Topic: no keys: steering column lock
What is the Lemons preferred method of dealing with a locked steering column with no key? FWIW, it's a column mounted ignition switch circa late 60s, early 70s.
The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Lemons Tech → no keys: steering column lock
What is the Lemons preferred method of dealing with a locked steering column with no key? FWIW, it's a column mounted ignition switch circa late 60s, early 70s.
A tool of a pikey (a big hammer)
Usually you can find where to drill to be able to pop the tumbler out and then you can get the column unlocked. If you know what its from i might be able to find it in alldata.
What is the Lemons preferred method of dealing with a locked steering column with no key?
Leave it parked on the street overnight in the right, er, wrong part of town. One of the town's fine young men will pop the lock for you at no charge.
On a Honda you can drill out a small plug int he column, which lets a spring and the locking pin fall right out. I did this to our car when we eliminated the key switch.
I would think most of those locking mechanisms work in a similar manner.
I've used a dent puller on my Mopars several times. Makes quick work of it on cars with aluminum columns. YMMV.
If you pull the steering column cover off you will see two screws on the ignition/steering column lock assemble. But they won't have any drive interface (meaning there will be no Phillips or Allen or hex, or slots for your screwdriver, wrench). Punch the heads and drill the heads off then the lock assembly will fall off. Then you have a choice; gut the steering locking pin out of it and re-install as an ignition switch in the normal location, or bolt the switch housing some place else out of the way.
The mechanism on the Mercedes was damn near impossible as it enjoyed some "anti-theft" thinking so if you pulled the actual lock mechanism out without reading the manual, like I did, a piece a aluminum inside dropped and it would not turn again. Holy over engineering germans!
2 hrs with the sawzall and its all better though.
I still cant figure out for the life of me why they had fuel lines running through the windshield washer fluid reservoir either, yet another fun surprise during tear down!
The mechanism on the Mercedes was damn near impossible as it enjoyed some "anti-theft" thinking so if you pulled the actual lock mechanism out without reading the manual, like I did, a piece a aluminum inside dropped and it would not turn again. Holy over engineering germans! ......
I had an E36 BMW which had something similar, to guard against brute force (screwdriver) attacks at the lock. it was basically a mechanical fuse that would drop into a "lockout" mode, forcing a near full diaasesbly of the steering column to fix it. Unfortunately, it decided to break on it's own one day after 185K miles, and stranded me. Damn Germans!
Are we required to disable steering column locks now?
KT
jaguar was a total pita fo had 2 alarms like someone would really steal a 86 jag and if they did all you had to do was check in with the local towing companies and sooner or later it would turn up
What type of column are you talking about? I have a nephew that lives in "the hood" who'd be happy to share his street knowledge with you via me.
all the cars you've had, and this is the first one with a working column lock?
Are we required to disable steering column locks now?
KT
"Required" isn't the correct word, since it's not in the rules. "Should" is probably the right word. IMHO, keyed ign locks are more trouble than they're worth in Lemons. Who would steal these things anyway?
all the cars you've had, and this is the first one with a working column lock?
The sChitroen actually had a working column lock. Was locked 20+ years. When I cut it out and the steering column could finally move, it started shooting high pressure hydraulique fluid everywhere out of the rack seals.
I just didn't want to f-up too muich when there may have been a simpler option.
And I appreciate the advice. I finally took the advice of my cutoff wheel that was begging for some action and cut the steel collar that held the lock barrel to the outer steering column and the lock came right out. There was NO WAY i was going to be able to break the locking bars-- the column would've snapped first.
Looks like there are 2 anti-theft wires in there that plug in to the switch and probably make a circuit when a key is properly used. I'll have to trace those and see what they may have tripped, not that there's been a functioning battery in the car since 1987 or anything.
Was there anyplace that you could cut the sChitroen that did not immediately result in the hemmoraging of fluide hydraulique?
I don't remove the key.
I just want to keep passing tech...
KT
Was there anyplace that you could cut the sChitroen that did not immediately result in the hemmoraging of fluide hydraulique?
Actually... YES!
This is my good buddy Aldin drilling le trous a gran vitesse in la capot du sChitroen.
No fluide was observed spewing out of the sheet metal.
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