Steering lock won't unlock.

wazza

Sister has a 02 plate vauxhall astra. She can't unlock the steering lock. She tried both keys and also moving the steering wheel. No luck.

I think the barrel must be damaged. Can someone confirm this?

Are they easy to replace? I can imagine there will be a bolt or two which may be difficult to remove as a security measure.

Is vauxhall dealership the sole supplier?

Will new keys be involved and if the answer is yes then any reprogramming required?

Thanks

Rolandtheroadie

Just keep at it. Happened to me a couple of weeks ago.

Tried again and again, hit it with a hammer, poked about inside it with a thin screwdriver, hit it some more, tried the key again and eventually it turned. Never done it since but I'm careful the steering is never locked now.

Strider590

This usually happens when there's tension on the wheels, ie parked against a kerb......
Or if there's something jammed inside the barrel.... Does the car ever play host to children?

If it's genuinely broken, then as long as you can get the key to position 1, there's a way of removing the barrel completely for replacement (you'll need to look this up).

wazza

Strider590 wrote: »

This usually happens when there's tension on the wheels, ie parked against a kerb......
Or if there's something jammed inside the barrel.... Does the car ever play host to children?

If it's genuinely broken, then as long as you can get the key to position 1, there's a way of removing the barrel completely for replacement (you'll need to look this up).

No kids involved. She has parked it against the kerb.

zzzLazyDaisy

Probably a really stupid suggestion - but would it be possible to get someone to jack the car up so the wheel is free of the kerb and then give the steering wheel another jiggle?

forgotmyname

probably just need to turn it harder into the kerb to release the lock.

I was going to ask if the wheel was locked over fairly hard.

Since most cars have started to come with power steering, Motorists have become wimps.

Put some effort into it. Obviously not enough to actually rip it out of the car
but some muscle will be required.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Try removing the key and giving the inside of the lock a couple of squirts of graphite powder - don't use oil - (obtainable at most good hardware shops). This acts as a lubricant and could well free up the lock.

wazza

Thanks for the replies. Brother had a go and no luck.

Tried alsorts with no success.

Looks like a trip to the dealers.

colino

I would really persevere with this, even jacking up the kerbed wheel will help. You have to wiggle it with enough force (without breaking the key!) to get the gunged up barrel moving, while rocking the wheel from side to side. Remember, whether it is you or the dealer, you will have to knock out the shear bolts to get the old one off (when you fit the steering lock, the bolt heads shear off leaving nothing to put a tool on), but that also needs the barrel to be in position I. If you (or the dealer) can't get the key to position I, you will also be faced with chiselling the steering lock housing off and replacing the whole lot.

OddballJamie

wazza wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Brother had a go and no luck.

Tried alsorts with no success.

Looks like a trip to the dealers.

That's gonna be expensive with a tow truck involved.

Do you have any breakdown cover? They may be able to sort it for you.

OddballJamie

Random one, but have you checked the front springs?
I had one snap on a parked KA and the coil went over the cup onto the tyre and stopped the wheel from turning.
On an 11 year old car it's a possibility.