Locking steering column...???, is this a necessity??? Options

[Mueller]

currently locking mechanism broken*, if one never planned to park on a hill, should one bother fixing it?

as an anti-theft device, the steering wheel can be unlocked if enough force is used (I've done it by cranking on the wheel without too much effort)

*can turn wheel with key out of ignition

[dmenche914]

Mike: Always hated the locking steering, and many other of the governmnet mandated features of new cars. i have the habbit of turning off the engine and coasting into my parents driveway in my older cars, (worked great in high school days while quitely sneeking in late past curfew). I once was driving a car with locking steering, and tried that trick and almost crashed!

As far as locking the wheel for parking on a hill, do not worry about it. Cars with no locking steering can curb the wheels just fine, youd have to roll a good distance before the wheels straighten out. The locking steering is purely a anti theft device, and as you have found, is of marginal value.

I would be concerned as the other writer mentioned, that the broken piece might fall into the wrong place at the wrong time, and cause a crash, so i would pull the steering wheel, and get the broken bit out of there, then put it back together, and never mind fixxing it.

Locking steering to me is as useful as seat belt buzzers, and starter interuption unless clutch is depressed (as on friends mazda truck) this by the way is hard on the thrust on main bearing (pressure on bearing when clutch depressed, before oil pressure is built up)

At anyrate, get the broken piece out of there, and you will be just fine. For theft protection, get a big bad dog or buy a gun!

By the way, did you get the 1.8 running yet????

dave