Expert: Sean Halliday - 10/31/2006

Question
Thanks a lot for the reply. Now can you give me a rough estimate as to how much this might cost? Do give you a better idea of the problem.. when the key does get stuck I'll put the car on on and change the gears a few times and it will come out once in a while like that or just press the button to change the gears. Sometimes it isn't that easy, though.
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Here is the problem; I have a 2000 Eclipse GT Automatic, and I'll start the car and go wherever I need to go, put the car in park and the key will not come out, it gets stuck on ACC.
I was wondering what the problem is? And what I can do to fix it? Now, it doesn't do it every single time, but it does do it once in a while.
-----Answer-----
You probably need a new mechanism.It can be bought at the dealer without much trouble to fit.The other problem which might cause it,is the combination pedal and switch which is the one where you have to step on the brake to engage gear.Either way its a job for a shop.

Answer
It does sound like the pedal/switch has a problem.The 3 are all connected as its a safety thing.You cant shift unless you tread on the brake and the key wont come out unless its in park.There is a cable hooked up to the shifter but how much it costs to fix is a guess.A good shop would charge maybe,250$,plus whatever parts you need as its a 2 hr job approxamately.I would get it looked at as it may be a bigger problem eventually.