Help! Steering wheel locked. Can't get key ton turn on ignition. - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Russell James · 07-31-2012, 07:46 PM

It's called torque lock. To avoid it, let go of the steering wheel before pulling the key out. If the wheel is cranked hard, the front wheels can move a bit after pulling the key out and this puts pressure against the column locking mechanism - jambing it up. The owners manual covers what to do. Basically pull read hard on the wheel while wiggling the key. Has nothing to do with the electric steering, it's just pressure on the lock from the turned front wheels.

G-Oil Guy · 07-31-2012, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell James

It's called torque lock. To avoid it, let go of the steering wheel before pulling the key out. If the wheel is cranked hard, the front wheels can move a bit after pulling the key out and this puts pressure against the column locking mechanism - jambing it up. The owners manual covers what to do. Basically pull read hard on the wheel while wiggling the key. Has nothing to do with the electric steering, it's just pressure on the lock from the turned front wheels.

Zee-Ell-One · 07-31-2012, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Oil Guy

Yes I know, but I had it turned as physically far as it could go before I turned off the car so the wheel wouldn't budge. I had to put everything I could into it in order to get 1/8" of rotation.

But I got her free.

Hey is the odd steering wheel angle corrected now!!!???

G-Oil Guy · 07-31-2012, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zee-Ell-One

Hey is the odd steering wheel angle corrected now!!!???

Not downplaying what Styx8 brought up, but I, for the life of me, cannot see the offset.

Maybe I'm just not that perceptive to it?

Baldwin feeder · 04-19-2013, 07:19 PM

I took delivery of my Camaro last night and had this happen twice today! Was worried since the front wheels were fairly straight.

G-Oil Guy · 04-19-2013, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldwin feeder

I took delivery of my Camaro last night and had this happen twice today! Was worried since the front wheels were fairly straight.

You can lock the wheel with the wheel straight...what I was doing is that I had it turned all the way to one side before I turned off the engine so I couldn't physically turn it any more. Now I just avoid shutting it off with the wheels turned all the way to either side.

HAMBO · 07-12-2015, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nUcLeArEnVoY

To unlock it, you actually turn it MORE towards the direction it was already turned. For example, if it's locked all the way into a right turn, force it more to the right while turning the key in the ignition. It'll unlock it.

Just a shout out saying thanks for this particular advice. Just saved me!

dtwolcot2 · 07-12-2015, 10:46 PM

Happened to me once. Never would have thought it would require that much force. Other times it only took a slight pull of the wheel. I also had someone wanting to hear the car as well.

henrtenaitn · 07-13-2015, 02:26 AM

I hope it is just a stuck wheel.

Dirtmod08 · 10-06-2018, 08:37 PM

My 2011 SS just did this, AMD I'm like WTF? I looked up this post, jiggled the steering wheel a bit, and it let go. Geesh.

VRZL113 · 10-09-2018, 11:30 AM

Had this happen in the wife's Acadia after my father in-law parked it for her... I used the remote start button to unlock the wheel.

07-12-2015, 10:46 PM	#22
dtwolcot2 Drives: 2012 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: GA Posts: 167	Happened to me once. Never would have thought it would require that much force. Other times it only took a slight pull of the wheel. I also had someone wanting to hear the car as well. __________________ 11.633 @ 118.85 Stock M6 Drag Radials

10-09-2018, 11:30 AM	#25
VRZL113 Drives: 2013 VR ZL1, M6 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: PA Posts: 335	Had this happen in the wife's Acadia after my father in-law parked it for her... I used the remote start button to unlock the wheel. __________________ #3257 \| 485whp 526wtq \| K&N 63-3079 \| Gates K080660HD (Green Belt) \| ACDelco UPF48R \| ZL1 Addons Wicker Bill \| Mild2Wild

07-31-2012, 07:46 PM	#15
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,483	It's called torque lock. To avoid it, let go of the steering wheel before pulling the key out. If the wheel is cranked hard, the front wheels can move a bit after pulling the key out and this puts pressure against the column locking mechanism - jambing it up. The owners manual covers what to do. Basically pull read hard on the wheel while wiggling the key. Has nothing to do with the electric steering, it's just pressure on the lock from the turned front wheels.

04-19-2013, 07:19 PM	#19
Baldwin feeder Drives: 1986 Chevy C-10 and 2013 BRM 1SS Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 153	I took delivery of my Camaro last night and had this happen twice today! Was worried since the front wheels were fairly straight.

07-13-2015, 02:26 AM	#23
henrtenaitn Drives: bmw Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: m3 Posts: 4	I hope it is just a stuck wheel.

10-06-2018, 08:37 PM	#24
Dirtmod08 Drives: 1979 Z28 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Illinois Posts: 22	My 2011 SS just did this, AMD I'm like WTF? I looked up this post, jiggled the steering wheel a bit, and it let go. Geesh.