Ignition key will not turn, Steering lock stays locked.

[DrDIAS]

Ignition key will not turn Steering lock stays locked.


Then suddenly it will go to number four position and start!


Steering wheel stays locked until I put the car in Drive or reverse Gear and move one to two feet turning the steering wheel.


It then releases and turns freely!


It has never done this before.


I used spray contact cleaner on the ignition key hole and sprayed all around the back side of the covers behind the steering wheel this seem to help partially!


The steering wheel lock still hangs when I turn the wheel after starting.


The steering lock then seems to retract the rest of the way then.


Has anyone else had this problem?


I was stuck for over an hour in a parking lot a long way from home when this happened for the third time.


I was able to get it to start and unlock!


It is a 1998 540ia with 153300 miles.


Any help and assistance is highly appreciated!


Ron

[edjack]

Number 4 position? I was not aware of that position (0 off-1 acc-2 on -3 start).

Do you jiggle the wheel to release the lock?

[AusE39er]

Some of those symptoms sound like that pin that locks the wheel is getting stuck, which is remedied by drilling at a certain point at the bottom of the ignition and removing the spring. But then you have that key in ignition and turn problem. Still, something that may be part of it.

[DrDIAS]

Sorry EdJack!
I am an ex WAN Wide Area Network engineer!
There are four position (0 off-1 acc-2 on -3 start). ) or zero counts as a position or space!
I guess I am to binary for my own good!

AusE39er,



I drilled5RyyzhKsqHHqoujm4H07MDvWVa76BkeCVkH0TPxfySspX92IB.jpg in two locations could not find the spring, this Photograph only shows the first hole drilled!
The second location is about an one inch down from that hole.
I became tired, hence forgot to take another photograph.
It still sticks, then comes loose!
It does not stick as bad as it did!
I can bang on the steering wheel then it comes loose or just put in drive or reverse and move one to two feet and it frees up!

I will attempt to removed the spring another time.

Thanks every one for your help and assistance!

Ron

[DrDIAS]

ctDA_BQsN4stakz45ukr5XsMMjTvBYSFsyaSkcKZB4cpX92IB.jpg

My 1998 540ia Gray upon Silver, with a M5 whale tail and exhaust from the factory!

Built 10/22/1997 she just had her twentieth birthday!

Cruises all day long on the back roads of Texas here between 90 to 120 Mph.

The gas mileage in town sucks, but out on the road at speed 17 to 20 mpg!

Typical BMW V8 she eats a quart of oil every thousand miles or so!

[edjack]

Mine uses no oil after 3k. The V8 is not known as an oil consumer.

[JimLev]

At 155K mine doesn't use any oil either. It isn't babied either.

[StRaNgEdAyS]

My V8 doesn't burn any oil, but it sure leaks a lot lol

Sent from my G8141 using Tapatalk

[XAlt]

check your crankcase vent plate behind the intake manifold.

It should burn nothing.

[wagons ho]

My 98 went 10,000 an oil change because of no time, but not even a 1/2 qt of oil.
I did a thread with pictures of your failed ignition. But don't know how to link it.

[DrDIAS]

ctDA_BQsN4stakz45ukr5XsMMjTvBYSFsyaSkcKZB4cpX92IB.jpg

My 1998 540ia Gray upon Silver, with a M5 whale tail and exhaust from the factory!

Built 10/22/1997 she just had her twentieth birthday!

Cruises all day long on the back roads of Texas here between 90 to 120 Mph.

The gas mileage in town sucks, but out on the road at speed 17 to 20 Mpg!

Typical BMW V8 she eats a quart of oil every thousand miles or so!

[DrDIAS]

Hello everyone!

I have talked to a few others 540i owners over the years about the BMW V8!

Most of them were M5 owners, they all most all stated that their V8 eat oil at about a quart every thousand miles!

I my car does leak oil a bit, nothing close to a quart ever!

I will check into the Crankcase vent(PVC) behind the intake manifold next!

Thanks everyone.

Ron

- - - Updated - - -

wagon ho,

Thanks for the effort!

My ignition key does not stick anymore so far!

I sprayed it with contact cleaner, that seem to help.

Thanks,

Ron

[XAlt]

Hello everyone!

I have talked to a few others 540i owners over the years about the BMW V8!

Most of them were M5 owners, they all most all stated that their V8 eat oil at about a quart every thousand miles!

Early M5s have a tendency to burn oil.