No Steering Wheel Lock???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 245
Likes: 132
From: Port Coquitlam BC
No Steering Wheel Lock???
Bought a new 2023 HTC a couple months ago, and because of the weather here - straight from the dealership to the garage at home.
Since then, it has not been driven at all, and I have done a bunch of cosmetic changes, and today swapped out the brake pads, to Powerstop units
While doing the brakes, i noticed that the syeering wheel was not locked.
After dropping it back onto the wheels, the steering wheel still moved freely. Moved the car back and forth out of the garage and back in, shut it down, got out and locked the car, but the wheel still moved freely.
Do these cars not lock the steering wheel when shut off? I thought it was a federally mandated anti- theft measure. What am I missing here, or doing wrong?
Thanks in advance!
Rob
Since then, it has not been driven at all, and I have done a bunch of cosmetic changes, and today swapped out the brake pads, to Powerstop units
While doing the brakes, i noticed that the syeering wheel was not locked.
After dropping it back onto the wheels, the steering wheel still moved freely. Moved the car back and forth out of the garage and back in, shut it down, got out and locked the car, but the wheel still moved freely.
Do these cars not lock the steering wheel when shut off? I thought it was a federally mandated anti- theft measure. What am I missing here, or doing wrong?
Thanks in advance!
Rob
Pro
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 741
Likes: 47
From: Indianapolis IN
Wow, I haven't thought about steering column locks in my Corvettes for a number of years.
I think that my 2002 was the last of my Corvettes to have it.
I believe that after the rather troublesome "Steering Column Lock" issues with the C5, GM decided to eliminate the steering column locks.
I think some 2005 Corvettes - those with manual trannies - may have had a steering column lock. My 2008 automatic car did not.
My 2016 didn't have it, nor does my 2023.
Bill B.
I think that my 2002 was the last of my Corvettes to have it.
I believe that after the rather troublesome "Steering Column Lock" issues with the C5, GM decided to eliminate the steering column locks.
I think some 2005 Corvettes - those with manual trannies - may have had a steering column lock. My 2008 automatic car did not.
My 2016 didn't have it, nor does my 2023.
Bill B.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 245
Likes: 132
From: Port Coquitlam BC
Wow, I haven't thought about steering column locks in my Corvettes for a number of years.
I think that my 2002 was the last of my Corvettes to have it.
I believe that after the rather troublesome "Steering Column Lock" issues with the C5, GM decided to eliminate the steering column locks.
I think some 2005 Corvettes - those with manual trannies - may have had a steering column lock. My 2008 automatic car did not.
My 2016 didn't have it, nor does my 2023.
Bill B.
I think that my 2002 was the last of my Corvettes to have it.
I believe that after the rather troublesome "Steering Column Lock" issues with the C5, GM decided to eliminate the steering column locks.
I think some 2005 Corvettes - those with manual trannies - may have had a steering column lock. My 2008 automatic car did not.
My 2016 didn't have it, nor does my 2023.
Bill B.
I do remember our 1998 roadster had the dreaded column lock issue about 1 week after we bought it(used). Bought the kit online with relay to defeat it.
Checked our 2020 Explorer, and 2020 CT5, and neither steering wheel lock either. My 2020 ZL1 is on our lift, but i suspect it's column doesn't kock either.
Learned something new today!
Rob
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The Corvette does not have a column lock anymore - I do not think one has been installed on a car since the C5.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Kansas City, MO
Doesn't have anything to do with whether the car is key start or not. It's a cost cutting thing. Plain and simple. It's not required here, so GM doesn't put it on, and they can save however many dollars per car by leaving it out.
It's just a solenoid and a bracket. This is what the solenoid looks like. There's a little metal stud that pops out to lock the column. It's used on a lot of GM cars. https://www.ebay.com/itm/304572941228
It's just a solenoid and a bracket. This is what the solenoid looks like. There's a little metal stud that pops out to lock the column. It's used on a lot of GM cars. https://www.ebay.com/itm/304572941228
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
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From: Garden Valley CA
Steering column locks aren't required in the US but some type of vehicle immobiliation when the key isn't present is required. In the case of a C8 it is the inability to shift the car out of Park without a key (although this isn't reason you can't shift it out of Park without the engine running).
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From: Redondo Beach, California
My 1969 Corvette with a clone L88 engine. On the freeway, the carburetor got stuck in near full open throttle. I was afraid to turn off the ignition for fear the steering wheel would lock. And I didn't want to push the clutch in. Finally, I as I was starting to enter earth escape velocity, I realized I could probably click the ignition back one notch into the accessory power position and kill the engine. Success. I got rid of the steering wheel lockout feature on that car and also my now 1970.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,339
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From: Covington LA
Doesn't have anything to do with whether the car is key start or not. It's a cost cutting thing. Plain and simple. It's not required here, so GM doesn't put it on, and they can save however many dollars per car by leaving it out.
It's just a solenoid and a bracket. This is what the solenoid looks like. There's a little metal stud that pops out to lock the column. It's used on a lot of GM cars. https://www.ebay.com/itm/304572941228
It's just a solenoid and a bracket. This is what the solenoid looks like. There's a little metal stud that pops out to lock the column. It's used on a lot of GM cars. https://www.ebay.com/itm/304572941228
Not being able to put it in drive without the key is a good idea however.
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From: Redondo Beach, California
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Kansas City, MO
I'd be curious to see the actual wording of this. Because the way you're saying it, a manual C7 is illegal.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Wisconsin
Don't think this a fed reg, considering the easy way new Kia's and Hyundai's are stolen with a screwdriver and a USB cable.
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https://popcenter.asu.edu/sites/defa...theft_eval.pdf
Approval) (Amendment) Regulations 1975). In the United States, concern in the mid-1960s about car theft was fueled by reports that so-called "joy-riders" were from 47 to 200 times more likely to be involved in a traffic accident than other drivers (Karmen, 1981). In 1966, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114 was passed, although this was not to become effective until 1970. It required all manufacturers to equip new passenger cars with a key-locking system that prevented the car from being steered or driven forward without the ignition key. With the exception of SAAB, who focused on the prevention of forward motion, all of the major manufacturers selling cars in the US market began installing steering column locks in their vehicles in 1969 (Lee and Rikoski, 1984).
Here's the reg:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.go...114-04_tag.pdf
Theft Protection – for all vehicles Each vehicle must have a starting system which, whenever the key is removed from the starting system prevents: (a) The normal activation of the vehicle's engine or motor; and (b) Either steering, or forward self-mobility, of the vehicle, or both
I have a feeling those cars are in violation of the regs.