Tip of the Week: Dealing with a locked steering wheel

If you've ever gone to start a vehicle that has its steering wheel turned to the extreme left or right, you've likely dealt with a locked steering wheel.
A common-and easily solvable-problem, Motoring TV mechanic Bill Gardiner gives a quick lesson on dealing with a locked steering wheel in this Tip of the Week.
(This segment originally appeared on Episode 18 of Motoring 2014.)
**Watch full episodes of Motoring TV at MotoringTV.com**

[@lari4319]

You literally just saved me from parental wrath what a legend

[@corydorkaquariums9539]

Same

[@chieffeek3591]

Same

[@Lauren-tk1gq]

Same here. Thank you so much!!

[@muthukumarramakrishnan204]

Same here. We just got unstuck:) Thanks 🙏🏻

[@codyhenshen5487]

Fr

[@alasfranciseqn1868]

My steering column locked up on me, alone at night in the middle of a parking lot. I did exactly as he said and within two minutes my steering column unlocked and I was headed home. Totally saved me from being stuck in a random parking lot and kept me from panicking. Thank you!

[@jonathandobbs4693]

Thank you thank you thank you

[@leafagan8202]

Locked my steering wheel just now, so googled “how to unlock your steering wheel”. Your video came up, followed your instructions, worked like a charm. 8 years later, your video is still helping people! Thank you!!!

[@ZaneTheLostPoet]

Exactly!! Just happened to me- (though i was seeing how far i could turn my wheel with the car off 😅)

[@Rosalinaox]

This has never happened to me before. I guess I tugged the steering wheel too fast when straightening the tires upon parking. I was so scared I broke my car. Thank you for this! Quick and to the point. You’re my saviour.

[@amandaeide4283]

My dad was the best, and always took care of me and my car. Now that he’s gone I am completely figuring this out all on my own and I really appreciate this video. Thank you!

[@hammadialfakhri]

Sorry for your loss, He seemed like a great father.

[@joelansere8743]

Sorry for your loss

[@jaspreet6124]

You are such a sweetheart..tc

[@deepsheth7]

Dad ❤

[@the_great_mckenzie]

This was literally the best tutorial I’ve ever watched, thank you so much sir. Most people have told me to pull hard to one side of the wheel and that has never worked for me and this was the first time I’ve ever been able to unlock my steering wheel by myself

[@scootersonlyrepair6773]

Wow you shouldn't be allowed near a car then

[@rickybobbylarge1059]

@@scootersonlyrepair6773 shut up

[@lizzieh5020]

Me too right now my phone was on 3% too 😭

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

​@@scootersonlyrepair6773shut up

[@rosierosie99]

You saved me tonight. I was in the parking lot of the grocery store and the key and steering wheel were locked up. I could not take any more of this bad day! I looked up the problem and found you first thing. Less than a minute and I was gone except for this message. Thank you!!

[@leahbutcher5564]

bill, you’re a god. i’m naming my first born son after you. thank you bill🙏

[@cedricbrs481]

Love you man, I thought I was gonna die..

[@benthosundercover7916]

Same Thank fucking god this worked

[@MarcoHernandez-sy8ow]

i know man i start panicing lol .

[@deunte12]

Lol

[@user-fg3fv9hl3b]

​@@benthosundercover7916😂

[@JorgeMartinez-yl8de]

Right same

[@happykids_tvs]

Your tip literally worked. Stuck on the road with locked steering wheel problem for more than one-and-half an hour only to be rescued by your video. Hats off! Thank you so so much!

[@bethany9684]

Thank you so much Bill!!!! You are amazing and so wonderful to share these helpful videos!! My husband’s steering wheel locked up while parked in an unsafe location when he restarted it. He read the car manual and tried a few things. I suggested we look it up on KZbin and your video popped up right away. He was frustrated with the car wheel being locked, so I told him I would do it. It took me 3 seconds of slight, slow wiggling back and forth of the steering wheel while gently turning the key and it worked! We appreciate you and your channel so much! Thanks for saving date night for us!!

[@anndelynnking50]

This is very helpful. I bumped my steering wheel and it locked. I had no clue what to do as I am a relatively new driver. This was very easy to understand. 10/10 tip

[@kyleeliane2470]

I just got stuck in a Walmart parking lot. You saved my life 😂

[@ludiday3102]

Bruh me too 🥲

[@hoopervisions]

Cub for me

[@kendraspencer3616]

Omg me too !

[@DarkAngel-nc9yp]

This is why I love KZbin. Thank you. Got out of work and the car was locked in the position.

[@madibarkley988]

You just saved me from having a mental breakdown thank you

[@iantownson3015]

Just watched this while in my car, life saver

[@santhosh4567]

I bought a new car and locked the steering on 3rd day that too outside city limits where no human was on sight. I was really horrified thinking I did something terribly wrong. Your video came to my rescue. Thank you from bottom of my heart.

[@juniorramirez9030]

Omg lmafao 🤣

[@nesha1813]

It’s been 10yrs since this was posted and it helped me rn thankyou so much 🙏🙏

[@timoneill1456]

This video just saved me $90 from a tow truck company and half my day dealing with rescheduling my day !!!!! Thank you so much !!!!!!!

[@LordFrieza]

Worked like a charm man. You’re a life saver!!!!

[@kinglex2805]

I agree ☝🏾 he saved my whole trip this weekend.... Blessing to him and his family

[@oisinmurphy2025]

Thank you

[@gothiclala]

Saved my ass too I've never locked my steering till today ..... not even extreme turned just slightly

[@kobblestone6555]

Jesus Christ never even knew that could happen and this man just saved my ass

[@lazser47]

Thanks so much. Essentially had a mild panic when my son locked the steering. Thanks to the video I can breathe again

[@smgrizz]

This was the most helpful video I’ve found all over KZbin. Every other video said force the wheel and key, and it didn’t budge. The second I did it gentle, I turned on so much faster. 10/10 appreciate your advice!

[@aliasaidi8801]

I was panicking in the parking lot, found this video and it worked almost instantly. Thank you so much!

[@Eddienervous1]

This video saved my life. Exhausted after moving house with a hire van I thought I’d possibly broken the power steering. The way the steering wheel snapped out of my hands when I turned the ignition off was highly unusual. No play in the wheel, literally jammed stiff. I was gentle with the key as instructed but had to forcefully wobble the steering wheel and it freed.🙏🏼 Thank you for sharing this solution.

[@zavengrigoryan7784]

0:47 I was screaming from happiness hahaa

[@AB-or4tm]

I was raging this morning when I found the steering wheel locked. I ran to the laptop to find a solution in Google; and as a miracle you appear with your tip of the week. You really made my day. Many and many thanks!

[@RG-cg2wz]

I don't know how many times this video has saved me. Thanks very much man. It's now saved in my favourite videos on youtube. Straight to the point and always works

[@MrMarcelWiel]

Fantastic tutorial! You saved me from "why do you insist on always locking the wheel?" ad nauseum on an otherwise lovely Saturday afternoon 😊

[@thehumanrunner]

I just helped a random old lady with her using your video. Thank you sir!

[@davidgomez7519]

Super useful you saved me from having a fight with my dad. I thought that I had to pay me mad money to fix it plus having my dad complaining about not having a car Thank you

[@cancerchristine929]

David Gomez same I just got off the phone with my dad who was yelling at me cause I didn’t know how to do what he meant cause he explains it like ass and he make me freak out, now it’s okay and he’s still mad because I “freaked out for no reason”

[@songbird3094]

Thank you for this video. I was stuck at a hospital carpark late at night, with no one else around. It worked a treat

[@ladyinpink5138]

My full on panic attack and rage this morning was sooo close to exploding. I'm so thankful to find this video and his soothing voice explaining to just wiggle it saved my car's life lol

[@ashleecheatley4106]

I’m a new driver, & turned my wheel too far with the car off (didn’t know I couldn’t do that) & my wheel locked. I almost busted out crying 😂 omg thank you SOOOO MUCH. Thank you, thank you thank you!!!!

[@justindevendorf6626]

My sister sent me this like an hour ago because my steering wheel was locked up. Did this, worked within the first 10 seconds. Excellent advice, helped me out a bunch. Thank you so much!

[@TheMarymedlin]

Omg you saved me. We are in Switzerland leaving from a long day going to Airbnb and this happened to me. You do t know how much you saved me. The rental place would not known at all what to do. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. keep up the good work.

[@priscilla.t.a]

Oh thank God you're out here saving people's days, mine included. 🙏🏽

[@courtesyof24]

I just have to stop and say 100% thank you! I thought that my steering column was broken and I was going to have to spend thousands of dollars to get it fixed you literally just save me so much trouble!!!!

[@alexandramccowen7088]

I would’ve walked home in the dark if not for this - you literally saved my life

[@harrymicrotel3272]

I am new driver and on third day i locked my steering by trying to straighten the wheels while car engine was off. It resulted in wheel jam. I panicked and thought about mechanic and expenses.. then i googled and found this helpful video. It worked right away. Such a relief. Thank you so much ❤❤❤❤

[@oliviaaguirre3013]

This video is seven years old and you just solved my problem in the parking lot. Thank you so much!

[@cerruto2131]

This man should get a medal 🥇

[@TheDroc1990]

most useful video on KZbin

[@Senzu_Beannn]

Derek Pauley What If I Have A Ignition Button

[@cindeamulholland6338]

Amen!

[@karlynromero9573]

literally!

[@benjaminegbert3445]

@@Senzu_Beannn to

[@anavrin5245]

Dude just tried this and it works 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽

[@addyhayes9047]

this video saved my life! we got stuck on train tracks and there was a train coming. we wiggled the steering wheel and the key and it worked. we got out of the way right in time before the train could hit us!!

[@lordgoofy69]

You’re a legend, I’m drunk asf and couldn’t drive home. I saw this video and some how made it home. Thanks!

[@susanaortiz8322]

Thank you!!! It makes such a difference when you understand why something is happening. I'd have this happen a couple times and didn't even know what I did or why it had happened or how I even got it unstuck then, but now I know why and how not to strain my key. Thank you!🙏🏼

[@billgardiner9305]

Susana thanks, we have a small time window on these tips and we dont always get the explanation and the tip/cure in as well as this one. Producer often says " great but shorten it up" Im glad we were able to help you understand the "why" part. Bill Gardiner Motoring TV.

[@LisaSnow3]

Omg this just helped me out before having a heart attack

[@michiganrelichunter1206]

You saved me! I was stuck in my car in the freezing cold, and this tip worked. Thank you so much!

[@jessuschr1st]

THANK YOU SO MUCH I got stuck in my drive way when i needed to go to work so was panicking big time, followed the steps of the video and got it unlocked within a minute! Thanks so much life saver

[@GoldenHellcat]

I was stucked at the water mill for 5 minutes, was about to call my mom lmao thank you!!

[@chyhart]

Thank you.. Was about to be late for work, been years since this happened.

[@albaolinger8234]

In the middle of a thunder storm and this happened, this was so helpful... thank you!

[@zoegraham1367]

Thanks so much! Your video just saved me, and made me able to move my car from being stuck on a main road! Sending grateful thanks all the way from the 🇬🇧

[@moekhan95]

You saved me from being late from work. I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know.

[@juliat8049]

Thank you so much for this video Bill! you have saved and made my day!🥰 I had literally no idea what to do with my locked steering wheel

[@sybdeclark8055]

Thank you so much! My steering wheel locks every so often, and I had always been able to fix it on my own... until it happened after I had to pull to the side of the road in the middle of the night. I tried and failed to unlock it for several minutes, not realizing I was trying too hard... until I watched your video. You really helped me out!

[@carly3410]

First time happened to me, had a little meltdown. Found this video and fixed it in seconds. Just want to thank you so much for

[@jjsimpson2338]

Worked for my wife who was traveling out of town and had to pee really bad and parked her vehicle with the wheels to the extreme left at a gas station. Thank you

[@Kinasha15]

Thank you so much! This tip really helped me in a tight spot.

[@jeffreprentiss907]

Thank you soooooo much, I was scared I would need a mechanic. Saved me time, money, and relieved a worry👍🏾

[@kay7247]

Thank you internet stranger. My steering wheel locked and I was not able to reach a knowledgeable person! You saved me the call of shame.

[@gabrielanavarro9934]

Saved me at work😅 boy Ive been told my whole life just to yank on the wheel...

[@noriellepeterson4700]

Omg thank you! I was freaken out

[@santhosh4567]

Same here sister..

[@bakat2454]

Thank You so much for saving us so much time and directly telling us what to do. Accidentally push my steering wheel when I get out of a car and it locked. This video is very helpful.

[@dariela1477]

It’s currently 1:22am and I just left the gym and my wheel was locked, you don’t know how much this just SAVED ME

[@xtraespee]

OMG YOU ARE THE BEST THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!!!!! I CAN YOU GO EAT FOOD NOW 😭😂😂😂

[@brycewalker1593]

Made me look like a badass mechanic in front of my girlfriend bless this legend of a man ✊✊

[@seidinadoukoure2037]

Was coming here to comment the same thing man 😂😂

[@jackiberggren]

Thank you! You saved me! None of the other videos’ methods would work and I was going crazy!

[@itsshelley]

Me watching this in a parking lot at Wegmans because my steering wheel was locked. And your short video helped me fix the problem in less than 2minutes ! Thanks a lot dad!

[@crystletorres1007]

This saved my life lmao

[@luke.jaguar]

This can still happen when the steering wheel is center. However, wiggling the wheel and then turning the key still works like this video said. This happened to me one time when I was getting gas and I got back in the car and I was freaking out lol

[@sophiaxjc]

This comment was 5 years ago and this happened to me today

[@Enter_the_tainment]

Literally stuck in 110 degree heat with a locked steering wheel. This guy just saved my day

[@JohnHoodLosAngeles]

Tip of the Week? Try tip of the Year! I was just about to call a tow truck because I'd parked hard against a curb and my car was locked up when I Googled this! Worked in seconds! THANK YOU!!!!!💪😇👍

[@ladysaane]

Omg I fixed my locked steering wheel as I watched this thank you

[@MsCitaSexychat]

Omgee so freaking helpful!! Thank you so much!! 😍💜💚

[@metal._.pancake7816]

I litteraly love you so much, I actually yelled it out and my neighbors now know of the wonders you just did

[@wowieitssam9457]

Thank you. You saved me from my overreactive parents. I hope both sides of your pillow are always cool at night 🙏❤

[@ta_motogp_0431]

God bless you thank you so much!! I would've been dead if my parents found out that I was driving the car at night 🙏🙏

[@MentalHealthCalmingSoundsRelax]

Saved my life.Thank yiu

[@brunnadasilva5408]

You saved my life! I was about to freak out 😂 thank you for making this video

[@alicelong5714]

Thank you! I was sitting in the grocery store parking lot and my beer was getting cold! Worked like a charm. 😊

[@stanstantalent.5605]

Omg thank you so much, I was freaking out but this solved it in a second.

[@Azhianbeauty]

I swear this just helped me! Almost freaked out bouta call a damn tow truck . Thank you for this !

[@bobbybiggs2279]

This video just helped me out this cold and late night. Never experienced such before. Now I can drive home. Many thanks to the content creator. God bless. 🎉

[@jessicascott8780]

Wow, thanks. My steering was locked. Nothing was working. Googled it. You’re the first video to pop up and WALA! I just learned a new thing 😁 thanks!

[@gynusmepende2309]

cool. just tried it. i was in panic mode😂

[@biancamo8227]

Me 2:))

[@bloodwash]

I tried all of that and it still didn't work

[@gyeyd]

me 2 man, damn thing takes ages to unlock

[@Wes-Sevy]

How did you end up getting it

[@Wes-Sevy]

key won't turn and stuck in park

[@electrickrypt]

@@Wes-Sevy you ever end up getting this

[@brooksboone7806]

What you mean all of that, it’s one solution lmao. You turn the wheel WHILE you turn the key .You not doing it at the same time fool

[@emmabahn996]

Omg!! I just got stuck and googled what to do. This video popped up and your trick worked in SECONDS! Thank you!

[@The_Wild_Ginger]

I never comment on videos…. But this guy fixed my car in all of 2 seconds. So for the algorithm, you are welcome. Absolute legend !

[@cayleighaki1104]

Seriously thank you so much. My 3 kids and I were stranded without this video

[@idraw90]

Does this work while the car is still moving? My wheel locked up on me while turning and i dont know why or if it'll happen again. Its electric power steering if that changes anything

[@Claego]

Thanks so much! I was just trying to correct my front wheels after parking because they weren't totally straight. Watched this video and did the wiggle and turned the key and the car turned on, freeing up the steering wheel. Thanks a ton!

[@kaymdluls9455]

Not me stuck in the parking lot and watching this😂 thank you, you just saved me😂😂

[@kimberlysteelestudio]

Thank you so much! My steering wheel has done this twice in a week and with your advice, it unlocked immediately.

[@empyrealwhiterabbit7777]

I was so confused! I read a bunch of articles then watched this and your guidance helped! Thank you so much✨✨✨✨✨🚗🗝️

[@estebannorris518]

DUDE YOU’RE A HERO. I was leaving for school and I was like “oh crap”. My parents would’ve killed me

[@smolcaramelbean]

You my friend. Have saved so many many peoples sanity over the years. I cant imagine how many people probably have broken keys, called locksmiths, etc, over the years. Here i am, in the innercity of Minneapolis, after the library has closed and alone in the parking lot of a crowded city... Whew! I can go home. 💕 thank you

[@getoffthisrocktravel2054]

Thank god i owe you a bloody beer mate. Thanks for the quick fix. Got me out of the 43deg heat here in oz

[@julieelliott5807]

Thank you so much, this really helped me out. Simple, quick instructions is what I needed and you delivered. Thanks again!

[@jdub5509]

I literally was just stuck on a one lane dirt road pointed up a hill, in the middle of nowhere. I parked my truck and cranked the wheel in case it rolled. My steering wheel was stuck. Fortunately I had cell service and was able to Google this issue. Your video popped up and I was able to move the wheel enough and then turn the key. I had to do one then the other as the wheel was stuck enough that I couldn’t do both at the same time. Thank you!!!

[@BristolIvy]

You’re doing the lord’s work out here. Thank you!