Steering Wheel Lock Not Engaging, help?

[Bruce in Philly]

2009 C2S, 50K miles.

This is an odd one as I have not found anyone who heard of this.

When I pull the key out of the ignition, the steering wheel lock does not "thunk". I can turn the wheel without lock.

This only happens intermittenly, and usually will engage if I push the key back in, and pull it right out again. I don't have to turn the key to get it to work. It does this with both keys, and I put new batteries in them just in case. Last week, the lock just would not engage even after re-starting the car, banging on the column with my fist... cursing. Then it just worked......

Some times, when it did not engage, I would hit the lock button on the key and it would drop. Othertimes, not.

My indy replaced the ignition switch but that did nothing.

Any ideas? I am worried that by not locking, it is also leaving some electrical systems turned on, otherwise I wouldn't care.... or should I?

Peace

Bruce in Philly

[Mijostyn]

Hi Bruce,

There is a solenoid that operates the lock and it is bad. It's rest position (unpowered state) is locked which it spring loaded. When the solenoid is powered it retracts and releases. I suspect the spring is bad or the mechanism has developed enough friction that the spring is not powerful enough to over come it. As long as it always releases I would not worry about it. If it fails to release you are in trouble. By the way, when you remove the key twist the wheel back and forth and see if it catches. You may have to go as far as 45 degrees.

[Ahsai]

Hi Bruce,

There is a solenoid that operates the lock and it is bad. It's rest position (unpowered state) is locked which it spring loaded. When the solenoid is powered it retracts and releases. I suspect the spring is bad or the mechanism has developed enough friction that the spring is not powerful enough to over come it. As long as it always releases I would not worry about it. If it fails to release you are in trouble. By the way, when you remove the key twist the wheel back and forth and see if it catches. You may have to go as far as 45 degrees.

Wow, that doesn't sound like a very safe design. What if power to that solenoid is cut for whatever reason (blown fuse, shorted wires, etc.) when driving?

[Mijostyn]

I think there is a safety lock out. It has to shut down in a certain sequence or it will not close. They obviously can not keep it powered, it would run the battery down. In the old days it was entirely mechanical.

Edited April 23, 2014 by Mijostyn

[Ahsai]

I think there is a safety lock out. It has to shut down in a certain sequence or it will not close. They obviously can not keep it powered, it would run the battery down. In the old days it was entirely mechanical.

I prefer the old days, tried-and-true. All these new electromechanical components and their backups seem like extra ropes to hang youself.

[Mijostyn]

They sure do. I did not get the keyless entry for the Turbo. I gotta shove a key in on the left and turn it to make things feel right.