i was leaving my job today and my key wouldnt budge! i put it in all the way but it didnt budge. wasnt sure wat happend so i called my father, the mechanic. He told me to turn the wheel to the left and try, then right. didnt work, then i did a quick left and right, THEN turned the key and voila! car started! was scary tho....cuz i jsut got it and was afraid somethign was wrong, damn steering wheel locks....

 

If you turn the steering wheel after you have removed the key, it will click into a locked position, at which point you can't just re-insert the key and turn it. You have to turn the wheel slightly and hold it out of position while you turn the key. I do this every day when I use the club, and it's second nature now. I've never had a car with this feature before, though.

 

I've encountered this before, even back on my old 1981 Chevy Camaro, the locking mechanism that is put into place when the key is in the off position just has too much pressure for you to casually move, and by adjusting the steering wheel, you loosen that pressure.

 

Every BMW does this as well.

 

I know if you turn the wheel as you park, remove the key, release the wheel, it will lock up and you have to push it back to get the key to turn. I bought a Volvo S80 T6 the first year they came out and knowing this can happen in all (at least most vehicles) I had parked in my driveway and when it locked up I fought it and could not get the key to turn. The driver of the flatbed towtruck they sent out said it was just locked up and he fought it a while. Ended up having to drag it onto the tow truck locked up (I sprayed water from the garden hose behind the tires as he pulled it up to reduce the traction) and they took it to the dealer for one of the many times and had to send across the pond for all new keys and locks.

Earl

 

>>Every BMW does this as well.

My 97 Civic and 03 CRV have this locking mechanism as well.

 

every car i've ever driven or owned has had this.

 

'98 Honda CR-V did it also.