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[unlucky alf]

Ive just been looking in the Haynes book of lies & there is no mention of the steering lock housing being removable, Does this mean I'll have to use the club hammer & replace the whole column?, 

[cd 2.2]

http://oldsite.omegaowners.com//forum/YaBB.pl?num=1213353737

No idea if this will help the cause or not as it states you have to have the ignition in position 1

[Andy B]

Ive just been looking in the Haynes book of lies & there is no mention of the steering lock housing being removable, Does this mean I'll have to use the club hammer & replace the whole column?, 

I'm sure the ignition lock was originally bolted on using shear headed bolts so I'd guess that judicious use of Vice/Mole grips would remove it.

[terry paget]

Was the key stiff or hard to turn recently? I had a Senator behave similarly years ago. One day it would not turn at all, so I could not get the barrel out. Locksmiths would not help me. I put a drill down the middle of the lock - began with smaill drill bit, then progressively used bigger drills - and suddenly the lock turned easily with a screwdriver. Then I could turn the lock, start and run the car, but mainly, extract the lock barrel. Then I could change the lock barrel and all was well.

Moral is when lock barrels get stiff, take them out and clean them, as maintenance guide on this forum.

It was not a difficult job, can't think why it should not work on an Omega.

[unlucky alf]

Was the key stiff or hard to turn recently? I had a Senator behave similarly years ago. One day it would not turn at all, so I could not get the barrel out. Locksmiths would not help me. I put a drill down the middle of the lock - began with smaill drill bit, then progressively used bigger drills - and suddenly the lock turned easily with a screwdriver. Then I could turn the lock, start and run the car, but mainly, extract the lock barrel. Then I could change the lock barrel and all was well.

Moral is when lock barrels get stiff, take them out and clean them, as maintenance guide on this forum.

It was not a difficult job, can't think why it should not work on an Omega.

Cheers for the advice, I will be getting the old pig recovered this morning then I can attack it with a drill , In answer to your question the lock has been no problem at all & never stiff , Just hoping I can pick up a barrel & key today as I need the car for a hospital appointment tomorrow in Sheffield.

[Kevin Wood]

Before destroying it, I would recommend spending a little time trying to free it off. As said, some very light lubricant sprayed into the lock may help.

When this happened to me I found tapping the end of the key while trying to turn it worked. I guess it shocked the lock levers into moving where they were previously jammed. Once you have got the key to turn, you just need to remove the plastic cowling and insert an allen key to remove the barrel, so it's a much better solution than brute force, IMHO, although you might well end up having to resort to that.

If you do get it to move, turn it to position 1 and leave it there, then follow this guide: http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90600.0

[unlucky alf]

Before destroying it, I would recommend spending a little time trying to free it off. As said, some very light lubricant sprayed into the lock may help.

When this happened to me I found tapping the end of the key while trying to turn it worked. I guess it shocked the lock levers into moving where they were previously jammed. Once you have got the key to turn, you just need to remove the plastic cowling and insert an allen key to remove the barrel, so it's a much better solution than brute force, IMHO, although you might well end up having to resort to that.

If you do get it to move, turn it to position 1 and leave it there, then follow this guide: http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90600.0

Cheers Kevin, Unfortunately I've just read this after drilling it out. Anyhow the car is now back so it's down to a trip to the scrappys now to get another barrel, Luckily I dont have to program any keys or worry about chips as my old bus has the old RF immobiliser fitted, I believe the ignition tumbler is the same as Astras,Vectras, Zafiras etc so at least I havent got to find a miggy.

[Andy B]

... I believe the ignition tumbler is the same as Astras,Vectras, Zafiras etc so at least I havent got to find a miggy.

Omega's key are different.

Astra etc = http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-OPEL-Vectra-Astra-Zafira-2-button-Remote-Key-Fob-Shell-Blank-Blade-/170864991463?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Safety_Security&hash=item27c858dce7

Omega = http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-VECTRA-ASTRA-ZAFIRA-ETC-2-BUTTON-REMOTE-KEY-FOB-WITH-LED-LIGHT-/141234170279?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Safety_Security&hash=item20e23669a7

Don't take any notice of the eBay descriptions .... they're wrong 

[Phil]

Bit late. but check your key isn't bent!

Only needs to be a little bit 'off' and suddenly nothing works.

This happened to me the other day, drove to garage, filled up, got back in car to start it and couldn't get key to turn no matter how much I tried, pulled the key out and noticed it was ever so slightly bent, bent it back with my fingers prob less than 1mm and hey presto worked fine again