Locking the steering wheel?
 

I've had the car over a year, but something happened for the first time today. I got in my car this morning, and I don't know what I did exactly, but I must have held on to the wheel while I got inside and it locked. I put the key in and it wouldn't move until I moved the wheel a bit at the same time. So I tried the same thing a few more times: Took the key out turned the wheel a bit heard a click and noticed it was locked. I went on my way, parked the car again a few times, and have just not been able to reproduce that whole scenario.

My old car used to lock the wheel automatically when the key cylinder went into the lock position. With the Protege though, I've noticed you hear a distinct click sound when you remove the key from the cylinder, but you still are able to move the wheel around a bit (minus the power sterring of course) when they key is out. I wondered if it was just my car, but I tried the same thing with another car at the dealership and the wheel still moved about without the key.

Am I missing something? Is there a way to lock the wheel so that it doesn't move when the key comes out?

Someone correct me if im wrong, but the correct way to lock your steering wheel is to take the key out, and turn your wheel until it locks.

The owners manual even includes the 'Chevy Shimmy' - 'rock the steering wheel if you can't turn the key'. I though t by the new millenium we would've fixed that by now...

Sigh. (hand)

It's a feature.... your steering wheel locks at dead center. Mind you, its stupid to lock at dead center, because, for safety, you're suppose to have your wheel fully turned in a direction relative to the slope when parked.

However, once it's locked, you can't rotate the key until you've moved the wheel. I think you have to rotate it slightly counter clockwise.

I've only had my MSP for a month and I can make mine do it everytime. It's usually a bitch to get the key to turn.

Injen CAI
NGK BKRZE spark plugs
APEXI cat-less downpipe on order

Turns out the problem was I wasn't turning the wheel with enough force. All is well now, it locks fine. :)