barbaral@tekig1.UUCP (09/21/83)
I have a datsun B210, 1976. I've noticed a problem with the ignition key lately. After I'm done driving, and take the key out, if I'm not careful when I get out of the car and hit the steering wheel, the steering wheel clicks and locks into place. Then, the next time I want to drive, I can put the key in the slot, but I can't turn the key. I usually get out of this by trying to turn the steering wheel (though it's in a locked position), and usually after a fashion, things get back to normal, and I can turn the key. One day I had a related problem, I was finished driving, and couldn't get the key out of the slot. It was locked in the position such that I couldn't turn the car off! I finally ended up disconnecting the battery so I would't drain it too much, and pulling the line that goes to the distributor to turn off the car. After about 20 minutes, I finally got the key out. Anyone else have these problems???
hakanson@orstcs.UUCP (09/24/83)
#R:tekig1:-137100:orstcs:3000013:000:1040 orstcs!hakanson Sep 23 10:28:00 1983 This happens on most cars with steering-column locks when you aren't careful about how you park the car. If you happen to have the front wheels turned (not straight), or have parked against a curb (ouch!) where there is some pressure against the steering mechanism, and you then lock the column, and release the steering wheel, the pressure goes against that column lock, and you can't unlock (or lock??) the column until you release that pressure. This involves turning the wheel one way or another (there's usually enough free play) while trying to turn the key (gently, please). From the seriousness of the problem described, it sounds like the column lock may be worn out such that it's more prone to getting stuck in situations like those described above. A permanent fix might be to get a new ignition switch/column lock (sounds expensive to me), but it would probably be easiest to be careful about parking the car, and be sure to release the steering wheel (let it stop moving by itself??) before locking it & removing the key.
puck@omsvax (Jerry Wheeler) (09/29/83)
I'm responding to the request that barbaral from Tektronix put out regarding the steering lock on her '76 B210. I spent two years working in the parts department at a Datsun dealership, so I know whereof I speak (or at least I should). >I have a datsun B210, 1976. ...if I'm not careful when I get out of >the car and hit the steering wheel, the steering wheel clicks and locks >into place. Then, the next time I want to drive, I can put the key in >the slot, but I can't turn the key. Actually, this is a *very* common problem with Datsuns. It is caused pretty much as the other two people who responded described it; that is, the lock works by dropping a large pin down into a hole in a sleeve that covers the steering column. When there is any pressure on the steering wheel, such as the wheel being turned *even slightly*, the pin will jam up against the side of the hole, requiring the steering wheel to be turned slightly to relieve the pressure. This isn't so much a problem as simply a poor design (by the way, Datsun doesn't make their own locks; they buy them from someone else). >One day I had a related problem, I was finished driving, and couldn't >get the key out of the slot. It was locked in the position such that >I couldn't turn the car off! ... After about 20 minutes, I finally got >the key out. I'm afraid I've got bad news for you. The lock has about a 90% chance of being shot. This is such a common problem that the dealership I worked for had to keep the steering locks in stock, rather than just ordering them when needed (they didn't keep *anything* in stock that they didn't have a common demand for). My folks also owned a '76 B210, and the *exact* same problem happened when I was driving the car. I didn't even stop the car; just headed straight for the dealership, let myself in, grabbed a new lock (after charging myself for it), and took it and the car home to replace it. >Anyone else have these problems??? Unfortunately, yes, they do. The only thing that cars with this problem even *seemed* to have in common as a possible cause was that most of them had a lot of keys on their key rings (making the key ring heavy). There are only a few things you can do about it: 1) Do like I did and buy a new steering lock. There are two disadvantages to this approach: They cost a *lot* (~$75 in 1979 - certainly higher now), and the locks are not easy to remove (or you'll pay a pretty penny to have it replaced). If you want to replace it yourself, here's how: Remove the plastic cover on the steering column - about 7-10 phillips head screws gotten to from underneath the column. This will expose the two screws that hold the lock to the column. At this point you'll notice that the screws don't have any slots for screwdrivers; get out your electric drill and drill the heads off them. The lock will slip off over the shafts, which can then be unscrewed by hand. Next, remove the ignition switch from the steering lock by taking out the two screws opposite the key hole. The new lock goes on with two new screws supplied with it - they have heads that break off after being tightened to the the correct pressure (so they can't be removed again). 2) Try getting one from a wrecking yard and use normal screws to hold it on. Cheaper, but some security compromised (not all that much, though; you can't see the screws when the plastic cover is on). I don't recall that you can buy the special screws separately - you might check on it, though. 3) Do without. If the lock jams in an *unlocked* position, you can use the ignition without the lock (my parents did just that when the lock went out for the *second* time on their B110 (1200). The electrical switch (as opposed to the mechanical part) is mounted on the steering lock with two screws and can be activated by removing it and sticking something (similar to a popsicle stick) into the slot in the switch and turning it. It really helps if the key isn't stuck in the lock (no one walking by will see this car with the key in the ignition and get tempted), although you could just break the key off. >From my experience, it doesn't seem as though a locksmith will do you any good, but it can't hurt to try - certainly it's the only way you'll get the car fixed without adding a new key (just for the ignition) to your collection outside of buying a *complete* lock set - replacing *every* key on the car (aarrgghh!). Why be normal? puck aka Jerry Wheeler at: !ogcvax \ !microso \ !tektronix \!omsvax!puck !teklabs / !hplabs /