In my 2002 pontiac grand am the key will go in and can be removed fromt he ignition however it will NOT turn in either direction. the steering colum is not frozen and the car will not shift out of park...what can i do? is this mechanical or electrical?

The ignition lock includes the steering wheel lock. It's possible that it just needs lubrication, or that the lock part has broken. In either case, taking the covers off the steering column sounds like your next move.

tumblers inside the colum where the key goes have been messed up may have to replace the steering colum or have it towed to a garage to see what the problem maybe

brake interlock solinoid in the steering colum is bad unhook it and you should be able to turn your key all the way back

The ignition has an interlock that will not let you turn the key all the way to OFF until the transmission is in park.
This is done via a sensor either in the transmission itself, or on the shifter.

With the car off, step on the brake and shift from Park to Reverse, then back in to Park. You should hear a faint "click" as the interlock engages. If not, then your sensor (switch) may have failed.

try woggling the steering wheel and turn the key at the same time. id it will not come out the ignition cylinder will need a replacement

Insert the key, tap on it lightly with a rubber hammer while trying to turn it. Remove the cover around the steering colume and once the key is turned to the "run" position, press the small tab on the bottom of the colume and pull the whole cylinder out.

sounds like the key is either worn down to where the ridges in the key wont push the tumblers inside the key lock cylinder into their proper place to move the cylinder into the starting position. Or your steering colum is locked and the wheel is moving freely as if it were not. So your solution would be to either have an expert look at it (estimated cost: 200$ low/400$high) or you can attempt to fix it yourself.
should you choose the "I'll fix it myself" method....try getting a new key made at a hardware store since keys wearout over time (ie:10years of turning that old key), this may solve the problem right away if the ridges are just worn on the key. Or the hard way, you need to get a phillips screwdriver and some jewelers tools and an 8mm or 10mm wrench/rachet+socket to disconnect the battery, then underneath the steering colum just under the ignition is a hole in the colum shroud/cover, from there you can disconnect the ignition key lock cylinder (the thing you put your key into). once you've removed the cylinder from the steering colum you should test your key again to see if you can turn the cylinder outside of the colum if you cannot then buy a new ignition key lock cylinder for about 15$-30$...problems solved.

remove signal light switch, you will have to drill lock pin out,because you dont have keys,caution dont destroy steering colum.

This situation is called "Torque Lock". The Solution is simply to Turn the Steering Wheel Slightly in the Opposite Direction to remove Pressure on the Steering Lock Pawl. Usually this occurs when turning off the Key while Pressure is Applied to the Steering Wheel from a slight "Roll-Back" or from the Power Steering being forced all the way to it's limit in one direction or the other. Always be sure that the Steering is allowed to relax prior to switching the Ignition Switch to the Locked Position. This is a very common problem most frequently experienced by women rather than men. Let me know if this helps!

Fastest Robe

is there a button on the botom of the stering column> sometimes you have a button you have to push to get the key to go to the lock position. you might take alook and see if theres a button there to release the lock