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Can you take your keys out of your car w/out it in park?.....
- Thread starter emandbri
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Synchro246
New member
I can turn the car off when it's not in park, but I'm unsure if I can take the keys out. I've never tried.
ETA it's a 2003 sedona
ETA it's a 2003 sedona
Last edited:
skiersnowboarder3
Senior Community Member
I'm not sure about my current car. I know my '94 escort could be in drive and still turn off. I found that out the hard way one time when I couldn't get the engine started. I almost had it towed! Finally someone came and noticed that the engine was not in park. Voila! Problem fixed.
Patriot201
Car-Seat.org Ambassador
I cannot turn the car off or take the keys out if the car is not in park. My car is a 2006 Honda Civic.
BudgieStew
New member
We have a 07 Freestar and I cannot take my keys out unless it is in park.
We also cannot open our sliding doors unless it is in park.
I know for this van that if the sliding door are not closed properly like ice is in the way or I did not close the front doors hard enough I can drive like that but the computer tells me that a door is not properly closed and beeps like crazy.
We had a 04 Freestar and we were able to drive it with both side doors and the back hatch open. I do not know if this applies to our 07 though.
We also cannot open our sliding doors unless it is in park.
I know for this van that if the sliding door are not closed properly like ice is in the way or I did not close the front doors hard enough I can drive like that but the computer tells me that a door is not properly closed and beeps like crazy.
We had a 04 Freestar and we were able to drive it with both side doors and the back hatch open. I do not know if this applies to our 07 though.
I don't think I've had a car that ever allowed me to take the key out when it wasn't in park since my first car, a 1981 Ford Escort, or maybe even one of my parent's older cars. It has been a long time since we had anything that allowed it. I also cannot open the power sliding door in our '05 Sienna unless it's in park. That's pretty much by design in the Sienna to keep passengers from entering or exiting while the van is potentially moving.
*Spoiledinmyhouseofblue*
New member
I have a 2007 Kia sedona base model and I cannot take the keys out if it is not in park
3acorns4Christy
New member
I have a 2000 Chevy Malibu, I can take out the keys while not in park. It is freaky. I cannot turn it off without it being in park, nor turn it on. And mine is an automatic, but the park gear little light thing (you know what I'm talking about) is a little tiny bit off of where the click part is actually, so it will sometimes look like it is in park, but it isn't because it hasn't clicked. The first several times I didn't know that and I freaked out because I couldn't turn on my car at all and I swore it was in park.
barnmama25
New member
i think i can take my keys out without it in park, because I had it in neutral once when I got in, or maybe i put it in neutral after the car was off??? hmmmm now i cant remember.
I had some friends growing up that were able to take their keys out of their cars' while the car was on and running, like driving down the road. I flipped out when i saw that!
I had some friends growing up that were able to take their keys out of their cars' while the car was on and running, like driving down the road. I flipped out when i saw that!
christineka
New member
1997 ford aerostar. I can turn off the van when not in park, but the keys cannot be removed.
beeman
Active member
If the shifting mechanism is working properly, you should not be able to take your keys out without your vehicle in park (however you can turn off your vehicle), you should not be able to shift out of park without the keys, and you should only be able to start it in park or neutral.
Melizerd
New member
I can but it's because it was recalled and we never took it in. I have a 98.
You can take it out of park with the keys not in the ignition too. You can't start the car if it's not in park though. We won't have the car beyond the spring so I don't worry about it but if I had older kids I would.
You can take it out of park with the keys not in the ignition too. You can't start the car if it's not in park though. We won't have the car beyond the spring so I don't worry about it but if I had older kids I would.
UlrikeDG
Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus
My first car was an '89 Camry, and the key was stripped. It still worked, but I could easily pull it out of the ignition, even when the car was running. When Hubby and I were still dating, I once freaked him out by taking the key out of the ignition and handing it to him while we were driving on the interstate. 
southpawboston
New member
My first car was an '89 Camry, and the key was stripped. It still worked, but I could easily pull it out of the ignition, even when the car was running. When Hubby and I were still dating, I once freaked him out by taking the key out of the ignition and handing it to him while we were driving on the interstate.
our old willy's jeep did that. in fact, you could turn the ignition tumbler with a screwdriver
. no matter, it lived on a farm and no one ever tried to steal it. they wouldn't even know how to steal it, as it had no brakes and couldn't go over 35 mph in top gear. i used a special trick to get around the farm with no brakes 
safeinthecar
Moderator - CPS Technician
our old willy's jeep did that. in fact, you could turn the ignition tumbler with a screwdriver
When I first got the Suburban you could start it just by turning the ignition. No key needed at all.
I was driving my ex-FIL's Toranado to work one day and the key cylinder broke so that I couldn't turn the car OFF. Imagine my boss's confusion when I walked into the building to tell him I was going to be late for my shift because I was having car problems, and asked if there was a tool box handy. BTW, you'll look like an idiot in front of your boss when you disconnect the battery to turn off a running car, and it keeps running because (duh) the alternator is still connected.
My MIL had the key cylinder in her old Chevy do the same thing in June and was stuck with a running car until the tow service came to get it off.
beeman
Active member
The only time my old ford truck has let me down was when I couldn't turn it off. I couldn't even stall it after I disconnected the battery
. The fun of disconnecting the coil .
Kat_Momof3
New member
no, I can't take the keys out or turn it off, but you can unlock the doors and open them, even the sliding doors.
Now, our old buick, when it got old, the key had this weird little piece in the middle... before it broke and the key had to be replaced, it got to where you could take the key out with it in park, but with the car running.
Now, our old buick, when it got old, the key had this weird little piece in the middle... before it broke and the key had to be replaced, it got to where you could take the key out with it in park, but with the car running.
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