Stuck Steering Wheel

[zaashf]

Hi all,

Seems like all of my issues have to do with my steering lol. This morning I woke up and remote started my truck like usual. I got in, started it up, and began backing out of the driving. Only when I got to the end of the driveway I realized that the steering wheel was bound up. The way it feels when the wheel is security locked. I called up my dealership and asked them if they could guide me through it over the phone to get it unlocked. They said I could bring it over and they can see it on Monday morning. However I’m only home for the weekend and I need to be back for classes on Monday ?. I looked up solutions on YouTube and all of the solutions have to do with a key that also won’t turn in the ignition. My key turns so none of the solutions where I simultaneously turn the key and the wheel have worked. Also the tires are pointed straight so not an issue of the wheel bound up because of full lock. Anybody know what’s going on and what I can do to fix it myself?

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[GearHd6]

Your dealer asked you to bring them a truck that can't steer? Is the dealer straight ahead or behind you?

 

[zaashf]

Haha he said to get insurance to tow it to them

 

[TomC]

Tried disconnecting battery > 15 minutes? my first electrical gremlin step...

 

[zaashf]

I did try that and still nothing. I thought that the steering wheel lock was a mechanical device? I actually have no idea

 

[TomC]

Fuse 19 in the engine fuse box is power steering. Check That?

 

[RedDakooter05]

Have you tried pushing inward on the steering wheel, messed with it's telescoping?

 

[TomC]

Get any messages? Data dump owners manual.

 

[zaashf]

Update: I got it unstuck. Drove it back and forth a few times and hit the brakes real hard. And then drove it in reverse one more time with constant tension on the steering wheel in one direction and it freed it up. I think the extreme cold plus the security on the remote start might have caused it to stick. I guess brute force sometimes it the answer. Thanks for the assist guys.

 

[Cabose-1]

Glad it worked out for you! From my experience, with electric steering, usually a very expensive fix.

 

[zaashf]

Glad it worked out for you! From my experience, with electric steering, usually a very expensive fix.

Yeah for sure. You should check out my other thread. Getting my steering fixed after a minor accident ended up costing almost $800. Got flashbacks to that incident this morning

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/loose-steering-wheel-on-ranger-with-copilot-360.10989/

 

[AdamHarris]

It would seem your current issue is related to the gf tree hit.

 

[Motorpsychology]

I did try that and still nothing. I thought that the steering wheel lock was a mechanical device? I actually have no idea

If it is absolutely locked in place like it is welded, that's probably in the steering column.

If it seems to budge a little bit, Rangers like most newer vehicles have electric power steering rather than hydraulic. the EPS can be harder to turn with no power that the old hydraulic PS was, but it will turn with high effort.

I don't know if the remote/app start has some sort of feature that locks the steering electronically until you turn the key to ON, but you might try repeating the process of starting the truck from the remote or Ford Pass app, & turn the key to ON, and see if it clears.

 

[Motorpsychology]

a year later, the headache came back....

Weird.

 

[tfisher15]

a year later, the headache came back....

Both times in January during the Canadian winter. Perhaps a clue?

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