LW300 Ignition and locked steering wheel help!!

[sabboo]

2001 LW300 Steering wheel is locked tight and won't move. Also Key will not turn in the ignition. I know I need to replace the cylinder but for right now I need to get it home. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Sue

[fdryer]

You must have parked and turned the wheel just right to lock it up tight that's preventing release. The steering wheel is locked tight against the lock pin and needs some muscle to force the steering wheel just a few degrees in the same direction of greatest resistance. Read the last sentence carefully; turn the steering wheel in the same direction that feels harder to turn, against the wheel trying to turn against you. Turn it a few degrees more and then turn the ignition key to release the steering wheel lock. Don't try to force the ignition key cylinder to turn before working the steering wheel into position first otherwise you'll risk breaking the lock cylinder. The key is to use force against the steering wheel to hold it in place and then two fingers to turn the ignition key.

[sabboo]

Tried all of the above. Steering wheel has very little play. Tapped the key tapped the cylinder. oiled the cylinder. Out of ideas. Would like to just hot wire the thing to get it home but I guess that can't be done. So next question can I buy an ignition assembly at a junk yard and put it in as one piece??

[fdryer]

There are two locks in the steering wheel; one is the ignition cylinder lock for the key itself and the second is the steering column lock-pin. Which lock are you having trouble with? The last post doesn't seem to describe it the same way as the first post; now it seems to be with the ignition cylinder as the main problem and the steering column lock no longer a problem..............

The ignition switch was always removable and separate from the lock cylinder so physically removing the ignition switch won't unlock the lock cylinder. Once the ignition switch is separated from the lock cylinder all that's needed to turn on the ignition switch is a screwdriver. If the lock cylinder can't be freed, the steering column will remain locked, unable to turn. The lock cylinder can be removed; turned to START and as its released a small pin is pressed on top to release the cylinder from the steering column.

[sabboo]

Key will not turn at all. The wheel moves but differently than it did before. There is very little play in the wheelMaybe an eighth of a turn. Should I call a locksmith or have it towed to a service station??

[sabboo]

Since the key will not move out of the off position Is there another way to remove the cylinder other than drilling it out?

[fdryer]

Normally a steering wheel doesn't lock unless tension was held against the wheel just before turning the ignition key to the OFF position. Releasing the wheel then lets the wheel turn a few degrees where the steering lock pin engages with a nice audible 'click'. If this occurred the usual method to unlock the steering wheel/ignition switch was as described before; forcefully rotate the wheel further, in the same direction that doesn't want to allow any more wheel turning. This will allow the ignition switch to turn more easily than if the steering wheel were left as is. A mechanical pin is locking the steering wheel but its the steering mechanical parts that are forcing the locked position, not really the lock pin itself. Turning the steering wheel in the direction that requires more effort (not less) while turning the ignition switch will allow anyone to find the sweet spot where the ignition lock cylinder is suddenly easier to turn; the steering column tension is reduced enough to where turning the lock cylinder was always - a two finger approach. The key is to turn the steering wheel that requires more muscle as the wheel fights back; just enough force to let the ignition lock cylinder turn.

If the wheel was turned fully to the right and held there then the ignition was turned OFF, releasing the wheel would result in the wheel turning left a little. If locked this way then turning the steering wheel to the right again before turning the ignition key should reduce the resistance of the lock cylinder to allow turning the ignition On. The opposite is the same.

If the wheel was turned fully to the left and held before the ignition was turned OFF, releasing the wheel would result in the wheel turning to the right a little. If the lock engaged then turning the wheel to the left again before turning the ignition key should reduce the resistance of the lock cylinder to allow turning the ignition ON.

Resorting to drilling out the lock cylinder is last as even gorillas have to over power a steering column in order to cause damage that would require drilling out lock cylinders. Ask a friend or someone, anyone that might have a clue about locked steering wheels and knows how to undo this problem. You may not have to resort to drastic measures.

[halmiles]

Originally Posted by sabboo

2001 LW300 Steering wheel is locked tight and won't move. Also Key will not turn in the ignition. I know I need to replace the cylinder but for right now I need to get it home. Any suggestions?
Thanks
Sue

I hope you have this solved by now. My wife had the same problem and couldn't get the steering wheel unlocked even with me coaching her on the cell phone. She just wasn't turning the steering wheel hard enough with one hand while turning the key with the other. Maybe someone else could give it a try for you?