Hi everyone, I'm new to this and am just looking for a few answers. My friend drove my 1991 Honda Civic Si to the store and he couldn't get the key to turn and start the car. So I took apart the back plastic piece with the conectors and used a screwdriver to start my car and drove it home. Well now the problem is that the steering wheel is locked and I had to drive holding the key on while shifting (not very fun). Well I ripped apart the tumbler and now my question is how do I replace it so it's not ghetto? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Eliz
What do you mean "ripped apart"? Please be more specific, using terms and phraseology that are more precise. It is very easy to remove the lock cylinder from its housing. Have you done this?
I'm sorry I dont know all the precise terms I'm not a mechanic, I'm a nurse. It is the cylinder that I tried to rip out to get the steering wheel to unlock. I've seen my brother remove the part from the houseing and it looked easy but for some reason I couldn't get it. Out of frustration I just got a hammer and ripped it up until it uplocked. I needed to be able to drive the car to work. I'm just trying to figure out how to replace the piece that the key goes in a turn and how. Thank you for the response Eliz
Let me be a bit more precise in simple terms. When you insert the key into the lock, you are actually inserting it into the "lock cylinder", or "tumbler" if you will. When you TURN the key, you are rotating the entire "tumbler" inside its "lock housing", which remains stationary and is fixed to the structure behind the steering wheel. At the back of the "lock housing" (other end from the key slot) is the "ignition switch", which has an electrical plug stuck in it. Now. In order for me to make any sense of what you're saying, I need you to repost your question, referring to the parts on your car by the terms I give above. This way, we are talking the same language.
you're lucky to be alive. or more importantly, people you're on the road with are lucky to be alive. improperly disassembled steering locks, what you're messing with, have a nasty habit of locking while driving - that means you're on the interstate and suddenly you can't steer away from the oncoming semi, just in case you can't figure out consequences for yourself. bottom line: 1. DO NOT mess with this vehicle any more - find someone that knows what they're doing and get the lock replaced properly. 2. DO NOT drive vehicle until this has been done. very very dangerous.
