Technical 2006 Ducato Locked Steering Wheel

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Technical 2006 Ducato Locked Steering Wheel

Jasper Happensprat

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I have a 2006 2.8lt Fiat Ducato JTD. The vehicle is currently parked on my driveway on a slight slope. The wheels are turned to the left. This morning I find that I am unable to unlock the steering wheel and the ignition key will not turn to MAR, but will turn to Park. The vehicle only has 70,000 kms and in excellent condition otherwise.

Before anyone suggest's I have done the usual steering wheel wiggle whilst trying to turn the ignition key, all to no avail. I also moved the van back and forwards a meter or so. I also put some WD40 on the key.

So in summary I cannot unlock the steering nor start the vehicle. I suspect either the steering lock is somehow jammed and or the ignition key barrel is somehow collapsed.

Any bright ideas much appreciated?
 
I have a 2006 2.8lt Fiat Ducato JTD. The vehicle is currently parked on my driveway on a slight slope. The wheels are turned to the left. This morning I find that I am unable to unlock the steering wheel and the ignition key will not turn to MAR, but will turn to Park. The vehicle only has 70,000 kms and in excellent condition otherwise.

Before anyone suggest's I have done the usual steering wheel wiggle whilst trying to turn the ignition key, all to no avail. I also moved the van back and forwards a meter or so. I also put some WD40 on the key.

So in summary I cannot unlock the steering nor start the vehicle. I suspect either the steering lock is somehow jammed and or the ignition key barrel is somehow collapsed.

Any bright ideas much appreciated?

Hi, :)
try a 2nd key..??:confused:
EDIT - the key turns 1 way..but not the other..??EDIT


if neither key turns the barrel, give it a few sharp taps..,
failing that I'm thinking carefully uncouple the lock barrel from the column..the steering should then operate..

use SEARCH function in "advanced" to look for lock / steering specifics in DUCATO section only,
https://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/42...n-ignition-driver-door-lock-mj120-2007-a.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/421373-ducato-key-cylinder.html
then looking at FIAT cars lock swaps too,

Charlie
 
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Thank you Charlie for the reply.

Yes I did try the 2nd Key, it also does not work. I also tried a few sharp taps also to no avail. I did look at the threads you mention plus a great many others, I am still none the wiser what to do.

I should mention that up until this morning the key worked perfectly. No warning signs of ether key or barrel problems were apparent.

Keep the suggestions coming.
 
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Remove the switch from the ignition there is a gear that turns it. Check if the gear has come loose its pin or if its tilted sliggtly this will cause a tiny piece of plastic above the gear to jam the ignition. There is a post with picture on here somewhere.
 
Thank for the information corcai. So I need to remove the barrel to inspect the gear? The problem is how to do that?

I have now managed to expose the lock by removing the top and bottom steering column covers. I have located the sliding latch underneath the lock housing but unfortunately I cannot remove the barrel as the key cannot be turned to the MAR position. From what I have read apparently the barrel can only be removed when the key is in the MAR position and the sliding latch depressed. Is my assumption correct?

If the destructive method is the only choice that I have to remove the barrel, then I propose to have a steel key cut and forcibly turn it with a shifting spanner. Is this a good idea?
 
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I removed the switch and the gear looks fine. Not loose nor tilted. So it looks like the problem is just the key barrel.
 
You can open the bolts holding the ignition lock using a punch to drift them around once loose I used a long nose vice grip to spin them out.
 
Ok so now have removed the Ignition Lock Barrel assembly from the steering column. What a job punching the bolts was. I also managed to remove the barrel as well. To my surprise the key barrel is not the problem. The key now turns freely once the barrel is removed from the housing. So a closer inspection has now revealed that the gear is indeed lifted on one side and gear is unable to mesh correctly and is thus jammed.

One question though, is it possible to repair the gear mechanism, it looks like green plastic in the cogs, or am I up for a whole new ignition lock barrel assembly?
 
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So I answered my own question, yes it was. I used good old WD40 to manually free up the cogs. Plus a small jewellers screwdriver to remove the plastic bits in the cogs. Then applied some inox machinery grease to the cogs and under the gear wheel.

It was a bit tricky reinstalling the barrel. The latch on the side of the barrel only required a bit of tinkering, but in order for the barrel to fully engage I needed to manually turn the gear with a screwdriver through the little hole next to the gear. The first time I put the assembly back in the car would not crank but the dashboard lights came on. So I just turned the gear one more notch and the the key sprang back. Reassembled everything and to my delight the vehicle cranked.

So there you have it, from novice to expert (well sort of, LOL) in the space of only two days. A bit thank you to corcai. Your help was very much appreciated. The cost of the repair was $0.

I forgot to mention that I replaced the bolts that I had to punch out with hex head bolts. Much easier to remove if it happens again.
 
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So I answered my own question, yes it was. I used good old WD40 to manually free up the cogs. Plus a small jewellers screwdriver to remove the plastic bits in the cogs. Then applied some inox machinery grease to the cogs and under the gear wheel.

It was a bit tricky reinstalling the barrel. The latch on the side of the barrel only required a bit of tinkering, but in order for the barrel to fully engage I needed to manually turn the gear with a screwdriver through the little hole next to the gear. The first time I put the assembly back in the car would not crank but the dashboard lights came on. So I just turned the gear one more notch and the the key sprang back. Reassembled everything and to my delight the vehicle cranked.

So there you have it, from novice to expert (well sort of, LOL) in the space of only two days. A bit thank you to corcai. Your help was very much appreciated. The cost of the repair was $0.

I forgot to mention that I replaced the bolts that I had to punch out with hex head bolts. Much easier to remove if it happens again.

IF it happens again, you can pull out the central pin holding the gear and remove the plastic piece, then clean the pin an pin socket thoroughly with solvent and glue back in the pin.

The plastic bit is only a sort of latch to stop you engaging the starter when its already started not the end of the world if you don't have it.
 
Not sure if you are aware of it but there was recall on the steering rack on the 2006 Ducato.I would speak to the dealer. Don't know how long ago it was.I had to replace my rack and pinion at considerable expense.
 
Hi Folks new here having just bought a 2.8JTD 2006 Maxi (Australian version)

I know this is an old thread but after only having the vehicle for a few days, this situation has happened to me. I've remove the switch assy but can't find the plastic gear people are talking about.

This is the underside of the ign sw assy.
20200706_102850.jpg


Am I missing something please.:confused:
 
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Hi Folks new here having just bought a 2.8JTD 2006 Maxi (Australian version)

I know this is an old thread but after only having the vehicle for a few days, this situation has happened to me. I've remove the switch assy but can't find the plastic gear people are talking about.

This is the underside of the ign sw assy.
20200706_102850.jpg


Am I missing something please.:confused:
From a quick read of the thread it appeared you have to remove the assembly from the column to access the gears. You have to get the shear bolts out.

Good luck

Jack
 
Thanks for the response Jack. I was seeing that too but I as I haven't seen any photos wasn't sure. Guess I will go through this process and photograph it so some else can see what's involved. Cheers and thanks
 
Thank you Charlie for the reply.

Yes I did try the 2nd Key, it also does not work. I also tried a few sharp taps also to no avail. I did look at the threads you mention plus a great many others, I am still none the wiser what to do.

I should mention that up until this morning the key worked perfectly. No warning signs of ether key or barrel problems were apparent.

Keep the suggestions coming.

Hi.. :)

Hope things are ok with you.. been a while

Could you contribute to this latest question?

Cheers

Charlie
 
I've ended up removing the whole lock assembly and replacing it.

I used a Dremel with a steel cutter blade to cut slots in the security bolts and then used a flat blade screw driver to remove them. This worked pretty well actually.

After pulling it all out I managed to remove the key mechanism but it was still locked up. I don't think I silly but no matter what I did, I couldn't free it up.

So for about $250AUD I replaced it and I'm all mobile again.
 
It's not a plastic gear it's a plastic piece above the gear. The gear is the round diecast bit you are looking at. If you pull out the central pin you will be able to remove or reassemble if the plastic latch isn't damaged.
 
Thanks for the reply Corcai. I reckon that someone had tried that before as the pin (upon dissection) had been glued in there and was not coming out in a hurry. Putting in a new one seemed the best course.
 
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