Steering Wheel Lock-up?

[KDRABIK]

I know this may be an incredibley dumb question, but isn't the steering wheel supposed to lock-up when you shut down and turn the wheel before exiting? From day 1 my truck hasn't, and only recently did I start to wonder. There have been so many changes and alterations to the truck over the years, who knows anymore!



2001 2500 QC LB 4X4 Auto 4:10, Line-X, Hadley "Bully" Airhorns

 

[Joe Mc]

Good Question!

I don't recall if my 99 locks up or not, I've only had it since late May 01. Does your gear selector lock or not? I think I've noticed it locked and then sometimes it isn't. I'm going to check right now . . . I just went out and turned the wheel about an 1/8 turn, it gave me a noticable "click" and locked. The gear selector was locked also.



Try turning the wheel both ways a few times to see if the pin engages. If not, your's is so new that I'd have it back to the dealer for immediate corrective action . . . for sure!

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Mine locks on my 01' 4x4 QC, i would think your was supposed to also. Unless they deleted it?

 

[KDRABIK]

Joe-



Thanks for the response! To answer your question/suggestion, the gear selector DOES lock, but even if I torque left or right on the steering wheel, it still won't lock. Thanks again.



EMDDIESEL-



Thank you for your response as well. My truck is one of the early 2001's, so if your wheel locks, I figure Joe is right in saying I'm due for a visit to the dealer!! This will be the 4th trip in less than two months for warranty work. I'm glad I finally found a dealership with a great service team (Wayland Chrysler Dodge, Wayland, MI), but I'm less than amused with all of the little things that keep breaking or going wrong with this truck! But who knows, maybe once I get all of this stuff repaired, hopefully I won't have anymore problems for the life of the truck!

 

[DennyDay]

Steering Lock

On both my '99 and '01 there is a single point where the steering wheel locks, and it is about 10 o'clock as you are turning the wheel. Can be hard to do with engine off, and may also be hard on steering linkage by forcing with vehicle not rolling. I licated mine for use of the club when traveling, by letting it roll down the driveway and turning the steering wheel with the key off. Be careful, brakes don't work so good this way either.

Denny

 

[CumminsPower98]

When I first got mine I thought it was messed up because it didn't lock. It finally locked one day by acident when I was working on something. I found out that it does not lock in the nearly straight posision like I am used to with most vehicles. I had to have the wheel turned way over before it clicked in.

 

[Ethdee]

Mine locks up upside-down. Only in that position.



Ethdee

 

[John Berger]

I have never had mine locked up. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I ever tried. Something else to do. I don't think mine locks, though.

 

[mopars1]

The wheel locks in only one position whether you turn it right or left. This has been the case for a few years. Don't know why the change but that is what they went to. The locking position is roughly in the half a rotation position.

 

[KDRABIK]

Crank on that wheel!

Mopars1-



Thanks for the advice, but I have already tried reefin' on the steering wheel until it was practically 180 degrees from the start. Still, it won't lock. I guess it really isn't that big of a deal, at least the gear selector locks. I am planning on taking it to the dealer for them to look at, because like others have stated, I don't want to mess up the linkage due to cranking on the steering wheel trying to get it to lock up.