Lexus RX 2004-09 :: 2008 RX350 - Steering Wheel Locked On Turning Key Ignition
Mar 20, 2016
I have a 2008 RX 350 and I am experiencing issues with turning the key ignition and having the steering wheel locked. It gets locked and after several attempts at jimmying the key it eventually starts. My concern is that if I keep this practice up I will damage my key. I have addressed this issue to the dealership and I was naive and trusted them with fixing the problem with my last maintenance visit. Thinking the the problem was solved I started to experience the same problem again. I was first told that it is possible the my key chains are too heavy which could of caused the problem but I lightened the load and still have this problem. I've read about this problem with other people but there doesn't seem to be a solution.
One thing I have noticed is that I tend to experience this problem during the cold weather. During warmer weathers I don't have issues with the key ignition being locked but now that it's cold I am having the problem again (not sure if this has to do with anything). Do I need to change a part out to fix this? I've also read that there can be dirt in the ignition which needs to be cleaned out. Will this work and if so how do I do clean it?
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I've had my 2008 RX350 for 2.5 yrs now and just love it! However, over the last 8 months or so, I've been having a strange annoying problem. And a few times, the car has left me stranded. What happens is I turn the key and my first indicator is that the steering wheel doesn't adjust and I know the car is not going to start. However, the radio may work, dash lights work, steering wheel is not locked. It seems entirely dead as if the battery is dead. The car may start 15 min later or may take 3 hours then decide to start.
A strange thing is, is the windows don't work following these episodes which normally signify a battery failure, however the battery is not very old, otherwise performs perfectly and the dealership tested it and say it's good. Because this is so intermittent, they couldn't re-enact the problem so I'm stuck with being stranded again....usually 6 weeks later. The dealership has no answers. I was lucky last night because the car started after 15 min. 6 weeks ago, I was stranded 50 miles away from home where I had to leave the car overnight after trying for 3 hours to get is started.
The next morning, it promptly started. I am at a total loss and it makes me nervous to drive. My husband who works for a chevy dealer and knowledgeable with cars is stumped. He asks the question, could there be a computer malfunction after so many starts which would answer the 6 wk consistency for which this happens? Should we just replace the battery even though we have no reason to suspect?
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The car is not starting, the Keyless entry FOB is not unlocking/locking the doors and the steering wheel is locked. I'm not sure where to begin. It doesn't make any noise when you press the button and a light says check VSC. Security light is blinking.
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I've got a 2007 rx 350. The steering wheel is locked and the key wont turn. I've tried everything, forcing the steering wheel left and right, forcing the gear shifter to neutral and moving the car. I even tried to spray some wd-40 on the key and then trying it.
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My steering wheel and ignition locked up 2 days ago. I tried turning the wheel and the ignition at the same time, tried the brakes, tried shifting gears and anything else i could think of. I think the problem might be with the ignition coils, or multiple ones, but i have bypassed that by hot-wiring the car(which was a pain because of all the anti-theft features).
So I have the car running now and it is almost drivable except the steering wheel is locked up. I need to know how to fix this, i have read plenty on it and i think i can break a pin that locks the steering wheel to make it work, but i don't know where this pin is(might be behind the ignitions, or attached to it somewhere). if i could do this without breaking anything that would be great, but if the car will run, I am ok with it begin broken, because i already hot-wired it so I'm not worried about breaking anything unless it will make the car not run.
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Went to start my car today but couldn't move my steering wheel at all??
Ignition still works and i can turn my keys but not the wheel?
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So this happened 2 times before, I am sure it is something I am doing and not the car.
So i just parked and turned off my car, and i noticed i left my windows up, so i tried to turn the car back on but the ignition would not turn and steering wheel would not move. I pressed harder and harder but it still was locked. My bro told me that same happened to his Civic and to unlock it you have to press on break hard and ignition would unlock, i tried that but nothing happened.
I googled and read online to insert the key into the ignition, try turning the car on and at the same time turn the wheel side to side. I did it and the car unlocked. My question is this, why did it lack in the first place, has this ever happened to you, if so how did you unlock it.
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I have a 2008 Accent with 136,000 km on it. A few days ago I parked with the wheels slightly turned and the steering wheel totally locked, the key couldn't turn and the wheel couldn't be unlocked by pushing it either way. I called CAA and the driver had no luck but he tapped the key lightly with a wrench while it was in the ignition and it started. I took it to the mechanic yesterday and they had the same problems and called a locksmith who specializes in automotive locks.
They told me to take it to the dealership because they thought it was something further inside. Something was bugging me and I realized what it was. When the car was parked and the key wasn't in the ignition, as soon as I opened the driver side door the chimes went off. I closed the door, tried to lock it from outside with the remote but it wouldn't lock and the alarm wouldn't engage. I called my mechanic to tell him this and we all agreed that it seemed the car thought the key was in the ignition even though it wasn't.
I went to the dealership and left it and they called and said it was the ignition cylinder that needed replacing. Does this sound right?
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I have a 1983 Mercedes 380 SL and the ignition key will not turn; the steering wheel will not release the key and I am at a loss as to what to do further than: tapping the ignition cartridge with a hammer, inserting key, tapping it, then trying. Nothing seems to even feel remotely like the key is attempting to work. I have heard it is best NOT to use WD-40 in the lock.
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I own a Honda 2009 Accord EXL with about 25,000 miles. Over the last 5 years a problem has occurred randomly (at least 8 times) and up to last week I was able to over come it. The problem is: when attempting to start the car you find that the steering wheel, shift lever, and ignition key lock are all "locked" up. Nothing can be moved or turned. Thus you can not start or move the car. Up until last week I would jiggle the steering wheel or the shift lever and it would unlock. I took it to the Honda dealer after the first few times and they all but laughed at me . Then last week nothing I did could to get the devices unlocked.
I called the local dealer and he advised having it towed in, which I did. When the tow truck driver arrived he showed me the hidden compartment next to the shift lever and inserted the key. This did unlock the steering wheel sufficiently that we could get the car aligned with the tow truck. And I was able to insert the key and start the engine. But when I attempted to shift the car it acted as if it remained in neutral. In other words the engine roared but no motion no matter which gear I selected. We managed to get the car onto the tow truck and delivered to the dealer. Of course when the dealer looked at it, all was well no problem.
The dealer kept the car and "went over everything" and "found nothing wrong". They said they "have never experienced" this problem before and their home office confirmed that. The Dealer's solution: If you park the car, shift to Park, and turn it off and then turn the steering wheel counterclockwise hard, a click is heard and the whole car is locked up. The dealer showed me that by pushing hard on the brake, forcibly turning the wheel, and at the same time playing with the ignition key with a little luck it all unlocks. (Notice he did not indicate using the hidden compartment trick.)
I find it strange that the dealer has "never ever experienced this issue", yet has a "work around"!! Though I must admit it does work when you purposely "lock" the steering wheel (the random act has not occurred again so far). My question : is there some fault to the electronic (or other) sub systems which should be fixed? I just hate to have my wife out alone and run into the situation again.
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I easily removed the key lock cylinder but when I went to put the new one in I cannot get it to turn all the way back to lock the pin in place. The steering wheel is not in the locked position nor can I get it to lock. I have turned the steering wheel as far left and right as I could go with no success on getting it to lock or on getting the ignition key lock cylinder to turn back securing the actuator pin. The old key lock cylinder won't go back in either. What am I doing wrong?
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It feels like I am having a front bearing issue, when turning the steering wheel to the right I feel a slight vibration in the steering, need to know which one is going out,??? I have already replaced the passenger side twice It just seems to not tighten completely as I can still move the tire slightly while up on a jack...
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I have an 08 F-150 5.4. When sitting still or moving, and turning the steering wheel to the right and only the right past center, there is a popping type noise somewhat like a screw driver down a washboard (for those who'll know what that is). I replaced the ball joints because I saw a slight amount of play, but the noise is still there.
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I have a 2004 F150 SCrew 4x4 with the 4.6 (260K)... My steering wheel occasionally 'clicks' when turning - It sounds and feels like a bearing is bad in the steering column.
When it happens, it feels like one in the bearing is binding- the steering wheel slightly binds, then there's a 'pop' like the ball snapped back into place. This only happens occasionally. Sometimes it will pop with every revolution of the steering wheel, other times not at all.
Originally, I thought it was a U-joint, but it seems like the noise is coming from the bottom of the column...
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I LOVE my new 2015 RX. I took delivery just a few weeks ago (07/11/14) and just hit the 1K mark! This car is so nice, and solid I truly am so happy and proud to have it.
One little *little* thing that I did notice.. is that over the past few days.. I notice that when I get in the car, or exit.. and the automated tilt steering wheel moves up or down, it make a very loud, and defined "squeak" noise. Specifically happens in the lower end, (i.e. when the wheel is near the bottom of the travel, as I have the wheel set to the lowest setting). the upper part of the travel seems fine.
Is this something I can fix myself with grease of some type? I would hate to have to block off a day, take to the dealer, get a loaner car.. and then go back etc.. plus.. I hate going to the dealer.. I am of the mindset that they generally cause more issues. (What if they scratch something, sit on the edge of my leather seats and make creases, etc.. ) so, if there is a way I can fix it.. I am all for it.
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My lexus rx350 is not starting anymore. It was working fine till the day before. I couldn't start it 3 days ago. I felt the steering wheel was stuck. Next day it even was displaying that "steering wheel locked."I tried again but it didn't start. I read on this forum and tried to turn steering wheel right and left, while start mode on. Steering wheel didn't give away after trying vigorously, so i hit the start button and it did give away but car still didn't start.
My joystick for the navigation was shaking. The indicators on the display were vibrating. After 30 seconds or so it stopped on its own. then It started showed "check AWD system" message.
I am still unable to start the car.. Is my battery dying?(other things like navigation, music etc. are still working) would it be risky to try jump start if battery is not dead yet?
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My 2004 Accent is stuck in the "lock" position in the ignition, and the wheel is locked and barely turns in either direction. I know this is supposed to be an anti-theft feature and I've tried all of the solutions listed here...
Turning the wheel hard and soft in either direction while holding the brake all the way down and trying to turn the key. Putting the car in neutral and then park and trying the above Disconnecting the battery for a few minutes and trying the above Jacking the car up on one side to release the tension on the pin.
My question is can I remove the spring at the bottom of the locking pin by drilling a hole in the center of the plate? I've seen a few youtube videos of this done on BMW's. It will cost me $500 minimum to replace the ignition or steering column based on quotes I got.
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After a morning of errands, my wife parked our 03 GX in the driveway. When I went out to start it, the ignition switch locked up. Would not budge! I finally had to have it towed to the dealer.
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I put my LS 430 key in my RX330 yesterday, I realized as soon as the ignition would not turn. I put the RX key in, and ignition will not turn. I'm assuming that the pins may be locked so I tried a few options.
- I wiggled the key.
- I lubricated the lock.
- I tried rocking the car while trying to turn the ignition.
- I tapped the ignition lightly with a screw driver and hammer, but no luck.
- I turn the steering wheel while turning ignition to make sure its not locked.
I really don't want to get the car towed to the stealer/dealer.
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Experienced a weird clicking sound when the steering wheel is fully locked either left or right, when turning at low speeds? Its more of a pop than click. No issues driving straight, or in regular turns, just when fully extended.
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My 04 ranger edge steering wheel is locked the tumbler is out but the little gear box on the tumbler is broke off and still in the assembly how do I get it out to install a new tumbler?
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