The steering wheel locked up on our 2000 Expedition and we haven't been able to free it. I don't know if it's the cylinder or the pawl is stuck. Since I can't turn the key I can't remove the cylinder and I'veI tried pulling the wheel hard to one side while jiggling the key, neither direction worked. Before I have it towed to the dealer is there another way to see if the pawl can be unstuck, can you gain access to the inside of the column exposing the mechanism fairly easily?
I'm kind of in a pinch since the car needs to move tomorrow so the workers gain get access to the yard, so any thoughts are greatly appreciated

Jim

 

you probably got something jamming the front wheels in such a way that the column is jammed. Try yanking on the steering wheel a little harder with key in ignition turning key at same time.

 

No that doesn't work, no matter how hard we pull it's not releasing BUT being desperate like I am, and after 2 days of dick'in with it, I took a rubber mallet and inserted the key I then wacked the key inward twice and Viola! it released and the key turned easily....so when in doubt just get a bigger hammer I guess.

thanks for the response though