What to Do When the Key Cannot Be Removed from the Buick Regal in P Gear?
3 Answers
If the key cannot be removed from the Buick Regal in P gear, you may need to restart the car and repeatedly push and pull the gear lever to remove it. Taking the Buick Regal 2020 552T Elite as an example: its length, width, and height are 4904mm, 1863mm, and 1461mm respectively, with a wheelbase of 2829mm. It is equipped with a 9-speed automatic manual transmission and has a top speed of 205 kilometers per hour. The Buick Regal 2020 552T Elite is a 4-door, 5-seater sedan. The engine has a maximum torque of 250 Nm and a maximum power of 124 kW. The front suspension uses a MacPherson independent suspension, and the rear suspension uses a multi-link independent suspension.
My Regal also had the issue of the key getting stuck in the P position before, which almost made me call for a tow truck. Later, I found out that most of these problems are minor issues with the shift mechanism. You can try gently turning the steering wheel left and right while turning the key, which can release the steering wheel lock. If that doesn't work, check if the brake pedal is fully depressed—electronic shift vehicles require a brake signal to allow key removal. Once at the dealership, I saw a technician handling a similar fault and found that the microswitch in the shift mechanism was oxidized; a spray of electronic cleaner fixed it. If you're handy, you can remove the center console panel yourself and manually reset the limit pin under the shift lever. Of course, the safest option is to visit a professional repair shop. A Buick-specific diagnostic tool can read the fault codes to determine whether it's a gear position sensor or a body control module issue.
When I ran the repair shop, I often encountered Buick models where the key couldn't be removed from P position. The first thing to check should be the brake light switch - if it fails to conduct electricity when stepping on the brake pedal, the ECU won't allow key removal. You can make a preliminary diagnosis by checking if brake lights illuminate. Second, inspect the ignition lock assembly - the silver cylinder's internal tumblers may jam after prolonged use. Third, improperly adjusted shift cable might prevent P position contact sensing. Here's a quick fix: turn off engine, shift to N, engage parking brake, turn key to ACC (don't remove), then step on brake and shift to P again for key removal. Last time servicing an old Regal, I discovered aftermarket thick floor mats were blocking full brake pedal depression - removing them solved the issue.
