Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: robson on 10 August 2022, 17:12:10
-
further to my recent post my barrel has locked again.I have tried spare keys but no joy.I had a new barrel fitted about 6000mls ago barrel from GM.Do I have to get locksmith out again.and will gm supply a new barrel to suit my keys. any ideas.
-
Have you tried turning the steering wheel side to side while turning the key ?
-
Yes but no joy I will try in morning when cool :y
-
further to my recent post my barrel has locked again.I have tried spare keys but no joy.I had a new barrel fitted about 6000mls ago barrel from GM.Do I have to get locksmith out again.and will gm supply a new barrel to suit my keys. any ideas.
Are you sure it's the barrel that's locked and not the pin that locks the steering wheel? That's what jiggling the wheel while trying the key actually 'fixes'. This is most likely if the fault occurred without any previous symptoms. It was a very common job on Vauxhalls in hot weather when I was a recovery driver. Sometimes the cooling action of a healthy squirt of contact cleaner into the lock and the column shroud was enough to release what was jammed.
Vauxhall ought to supply a new barrel matched to your key, but it will cost more than a random one and take a while to be delivered.
Some things to do from now on:
Never engage the steering lock!
Always park with the front wheels straight.
Never park with the front wheels touching the kerb.
Slim down the keyring with your car key on it - do you really need to carry every key you own all the time? A collection of sharp metal objects hanging near you knee won't be any good in a crash either.
Locks should be lubricated by a tiny amount of graphite powder applied to the key - a couple of strokes from a pencil is enough. Do that after you've cleaned out the residue of whatever is in there now.
-
Thanks Nick for the post I must admit that I thought that it might be the steering pin but I cant release it by moving the steering wheel.Does this mean barrel drilled out to get to the locking mechanism.Tried again to release today whilst cooler but no go.
-
GM no longer supply ignition barrel for my car.If I need one to fix my problem I will have to get an fleeby version and have 2 sets of keys. :-[
-
GM or Vauxhall?
There being a distinct difference ;)
-
Thanks Nick for the post I must admit that I thought that it might be the steering pin but I cant release it by moving the steering wheel.Does this mean barrel drilled out to get to the locking mechanism.Tried again to release today whilst cooler but no go.
Drilling the barrel won't help you release a stuck locking pin. Other butchery is necessary to do that.
-
If all else fails try TheAutoLocksmith - 0800 158 3798 - says they cover the home counties - no doubt pricey
-
Hello Nick is this a job that can be done once the barrel is out who is going to steal a 2007 car.Doc I meant vauxhall.
-
Sorry all I think the heat is getting to me no not a 2007 car but a 2003 car
-
Hello Nick is this a job that can be done once the barrel is out who is going to steal a 2007 car.Doc I meant vauxhall.
I've not got that far into a Vauxhall, but it's unlikely: the barrel sits in front of the actual lock gubbins, and drives them with a small pin. And to get the barrel out without buggering up the bore it sits in and the parts it drives isn't easy.
The best advice is to keep trying the key and wheel occasionally, as it might eventually let go. Then you can dismantle the assembly the way it's meant to be and decide what you're going to do next.
-
Thanks Nick looking at the haynes manual it shows a locking latch at the base of the housing press downward to release bolt.If I do manage to free without all this should I turn to position one and change barrel before I get the same problem.
-
Took your advice Nick I tried releasing lock several times this afternoon after, having sprayed ptfe lubricant into the lock, and finally ,much cooler, it released.One thing I also did was rocked the front wheels, car was in park and joggeled the steering wheel.Now I have to see if it remains in working order. Thanks for the help :y
-
Took your advice Nick I tried releasing lock several times this afternoon after, having sprayed ptfe lubricant into the lock, and finally ,much cooler, it released.One thing I also did was rocked the front wheels, car was in park and joggeled the steering wheel.Now I have to see if it remains in working order. Thanks for the help :y
Now is the time to remove the lock cylinder and the column shrouds(you need to turn the wheel to do this) and inspect the locking mechanism. If the pin or matching hole are damaged, remove the pin.
I would leave the shrouds off until I was convinced that any faults have been fixed.
-
thanks NICK is the pin at the base of the lock cylinder housing,how do i remove the pin? Haynes23.6?