I've had trouble with the steering wheel in my Verada locking up when I'm parked completely straight...

It's been almost impossible to get the car started, last night after 15 minutes and a decent blister I finally got it to go, but it clearly shouldn't be doing this.

Any advice, tips from anyone on what I could do about this?

Thanks...

so is it that you put the key in the barrel and it wont turn? you have to shake the wheel a little bit (by that i mean jig it left and right) and turn the key and it will then slide into the accessories. It might be the barrel playing up

Try another key as they do tend to wear.

If its not the key, squirt some lubricant down the key hole, CRC or WD40. Catch drips that come out of the bottom cover before they stain your clothes.

If its working properly you should get a healthy "clunk" when you pull the key out. If not, it needs a lube.

If you have an immobiliser on your car, do not be tempted to pull the barrel out of the steering column, as it will trigger the immobiliser and the car won't start. Ever again. lol

so is it that you put the key in the barrel and it wont turn? you have to shake the wheel a little bit (by that i mean jig it left and right) and turn the key and it will then slide into the accessories. It might be the barrel playing up

Yeah, that's the case, but I spent 15 minutes last night jiggling the wheel and turning the key giving myself a blister until I finally got it to click... It could be the barrel playing up, but the wheel tends to lock fairly easily for some reason... I've had to jiggle the wheel a little bit in the past, nothing like this though...


Try another key as they do tend to wear.

If its not the key, squirt some lubricant down the key hole, CRC or WD40. Catch drips that come out of the bottom cover before they stain your clothes.

If its working properly you should get a healthy "clunk" when you pull the key out. If not, it needs a lube.

If you have an immobiliser on your car, do not be tempted to pull the barrel out of the steering column, as it will trigger the immobiliser and the car won't start. Ever again. lol

Cheers, I only have the one key (been meaning to get one cut) so I will try some WD-40 and see how that goes... I suppose it's difficult to just remove the steering lock mechanism isn't it?

Iirc and if the assembly is anything like my bmw then it is not possible to remove the steering lock at all.

Your assembly which activates your steering lock is worn and most probably needs replacing. Save yourself the trouble and remove the key barrell from the assembly for refitting into your replacement.


It may also be that the lock activating lobes on the steering column are worn. Check this when/if you replace the key barrell and steering lock assembly. You will need to use a screwdriver and hammer to unscrew the shearhead bolts used in ignition assemblies

when you jiggle the steering wheel, be very firm. you cant exactly snap it off, it takes a really good jiggle sometimes, like almost as if your pissed off with it

By the way, do not spray liquid lubricant into the key barrell. This causes damage to the small pins and springs inside. Buy some graphite powder lubricant. Very very fine powder which is especially made for binding locks and key barrells.

Sounds like a lot of people haven't worked through this problem themselves and are just having a wild guess.

The steering lock mechanism IS accessible by pulling off the top and bottom steering column plastic covers. It can be removed by using a pin punch and hammer, but do not pull it apart any further.

If your steering lock mechanism has a metal barrel at its end with 4 very thin wires coming off it, do NOT pull the barrel out, as this trips the immobiliser and it cannot be reset easily. (Been there, done that) New immobiliser/key/barrel unit is NOT available from Mitsu.

Contrary to the above statements, WD40 sprayed in the barrel and on the moving lock parts do NOT stuff it up. You know when it has enough lube when the key goes in and out easily, turns to the 4 positions easily, the steering wheel unlocks, and the lock gives a healthy "clunk" when you remove the key.
WD40 will clean and free up the mechanism, use graphite powder after in the barrel if you want to. Insert/remove key a few times, and wipe it each time to get the WD40 and lock/key wear bits out first.

If your key is kept clean and your not in a dusty environment wd40 should be fine, but any dirt and grit can stick to the damp wd40 residue and that is why some people say don't do it. Graphite powder is very fine and slippery, and as its dry, not so slippery dirt and dust won't stick to it if it gets in there.