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

G-Oil Guy · 07-31-2012, 04:11 PM

Guys,

I turned the car on so I could replace the fog and DRL bulbs. I finished an encore I button everything up I wanted to make sure the lights are working. I get back in the car and put the key in the ignition. The key won't turn. And the steering wheel has no "wiggle" to it

Sven59 · 07-31-2012, 04:21 PM

You must be jinxed Buddy, keep your car clear of mine (if I ever get it) Lol.

I hope it is just a stuck wheel.

Good Luck!!!!!

C5RocksC5 · 07-31-2012, 04:25 PM

turn the key while you wiggle the steering back and forth.

Sven59 · 07-31-2012, 04:27 PM

Seriously, my steering wheel has done that before on a different car and I physically turned the tires and it freed it.

jeffny09 · 07-31-2012, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdari

turn the key while you wiggle the steering back and forth.

this

Synerbee · 07-31-2012, 04:29 PM

use a lot of force turning the wheel happened to me before.

G-Oil Guy · 07-31-2012, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synerbee

use a lot of force turning the wheel happened to me before.

ding ding ding. We have a winner. I had to put some serious torque on it with both arms then use my knee and my good arm (broke my elbow when I was a kid, the arm its on is significantly weaker) to hold it while I used my other arm to turn the key.

Lesson learned: Do NOT turn the wheel all the way to one side. Find the "full turned" point then give a quarter turn back to the opposite direction.

cosmoZL1 · 07-31-2012, 05:42 PM

Depending where the steering lock sits on the pin, it can seriously hamper turning the key. First thing that happens? PANIC!!!! LOL Has happened to me as well although not this car. I really didn't think it possible due to the electric steering box. Now I know..

G-Oil Guy · 07-31-2012, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmoZL1

Depending where the steering lock sits on the pin, it can seriously hamper turning the key. First thing that happens? PANIC!!!! LOL Has happened to me as well although not this car. I really didn't think it possible due to the electric steering box. Now I know..

I had it happen all of the time in my old maxima but it was never the sheer opposing force that this Camaro laid on me.

I feel so embarrassed

...but at least I can laugh at myself..

nUcLeArEnVoY · 07-31-2012, 05:58 PM

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.

cosmoZL1 · 07-31-2012, 06:01 PM

I may be laughing but believe me, I HAVE DONE SOME PRETTY EMBARRASSING THINGS IN MY LIFE!!! Uh, er.. I won't be covering them here.

Glad it wasn't stuck permantly. It's electric so I have zero experience with them except changing out the motor on my parents Malibu. That was a simple plug and play.. Who knew..

G-Oil Guy · 07-31-2012, 06:06 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.

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.

Revo1 · 07-31-2012, 06:08 PM

Apply force...

N/M, seems you got it

KKreme15 · 07-31-2012, 06:28 PM

This happened once. It was very embrarassing. I was in a parking lot eating subway and someone wanted to hear the beast. I went to start it up, but nothing

07-31-2012, 04:11 PM	#1
G-Oil Guy Where am I? Drives: Zoe the ZL1, 2012 Frontier Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mars, PA Posts: 6,071	Help! Steering wheel locked. Can't get key ton turn on ignition. Guys, I turned the car on so I could replace the fog and DRL bulbs. I finished an encore I button everything up I wanted to make sure the lights are working. I get back in the car and put the key in the ignition. The key won't turn. And the steering wheel has no "wiggle" to it __________________ FOR SALE: 2013 ZL1 Message me if interested

07-31-2012, 05:42 PM	#8
cosmoZL1 Drives: 2017 ZL1 "Scarlett", 6 spd. Coupe Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: TEXAS!! Posts: 423	Depending where the steering lock sits on the pin, it can seriously hamper turning the key. First thing that happens? PANIC!!!! LOL Has happened to me as well although not this car. I really didn't think it possible due to the electric steering box. Now I know.. __________________ All my life I've been an Adrenalin Junkie.To some thats a bad thing.But? My bucket list is very short, very short indeed

07-31-2012, 06:01 PM	#11
cosmoZL1 Drives: 2017 ZL1 "Scarlett", 6 spd. Coupe Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: TEXAS!! Posts: 423	I may be laughing but believe me, I HAVE DONE SOME PRETTY EMBARRASSING THINGS IN MY LIFE!!! Uh, er.. I won't be covering them here. Glad it wasn't stuck permantly. It's electric so I have zero experience with them except changing out the motor on my parents Malibu. That was a simple plug and play.. Who knew.. __________________ All my life I've been an Adrenalin Junkie.To some thats a bad thing.But? My bucket list is very short, very short indeed

07-31-2012, 06:08 PM	#13
Revo1 Don't Like it? Suggit. Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 14,832 View My Garage	Apply force... N/M, seems you got it __________________ "Tops off, tach up baby- loud and proud!" A Camaro lover from day one- 1996 3.8 V6 Camaro, to 1996 5.7 LT1 Camaro Z28, to the sold 2002 5.7 LS1 Camaro SS, and NOW, a [I]6.2 L99 VR 2SS/RS: XS Power stainless full exhaust, Airaid CAI, BMR drop springs and sways, custom tune by Cal Speed- 411rwhp Last edited by Revo1; 07-31-2012 at 06:10 PM. Reason: Read up ONE post...

07-31-2012, 04:21 PM	#2
Sven59 HAMMER PILOT Drives: 13 ZL1#182, 85 CJ7, 16 Silverado Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 4,386	You must be jinxed Buddy, keep your car clear of mine (if I ever get it) Lol. I hope it is just a stuck wheel. Good Luck!!!!!

07-31-2012, 04:25 PM	#3
C5RocksC5 Banned Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sin City Posts: 697	turn the key while you wiggle the steering back and forth.

07-31-2012, 04:27 PM	#4
Sven59 HAMMER PILOT Drives: 13 ZL1#182, 85 CJ7, 16 Silverado Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 4,386	Seriously, my steering wheel has done that before on a different car and I physically turned the tires and it freed it.

07-31-2012, 04:29 PM	#6
Synerbee SoCal Headturners Drives: 2010 SGM Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Anaheim Hills, California Posts: 5,788	use a lot of force turning the wheel happened to me before.

07-31-2012, 05:58 PM	#10
nUcLeArEnVoY Oldbie that nobody knows Drives: 2011 1SS/RS M6 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Homestead, FL Posts: 3,459 View My Garage	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.

07-31-2012, 06:28 PM	#14
KKreme15 Drives: C6 Z06 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Dayton, MD Posts: 1,645	This happened once. It was very embrarassing. I was in a parking lot eating subway and someone wanted to hear the beast. I went to start it up, but nothing