# 2003 pontiac aztek key wont turn off

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-pontiac-aztek-key-wont-turn-off/33305>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** pontiac, keys, aztek, safety, ignition\
**Created:** [July 13, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-pontiac-aztek-key-wont-turn-off/33305 "2009-07-13T00:54:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dadu769](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@dadu769](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dadu769)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-pontiac-aztek-key-wont-turn-off/33305/1 "2009-07-13T00:54:51Z")

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The car turns on and off just fine, the key will not turn to the off position. I was told it was possibly the neutral safety switch. can’t afford to pay the dealer to fix it. what could it be and can I fix it myself?

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-pontiac-aztek-key-wont-turn-off/33305/2 "2009-07-13T04:01:32Z")

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The neutral safety switch prevents the starter from cranking. The ignition key has to be in P or N.  
The shift/steering inter-lock is probably preventing the key from going to OFF. A bad ignition key, or lock, could cause it, also. Look in the repair manual under “steering interlock”.