19 replies to this topic

[jeopardyracing]

It will turn to Start and 'Run' but won't rotate back to ACC or Off. Seems to turn fine from On to Start, so I was able to load it up and leave VIR Sunday. Anyone experienced this? The steering lock was drilled out of this car when it was built in 2011. Not sure if that's a suspect or not. 

[Mike Collins]

call me...

[DrDomm]

I've had that happen in my old '94.  No clue why.

[jeopardyracing]

Mike had a great thought that was easier to explain than type out. Since the steering lock was drilled out sometimes debris will slip in the wrong spot and jam things up. We took a lot of curbing this weekend at VIR and I had two minor two-wheel offs while driving ugly on a qualifying out lap, so I bet something did get jarred loose. I'm going to try to tap it with a mallet tonight while working the wheel to see if I can dislodge anything. I'll post back if it works for others' benefit. 

[tynor]

I have a possibly related problem.  The key in my '99 is "stuck" in that it can't be pulled out of the ignition slot.  But it does rotate to all positions (OFF, ACC, ON, START).  Should I start banging on mine too?

[jeopardyracing]

lol if you're steering lock was drilled out, give it a try. I am going to remove the plastic collar, then bang on it while turning the wheel and hope. I bet that does it though. 

[Alberto]

There were some old discussions on this on the old board with some helpful posts by Juan Pineda.  Here's one:

http://forum.specmia...44;t=001125;p=0

 

Probably easiest to call Mike though.

[jeopardyracing]

K I have the dash all apart and the lock out. In my case it wasn't jammed by debris, it was the latch that is supposed to engage with the steering column to lock it being dislodged (probably by vibration over VIRs new curbing) such that it no longer lined up with its opening and could not extend up enough to allow the cylinder to continue turning. I had to take the lock out to figure this out - a bit of work! Now to see whether I can just remove that whole latch so it can't do it again....

[RazerX]

I have to check and see if my steering lock was drilled out.  If not, is there a guide somewhere to the process?  

[jeopardyracing]

I am looking for that because there is a bigger procedure that removes the peg that locks the column, which is probably what I need now so this doesn't happen again. 

[Johnny D]

http://forum.specmia...4462;p=0#000000

 

Still asking the same question question after 4 years huh?

J~

[RazerX]

suppose people do it so it doesn't "lock" during a race and I am sure this has happened to at least one person.  

[Johnny D]

suppose people do it so it doesn't "lock" during a race and I am sure this has happened to at least one person.  

 

I have done it, yours should be done.

 

Click on the Archives link ^^ and see who's below the pic and then look at the date.

J~

[jeopardyracing]

I did used silicon blobs under the locking pin so that it can't go that low again and be jammed. Hopefully it will work. 

[Bench Racer]

When building my RX7 Spec7 car and my Spec Miata car I removed the square sheet metal part (the part some folks drill) from the bottom side of the ignition lock, removed the spring (and anything else that was loose, don't remember) re-inserted the metal part and peened the housing material to hold the metal part in place. Next I removed the ignition lock from the steering column, I pushed the rectangular lug down into the lock housing (into it's unlocked home), then drilled two holes for a 3/32 roll pin at an angle in across the lug face and into the lock housing (pre greased around the lug so no chips fell into the lock), inserted the two roll pins and epoxy sealed the roll pins in place. Never had an issue with loose drilled stuff (because I didn't drill stuff apart), the locking lug doing any foolish stuff or any isues with the key/switch.
Anal, yes, after issues, no. 

[FTodaro]

I am not sure i am following what the fix is. I had drilled my lock out in my 99 as per the link above, and worked fine for 4 years. last weekend my brother had a wreck at Watkins glen pretty good lick, the ignition will not turn off fully.

 

So do i try probing around in the hole, i drilled, hit it with a hammer, disassemble the steering wheel?

 

I have not done anything yet but will be on the list of things to fix.

[jeopardyracing]

sounds like my situation. I removed the lock and found that after the lock had been drilled, there was no longer a spring holding the pin that locks steering column up so that it can't get jammed if jarred on track. In my case it was the curbs at VIR, in your case, the wreck. So remove the lock from the column and look into the drilled hole - it will be clear what happened if it's the same: the pin has dropped down too low and gotten jammed, so it can't move out of the way as the lock cylinder is rotated to get the key out. 

[FTodaro]

sounds like my situation. I removed the lock and found that after the lock had been drilled, there was no longer a spring holding the pin that locks steering column up so that it can't get jammed if jarred on track. In my case it was the curbs at VIR, in your case, the wreck. So remove the lock from the column and look into the drilled hole - it will be clear what happened if it's the same: the pin has dropped down too low and gotten jammed, so it can't move out of the way as the lock cylinder is rotated to get the key out. 

Thanks Rich, did you put silicone or something in there to stop that from happening? 

[jeopardyracing]

Precisely. I put a big glob of silicone under where the pin would need to slide down and get jammed. Once it dries, I am hopeful that it will prevent a recurrence. 

[tynor]

I have a possibly related problem.  The key in my '99 is "stuck" in that it can't be pulled out of the ignition slot.  But it does rotate to all positions (OFF, ACC, ON, START).  Should I start banging on mine too?

 

FWIW, my key unstuck itself after a single session at Road Atlanta this weekend.  Guess I just needed a bit of jiggle from the rumble strips.