has anyone done this? my nephews pontiac grand am has a siezed ignition cylinder and he cant turn it. Most recommend replacing it, but he is in high school and cant afford a 200$ cylinder and a new re-cut dealer key.

I have read that it can be taken out but the airbags will blow. is this true?

any help is appreciated

 

they usually have a clip or snap ring or something holding it in place. i dont know how the pontiac isexactly, but i dont think you'll have to unplug the airbag. Tell him to take off the hundred keys he has in his keychain. That is usually the problem. Ask him to lift up when he turns the key, and if it works, he has too much weight on the ignition switch.

 

thanks for the info. ill call him now.

 

Ok, so I had a Cobalt rental one time, and the damn ignition cylinder locked up and wouldn't turn. Called AAA and they came out, tapped the key in with a rubber mallet and wa-la, it turned and the car started. Might be worth giving it a shot since it's a GM and might be the same issue as the Cobalts have. Apparently that was the offical fix for it since it's a very common problem with Cobalts.

 

call up a locksmith and see if they can take it out and refurbish the lock.