Just noticed that once I put keys in the ignition, start the engine, I can take the keys out at the "ignition position", with the engine still running, steering wheel doesnt lock and it will drive fine!!!
Key doesnt look particulary worn tho and only have one key!
Anyone else had similar problems??
Obviously this shouldnt happen and I am now worried about the steering lock just engaging when i'm driving along normally with the keys in the ignition.
Would I need a new steering column and barrel lock/keys etc to sort out the problem? Cheers.

 

Has your car history of being stolen recoverd????....sounds like steering lock has been broken in the past.

 

AA check came back clear 2 years ago when first purchased it but it was only in country 1 year before i bought it off the dealer who sold me it (same dealer that imported it!)
It is an import which makes me shudder to think it was nicked in Japan to export to UK.

 

What did you say your address was again

 

This was the case on a nissan micra I had a while back....it was stolen recovered and the same thing happned. In fact my keys would drop out of the barrel if i went over a large bump in the road!!!!

Dont worry the steering will not lock up whilst you are driving.......

Is there any play in your steerin column????? hold the steering wheel tightly and move side - to - side and up - and - down is there any movement?

 

Tentenths, my address is as follows :

Lincoln Police Station,
Divisional HQ,
30, West Parade,
Lincoln, Lincolnshire,
LN1 1YP

hehe

Ask for Bernie behind the big counter and tell him your here to nick an impreza.

 

Phew, hope not, been drivin everywhere really slow recently, almost at the speed limit worried about it!

There is no play in the steering wheel column, the plastic just creaks a little when i do that!

 

Khany: what should happen when I do that? Is that ok like that?

I have no other problems with the keys, steering etc... so I presume it is ok to continue driving like that?

 

You neednt worry, itll just be a little worn. Contrary to the accepted wisdom there is very little car theft in Japan; most of the stolen vehicles were exported to Dubai where there was a small industry ringing them... whilst a percentage came here, it was a small percentage. The vehicles were involved were all nearly new and of a high value. For a number of years it hasnt been possible to export a vehicle from Japan with its regristration plates; all cars have to be inspected and de-registered by the state before export.

Simon

 

Cool......you could get the steering lock repaired if you are still a bit paranoid...or better still get one of thoes pop off steering wheels for extra security!!!!!

 

If your steering column has no play and your steering wheek turns lock to lock in a nice motion then it should be fine.

 

Yeh it works nice n smooth lock to lock and tried another impreza key in it off the same model/age but it wont fit in fully let alone turn! Cheers for info so far!

 

As Ive said; this is almost certainly the result of wear rather than the car steering lock being broken. To overcome the steering lock you either break the casting (internally or externally) or you remove the barrel, allowing you to disable the steering lock with a screw driver as you would with the key. In either case the steering lock/ignition housing will be broken; even if it isnt then it wont cause the keys to drop out, this is caused by the retaining pin in the ignition barrel wearing.

Simon

 

Cheers, GC8, that gives me more peace of mind! Was really worried when driving it before! Didnt even cross my mind before about wear, just thought it been nicked!

 

In this country you never know but car theft in Japan is very very rare; Quentin Wilson was misinformed!

Simon

 

My MY97 does the same thing, no problems with steering etc. Must just be wear. Handy for locking the house while warming it up!
John

 

I had the exact same problem with an import classic, i just changed the barrel easy plus peace of mind

 

LOL - Almost accidentally did that outside ARGOS this dinner time 8)
Warming it up nicely for the car thief!

 

A mate used to have a complete pile of ****e fiesta years ago and if he went round a left hand bend fast (quite a feat in a fiesta ) the keys would fall out of the ignition Great fun when he wanted to then turn it off and the keys had slid under the seat

 

I had a mk111 Escort where, provided you had your foot on the footbrake, the headlights were always on and you could turn the ignition off and remove the key, but the car would continue to run

Turned out to be a poor earth return behind ONE rear light unit.

Alcazar

 

i had a uk classic that did the same thing with the spare key. its just a worn key. the other one that came with the car was perfect.