is working yet. The cable seems fine and not binding and I've tried readjusting it but this makes no difference.

Wow, that sounds like a monumental PITA. I'm sorry I don't have anything else to offer since it hasn't progressed on mine past the "it didn't seat, tap the selector" stage yet.

The only thing I could suggest, is focus on the steering column and under / behind the keyswitch. Thats where the other end of that linkage is, and there is a possibility that it was mounted into plastic or something that has degraded from use. Hopefully you can just unhook the cable and rig it to always be unlatched on the selector, so YOU get to decided when the car is parked and the key comes out... Not some cable.

I will say that this system is fairly fragile. It was the only thing that kept a 96 Grand Cherokee from being stolen a couple years ago. Theives broke the cylinder in the door, tore apart the column... I am SURE they had the engine running, but couldn't unlock the selector b/c they had trashed the column-end of the cable linkage. They even tore apart the center column (looked like with a chainsaw almost) but still... The Jeep was sitting in the space. Someone else's car got taken that night I guess.

Thank goodness the cable can be detached at the shifter end to completely disable this interlock. But the brake interlock is also not working though the solenoid is good. I still think there may be a spring issue or maybe just a mix of binding in the different linkages. As far as I can tell the whole mechanism is a finely tuned balancing act between a pair of springs in the shifting lever, the solenoid spring, and the spring at the lock end of the interlock mechanism. Any binding or slight wear and it fails. Unfortunately this whole design has failure built in as a feature

Now I have the shifter removed and in front of me but I've just had a brain fart and can't remember how it is supposed to work Can someone confirm?

Is the only time you need to press the lock button on the shifter knob when you shift from park to reverse?

What is confusing me is that there are detents in the mechanism to potentially allow the lock button to be required when shifting from:

P->R
R->P
N->R
D->2
2->1

I only recall pressing it when shifting out of park but how these detents are used completely changes the dynamics of what may be wrong.

Your graphic has them in the right order based on my knowledge of how the safety catches work. You can shift from drive to neutral without the button, but you need the button to go to 2nd or Rev.

I just tested this for you during my drive this afternoon... you've got them labeled correctly.

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2006 Jeep Liberty CRD, Limited
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225/75R16 Hankook Dynapros

i disconnected the cable for the same reason and love it, can shift by bumping the sifter instead of pushing the button in every time.


just be careful not to start it in drive.