How to Unlock a Steering Wheel

An unexpected locked steering wheel can seem like a frustrating problem, especially if it occurs at an inconvenient time when you have somewhere to be in Englewood. A locked steering wheel, like most car issues, becomes a manageable and easily-fixable setback once you know why it’s happening and thus, how to address it. Read on to learn what causes a locked steering wheel and find out how to unlock a steering wheel quickly with our step-by-step guide.

If you are interested in having a factory-trained technician address your issue, please contact our expert service team who would be more than happy to unlock your steering wheel.

What Causes a Locked Steering Wheel?

Like many other features in your vehicle, a locked steering wheel is a preemptive measure to protect your car from theft. If someone without a key to your ignition attempted to move the steering wheel a lot, the vehicle reads this as a sign that the person doing so probably shouldn’t be there.

So, given these circumstances, you can see that an accidental bumping of your own steering wheel while cleaning or rushing out of the car, etc. could cause your steering wheel to lock up. The most frustrating part is you most likely won’t discover this issue until the next time you hop in to drive from Jersey City to Fort Lee. So, how do you unlock a steering wheel?

How To Unlock a Steering Wheel

Use the following tips and tricks to unlock your steering wheel column without causing damage to internal components:

• Make sure the car is in “Park”
• If possible, turn the key to the “on” position
• Turn the wheel back and forth with various pressure
• Do not use full force, you cannot muscle free a locked steering wheel— that will only hurt internal mechanisms
• If you can’t get the key to “on,” simultaneously turn the key in the ignition while wiggling the steering wheel back and forth with the other hand. Remember: gently.

Still no luck? Though unlikely, it may be time to try a different key as regular use can cause wear and tear on your key, preventing it from engaging your vehicle’s tumblers. If you need a new Land Rover key, contact Land Rover Englewood and we’ll make a fresh one for you using its serial number, rather than copying the worn key.

Now that you’ve seen how to unlock a steering wheel, you might want to try something even easier! Find out how to check your oil levels today.

Schedule Service at Land Rover Englewood

If you’re currently experiencing a locked steering wheel and the aforementioned steps did not help, please contact the team here at Land Rover Englewood and we’ll free your wheel. If you’re due for regular Land Rover maintenance to keep your vehicle running optimally, schedule your next service appointment online or find out how to reset your check engine light after taking care of DIY service at home.

If you’re curious about the recommended Land Rover maintenance schedule or our current service specials, stop in to the dealership today.