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A jammed steering lock leaves the car immobile where it stands, which is exactly the situation a mobile mechanic exists for.
The electric steering lock is a security part, so it fails safe. When it fails, it fails locked, and the car will not start or steer until it is released.
- 4.3 ★1,533 Google reviews
- 6 monthsor 6,000 km workmanship warranty
- Red SealQualified artisans, some ex-dealership
- 9 regions1,700+ suburbs, we come to you
R952 to R1,104
Any diagnostic inspection, any car. Labour only, no parts.
The price depends on your car, never on which fault it turns out to be.
From a reset to a replacement, and the difference is diagnosis
A jammed steering lock is met with a replacement far more often than it needs one. These are the causes in order of what they cost to resolve, and the cheapest two are the most common:
Low battery voltage during the unlock cycle
Very common after a flat battery or a jump start. Often resolved with a correct reset once the supply is healthy again.
A connector or wiring fault at the module
The lock is fine and is simply not being told to release, or not being powered properly when it is.
Reprogramming the lock module
Where the module itself has lost its place. Done correctly, this avoids a part being bought for nothing.
Replacing the lock assembly
The expensive end, and a genuine requirement on some cars. Worth confirming before the part is ordered, because it is not a cheap one.
Finding out which one it actually isR952 to R1,104
What happens when you try to start it?
The sequence of what works and what does not points straight at the cause.
Steering wheel locked solid, nothing happens on the key
The lock has engaged and not released. Until it does, the car will not start, and forcing the wheel makes it worse.
A steering lock warning on the dash, engine will not crank
The module has reported a fault and the car has refused to start as a consequence. Often the module or its supply rather than the mechanism.
It locks and unlocks sometimes, then refuses
An intermittent motor or connection. These are easiest to catch while the fault is present, which is another reason to let us come to it. More on this.
It started after a flat battery or a jump start
Low voltage during the unlock cycle is a very common trigger. Sometimes the fix is simply a correct reset once the supply is healthy. More on this.
Not sure which one yours is?
Tell us what the car is doing, in your own words. A mechanic reads it and calls you back within the hour. You do not need to know what is wrong, that is what we are for.
Tell us what your car is doing
What people say after we have been out
Real jobs, real faults, at homes and offices.
What we do on site
✓
The lock module read for stored faultsWhat the module thinks happened, which separates a mechanical jam from an electronic refusal.
✓
Supply and earth measured at the moduleLow voltage is one of the most common causes, especially after a flat battery, and it is cheap to confirm.
✓
Unlock cycle testedThe lock is commanded while we watch what it does, rather than condemning it on the basis of a code.
✓
Battery and charging checkedIf low voltage caused it, replacing the lock without fixing the supply simply produces the same fault again.
The kit that comes with the mechanic
A mobile mechanic is only as good as what is in the van.
Autel and Launch scan tools
The steering lock module read directly for stored faults and commanded through its unlock cycle while we watch what it does.
Multimeter, at the module supply
Voltage and earth measured where the lock actually receives them, because low supply is one of the most common causes.
Battery load tester
If a weak battery caused it, replacing the lock without fixing the supply produces the same fault again a week later.
Module programming where supported
Some cars need the lock relearned rather than replaced, which is a fraction of the cost when it applies.
Do not force the steering wheel
Wrenching a locked wheel can damage the lock mechanism and the column, turning a reset or a module fault into a much larger job. Leave it where it is and let us come to it.
What you get for the money
A named fault, in writing, and a price to fix it
What has failed, why, and what the repair involves. If the repair is ours you get the quote before anything is touched, and the inspection is not charged twice.
Other inspections we do
Every one of these is a mechanic coming to you. See all 22.
Car not startingR952 to R1,104It cranks, or it does nothing at all.Auto electricalR952 to R1,104Dead circuits and intermittent faults.Battery going flatR1,380 to R1,633Flat every morning, battery tests fine.Engine light onR952 to R1,104Steady, flashing, or on and off again.Dashboard warning lightsR952 to R1,104A light you do not recognise.EPC warning lightR952 to R1,104VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda.Traction control or ABSR952 to R1,104Both lights on, usually one sensor.Drivetrain malfunctionR952 to R1,104BMW and MINI, power cut back.
Where we come out to
Nine regions and more than 1,700 suburbs. Check your suburb.
JohannesburgPretoria and TshwaneCape TownDurban and eThekwiniEkurhuleni and the East RandGqeberhaPolokwaneRustenburgEmalahleni
Questions we get asked
The car will not start and the steering is locked. Can you come to me?
Yes, and this is one of the faults where it matters most. The car cannot be driven or easily towed with the steering locked, so a mechanic coming to the car is usually the only practical option.
It happened right after my battery went flat.
That is one of the most common triggers. The lock needs proper voltage to complete its unlock cycle, and low voltage can leave it stuck partway. Often the repair is a correct reset once the supply is sorted.
Does the whole lock need replacing?
Not always. Depending on the car and the fault, it may need reprogramming, releasing, or replacing, and on some cars a legitimate bypass is an option. Diagnosis is what tells us which, and they are very different prices.
What does the inspection cost?
R952 to R1,104 depending on the car, labour only, with no parts in that figure. The repair is quoted separately and you approve it before anything happens.
Steering Lock Fault? Mobile Inspection At Your Door
Tell us what it is doing and where you are. Price and a slot, no phone call.