How to unlock the steering wheel

Ever turned your steering wheel without the engine running, only to have it seize up? This is your steering wheel lock activating.

Steering locks are built into most modern cars to act as a theft deterrent. It helps to know how they work, how to unlock them in your car, and what to do if something goes wrong. Let’s take a look.

What is the steering lock?

The steering lock is a mechanism underneath the steering column that locks the steering wheel into place when the engine is turned off. It prevents it from turning, and requires the key in the ignition to unlock it. So even if someone manages to hotwire your car, they won’t be able to drive it anywhere but the direction the steering wheel is facing.

Steering lock stuck? Why this happens

Even though it’s a deliberate feature, there are instances where the lock can stick unintentionally. Let’s look at a couple of possible issues:

1. Lock bar defect. This can be a manufacturing fault or the result of sharp turns that may have damaged the steering lock, causing it to get stuck.

2. Steering wheel knocked. If you happen to knock or turn the steering wheel when the key is out of the ignition, say by holding onto it for stability as you exit the car, it means that turning the key alone won’t disengage it, and you’ll need to use the method below to release it.

How does steering wheel lock work?

The steering lock acts like a deadbolt on a door, providing a physical barrier that stops the wheel turning. It sits behind the ignition cylinder, and is held on by security screws so it can’t be easily unbolted.

Using a simple spring-loaded mechanism, the tab pops out into the steering column when the key is removed, and won’t pull back until you’ve reinserted and turned the key in the ignition.

Reasons you may have a locked steering wheel

The lock isn’t the only reason your steering wheel could fail to turn. So if you’ve tried to turn your key and found your steering wheel locked up, it could also be for the following reasons:

How to unlock the steering wheel

Unlocking the steering wheel when you have the car key is pretty straightforward, as it only involves a few simple steps.

First, put the key in the ignition, and pull down the steering wheel to the left or right, depending on which way the steering wheel is facing. While holding the steering wheel down, turn the key and the wheel will be released. If this doesn’t work, you can try moving the wheel gently from side-to-side, but the idea is that you want pressure on the wheel while you’re turning the key.

If you have a keyless push button system, it’s a similar fix. Make sure your foot is on the brake, move the steering wheel from side-to-side, and press the engine start button.

How to unlock a steering wheel without a key

If your steering wheel is locked and you don’t have the key, you’ll need to get your car towed or have a mechanic come to you. Unfortunately, losing the key means replacing the ignition lock cylinder and getting a new key made.

Now that you know a bit more about unlocking your steering wheel you can recognise when it’s working as intended, and when it’s likely to be because of a bigger problem. And if you can’t unlock it, or your steering has seized up, give us a call and one of our trusted mechanics at mycar can diagnose and fix the problem so you can get back out on the road.