The steering wheel lock malfunction keeps coming up. says to contact the Saab dealer. The car seems to be driving fine. Should I go and see the dealer?
steering wheel lock malfunction
1 - 20 of 48 Posts
I'm having the same problem - started this past weekend. I also have an '03 Vector.yeaux7 said:
My battery is only a few years old but many people have "fixed" this issue with a battery replacement.
I'm going to try it before going to the dealer. I can already see the dealer shot-gunning parts at my expense.
Let me know if you get to the bottom of it. I'll do the same.
I wonder what the battery has to do with it. I've had my battery replaced twice in 5 years and I'm not sure that would be it. Yeah, Dealer would be costly just to look at it and who knows what else they would want to throw in. Please let me know if the battery replacement works. As for now I don'y mind just clearing it since the car has been driving fine. However, if that is the fix, I'll look into it. mine just started this weekend too. Must be like a timer on thse '03's
I have been having the same issue with steering wheel lock but only at start up. put my key in step down on the clutch and break and when i turn the key it won't click over. The displays instructions read: Steering wheel locked, remove key, turn the wheel and try starting again. obviously isn't an exact quote but it says something along those lines. So i just sit there and shake the **** out of the wheel, put the key in again and if it doesnt start fine on the first try, its definitely running fine by the third.
This started happening 2 days ago and has happened maybe 6 times since! I don't really even understand the purpose or the cause of this problem at all. Oh and since i haven't mentioned before i have an 03 Vector as well with about 79K miles and i replaced the battery less than a year ago.
This started happening 2 days ago and has happened maybe 6 times since! I don't really even understand the purpose or the cause of this problem at all. Oh and since i haven't mentioned before i have an 03 Vector as well with about 79K miles and i replaced the battery less than a year ago.
Joined
·
910 Posts
I am still having this issue intermittently. I replaced my battery a few months ago and at first that cured it, but eventually the warning came back.
The risk with not getting it fixed is that sometime you may not be able to get the car to start.
I contacted the dealer about it and my service guy said it is a common issue, they replaced a dozen of the ignition units last winter for cars that had the same problem.
The risk with not getting it fixed is that sometime you may not be able to get the car to start.
I contacted the dealer about it and my service guy said it is a common issue, they replaced a dozen of the ignition units last winter for cars that had the same problem.
Usually we disconnect the Negative Terminal....
I have been getting the elusive "steering wheel lock malfunction" message off and on for about 1 year. I have noticed that it comes on when it gets really hot and humid in the summer (In WI that is). I am going to take it into the dealer however, I am worried that they might come back and say I need a new battery. My current battery is 2 years old and is a NAPA 75-rather pricey. So that would mean this warning started showing up when the battery was about 1 year old. I think it would be ridiculous for the dealer to blame the battery. I only have 3k miles left on my extended warranty and do not want to get screwed here.
Other symptons the car has when the warning shows on the SID are:
-Air conditioning does not work-however fan blows
-Does not allow to shift if I do not shift right away after starting
-Even had issues with remote key opening the car, even after I replaced the battery in key.
-interior lights not working
kind of odd....as I read this forum I am finding out that I am not alone with these issues.
Any advise or suggestions would be helpful
Other symptons the car has when the warning shows on the SID are:
-Air conditioning does not work-however fan blows
-Does not allow to shift if I do not shift right away after starting
-Even had issues with remote key opening the car, even after I replaced the battery in key.
-interior lights not working
kind of odd....as I read this forum I am finding out that I am not alone with these issues.
Any advise or suggestions would be helpful
I had a "Steering Lock Malfunction" appear on my SID last night.
Dash kept rebooting, Illumination off, then back on and the CHECK OK lindication on the SID, then straight back to "Steering Lock Malfunction" back on the SID.
If I pushed CLEAR when the steering lock message was displayed, I lost all illumination on the SID, ICM and the panel where the TCS button is located
Interior lights wouldn't work, when turned on, they would flash then go off, as if the bulb has blown.
I had the speedo needle drop to zero
The ABS light and the TCS light both on, also the red BRAKE light on the dash.
I was on a motorway, temp was about 14 deg c.
I had a code reader in the car, but there were no codes stored, everything on the code reader looked okay.
I stopped for a burger to give it time to sort itself out, came out after half hour, "Steering lock malfunction" appeared immediately.
Drove out of the car park and into the Fuel garage with the warning on.
Filled up with fuel, got back in, started up... NO warnings, car was fine for the next 100 miles til I got home!!
Fingers crossed it is one of those glitches.
Battery is less than a year old, I replaced the stock one for a high capacity battery
Dash kept rebooting, Illumination off, then back on and the CHECK OK lindication on the SID, then straight back to "Steering Lock Malfunction" back on the SID.
If I pushed CLEAR when the steering lock message was displayed, I lost all illumination on the SID, ICM and the panel where the TCS button is located
Interior lights wouldn't work, when turned on, they would flash then go off, as if the bulb has blown.
I had the speedo needle drop to zero
The ABS light and the TCS light both on, also the red BRAKE light on the dash.
I was on a motorway, temp was about 14 deg c.
I had a code reader in the car, but there were no codes stored, everything on the code reader looked okay.
I stopped for a burger to give it time to sort itself out, came out after half hour, "Steering lock malfunction" appeared immediately.
Drove out of the car park and into the Fuel garage with the warning on.
Filled up with fuel, got back in, started up... NO warnings, car was fine for the next 100 miles til I got home!!
Fingers crossed it is one of those glitches.
Battery is less than a year old, I replaced the stock one for a high capacity battery
Hi there,
I am to original poster.
I ended up going to the Saab dealer and in my situation I needed to have the Ignition Switch replaced. After that the car has been running perfect.
The technician told me if the ignition switch goes it can cause other things to malfunction in the vehicle, hence the lights. My car had an extended warranty so I did not have to pay for it.
Good Luck!
I am to original poster.
I ended up going to the Saab dealer and in my situation I needed to have the Ignition Switch replaced. After that the car has been running perfect.
The technician told me if the ignition switch goes it can cause other things to malfunction in the vehicle, hence the lights. My car had an extended warranty so I did not have to pay for it.
Good Luck!
I've seen these warnings twice while driving in the past few days. It'll flash up and go right away.
Possibly related (based on the reading I've done here), sometimes the key will not turn when placed in ignition.. at which point I remove it, put it back in and all is good.
Going to the dealer tomorrow and will report back.
Possibly related (based on the reading I've done here), sometimes the key will not turn when placed in ignition.. at which point I remove it, put it back in and all is good.
Going to the dealer tomorrow and will report back.
Joined
·
206 Posts
I had this problem two weeks ago. Though, in my situation my car wouldn't start, so I had it towed to the stealership. They told me my CIM (Column Intergration Module) had failed, and that it will cost me $995 incl. part & labor to fix. Since, this is my only car I had no choice but to get it fix. The shop called me the next day stating that my car was ready, but cautioned me that I should get my battery change as well. Rather than arguing with the service rep. I told him to go ahead and put the new battery in. The final repair invoice came out to be $1179.
After donating my hard earn cash to the dealer, I drove it straight home with no emotions. When I got to my driveway, I notice that my turn signal stork looked the same. I had thought to myself, isn't the CIM the entire column piece w/ the turn signal and wiper stork?? I'm really thinking that these fcukers didn't even change my CIM, but just re-programmed it with Tech-2, and give me a big SUCKER lollipop!
I'm soo pissed right now. :evil:
After donating my hard earn cash to the dealer, I drove it straight home with no emotions. When I got to my driveway, I notice that my turn signal stork looked the same. I had thought to myself, isn't the CIM the entire column piece w/ the turn signal and wiper stork?? I'm really thinking that these fcukers didn't even change my CIM, but just re-programmed it with Tech-2, and give me a big SUCKER lollipop!
I'm soo pissed right now. :evil:
TaiMyShu, i really hope they didn't screw ya. Please keep us updated on that just so other members can be weary of a possible scam.
There is another thread on replacing the ignition switch. I believe another member was gonna tackle replacing it himself without tech 2. Hopefully we can replace it without for a fraction of the price. I was able to find ignition switches for $120. Much better than 300+.
There is another thread on replacing the ignition switch. I believe another member was gonna tackle replacing it himself without tech 2. Hopefully we can replace it without for a fraction of the price. I was able to find ignition switches for $120. Much better than 300+.
Dealer replaced the ignition switch.. said it would also solve the problem of my key sometimes not wanting to turn... well so far they are only 1 for 2.. my key exhibits the same (does not turn on 1 in 10 times) behavior, but so far, no new warning messages.
Was replaced at no charge under warranty.
Joined
·
206 Posts
At this point I haven't gone to get a second or third opinion on this. I just don't know where to go. I'm just trying to avoid the dearlership, but with these cars I don't think that you can.
I don't think you can replace the ignition switch w/o Tech 2 involve as it is interconnected with the CIM, steering lock, and the car security system via the P-bus or I- bus, whichever one it is. Correct me if I'm wrong.
All I can say is START at the begining. Make sure the battery terminals and all the crap around the + are clean and TIGHT. Quality battery no more than three years old. After that its the ignition switch or possibly the clockspring in the CIM or the SCL(steering column lock). I havent seen the CIM itself yet, but obviously a TechII and security access is way REQUIRED.
1 - 20 of 48 Posts
