1995 Frontera steering wheel is locked can not turn the key how do you fix it have already tried turning wheel both ways hard while turning key.?

Answer 1

I had a go at it and removed the steering wheel, column cowls, and indicator switch. I then removed the shear bolts without having to drill them. It relieved pressure then I pushed on the pin on the outside of the ignition switch. Then the key turned easily. Thank you very much for your advice!! You shouldn't really turn hard on the wheel,it can damage the locking pawl.In case it's the key barrel itself which is stiff,give it a shot of WD40 using the straw.Then try to free it with small rapid side to side wheel movements.It may help to jack the car and wag the roadwheels to ensure they are straight and "unload" the steering column.If this doesn't work,you may have to remove the whole lock.This entails removing the steering wheel,column cowls and light/indicator switch.The shear bolts have to be drilled and extracted,but the lock will not come off unless the key is to "off".If the locking pawl is bruised,you may be able to dress out the damage and refit with new shearbolts. Glad to help,don't get hardly any feedback on this site normally.Shear bolts can often be turned with a punch,and sometimes you find them "unsheared"which makes things easier.Nice to hear no expensive replacement parts rquired.