Honda Car Forum

I have a 2004 Honda Civic EX (coupe). I was struggling with a steering wheel cover when my steering wheel locked up. I then attempted to start my car to unlock it, but it won't allow me to turn the key. It isn't stuck and the key was all the way in; I tried pushing in, pulling it out a little, but it's like the key doesn't even belong to the car.

I got my spare key, but it also will not work. I am currently giving it time to see if it will unlock after a specific amount of time. My Honda Dealer is closed, as is the Honda help line. My car's manual gives me no information on a situation like this.

Other than waiting to see if it'll allow me to use my key later, what do you suggest?

-Ashaera

Ashaera,

To fix your problem, you have to turn the steering wheel either to the left or right as much as you can, then try to turn the key in the ignition. When the steering wheel locks, the key won't turn. By manually holding the steering wheel out of the lock position, the key will turn again and you're steering column will be back to normal.

Man I hope you haven't been unable to use you're car & waiting for a reply the past five months. For anyone else out there who encounters this problem, this is how to fix it. Hope that helps.

Hah, no I haven't been waiting for 5 months. =)

I got my brother to figure it out. Thank you so much for replying. That is how he fixed it, so you know your stuff.

Thanks again.

I am having the same problem. How did your brother fix the steering wheel lock?

What problem? It's operator error.

"Beam me up Scotty. There's no intelligent life down here."

Actually Kirk never says "Beam me up Scotty, theres no intelligent life down here", that was just a cheap shirt from the 80's. Kirk always says Scotty beam me up. with the word Scotty being first smart one.(at least in the old trek) But the steering wheel problem is operator error, all steering wheels will lock up if you turn the wheel to far without the key in the ignition, its an anti-theft device to keep people from stealing your car. so if they do try to take your car, they at least cant steer the car.

Dah, Thanks for the advise. I had to do some electrical troubleshooting on the brake lights. When I plugged everything back in the I could not get the key in the ignition. I thought I might have activated some kind of anti-theft devise because the remote key box was unplugged. Everything fine and the brake lights are working. Off to enjoy the 4th of July.