[hobo mofo]

Hey all,

Got the dreaded yellow steering wheel and padlock symbol followed by a fast clicking noise yesterday night. Started ok this morning with no warning lights but after work i tried to start it and the car would not start. Got the car working in the end and it drove perfect.

The car is booked in to the dealers but it is safe to drive in the mean time?
Do you think a software update will cure this?

Thanks

[xenon]

New steering column required, common fault.

[davyk31]

Not always a case of new steering column, often just a software zap fixes it. Safe enough to drive as won't try to lock when driving, main issue is if it breaks when locked then the problem is getting a car with locked steering onto a truck and into the workshop.

Would get it looked at fairly quickly.

[hobo mofo]

I've read through some other threads about this and could just be a low battery.
The cars is booked in for a diognostics soon. Will keep you all updated

Thanks

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by hobo mofo

I've read through some other threads about this and could just be a low battery.
The cars is booked in for a diognostics soon. Will keep you all updated

Thanks

+1

Few things to consider.
1- check your battery and if it is aftermarket battery, then that might be the cause. Also if your battery is dying, that could lead to it.
2- On pre-LCI, this is common fault. Steering lock gets locked and unlocked with the key insertion.
In LCI, they have changed the design of this lock and coded it to work with locking and unlocking of the doors rather with insertion of the key.
3- If your car is pre-LCI, search for the DIY and it shows you how to clean the lock and that may help. (if you know what you are doing)
4- If you cannot do it and you take it to dealer, they may change the steering column + update the software for pre-LCI.
However if failure happens on LCI, then protocol is to update the software only first and that should resolve. If that does not, then change the steering coloumn as well.

This is what I have gathered from 2 days of reading post on this before I updated my DSC module.

HTH.

[xenon]

It's a 2007 so pre-LCI.

[hobo mofo]

Originally Posted by makkan00

+1

Few things to consider.
1- check your battery and if it is aftermarket battery, then that might be the cause. Also if your battery is dying, that could lead to it.
2- On pre-LCI, this is common fault. Steering lock gets locked and unlocked with the key insertion.
In LCI, they have changed the design of this lock and coded it to work with locking and unlocking of the doors rather with insertion of the key.
3- If your car is pre-LCI, search for the DIY and it shows you how to clean the lock and that may help. (if you know what you are doing)
4- If you cannot do it and you take it to dealer, they may change the steering column + update the software for pre-LCI.
However if failure happens on LCI, then protocol is to update the software only first and that should resolve. If that does not, then change the steering coloumn as well.

This is what I have gathered from 2 days of reading post on this before I updated my DSC module.

HTH.

Thanks for the detailed info makkan00. I will check the battery asap.
I hope that if it does turn out to be the steering coloumn, it does'nt cost the earth for the part/labour.

[hobo mofo]

I got it booked in for this monday but the warning light or clicking sound has not happend for over two weeks. Do you think i should take it in or wait to see if it returns?

[jester77]

Had this on my pre-LCI. Had a software update from CPC in Amersham and touch wood fine since. Never got stranded with it, but a few panics along the way!

[makkan00]

Going to offer update for this module to those who are local to me.

[hobo mofo]

Originally Posted by makkan00

Going to offer update for this module to those who are local to me.

How long does the update take? The warning light has not come back for over two weeks now so i cancelled the dealer visit. I hope it was just a blip.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by hobo mofo

How long does the update take? The warning light has not come back for over two weeks now so i cancelled the dealer visit. I hope it was just a blip.

Expect 1-2 hours minimum.

I hope it does not come on agian.

[hobo mofo]

What does the update actually do? I read some where it lowers the voltage to release the steering lock. Don't know if this is true or not.

[Jayteey]

I may be well late with this answer, BUT, this symbol doesn't always mean doom and replacement of a steering column. I have the e92 coupe and had this symbol flash up on the dash while the car was on my drive. The story goes that I wanted to replace the Angel eye bulbs for brighter led ones. After watching a few vid on YouTube there were a few that showed I needed to take off the wheel and remove the arch liner and a few that said I could do the job through a ridiculously small hole on top of the light cluster. After trying the small hole option and struggling to twist the new bulbs into place with my rather large hands, I tried the arch liner option but without taking the wheel off. So I start the engine and put the steering on a full lock and then turn off. Again, after realising I couldn't peel the liner back enough to do the job, I decided to do it properly by jacking the car up and taking the wheel and liner off. NOW, upon trying to start the car to straighten the wheel to take it off, I got the clicking noise and wheel and lock symbol. I've had the car for 4 weeks at this point and needless to say my heart sank and all I could see were pound signs fluttering off into the distance. Luckily enough, an AA man lives just up the road and happened to be passing. "What's this symbol mean Mike??" I asked as he was on his way home..... Turns out, because the steering was on a full lock or turn, the steering lock was struggling to disengage. All I had to do was turn the steering in the direction it was locked in (ie, if they are turned all the way to the left, I had to turn the wheel or rather put pressure on to the left to release the pressure off the steering lock) and have never had the symbol show up since. I will say I haven't parked the car with the steering left turned, I've always straightened the wheels since but apparently that's all it was..... Hope this helps other people and saves a few from some tuts and head shakes from garages who will tell you "needs a new steering column mate" at the cost of rediculous!!

[bishbosh]

Originally Posted by Jayteey

I may be well late with this answer, BUT, this symbol doesn't always mean doom and replacement of a steering column. I have the e92 coupe and had this symbol flash up on the dash while the car was on my drive. The story goes that I wanted to replace the Angel eye bulbs for brighter led ones. After watching a few vid on YouTube there were a few that showed I needed to take off the wheel and remove the arch liner and a few that said I could do the job through a ridiculously small hole on top of the light cluster. After trying the small hole option and struggling to twist the new bulbs into place with my rather large hands, I tried the arch liner option but without taking the wheel off. So I start the engine and put the steering on a full lock and then turn off. Again, after realising I couldn't peel the liner back enough to do the job, I decided to do it properly by jacking the car up and taking the wheel and liner off. NOW, upon trying to start the car to straighten the wheel to take it off, I got the clicking noise and wheel and lock symbol. I've had the car for 4 weeks at this point and needless to say my heart sank and all I could see were pound signs fluttering off into the distance. Luckily enough, an AA man lives just up the road and happened to be passing. "What's this symbol mean Mike??" I asked as he was on his way home..... Turns out, because the steering was on a full lock or turn, the steering lock was struggling to disengage. All I had to do was turn the steering in the direction it was locked in (ie, if they are turned all the way to the left, I had to turn the wheel or rather put pressure on to the left to release the pressure off the steering lock) and have never had the symbol show up since. I will say I haven't parked the car with the steering left turned, I've always straightened the wheels since but apparently that's all it was..... Hope this helps other people and saves a few from some tuts and head shakes from garages who will tell you "needs a new steering column mate" at the cost of rediculous!!

I had this happen to me too when I had the steering wheel turned to almost full lock. The pressure on the steering lock becomes too great and it won't unlock and you get the warning light. My resolution was the same as yours - turn the wheel to release pressure from the lock and insert the key again. I now always keep the wheels fairly straight when stopping the engine and I've never had the light come on since