With your vehicle parked and the engine turned off, the steering wheel is designed to lock automatically. There are a couple of reasons why this happens. The question most car owners ask is why does my steering wheel lock when parked?
Let’s face it, when you’re driving in a parking lot, the only thing you can see is the car in front of you. The other cars are either gone or they’re parked. It seems like an impossible task to get out of your spot and steer your car around the pile of cars.
The solution for your safety and the security of your vehicle is that the steering wheel locks as soon as you release the key from the ignition. This is a built-in safety feature designed to prevent you or someone else in the situation from walking away from your car before ensuring it is in the park.
Your car’s steering wheel lock was designed to make you feel even safer when your vehicle is parked. The lock secures the steering wheel to not be turned while your car is parked. The lock is controlled by a cable that runs under the dashboard and activates the mechanism once you pull on the lever.
What is a steering wheel lock?
The Steering wheel lock is a device installed on the power steering system of the car. It has the help which people can easily park their vehicles and secure them from theft. It keeps the thief away who wants to steal our vehicle and stays safe all the time with the steering wheel locked.
A steering lock is used in the main steering mechanism. When the steering wheel is locked, you take your car out of the parking space.
How to lock your steering wheel when you’re parked.
The first step in locking your steering wheel is to ensure that the key is in the ignition. Once the car is started, move the steering wheel away from the fuel and air pedals so that the key can be inserted into the ignition. Turn on the car and press and hold down the key until it starts to turn. After a few seconds, release the key and enjoy your secure driving experience again!
Importance of steering wheel lock
A steering wheel lock is particularly important if you’re in an area with high theft rates. Having your wheels stolen may not just result in inconvenience but poses a significant safety hazard. Car thieves often use special tools to quickly and easily remove even the most secure wheel locks, so when getting one, make sure it’s one they can’t get past!
The steering wheel locks are an inconvenience to thieves because they must break the lock to steal your wheels.
It doesn’t matter if you’re parked or driving; a thief needs only seconds to cut your lock and remove your wheels. Simply installing one of these inexpensive devices, it would slow down a thief enough to think twice.
How to Keep Your Steering Wheel Locked.
One of the most important things you can do to keep your car in good condition and safe is to lock your steering wheel. This will help to prevent anyone from trying to get away with any mischief while your car is parked.
To do this, follow these steps:
1. Place the key in the ignition switch (or on a remote control if you have one).
2. Turn on the car and wait five minutes for it to start up.
3. Open the door of the car and place the wheel locked in position.
4. Close the door of the car and drive away!
How to Unlock Your Steering Wheel
If you don’t have a key or remote control, you’ll need to unlock your steering wheel by using one of these methods:
1) Push down one side of the wheel until it pops outwards; this will release the locks on both sides of the wheel (this is done using a lever).
2) Lift up one side of the wheel until it pops outwards; this will pull all four locks off of the steering column, which will then allow you to operate your steering wheel without any trouble.
If your steering wheel got locked and you want to disable it by any chance, there are many ways you can do that.
Inserting the key in the ignition
The right way you can disable the steering wheel is to use your ignition key. You should use the key to unlock the steering, and it has to be done with care. To do that, you should follow the following step:
Insert the key in the ignition center and move it in the direction you want to start the car.
Apply pressure when trying to start the car and ensure it is not too much so that you do not damage the key
Move the steering in one direction and never to and fro. Moving to and fro will make it hard for you to disable the lock.
Move the steering in one direction while you move the key just like you want to start it, and the lock will be disabled.
How does a steering wheel lock work?
A steering wheel lock is a device to prevent car theft by locking your steering wheel in place. They’re usually padlocks attached to your steering wheel with long wire-like chains to prevent the steering wheel from moving.
The lock prevents the car from being driven or stolen by an unauthorized person and can be set at varying degrees of tightness. A steering wheel lock is fitted over the original vehicle’s steering wheel and secured using a small, tamper-proof padlock like all vehicle locks, which have been in use since the 20th century.
How they work is easy and straightforward. The lock has a rod that goes through the steering wheel and locks by placing a pin between the two parts and spinning it until it forms an almost unbreakable security measure to keep thieves away. When inserted into the lock, it will automatically recede, allowing you to remove it from the steering wheel when unlocked.
How to lock the steering wheel?
You can always lock your steering wheel either intentionally or by mistake. However, there are ways you can easily lock the steering wheel.
Turn off your car, and take the keys out of the ignition.
One of the ways you can lock your steering wheel is to turn off your car. Some modern cars are wired so that once you turn off the car and remove the ignition key, the steering wheel will lock automatically and will only unlock when you start the car.
Turn the steering wheel one way or the other until you hear a click.
One of the other ways you can lock the steering wheel is by turning the steering wheel one way or the other until you hear the click. The click will tell you that the steering is locked in place. Your steering wheel will remain locked until you return and unlock it.
How to unlock the steering wheel without a key?
There are three ways you can unlock the steering wheel without a key: using another key, replacing the ignition set, and loosening sticky locks.
Using another key
One of the ways you can unlock the steering wheel without your key is by using any other key. Some people will try to use a screwdriver, and it will work, while some will use a similar key to their car key. Just try and insert the key in the ignition set, and once it enters, you can move it in the direction of starting the car.
Unlocking through replacement of the ignition set
Not everyone knows how to do this, and you should allow the expert to do it. So, if it is your only option, you should get the car to the mechanic or your locksmith to help you fix it. If you want to do the task yourself, you should follow the instructions below:
Remove the column panels
The first thing you need to do is remove the column panels in the steering wheel. You need to use your screwdriver to loosen the screws that hold the lower part of the steering wheel. You just need to press the tabs on the cover, and the lower part will come out easily. You should also remove the upper column.
Release the lock cylinder
The next thing is to release the lock ignition cylinder, and you can only do this by identifying the lock release tab. Once you locate it in the ignition lock assembly system, you need to press it and turn the key until you move the cylinder backward. It might require more than one trial to get the cylinder out freely.
Installing the new ignition lock set
Once you have removed the ignition lock feature set, you need to install the new one into it. You should insert the lock cylinder in the steering column and ensure you completely set the lock tab in the lock cylinder before you complete the task. Ensure you can turn the key open and close before setting the column back again.
Reinstall the columns
You should reinstall the columns immediately, starting with the upper part and working your way down. Make sure that all of the clips are fully engaged and securely locked. Once everything is in its position, tighten it up.
Other methods of unlocking a locked steering wheel
Spray an electrical cleaner in the keyhole
Sometimes, when the cylinder seizes, it might be a result of the dirt in the cylinder, and one way to get rid of it is through the use of some electrical cleaner. You just need to purchase one or two from Amazon or any local store and spray the keyhole.
Leave for some minutes, then insert the key and move it toward starting the car. You should get to experience the free movement of the key as the lock will be loosened.
Spray canned air into the ignition
One other way to unlock is to spray canned air into the ignition. Debris will be one of the problems. The wheel may be locked, and the sprayer will help clean out any debris inside the keyhole.
How to unlock a locked steering wheel and push to start?
To unlock the steering wheel, push to start, the following steps will need to be followed:
1: Take the key out of the ignition
2: Apply the parking brake
3: Remove the door key from your keyring (if applicable).
4: Push the brake pedal
5: Press the trip reset. You will hear a clicking noise; proceed with step 6.
6: Continue holding down that pedal and press on the left side of the steering wheel while turning the ignition on and off 5: times within 15 seconds.
7: Release all pedals and keys, counting to five after the last release before re-starts.
8: Your vehicle should start for this first time in 12 hours of malfunction mode as per the ENDEAVOR/SAAB recommended service manual bulletin
How do you prevent car theft?
Before you can understand how to prevent car theft, you need to know exactly what car theft is. Car theft occurs when someone steals your automobile from you without your consent, either with or without force. After some time, car theft became a serious concern for lawmakers in most states in the US.
There are steps you can take to deter thieves from stealing your car. There are also some common mistakes that robbery victims make that only increase their chances of becoming a victim of car theft. Protecting your garage is the first step toward preventing your car from being stolen.
Some of the best thieves in the world can make short work of any standard garage door, especially if it is manually installed. If you have a garage, take precautions to ensure potential robbers can’t easily open it.
Talk to a craftsman about obtaining a sturdy opener that is hard to manipulate or break into by force. It may cost a little extra money, but it will save you thousands down the road when you avoid having your car stolen because thieves can not access your garage.
The next thing you should do is to make use of a car alarm system that will give a loud warning sound whenever anyone tries to forcefully break into your car. Also, you can use your steering wheel lock, which will be extra work for thieves to carry your car away even if they easily break into the car.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn’t my key turning in the ignition?
The ignition lock cylinder is a common issue in many vehicles. Over the haul, the worn key (or keys) will not be removed from the cylinder, which makes it impossible to start your vehicle. The problem is easily diagnosed and inexpensively repaired for your convenience.
Can the gear lock be broken?
The gear lock will withstand most breaking efforts; however, it can be broken if enough leverage is applied. The strength of the gear lock is dependent on the size of the defective tab after removal. The stronger the locking disk is attached to a different part of the sheet metal by bending or welding, the less likely your gear lock will break.
Can you bypass the ignition switch?
Yes, bypassing an ignition switch is a simple modification to make your vehicle start without needing a key. The ignition switch was made easier to bypass with a few extra wires and some easy soldering.
Can you spray wd40 in the car ignition?
Yes, you can spray wd40 into your car’s ignition, but please make sure your engine control unit is off before doing so. Use a small straw to direct the stream of wd40 into your ignition, then quickly put it back together (use two paper towels on either side wherever two pieces come together to minimize any chance of getting wd40 on other places). Wd40 will clean and lubricate the parts of your engine if you spray it in there.
This page gives the right answers to all the questions on the steering wheel and the most important one: Why does my steering wheel lock when parked? We have given the perfect solutions on this page, and we hope you get all that you need to know from this page.
Parking can be a headache, but fortunately, there are a few easy steps to take to keep your wheel locked while you’re parked. First, make sure that you have the correct tools to lock your steering wheel (e.g., key fobs or remote locks). Second, make sure that you keep your wheel locked at all times while you’re parked – this will help protect it from being stolen or vandalized. Finally, be sure to follow these simple tips to keep your steering wheel locked and safe:
– Keep your wheel locked at all times while you’re parked.
– Use the correct tools to lock your steering wheel (key fobs or remote locks).
Conclusion
This page gives the right answers to all questions on the steering wheel and the most important one: Why does my steering wheel lock when parked? We gave the perfect answers on this page, and we hope you get all that you need to know from this page.