How to Break steering wheel lock
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 132
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From: San diego California
How to Break steering wheel lock
well i lost my keys qabout a month ago and have sent my ignition key hole to hell
i want to change my ignition cylander
i finnally fix my break problem and i can turn on the car but cant turn the wheel becaused its locked
i have seen the other threads about this but i dont have a drill and cant take out the lock berrel/cylander out unless i got a dremell but i dont. and if i lowered the steering collum i still dont have enough room for a chisel.
my Q = i want to break my steering lock
ive been trying to yank it but still hasnt broken
and how much force is needed, can i break anything elese by trying this method?
i want to change my ignition cylander
i finnally fix my break problem and i can turn on the car but cant turn the wheel becaused its locked
i have seen the other threads about this but i dont have a drill and cant take out the lock berrel/cylander out unless i got a dremell but i dont. and if i lowered the steering collum i still dont have enough room for a chisel.
my Q = i want to break my steering lock
ive been trying to yank it but still hasnt broken
and how much force is needed, can i break anything elese by trying this method?
Since it sounds like you have the cover off and can see the 2 safety screws, get a hacksaw blade and cut a groove in the head of each one. Another option is a pair of 5R Vicegrips.
As stated above. once you remove the 2 saftey bolts and you have the hasp(rod surround off youll see a poppet that engages into the steering column sfhat, cut that off or remove it. reinstall the hasp with new bolts and you should be GTG
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I PMed him my cell number so I could walk him through it.
Basically what you are wanting to do is ONLY remove the lock cylinder itself. Now, you can use a screwdriver to turn the ignition switch itself. The lock cylinder is simply a seperate piece and is removable. It takes a bit of prying but it comes out.
Remove the black steering wheel/ignition surround piece that everyone breaks.
Now you have to remove the silver part with the words on it first and then there are a few other bits that need pryed (sp?) off and then from the top of the assembly, you can see part of the cylinder and with a screwdriver and a hammer, pound the cylinder AWAY from the ignition switch itself. This ends up breaking the cylinder pins that the key moves but it does come out. The entire process really only takes like 5 minutes.
For full removal/replacement of ignition switch.
Now that the ignition lock can be unlocked with the screwdriver, remove steering wheel and switch assembly that runs the wipers, etc. Next, with steering lock unlocked (and the 2 or 4 bolts that hold the steering column and mount it to the dash skeleton) yank on the steering column black cover piece and it will slide off.
I say this is the easiest way cuz when you replace this entire assembly you dont have to actually remove the ignition lock which is normally a huge pain in the ***.
If you have the right tools, this entire process of removal should only take like 20 minutes. Also alot less stressful than taking a chisel and making a slot in the bolts and then unscrewing them with a screwdriver. Most of the time it would take and impact screwdriver to loosen the bolts first and most people dont have that tool. My way, all you need is a hammer, a screwdriver, and a 14mm socket with a 6 inch extension and a ratchet.
This is also nice to know when you are an hour from home and your ignition cylinder decides to break - making your key useless. Ask me how I know lol.
Edit: I usually keep this in PM form as with this information, along with the "How to - break into your own car" thread, an FB could be stolen without making very much noise at all and within 10 minutes. 5 if you're good.
Basically what you are wanting to do is ONLY remove the lock cylinder itself. Now, you can use a screwdriver to turn the ignition switch itself. The lock cylinder is simply a seperate piece and is removable. It takes a bit of prying but it comes out.
Remove the black steering wheel/ignition surround piece that everyone breaks.
Now you have to remove the silver part with the words on it first and then there are a few other bits that need pryed (sp?) off and then from the top of the assembly, you can see part of the cylinder and with a screwdriver and a hammer, pound the cylinder AWAY from the ignition switch itself. This ends up breaking the cylinder pins that the key moves but it does come out. The entire process really only takes like 5 minutes.
For full removal/replacement of ignition switch.
Now that the ignition lock can be unlocked with the screwdriver, remove steering wheel and switch assembly that runs the wipers, etc. Next, with steering lock unlocked (and the 2 or 4 bolts that hold the steering column and mount it to the dash skeleton) yank on the steering column black cover piece and it will slide off.
I say this is the easiest way cuz when you replace this entire assembly you dont have to actually remove the ignition lock which is normally a huge pain in the ***.
If you have the right tools, this entire process of removal should only take like 20 minutes. Also alot less stressful than taking a chisel and making a slot in the bolts and then unscrewing them with a screwdriver. Most of the time it would take and impact screwdriver to loosen the bolts first and most people dont have that tool. My way, all you need is a hammer, a screwdriver, and a 14mm socket with a 6 inch extension and a ratchet.
This is also nice to know when you are an hour from home and your ignition cylinder decides to break - making your key useless. Ask me how I know lol.
Edit: I usually keep this in PM form as with this information, along with the "How to - break into your own car" thread, an FB could be stolen without making very much noise at all and within 10 minutes. 5 if you're good.
Last edited by IanS; Aug 29, 2008 at 12:18 PM.
no, i dont really think its too much info. perhaps on removing the ignition switch and using the ol' screwdriver method is too much and i would edit that if my moderator privelages extended into this section.
the eaisese way to get at the security bolts is to lower the steering column by removing the two bolts that secure it in place. this will help get at the bolts and free up some room. sounds to me like the original poster needs to get another ignition lock cylinder and forget about disassembling this one. he just needs to know how to take it off imo. the other stuff he can be pm'd.
the eaisese way to get at the security bolts is to lower the steering column by removing the two bolts that secure it in place. this will help get at the bolts and free up some room. sounds to me like the original poster needs to get another ignition lock cylinder and forget about disassembling this one. he just needs to know how to take it off imo. the other stuff he can be pm'd.
I PMed him my cell number so I could walk him through it.
Basically what you are wanting to do is ONLY remove the lock cylinder itself. Now, you can use a screwdriver to turn the ignition switch itself. The lock cylinder is simply a seperate piece and is removable. It takes a bit of prying but it comes out.
Remove the black steering wheel/ignition surround piece that everyone breaks.
Now you have to remove the silver part with the words on it first and then there are a few other bits that need pryed (sp?) off and then from the top of the assembly, you can see part of the cylinder and with a screwdriver and a hammer, pound the cylinder AWAY from the ignition switch itself. This ends up breaking the cylinder pins that the key moves but it does come out. The entire process really only takes like 5 minutes.
For full removal/replacement of ignition switch.
Now that the ignition lock can be unlocked with the screwdriver, remove steering wheel and switch assembly that runs the wipers, etc. Next, with steering lock unlocked (and the 2 or 4 bolts that hold the steering column and mount it to the dash skeleton) yank on the steering column black cover piece and it will slide off.
I say this is the easiest way cuz when you replace this entire assembly you dont have to actually remove the ignition lock which is normally a huge pain in the ***.
If you have the right tools, this entire process of removal should only take like 20 minutes. Also alot less stressful than taking a chisel and making a slot in the bolts and then unscrewing them with a screwdriver. Most of the time it would take and impact screwdriver to loosen the bolts first and most people dont have that tool. My way, all you need is a hammer, a screwdriver, and a 14mm socket with a 6 inch extension and a ratchet.
This is also nice to know when you are an hour from home and your ignition cylinder decides to break - making your key useless. Ask me how I know lol.
Edit: I usually keep this in PM form as with this information, along with the "How to - break into your own car" thread, an FB could be stolen without making very much noise at all and within 10 minutes. 5 if you're good.
Basically what you are wanting to do is ONLY remove the lock cylinder itself. Now, you can use a screwdriver to turn the ignition switch itself. The lock cylinder is simply a seperate piece and is removable. It takes a bit of prying but it comes out.
Remove the black steering wheel/ignition surround piece that everyone breaks.
Now you have to remove the silver part with the words on it first and then there are a few other bits that need pryed (sp?) off and then from the top of the assembly, you can see part of the cylinder and with a screwdriver and a hammer, pound the cylinder AWAY from the ignition switch itself. This ends up breaking the cylinder pins that the key moves but it does come out. The entire process really only takes like 5 minutes.
For full removal/replacement of ignition switch.
Now that the ignition lock can be unlocked with the screwdriver, remove steering wheel and switch assembly that runs the wipers, etc. Next, with steering lock unlocked (and the 2 or 4 bolts that hold the steering column and mount it to the dash skeleton) yank on the steering column black cover piece and it will slide off.
I say this is the easiest way cuz when you replace this entire assembly you dont have to actually remove the ignition lock which is normally a huge pain in the ***.
If you have the right tools, this entire process of removal should only take like 20 minutes. Also alot less stressful than taking a chisel and making a slot in the bolts and then unscrewing them with a screwdriver. Most of the time it would take and impact screwdriver to loosen the bolts first and most people dont have that tool. My way, all you need is a hammer, a screwdriver, and a 14mm socket with a 6 inch extension and a ratchet.
This is also nice to know when you are an hour from home and your ignition cylinder decides to break - making your key useless. Ask me how I know lol.
Edit: I usually keep this in PM form as with this information, along with the "How to - break into your own car" thread, an FB could be stolen without making very much noise at all and within 10 minutes. 5 if you're good.
yea this is the easiest way i did it like this when mine screwed up, basically just take surround off, take off the most you can from the ignition switch without damaging (if planing to reuse) and if you know you're not gonna reuse that cylinder, then beat the **** out of it, i think i used a flat head and just pried things on and off until finally it popped into a hundred pieces lol just be careful not to damage the other part of the ignition switch (where the cylinder connects) in case you have to use the screw driver to crank it for a few days like i did, lol.
Thread Starter
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: San diego California
wow thanks
especially ian S!
i ended up borrowing a drill and drille the crap out of the sterring lock and now can drive my car, now all i need to do is to replace the keybarel
especially ian S!
i ended up borrowing a drill and drille the crap out of the sterring lock and now can drive my car, now all i need to do is to replace the keybarel
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