Steering Wheel Stuck - Car Won't Start

[kuzkuz]

Hey guys-

Anyone know why sometimes, when the Rabbit won't start, you need to giggle the steering wheel, and then the ignition unlocks?

It's annoying, and it's happened a few times recently.

Thanks!

[Lil Bunny Foo-Foo]

It happens to me too, every now and then. But I really don't think that it's a problem with the Rabbit specifically. Used to happen to me occasionally when I had the Trailblazer, too. Just one of those annoying things, I guess.....

[Thug Bunny]

Its just the steering wheel locking. Most new cars do this, if not all. No one can break into your car and roll it away by steering it without the keys.

[shawng]

It's normal and even noted someplace in the user maual.

[redgreen]

Yep its normal... same thing happened on my 93 190E, but the Rabbit wheel is more sensitive, which is worse for the thief , at first I was also wondering what is going on, why won't the key turn!, I almost broke it trying to manouver it. Phew.

redgreen

[Avada]

Standard on most cars these days, my old 98 civic did it too. If you hold the wheel slightly off the lock you can turn the key to ACC or START/turn it on and the wheel should unlock.

[DaVisionz]

every car i've been in since the early 90's did this.

[AliRabbit]

Agreed, standard feature on newer cars.

However, both myself and my wife have noticed the VW Rabbit has a much stiffer steering lock.

In fact, my wife got stranded because she wasn't strong enough to move the wheel while jiggling the keys to release the lock. Luckily this was at her work which is less than 5 min from our dealership. A quick call, and a mechanic drove to her work (in a CW Rabbit) to help her.

I have had it happen to me twice and I have to really force it over to get it to release. I'm not sure if it's just "new car" stiff, or if it's a defect.

[nitroscope8]

Nah, no defect. VW's in general are a little stiffer than some other vehicles. Watch when you get out and in the car...the leg or hip can knock the wheel and lock that baby up.

[nidhy]

I have already mentioned this in one more thread....

Sometimes the problem is due to broken part in steering lock assembly which can be repaired.....see video