Steering wheel turns W/key out

[Rcn11thacr]

I have spent hours researching google and this site, to no avail. Please help.

1994 K1500 Silverado automatic w/tilt steering wheel. Recently, the steering wheel stopped locking up when the key is removed.

Most common research says this is a broken detent, broken cog, or broken actuator. I don’t see a detent or cog on any schematic for this model…..

I know there is a lock plate with external splines (and internal splines to the column), that when the ignition switch is in the lock position a plunger engages the splines.

The problem I have is the “Steering wheel lock pin” (which is what I believe locks the wheel) is NOT broken.

I replaced the “Switch communicator interruptor” while I was in there.

Could it be the ignition switch/lock itself that is causing the problem? Nothing else is broken inside the column.

 

[GrimsterGMC]

When the key is turned off a spring is tensioned to push the pawl into the slots in the back of the steering wheel to stop it turning. This never worked on my truck from when I bought it but a couple of years later I was was visiting family in a remote area when I found I couldn't turn the ignition switch. I twisted and wrenched on it untill it finally moved as I couldn't go anywhere until it did and drove all the way home without turning the truck off. The next day I took the steering wheel off to see what the problem was and found the the spring had snapped off and had eventually found it's way between the little rack and pinion that pushes the the rod into the ignition switch under the dash. Needless to say that it is worth seeing what is happening in there in case it strands you someplace remote without the right tools to get the steering wheel off.

 

[Rcn11thacr]

I assume that you are referring to #45 on the schematic in the pictures? That is a flat spring and it is in god condition on my column.

 

[someotherguy]

Have you gone back into the column to be sure everything is still in place? My first suspicion is that the lock ring has slipped out of position because possibly the snap ring retainer wasn't installed or wasn't in its groove on the shaft, letting it pop loose. There's only a small amount of travel of the pin into the lock ring so any misalignment can let it "miss"

Richard

 

[Rcn11thacr]

Your referencing the snap ring retainer that is listed as #5, correct? That was tight as a tick and in place when I took the column apart.

 

[GrimsterGMC]

I assume that you are referring to #45 on the schematic in the pictures? That is a flat spring and it is in god condition on my column.

Mine was shaped like a hairpin and pushed directly on the back of the pawl if I remember correctly.

 

[Rcn11thacr]

Mine is round, about .5 ID.