2004 Sport Trac steering locked, won't start

[Duane Foster]

Wife parked the '04 ST in a level parking lot with the front wheels turned just slightly. When she tried to restart it, the wheel was locked and the key wouldn't turn. After I got there, I found the key would sometimes turn just a little - possibly not even to the 1st detente - and I was able to straighten the front wheels. I think I straightened the wheels without the key turned. Trying to move the shifter doesn't help. How do I get the truck started and back home?

Sucks even more since it was right at 50 degrees today, and we'll have a high in the teens tomorrow. Even colder Sunday and Monday.

 

[Corbin713]

Wife parked the '04 ST in a level parking lot with the front wheels turned just slightly. When she tried to restart it, the wheel was locked and the key wouldn't turn. After I got there, I found the key would sometimes turn just a little - possibly not even to the 1st detente - and I was able to straighten the front wheels. I think I straightened the wheels without the key turned. Trying to move the shifter doesn't help. How do I get the truck started and back home?

Sucks even more since it was right at 50 degrees today, and we'll have a high in the teens tomorrow. Even colder Sunday and Monday.

Wiggle the wheel back right and left It happened to my truck and if you wiggle the wheel right and left while also trying to turn the key it will eventually turn the key

 

[Duane Foster]

My '01 used to do this fairly often, almost always when my wife was driving, and moving, wiggling the wheel always worked. This feels different, but I was pulling hard side to side yesterday, not wiggling the wheel. I'll give that a shot.
I've had to pull the wheel to one side to get the '02 ST started several times lately, but that's because of where and how I parked it here at home. At least I think it's been the '02, not the '04. I haven't been driving the '04 much lately, and it's been parked in the driveway on the level.
49 degrees F yesterday, 12 with a 17 mph wind this morning, so it feels like several degrees below zero. Not a great day to be outside!

 

[SportTracDTC]

I have a 05 ST that has just syarted pulling same trick on me. I've tried the "front wheel wiggle" without much success. I've soaked the ignition in WD40 which appears to have done little. Electrical spray next for $hits and giggles. Who knows what that did. Feels like the release mechanism is at the top of the rotating assembly. So, I attempted to give the key a bit more coercion up and in. Whatever I did it freed it up.

I bought this ST a year ago with 12,500 miles on her. I had to break it in again. I've since added spring helpers in rear, changed front hubs, new shocks, and tuned it. Bought the SCT tuner to wake the engine and improve MPG and that it has. I currently have 36,000 miles and she's already to go to Florida. I have an 08 4.0 as well with 210,000 on it. Full synthetic oil has saved my timing chain tensioners and guides so far, knock on wood...that's all I've ever edited used

 

[Duane Foster]

Had the truck towed home. Key would turn just enough to unlock the steering wheel, but no farther. I read on another forum that someone had the same thing happen and decided to hook a chain to it. As they started moving, he turned the key and started his vehicle. When the tow truck slid under mine, the ST moved forward a few inches. I wanted to try to start it then, but waited until he unhooked in my driveway. As the tow truck was moving forward after unhooking, I reached in and started the ST like normal. As I was waiting for the tow truck, I realized the parking lot does have a slight slope to it - just enough for drainage. Now I'm wondering if the truck was still barely moving when my wife shifted into park yesterday, causing a bind in the shifter.