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How does a steering wheel lock work?

Model: Fiat Punto MK 3, Punto EVO, 199, Grandepunto - Years 2005-2018
Part: Steering wheel

Let's see how a steering wheel lock works, the nightmare of new drivers: it is an anti-theft system integrated in the car, which physically prevents the wheels from turning, making it impossible to drive the vehicle. The mechanical steering wheel lock is a system that activates automatically when the car is turned off and the key is removed from the ignition: inside the steering column there is a metal pin that is pushed outwards by a spring when the key is removed and it locks into a notch, preventing the steering wheel from turning. When you insert your key into the ignition, the mechanism retracts, releasing the steering wheel. If we have turned the wheels after turning off the car, the steering column is in a position where the pin does not find its seat: we must therefore slightly move the steering wheel while turning the key, to help the pin find the position. In newer models, the lock is electronically managed, and the system only unlocks if it receives a digital signal from the key with the correct chip.

Posted on 4 November 2025 by ScegliAuto

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