I am not sure when this problem first occurred. I noticed it when diagnosing a broken clock-spring.

When the car is parked and turned off, the anti-theft feature of having the steering column lock into one position no longer works. I am able (with effort) to turn the wheels.

I have looked into this issue, but I cannot find how to fix it. All my search trails end with "steering wheel is locked and I cannot turn my key", the opposite problem that I have. Now, I USED to have a problem with the key not turning, but light taps always caused the tumblers to engage and the key to turn.

I did run across one picture that hints at the steering column lock being controlled electronically from the key, instead of from a direct mechanical connection, but I have no way to verify it and my repair manual does not give advice on how to replace if that is true.

I have replaced my broken clock-spring and I pulled the ignition lock cylinder. I think cylinder looks fine.

Can anyone give me any guidance?

 

What year, and what body? "Chrysler Sebring" could be a first-gen, second-gen, or third-gen car if made by Chrysler directly and a sedan or convertible, and could also be one of the joint-venture cars with Mitsubishi if a coupe.

 

Wanted to be general in the title, but for got to be specific in the body

2001 Sebring Convertible.

 

Spent a few minutes looking on Google Images. Looks like there's a slot on the tip of the cylinder that probably corresponds with a tab on the end of a rod, similar to how Craftsman toolboxes use a slot to engage a tab on a rod to control the drawer lock mechanism. My guess is that in reassembly you didn't get the tab inserted into the slot, so nothing is actuating the lock mechanism in the column itself.

 

The failure of the steering lock happened before any sort of work was done on the vehicle. So, reassembly shouldn't have created this failure.

I do recall examining the socket and the key-lock-cylinder and could find nothing that looked missing or like it would engage the steering lock.

My repair manual never said anything similar to "make sure part A touches part B so that the anti-theft features work".

The key cylinder looks like this
The button at the bottom is just to lock the cylinder in the socket. The black at the top is rubber/nylon to help hold the cylinder in place. The part opposite the key is what turns in the socket. There is a small opening at that part, but it doesn't appear to connect to anything in the socket. I think (no proof) that it is to assist in getting the lock apart for re-keying.

My cell phone did not same my research trail that led me to a different part. I'll keep looking for an image.

Thank you for taking your time to look into this.

 

Unfortunately I don't have any books for the Stratus that I used to have, I do have an '03 Neon book, it *might* use the same cylinder. If I have time I'll take a look. Unfortunately it may take a couple of days...

 

I hit a wall, so a couple of days is still much faster than I seem to be able to do on my own.

I forgot that Status was part of the same repair manual I have. I'll try that direction.

Thank you