steering wheel locked Help!

[rstern1108]

To get access to the washer motor for repair underneath my 96 Taurus, I turned the steering wheel max all the way to the right side for clearance and turned off the ignition. Now the key will not turn the ignition switch and can't be removed and the steering wheel will not move. I have tried pushing a punch through the column access hole to remove the ignition switch, but it is not in the run position. What do I do?

[mechhound]

I would carefully position a floor jack under the front of the car on a known solid part and raise both tires slightly off the ground. Then work with the steering wheel and/or jerk the tires and it should come loose. It may work better with an assistant. Be careful working around the jacked up car. PS next time you work on the washer motor just unbolt the washer tank and unhook some hoses and raise the washer tank up where you can work on it. Hope this helps.

[shorod]

The steering wheel lock is probably just bound in the column. You can probably firmly rotate the steering wheel in whichever direction it will go to unbind it, then while holding the steering wheel away from the lock, turn the key. Once you get the key turned to the run position, the steering lock should disengage and you can let go of the steering wheel.

-Rod

[Cajunblu]

Originally Posted by shorod

The steering wheel lock is probably just bound in the column. You can probably firmly rotate the steering wheel in whichever direction it will go to unbind it, then while holding the steering wheel away from the lock, turn the key. Once you get the key turned to the run position, the steering lock should disengage and you can let go of the steering wheel.

-Rod

Great answers guys, if you turn the wheel in the direction that it is turned in and try turning the key to the on position that will free it up...

Robert