We picked up 14" of fresh snow so I figured it'd be a good day to skip school and go ski.

I went out to my truck and it would not start. Not the usual way though- the key will not turn inside the ignition. I get the door buzzer, but it wont move. I did the steering-column thing and turned it hard both ways while trying to start it. Didnt work. Sprayed some PB blaster in the ignition (probably not too smart) and still no dice. There is zero rotational movement.

It is 16 degrees here. No colder than it has been all month. I cant imagine it froze.


I NEED to go ski. HELP!

 

It has to be the steering lock. Do you have any play in turning the steering wheel at all?

Mine has done this before. If the wheel is tuned without the key in it will lock tight and not let the key or steering wheel turn. I guess you could try jacking up the front end and see if that releases the tension on the steering column.

Good luck. Enjoy the snow.

 

If you have a spare key, you could try that, but it does sound like the steering wheel lock is stuck.

 

steering wheel lock AND THIS IS FOR EVERYONE TO READ!!!
PB BLASTER IS NOT A LUBRICANT ITS A PENETRATING OIL NEVER SPRAY IT IN BEARINGS YOU WILL HAVE TO REPACK!@!!!!!

 

If you have "zero rotational movement", you may have frozen steering linkage. Get some isopropyl alcohol and pout it on the iced steering linkage.

 

Try some graphite lube, if not, go grind a new key....maybe you can still get in a half-day.

 

I can look at it for ya if u want bud.
I am down the road I live in South Burlington.

 

I may end up calling you if I cant get it. I appreciate the offer.



Originally the steering was not locked. The key would not even turn to aux mode. So while turning the wheel back and forth I tried to turn the key but no dice and eventually I turned it too far and it locked. Now its really locked up and there isn't any more movement out of the key than there was when the steering was free.

I did catch a ride to the MT. and just got back btw.


Is there any way to unlock the steering? Would jacking it up even do anything??

Its not the key, I tried both.

 

im going to throw on my boots and go mess with it as soon as im done with my beer and chicken soup but in the mean time heres what im thinking:

if the lock is stuck jacking or deicing would not help right? wouldn't that be something inside the column preventing the steering wheel from turning and subsequently not letting the key turn? i'm not a master technician but thats how it seams like it should work to me.

 

How cold is it? Maybe some moisture got in there and froze. They lock de-icer.

 

I'd recommend you edit out your number now that he has it.

 

Ive never had my steering wheel and/or ign lock up before, i did have my door locks freeze up all the time, i just used some oil everynow and then to help.

Best of luck, it sucks when you wanna go somewhere but you cant.

 

You might try jacking the front wheels off the ground.

 

Well hope it un thawed for ya. I just got back myself I've been shoveling my step fathers driveway and back patios for the last 2 hours.

 

I guess I misunderstood. I thought your no rotation remark meant the steering wheel wouldn't rotate at all. Guess you mean the key. Should be able to get it to turn by feathering/jogging the steering wheel -- rotating it quickly but not brutally between the limits imposed by the steering wheel lock. If you can't get the wheel to rotate, then I think Dale (Mr. Goat) has the idea -- lift up the front wheels to reduce preload imposed on the system by the wheels.

 

If unloading the wheels doesn't help, maybe their is some moisture in the lock assembly and it's froze so pull an extension cord and hair drier outside and ...

 

maybe its a hint you need to stay in school and ski when you finish school and get a job. PB blaster is a lube, WD -40 isn't a penetrating oil or a lube.

 

lol...

WD-40 is so named because it's a Water Displacement, 40'th formula.
the lube effect is a side effect.

 

you are the only other person besides me that knows that little fact of what WD stand for..lol works good for displacing water in connectors and distributors and removing stickers , but that is about it.

 

put a space heater in the cab and let it run for a few hours.