Steering lock

[Mullen]

Quick question...
Can I just break the steering lock with a breaker bar through the steering wheel to avoid having to hook up a battery & use the ignition/key to unlock it?
Not bothered about damaging anything just want to be able to turn the front wheels with electrics removed.
Or is there a better way to do it?
Thanks.

[gazrev1tubby]

Surely it'd be a better idea to just remove the ignition barrel. Takes all of about 5 minutes.

Also, your car will fail an mot without a steering lock

But, with everything in mind, why can't you just put the key in the ignition and release the lock by simply turning to the first click?

Someone who wants to willingly damage their own car, just baffles me

[thomp1983]

As gaz said, the steering lock is mechanical turning the key one click disables it allowing the steering to turn no power required.

It's not strictly required for an mot but it can be difficult getting a tester to follow the reading of the rules and not how they think they apply

[Mullen]

Be baffled no more, it's going to the scrapyard eventually.
I just need to move it around on the drive without a battery in it & didn't realise you don't need one to unlock it with the key.

[gazrev1tubby]

Ah I see!

But, just for the record, it became part of the mot test last year. Cars without a working steering lock, will fail

[thomp1983]

No it won't.



From the test manual if you have an immobiliser fitted then not required. So for the record it must work if there isn't an immobiliser fitted.

so not required at all for probably 80% of car tests

[gazrev1tubby]

Great info, I didn't realise that. I was told it was pretty cut and dry, but clearly not!