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[fiend61]

yes there are 3 screws in the bottom cowling but there is also 2 screws hidden by the steering wheel. you have to turn steering wheel to see them, thats why the right angle screwdriver was suggested 

[wightyboy2]

Cheers fiend61 for the reply , turning the steering wheel is going to be a problem , cant turn the key and the steering lock is on 

[Kevin Wood]

just got back in , still no luck getting the key too turn , will have another go tomorrow but I dont think it is going to go , when trying the key is there any best technique to try IE light pressure etc , looking at my steering column cover I dont think Ineed the right angle screwdrivers it looks like three screws at the bottom of vertical holes , thanks for any interest in my dilemma 

As said, try pulling it out slightly, pushing it in all the way, etc. In case there's a little misalignment.

I found a bit of light oil on the key, push it in and then tap the end if the key with something to try to shock the levers into place helped a little.

Might be temperature related? Can you direct some hot air from a hair dryer, etc, up ionto the cowling for a while and see if it improves once the whole assembly has warmed up a little? :-/ Might be some lubricant that's gone waxy in the cold?

Kevin

[fiend61]

Cheers fiend61 for the reply , turning the steering wheel is going to be a problem , cant turn the key and the steering lock is on   

i.e the right angled screwdriver, the other way is to undo the 3 screws underneath then snap the cowling off but this will mean getting another cowling, i would persevere as kevin has suggested 

[Kevin Wood]

Cheers fiend61 for the reply , turning the steering wheel is going to be a problem , cant turn the key and the steering lock is on   

i.e the right angled screwdriver, the other way is to undo the 3 screws underneath then snap the cowling off but this will mean getting another cowling, i would persevere as kevin has suggested 

You could always remove the steering wheel.

Kevin

[wightyboy2]

Hi , the story so far , after freezing my nuts off trying too get the key too turn with no luck , decided to go for plan B I took the cowling off but sorry if I am being a numpty I cant see the 2 headless bolts too undo any where the ignition lock looks like being part of a solid aluminium castind with no joins which wrapped right round the steering column so coudlnt drop down , on the end of the ignition switch there is a large flat black electrical connector , any ideas anyone? the car is stuck at my work place I am on lates this week so when I go back this afternoon I will see if any of the lads have any ideas and risk having the P--- taken out of me if I am missing the obvious Cheers again for any input 

[fiend61]

You could always remove the steering wheel.

didnt think of that kevin  but not many people carry a 22mm socket around with them 

[Abiton]

Hi , the story so far , after freezing my nuts off trying too get the key too turn with no luck , decided to go for plan B I took the cowling off but sorry if I am being a numpty I cant see the 2 headless bolts too undo any where the ignition lock looks like being part of a solid aluminium castind with no joins which wrapped right round the steering column so coudlnt drop down , on the end of the ignition switch there is a large flat black electrical connector , any ideas anyone? the car is stuck at my work place I am on lates this week so when I go back this afternoon I will see if any of the lads have any ideas and risk having the P--- taken out of me if I am missing the obvious Cheers again for any input 

You need to be looking at the topside of the steering column.  The two bolts in question come down from there intothe two tapped holes visible on the topside of the assembly in this pic:

[wightyboy2]

Thanks Abiton am going back into work in a mo will have a look , Cheers 

[wightyboy2]

Hi just got back from work , I can see the two fasteners that  I need to remove but with my eyesight that aint what it was they look wierd little buggers they dont seem to protrude to much so as to get a chisel on to turn it looks like a shiny middle to it with what looks like some sort of black collar round it ? could I remove them by splitting the collar or am i on the wrong track of thought here , appreciate any advice 

[Abiton]

Can't honestly remember what they look like, it was a while back, and it was the AA man that undid them.  I did put them back in though once the key was turning again.

If the space available is too small, it may well have been a punch + hammer rather than chisel + hammer that was used.

Sorry, my memory's going with my advancing years.

[wightyboy2]

Hi Abiton , sorry if this is a stupid question in one of your earlier replies in the part about once I have managed to drop the ignition switch down from the column then i could use a screwdriver to start the car is that possible with the tumblers still in as I cant move the key too position one to remove them , thanks for support in my dilemma 

[Abiton]

Hello again.  You basically need to get the black bit off the left-hand end of the whole assy in the pic above, in order to be able to operate the ignition switch itself with a screwdriver.

It might seem that you could leave the other bit in place. You could start it like that (as long as you have the key near the immobiliser ring), but the steering lock would be on, so you'd be very limited in where you could drive it.

So in brief, having got those two bolts undone, dropped the whole assy free, and the switch off the end, you can start it and drive it as normal.  Can't remember whether the key/immob chip has to stay near the ring once it's started, easy to find out tho'.

[wightyboy2]

HI ok thanks for that , I will have another go at it tomorrw and let you know how I get on Cheers for the posts 

[raywilb]

followed this thread as iv,e had same prob, and today iv,e tried to start the car via switch. this method was ok until i tried to turn out of my drive then the steering lock went on. a new barrel cost me £47.29 but a key pass & proof of ownership was required. i get my new stuff on tues