Steering wheel lock mechanism

[GRS72GT]

Hello all,

Tried searching for an answer, but couldn't find it. My steering wheel lock will randomly engage even though the ignition switch is in the run position. My search led me to a thread that told how to fix it by taking everything apart and resetting the + shaped gear that the ignition switch controls for the mechanism. I did that (several times... and for some reason it always happens in the parking lot at any given Target... ) and the problem just won't go away.

I got fed up with it, so I just took the ignition switch casing out. I noticed that the gear could move up and down in the casing, which could make it disengage from the lock mechanism. I tried my best to show it in the two photos below... The photo on the left is with the plate and gear set into place, which lets it turn the lock. The photo on the right is with the plate and gear slid down, which causes it to spin freely, having no effect on the lock.

Is there something that is supposed to prevent this from happening, i.e. something missing in the bottom of the casing? Better yet, is there a way to fix it? (or should I just find a new one?)

Thanks,

Gabe

[GRS72GT]

I think I just answered my own question...

Upon looking a little more carefully, I discovered a small clip ring on the gear from the side of the casing that the ignition switch slides into. I shoved it back down the spindle until it was flush with the "bottom" which kept the plate and gear from falling down.

[Redskinsjbs]

... And now you may have answered countless others who have the same issue . . .

[GRS72GT]

Except when I went to install everything, the clip-ring slid back up again I am getting my ignition switch rebuilt soon, so maybe something is misaligned and caused it to push the gear back in. There is a little bit of play for that spindle to rotate, maybe it is just a matter of lining it up perfect with the ignition switch.

[Anonymous D]

www.opelclub.com/SteeringColumnApr2006.pdf

[GRS72GT]

Ok, so I decided to take the + shaped spindle completely out to see what was going on. There is a groove around the spindle at a certain point that the clip-ring is supposed to slide into to prevent it from moving along the spindle. The edges of mine were worn, so even the slightest pressure would have dislodged it.

How to fix it? Buy a new ignition switch housing, or see if you can use a small file to square up the edges of that groove. I opted for the new casing. Lined it all up, and tada! Working lock mechanism