The ignition key on some 2005-09 General Motors cars and light trucks may be difficult to remove and/or bind in the lock cylinder when trying to start the vehicle.
The car maker attributes the issue to a poorly designed cylinder. Installing an improved lock cylinder, part No. 20869121, will eliminate further trouble.
Full installation and coding instructions are provided with the new part.
Vehicles that are susceptible to the condition and can benefit from the new lock cylinder design are 2005-09 Chevy Cobalts; 2006-09 Pontiac Solstice sports cars; 2006-10 Chevy HHRs; and 2007-09 Chevy Equinox SUVs and Pontiac G5 coupes.
"Factory Fixes" is written by Jim DePalma, a 30-year veteran of the auto repair business who has served stints as a service manager, parts manager and ASE-certified technician. His column provides vehicle manufacturers' authentic factory technical service bulletins (TSBs) that have been condensed for easier reading. Mr. DePalma advises that techs always check with a dealer or repair information system for the latest revisions before starting to work on a vehicle. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].