HELP! Steering Column Locked
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Westfield, Indiana
HELP! Steering Column Locked
Started truck and turned the wheel far to the right and shut the truck off to get better access to the grease zerks. Now the entire column, ignition is locked up tight. I can't turn the key, remove it, anything? Thoughts? I'm stuck
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,388
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From: Greensboro, NC
It sounds like the wheel lock is engaged. Sometimes it will free up if you can gently rock the steering wheel back and forth while jiggling the key. Be careful you don't get too rough with the key as they can bend or worse break off in the cylinder. If that doesn't work you may need to take the cover off the steering column and release the parking lock manually. It's possible the lock cylinder has shifted enough to not release the lock. This video may help:
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Westfield, Indiana
Ok thanks, I know how to get to my lock cylinder, I changed the tube in the column a while back. I did get the key out, but man was hoping there was an easy fuse yank fix or something. So if it comes to that, is my goal here to open it up and push that button and just pull the ignition switch out?
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Westfield, Indiana
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,737
Likes: 21
From: Westfield, Indiana
Ok thanks, I know how to get to my lock cylinder, I changed the tube in the column a while back. I did get the key out, but man was hoping there was an easy fuse yank fix or something. So if it comes to that, is my goal here to open it up and push that button and just pull the ignition switch out?
You can scratch that question, remember now that you can only pull the ignition switch with the key in the "on" position and well I can't turn the key. But I'm going to take the cover off and see if there is anything I can do.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Westfield, Indiana
Ok got it unlocked thanks to Stewart who offered up some additional message advice, even though I couldn't turn it by hand any further right he assured me I needed to get it further. Tried the neighbor but he wasn't home, so got out a ratchet strap and cranked it down until it turned about 1/2 inch and pop the key turned, all good.
THANKS STEWART
THANKS STEWART
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Westfield, Indiana
Moral of the story....
Don't shut your truck off with the wheels at close to full lock.....
Or you will be on here searching for "steering column locked".....
Good news is you will find lots of help....
Don't shut your truck off with the wheels at close to full lock.....
Or you will be on here searching for "steering column locked".....
Good news is you will find lots of help....
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Westfield, Indiana
I have to admit used to laugh at the "force it further" man approaches I get on here all the time, but I cannot argue that it usually works. Once I find a way to apply brutal "man force" to something it usually start cooperating!
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Stewart
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Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Ouray, CO
This isn't such a rare problem either. 
My trick, ensure you let go of the steering wheel BEFORE you turn the truck off. This reduces the chances of the wheel putting excess force on the 'pin' and keeping the key from turning when you try to start
It's similar to parking on a steep hill and NOT using the parking brake properly. When you return you can't get the shift lever out of park, because the park 'pin' in the auto trans is holding the truck from rolling down the hill and there's a lot of force on that pin.. In this case "too much man power" is expensive.
My trick, ensure you let go of the steering wheel BEFORE you turn the truck off. This reduces the chances of the wheel putting excess force on the 'pin' and keeping the key from turning when you try to start
It's similar to parking on a steep hill and NOT using the parking brake properly. When you return you can't get the shift lever out of park, because the park 'pin' in the auto trans is holding the truck from rolling down the hill and there's a lot of force on that pin.. In this case "too much man power" is expensive.