You can take the plastic covers off the steering column and try to spray light solvent into the steering lock area beneath the steering column to clean and lubricate the lock.
If that fails, if you have a dremel tool and some abrasive disks, and a Torx screwdriver that fits the screws behind the steering wheel, and a deep socket that fits the bolt that holds on the steering wheel, you can take the whole thing apart.
Disconnect the battery, wait a few minutes, then remove the Torx screws that hold the air bag to the steering wheel. The wire is a bit difficult to unplug from the air bag but it pulls out. Remove the bolt and mark the steering wheel so it goes back on the same tooth it came off of. As you pull it apart, take note of the location and orientation of the two spacer rings so they go back the way they belong. Snap ring pliers are handy for removing the snap ring, but any sharp tool will work.
With the dremel tool, cut straight slots in the the two security bolts in the top of the lock housing. Then use a short straight blade screwdriver bit to unscrew the bolts. The electrical part of the ignition is held on with a set screw that you have to loosen.
Once you get the lock housing apart, you can see what the problem is with the steering lock, or you can just pull out the lock bar and toss it and put the whole thing back together. Your steering wheel won't lock any more. but it will work.
Grease the upper steering column bearing in the lock housing while you have it apart. The best way to put that snap ring back on the steering column is to cut a short piece of 3/4" PVC pipe and use the steering wheel bolt and the PVC pipe to press the snap ring down the shaft until it snaps into its groove.
Eventually, your key and your lock cylinder will fail. Old lock cylinders almost never come out with a stiff wire the way they are designed to, so you have to replace the whole housing along with the lock cylinder. After you do this job, you will know exactly how to take care of that problem.
240 views
Usually answered in minutes!
×