Well, today I get into my car after work and tried to start it.

The steering wheel came up, out, then back to its "sleep" position and the word "Welcome" would pop up briefly, then shut down. The ignition switch would not turn at all, but just enough to get the steering wheel to move out, then back in. Tried it again and again with the same results.

Started to freak a little so I got out and tried to kind of re-set everything by locking and re-unlocking everything and trying again, praying it wasnt some kind of low battery. No help.
I noticed that the steering wheel was tight (as far as slightly turning in the locked position) so I got to test the manual key system by popping the plastic cover off the ignition switch and using the old school key.

When I did the steering wheel jerked to the left and everything was fine. The car started as usual and the steering wheel went into it's driver 1 position. THANK GOD!

I just bought the car a month and a half ago and was freaking out a little. It seems that when I pulled into my parking spot this AM, I was turning the steering wheel and shut the car off while the steering wheel was in some kind of bind with the locking mechanism in the steering column. The electronics in the column wouldnt let the wheel unlock while in this bind.

Just a note to all here, in case this happens to you. I could see someone towing their car to a dealer for a no-start when it is a fairly (VERY) simple fix.

 

Good data! Thanks.

 

I have had this occur as well. If you simply turn the wheel in the opposite direction it's locked in(slight movement) it will free it's self. It doesnt take much. Freaked me out the first time as well.

V/r,
Jamie

 

nice write up...thanks man

 

Yea, all of my previous cars with locking steering wheels, have had the "steering wheel lockup" where you could pull the wheel and turn the ignition to unlock the bind.

The RLs St wheel was flat out jambed. No pulling or movement at all.

I was actually glad I got to try out the manual key start, which I probably would have never done untill an emergency. Pretty darn cool safety measure!

 

Dang, that is weird, this is exactly what happened to me when we came out of lunch yesterday! I started sweating thinking that something more serious was wrong and then when I grabbed the wheel for better position it moved and the car started right up! whew!!!

 

what happens when you finally get it to turn and power will not get to starter?

 

^thread is 4 years old.
if they havent figured it out by now, it would be a mint RL to scoop up!