I have a MK3 2.0l 06 plate, I have had it a few months, and only recently descovered it does not appear to have a steering lock. I tried to turn on the wheel to lock it the other day, and turned the wheel a long way without it “clicking” on.
I don’t like “dry steering” the wheel, and have not tried to turn it further than about a 1/4 turn of the wheel…
Do these cars have a steering lock?..and if so how far do you have to turn the wheel to apply it?
I’m asking here rather than at a dealer first as I don’t want to look daft, where as this is “ciber world” and I like the banter
I have just tried mine. I like you avoid dry steering so I used old carpet under the wheels.
With the steering straight ahead, I turned clockwise and the lock came on in about 20degs. When turned anti-clockwise the steering wheel turns about 340degs and locks in the same place as before.
I tried mine last night, and from straight I turned it clockwise around to 7 o’clock before the lock was activated…for me that is far to far, and i will bring this up with Mazda when I next go past the garage. for my Volvo V70 and Corsa you only have to just turn the wheel about an inch or two before the wheel locks.
If I locked the car wheel like that every time I went out I would soon “scrub” the tyres and help cause wear to the steering rack etc…not good…not to mention maybe knocking the wheels tyres against kerbs whilst doing so
I suspect that the NC steering locks only have one locking position; you need to compare a Mk3 with a Mk3 to see if they lock in the same position. It is possible that mine (Mk3.5) locks in a different place to yours by design.
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I never purposely engage the steering lock on a modern vehicle although I used too years ago on vehicles when immobilisers, locks and alarms were in there infancy.
Not only are you dry steering as you turn the steering wheel to find the lock position but in some cases the tyre walls can act like a spring and put tension on the steering lock mechanism making it hard to disengage. ( I recall jacking up the front of a vehicle to get the steering lock off ).
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As far as anti theft goes, mine has an immobiliser built into the key and intrusion sensors that detect movement in the car with an “inappropriate entry” detection system when armed. On top of that I can double lock the doors to make it hard for someone to leave the vehicle from the inside.
I’m guessing but does yours not have some if not all of these fitted?
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The way I look at it, if someone wants to take the car, then the will need to get the keys first or use a recovery truck, a steering lock will do little to stop them!
Hi again Richard, mine also has a “Thatcham” alarm system, and I of course always arm it when away from the vehicle, but i am supprised that the steering lock on my vehicle is so crap, and I will bring it up with Mazda when i next pass the garage and supply the answer i get !
A steering lock is not intended to be ‘locked’ every time you park the car. It is there so that if you steal the car, you won’t be able to drive it…in theory…because it will lock on the first corner.
Of course, the clincher is that no steering lock will provide any more than about 10 seconds of delay to a thief…so it’s essentially pointless anyway.
