does anyone know what would cause a key to not release from ignition unless battery is disconnected

 

is the car a manual or an automatic? If it is an auto make sure that the lever is fully clicked in park and if it's a manual some Mazda's only let the key leqve the ignition if the clutch is is and the car is in first or reverse.

 

The key interlock solenoid is not beng de-energized by the CPU. Most probably because it is not getting a 'shifter in park' signal from the shfit lock actuator. Pulling the 15 Amp 'ROOM' fuse in the underdash fuse box will allow you to go ahead and remove key without opening the hood.

 

thanks you have been one of the few who makes sence on the site

 

You are welcome. There are some checks that you could perform to accurately determine cause of problem if you are into fixing and have a volt meter.

 

I had a friend with a problem you had, on the millenia you have a little cap that covers a hole to were you can stick something like a skinny phillips screw driver in the hole and it will release that cylinder that releases the car from park into gear, does it go into park or out of park fine when you push on the brakes? thought i might just throw this in here if you havent fixed the problem yet, any help would work right? Let me know if you fixed the problem.

 

the shifter is fine t-bird it is the key that is the problem