You can't fix stupid.

[OperaHawk]

And that would be ME.

When in the shop that did the sloppy job on Fenice, the tech put the lower dash trim piece over the steering wheel adjustment lever. After putting it in the correct place (and having the wheel fall in my lap while driving!), I decided to fix this problem by just tightening up the bolt on the end of the adjustment. Since I didn't have the instrument panel out and I couldn't take the top cover off the steering column, I stared taking off bolts in the hope that it would drop.

No soap, so I put everything back on. All went on fine, with the exception of one bolt holding the spline in place to the U-joint. I had to whack that with a hammer to get it past the spline.

And in doing that, I apparently engaged the anti-theft mechanism in the key lock. Now the key won't turn and neither will the steering wheel...

BTW: I ended up cutting the dash trim so the adjustment lever would move farther into the dash, which is WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

So now I'm waiting for a tow.

Well, we have to learn SOME way, right?

(sob)

SBJ

[Charley]

Try putting tension against the steering wheel while turning it to first the right (and then to the left) simultaneously as you try to turn the key.

[OperaHawk]

Doesn't work. My mechanic says a pin from the key might have dropped as well.

Crap. More money...

Welcome to the wonderful world of Beta Owners.

Do we have an AA program of sorts?

SBJ

[Jim Keller]

There are 4 small nuts that hold the steering column to the support, you neeed to pull the wiring back away a tad to see them, they are just behind the column switch under the wiries. Take those nuts/washers out, after bending the wiring retaining tabs along the column to rel;ease the wiring harnes so it has slack, and the column will drop to the seat

I am willing to bet you have the key cylinders lock tab on a bind wiht the steering shaft due to too much tension from not having the half shaft seated all the way. Sounds like the splines are not aligned properly as they should wiggle right on with little to no help from the hammer once you find the proper alignement.......I seem to be thinking there is one spline wider than the rest, but I can not swear to that without removing mine again, anyway, you should never have to pound it back on.

[Jim Keller]

I also almost forgot to tell you, on the other side of the steering column from the tilt lock handles piviot end is a large nut you can tighten so you don't have to shove the handle in so far, it's totally adjustable, so if the handle isn't holding the steering tilt in your desired position, tighten that nut a quarter turn or so till it holds tight with the handle in the position you want it.

[OperaHawk]

Update:

As everyone on the Forum can tell me (DOH!) there is a notch in the spline where the bolt goes; I'm thinking that it moved towards the firewall when I took the bolt out. My mechanic has that fixed. It apparently didn't engage the anti-theft system, and everything works fine now.

But wow - an early 80's car with a sophistocated anti-theft system on it? Whould'a thunk?

Don't get to see it until I come back from Florida (LA BOHEME, for anyone who's around St. Augustine Jan. 23/25), so I'll have to drive the Beast down (the Grand Cherokee). I was looking forward to scooting around on the beach drives in my little Italian wonder... Ah, well...

SBJ

[OperaHawk]

Fenice is BACK!!!!!

I had the mechanic repack a bearing in the left rear wheel (apparently frozen) and bead-blast the cig. lighter/accessory, along with fixing my stupidity with the steering column.

Man, did I miss her...

SBJ