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Key release when parking

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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Colonialgirl
Posts: 45
Joined: 21 November 2009
Year and Model: S-70, 1998
Location: Tampa, FL

Key release when parking

Post by Colonialgirl »

Okay,
I know I saw something on this topic a while back, but I can't find it.
Here's what happened:

I pulled into my car port, put my '98 S-70 in PARK, turned the engine OFF and then tried to remove the key from the ignition.
I couldn't get it out; I turn it back on and again put the shift in park and still no release. I worked with it a couple of minutes BEFORE I finally got the key out of the ignition. I will mention that the whole time the ding ding of the key in ignition warning was chiming.
Is this a problem with the shift mechanism or is it with the ignition switch; Will spraying lubricant into the push button the shift lever help. I hope that fixing it wont involve crawling under the car, I'm a 70 year old lady and getting too old for those games, although I use to do that stuff.
Thanks in advance for the help and any links.
Pamela

IVIUSTANG
Posts: 562
Joined: 14 February 2009
Year and Model: 2006 XC70
Location: Saskatchewan. Canada
Been thanked: 4 times

Post by IVIUSTANG »

This used to happen to me, in my case it was the button you push on the shifter didn't fully depress when I moved the shifter into park; a common malady to this car. After the car is in park make sure the button pops all the way out, you may need to play with it a bit. I hope this is also correct in your case!

- Jesse
1998 S70 T5 SE 290,000 KM sideswiped total loss(Sweet ride!)
2007 S60 2.5T loaded 63,000 KM SOLD!
2006 XC70 350,000 KM, 2" BadSwede lift kit, steel skidplate, Hilton Stage 1 tune, big burly tires :D
2008 S80 V8 245,000 KM SOLD!
2015 V60 T5 Premier+ 98,000KM

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BEJinFbk
Posts: 4067
Joined: 5 January 2008
Year and Model: '98 V70 R
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Has thanked: 93 times
Been thanked: 146 times

Post by BEJinFbk »

The little button on the shifter console, upper right, is probably stuck.
It's a magnet for spilled soda and such. Often, a passenger will push
it just for fun and it'll stick just enough to lock your key in the ignition.
Shiftlock Override.jpg
Shiftlock Override.jpg (42.38 KiB) Viewed 1389 times
Give it a little spritz of WD-40 or something similar and work the button.

If that doesn't do it, the button in the shift knob can cause similar problems.

If BOTH of those things seem OK, then it's probably time to adjust the cable
that runs from the shifter console up to the steering column. Fun, Fun, Fun...

Best of Luck!
'98 V70 R - Well Equipped for Life Up North... ;)

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