Steering Wheel Locked and No Start

[zbad55]

Hey all,

Had a big problem today on my brand new Yukon Denali, when installing my WeatherTech mud flaps. I needed to turn the wheel to full turn to get access to the screws in the wheel well. So after I get the passenger side installed I proceeded to start the vehicle and it is a no go. So I'm like WTF, keep trying to start and nothing, then a message pops up about turning the steering wheel. So I tired to do that and no way, steering wheel is locked up tighter than a drum with no movement at all. Did a quick google search and found some info about this safety feature but still a no go. But did find something about trying a different key, so I grabbed the 2nd key fob. Tried to start again but at first it didn't work, then tried again and then a very loud snap and the steering unlocked and I was able to start the vehicle. Not sure what the hell this safety lock for the steering wheel is needed but to me it's a big problem. If I didn't have that 2nd key fob handy, I had no idea what to do or how to start the vehicle, just wondering if anyone else has run into this problem,

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Did you try maybe shaking the steering wheel a bit as you hit the start button? My vehicle shipped as “Not equipped with steering column lock” so I don’t have this feature…

 

[DuraYuk]

Dude this feature has been in use for 30+ years. You have to slightly jimmy the wheel back and forth while you try and start it.

It's an anti theft feature. Been this way on every car from every manufacturer for a long long time.

 

[Fless]

Dude this feature has been in use for 30+ years. You have to slightly jimmy the wheel back and forth while you try and start it.

It's an anti theft feature. Been this way on every car from every manufacturer for a long long time.

Dude, my '04 came stock with NO steering wheel lock. Plenty of others out there like mine.

 

[DuraYuk]

Dude, my '04 came stock with NO steering wheel lock. Plenty of others out there like mine.

Yeah there are a few weird situations where they were not included. Pretty sure some GM suvs during covid skipped it too due to constraints.

But if you have driven cars it's something everyone is familiar with.

And if the OP missed it over his driving career it has been answered here for future reference.

 

[zbad55]

Dude this feature has been in use for 30+ years. You have to slightly jimmy the wheel back and forth while you try and start it.

It's an anti theft feature. Been this way on every car from every manufacturer for a long long time.

No way, I have had a lot of vehicles and they didn't have this feature, after reading the manual and the info for this feature and it suggests to not turn the wheels and shut the vehicle off. It even states that it can bind up as in the case I had, and what it suggested to "un-Bind" didn't work. Here is the info from the manual,

And to add, I have a 2015 Yukon as well as the 2016 Tahoe, and this so called steering lock never did this as they all had the mud flaps added, so I don't get where you talk about a driving career,

 

[DuraYuk]

No way, I have had a lot of vehicles and they didn't have this feature, after reading the manual and the info for this feature and it suggests to not turn the wheels and shut the vehicle off. It even states that it can bind up as in the case I had, and what it suggested to "un-Bind" didn't work. Here is the info from the manual,

And to add, I have a 2015 Yukon as well as the 2016 Tahoe, and this so called steering lock never did this as they all had the mud flaps added, so I don't get where you talk about a driving career,

View attachment 384649

It's a common feature on almost every car. Idk why you highlighted that. I said Jimmy the wheel after it was 'locked' your highlight says to keep the wheel straight to avoid it binding when turning off.

Anyways glad you 'fixed' it.

 

[zbad55]

Look I'm familiar with steering column locks, as you said been around for a long time. And when you start the vehicle or turn the key it unlocks. I posted this about the column lock binding up, not about the fact the steering locks when you turn off the vehicle. I have never had a column lock bind up where the steering wheel would not budge and the vehicle was inoperable. I posted what was in the manual to point out the fact that if you turn the wheels and turn the vehicle off the lock could bind up. When that column lock became free the pop was so loud I thought it broke the column and there was no turning the column back and forth to free the lock. Now there are many times when you may need to turn the wheels and shut the vehicle off, like doing brake work or in my case with the mudflaps. Ive also seen people in very hilly areas turn their wheels to the curb when parking. I just think it is pretty absurd that even the manual suggest's that you always straighten the wheels before shutting the vehicle off, I learned something about this and posting this maybe make some other people aware that this can happen,

 

[DuraYuk]

Look I'm familiar with steering column locks, as you said been around for a long time. And when you start the vehicle or turn the key it unlocks. I posted this about the column lock binding up, not about the fact the steering locks when you turn off the vehicle. I have never had a column lock bind up where the steering wheel would not budge and the vehicle was inoperable. I posted what was in the manual to point out the fact that if you turn the wheels and turn the vehicle off the lock could bind up. When that column lock became free the pop was so loud I thought it broke the column and there was no turning the column back and forth to free the lock. Now there are many times when you may need to turn the wheels and shut the vehicle off, like doing brake work or in my case with the mudflaps. Ive also seen people in very hilly areas turn their wheels to the curb when parking. I just think it is pretty absurd that even the manual suggest's that you always straighten the wheels before shutting the vehicle off, I learned something about this and posting this maybe make some other people aware that this can happen,

Hopefully it doesn't turn into the problem the c5 corvettes had with the lock. Many people ended up bypassing it because it could leave you stranded when it malfunctioned.

 

[todayusay]

coming in on the back end of this - but back in "the day" when we had a physical key and not some fob to insert or push button start, it was pretty common for the locked steering wheel to prevent the key from "turning" - thereby preventing the vehicle from starting...now I've always lived in the "country" so maybe that's a factor in why some have experienced it more and others haven't..since I generally don't have a curb or restricted driveway where I'm parking..think about it, sure you shouldn't "have to" align your tires straight every time you park, but how often do you really park when they aren't?

the only thing I'll add to the above is most of the time only a slight turn of the wheel one way or the other enabled the key to turn but sometimes you'd have to really torque the steering wheel to free up the key...if nothing else that is something I'd try if it happened to me (of course while pressing the start button)

 

[tom3]

What's weird here is that the second key fob did start and fix the problem.

 

[3BigDogs]

Look I'm familiar with steering column locks, as you said been around for a long time. And when you start the vehicle or turn the key it unlocks. I posted this about the column lock binding up, not about the fact the steering locks when you turn off the vehicle. I have never had a column lock bind up where the steering wheel would not budge and the vehicle was inoperable. I posted what was in the manual to point out the fact that if you turn the wheels and turn the vehicle off the lock could bind up. When that column lock became free the pop was so loud I thought it broke the column and there was no turning the column back and forth to free the lock. Now there are many times when you may need to turn the wheels and shut the vehicle off, like doing brake work or in my case with the mudflaps. Ive also seen people in very hilly areas turn their wheels to the curb when parking. I just think it is pretty absurd that even the manual suggest's that you always straighten the wheels before shutting the vehicle off, I learned something about this and posting this maybe make some other people aware that this can happen,

I'm dealing with this issue Now! No One has been able to unbind the steering wheel! It's a 2000 Chevy Tahoe LS 5.3L. There's very little room to turn it. My keys-original and spare won't turn the ignition at all! I just bought a new Ignition lock with keys. I'm hoping this will fix the problem.

 

[Doubeleive]

I'm dealing with this issue Now! No One has been able to unbind the steering wheel! It's a 2000 Chevy Tahoe LS 5.3L. There's very little room to turn it. My keys-original and spare won't turn the ignition at all! I just bought a new Ignition lock with keys. I'm hoping this will fix the problem.

you will most likely need to just keep trying by pulling VERY h-a-r-d on the steering in the same driection the wheels are already turned while turning the key, you might even need 2 people. one to pull on the steering wheel and another to turn the key (at the same time).
keep trying until it come's loose.

it should be noted that your issue although similar is different because these newer garbarge vehicles have a electronic lock and yours (2000) is a physical interlocking pin

 

[Coolman1987us]

Look I'm familiar with steering column locks, as you said been around for a long time. And when you start the vehicle or turn the key it unlocks. I posted this about the column lock binding up, not about the fact the steering locks when you turn off the vehicle. I have never had a column lock bind up where the steering wheel would not budge and the vehicle was inoperable. I posted what was in the manual to point out the fact that if you turn the wheels and turn the vehicle off the lock could bind up. When that column lock became free the pop was so loud I thought it broke the column and there was no turning the column back and forth to free the lock. Now there are many times when you may need to turn the wheels and shut the vehicle off, like doing brake work or in my case with the mudflaps. Ive also seen people in very hilly areas turn their wheels to the curb when parking. I just think it is pretty absurd that even the manual suggest's that you always straighten the wheels before shutting the vehicle off, I learned something about this and posting this maybe make some other people aware that this can happen,

Im here because my father's 2022 did this yesterday. Just wanted to say you're not crazy or living under a rock. All these people saying "it's been like this for 20 years" have no clue what you're talking about. This is an insanely stupid oversight on GM. If it was my truck that column lock would be physically removed.

 

[zbad55]

Im here because my father's 2022 did this yesterday. Just wanted to say you're not crazy or living under a rock. All these people saying "it's been like this for 20 years" have no clue what you're talking about. This is an insanely stupid oversight on GM. If it was my truck that column lock would be physically removed.

Thanks for posting and sharing what happened to to your Dad, It was a struggle for me to get the damn thing to finally break loose. I hope he didn't have to much trouble,

 

[Coolman1987us]

Thanks for posting and sharing what happened to to your Dad, It was a struggle for me to get the damn thing to finally break loose. I hope he didn't have to much trouble.

Started the truck with the remote start, unlocked and got in the truck, foot on brake push ignition button and crank on wheel. With a loud pop it let go.

 

[Jkrsnich]

Hey all,

Had a big problem today on my brand new Yukon Denali, when installing my WeatherTech mud flaps. I needed to turn the wheel to full turn to get access to the screws in the wheel well. So after I get the passenger side installed I proceeded to start the vehicle and it is a no go. So I'm like WTF, keep trying to start and nothing, then a message pops up about turning the steering wheel. So I tired to do that and no way, steering wheel is locked up tighter than a drum with no movement at all. Did a quick google search and found some info about this safety feature but still a no go. But did find something about trying a different key, so I grabbed the 2nd key fob. Tried to start again but at first it didn't work, then tried again and then a very loud snap and the steering unlocked and I was able to start the vehicle. Not sure what the hell this safety lock for the steering wheel is needed but to me it's a big problem. If I didn't have that 2nd key fob handy, I had no idea what to do or how to start the vehicle, just wondering if anyone else has run into this problem,

My brand new 2024 Yukon SLT is completely locked. I straightened the wheels and now it's in anti theft mode. Been at the dealership and they over nighted a new column. Still not fixed. less than 3000 miles. Not sure if it's a lemon or what the deal is, but the GM certified dealership has not been able to fix it yet.

 

[Jkrsnich]

Day 15 and still not fixed. They had me go to Hertz to get a Chevy Spark Rental. I traded in my 2017 Yukon because it was getting close to 100k and I didn't want any problems lol.

 

[KMeloney]

My brand new 2024 Yukon SLT is completely locked. I straightened the wheels and now it's in anti theft mode. Been at the dealership and they over nighted a new column. Still not fixed. less than 3000 miles. Not sure if it's a lemon or what the deal is, but the GM certified dealership has not been able to fix it yet.

What, exactly, did you do that led to this lock-up?