Steering Lock Malfunction

[Tregar]

Hi Everyone,

To mis-quote Oscar Wilde, "To have one Steering Lock Malfunction may be regarded as misfortune; to have two looks like carelessness!".

Admittedly these occurred on different cars but equally annoying on both! The first was a faulty Steering Lock & fixed by Chris H in Yelverton before he hung up his spanners.

The current one is on a 2005 2.0t Vector convertible. Bit of history, failed MOT on High Beam switch faulty. Cured by replacing the CIM holder (& transferring the CIM over). Sadly that one then failed as indicators wouldn't work. Onto holder 3, which passed MOT but CIM taken in & out again.
Error first cropped up driving out of the drive, stopped to put the roof down, but error came up & couldn't clear. Put this down to a poor battery so replaced that. The actual Steering Lock does nothing, fortunately it is "stuck" in unlock mode. While I can beat the 'Checking' sequence & start the engine (which runs up to temperature fine & battery taking 14.5/6 volts), being an automatic, I can't get it out of Park once the error has shown up, so driving it anywhere is unrealistic. I've also popped out Fuse 2 (& Fuse 1 on occassion) to clear message but comes back on at next try.

I have a spare ISM to try, awaiting a replacement Steering Lock but what I don't have is access to a Tech 2 to test & change anything.

So if there is anyone with a Tech 2 in the North Cornwall area & willing to help out, I'd be much obliged, along with payment &/or beer tokens for services rendered!   

Any other ideas welcomed too, as I've booked for SaabInt23 & would like to attend in a Saab!   

Many thanks!

Terry

[sgould]

If you pull up the rubber mat in the front centre cubby, you should see a yellow lever.  This is the emergency release lever and will free the gear selector from "Park".

Have you found Ian Coker at Tinhay Garage, Nr. Lifton?  https://www.tinhaygarage.co.uk

Ian used to work for Chris Hamley...

[Tregar]

Thanks for that! They say you should learn something new every day!

I've been down to see Ian, had a long chat, & the car is booked in for next week. ;-)

Speaking to Ian, I also asked about changing the tranmission fluid, as while it works fine, after 169k I think it deserves a rest! Rather than the 3ltr-ish in & out method, he has a machine that will change 10ltr at one go.

Regards,

Terry

[Tregar]

Car got to the stage where it would no longer access to turn over let alone start so recovered to the garage.

Turned out the CIM was duff & has been replaced by a "new" one. However, while the garage could add the CIM via Tech II, thereby curing the "steering Lock" problem, they don't have TIS so while it will now turn over, it won't start.

Before I have to ship it to another garage, anyone around the Launceston, Cornwall area have TIS that could help out?

Many thanks,

Terry