Disable Steering wheel lock 05 Liberty

[timotb]

I have a 2005 Liberty 4x4 that will be towed behind an RV coach. Today we discovered, during a test, while being towed behind the RV and with the ignition off, a sharp turn will engage the steering wheel lock causing the front wheels to bind and not return to neutral.

How can the steering wheel lock be disabled? Turning the ignition to ON will bypass the lock and will run the battery down. Installing a battery disconnect so the key can remain in the ON position bypasses the tow brake assist. With the key in the accessory position, the steering wheel lock will still engage in a turn.

Suggestions?

[mowermech]

RJsfishin wrote:
The key must stay in the ignition,......because you can't get it out in off only position.
Main tran does not have to be in park, but either N or P is ok.

Read the Owners Manual. Follow the instructions contained therein.

[BennieH]

Disabled the steering lock on 3 vehicles so far. I save the parts and put them back at trade in time. Any good mechanic can do it.

[RJsfishin]

The key must stay in the ignition,......because you can't get it out in off only position.
Main tran does not have to be in park, but either N or P is ok.

[accsys]

timotb wrote:
So if I use the dumb key, the proper tow position is transfer neutral and transmission neutral? The dumb key allows the ignition to be off in tow?

Transmission should be in PARK.

[RJsfishin]

Just another matter of talking before actually knowing.
I towed an 05 liberty for 2 years, not a problem, just turn the key to off, not lock.

[klutchdust]

QUOTE: "Yes, the steering lock can be disabled on nearly any vehicle. Just have your mechanic remove the steering wheel, remove the lock pin, and reinstall the wheel. Or, do it yourself, if you have the expertise to mess with the explosive airbag."

Yikes, actually there are videos on line that can help with this and the proper way to handle air bags. If they can steal them from your car without them going off you can disable them to remove the wheel. On my 08 JK it has a


"clock spring" failure. It's some type of device that is connected with the airbag, to get to it is more than I care to bother with.It requires dismantling the steering column. Once it's done Im going to have them leave the pin out so i don't

need to use the key when towing and having to pull the master fuse.

[timotb]

Thanks. Page 14 in the manual shows the key positions. Hopefully the locked and unlocked offs will be easy to differentiate by key being able to be removed or not.

[The_Texan]

Page 221 of the 2005 Jeep Liberty owners manual shows and describes the ignition switch and how it works.

Page 287-288 describes the recreational towing procedure in detail.

Our Liberty is a 2011, but also looked at it and the procedure is the same. Now, a CRD is a little different.

[mowermech]

Key positions, from left to right, should be:
"ACC" (key can not be removed);
"Off, locked" (the key can be removed);
"Off, not locked" (key can not be removed);
"On" (key can not be removed);
"Start" (spring loaded to return to "ON", key can not be removed).

Somewhere in the manual there is a diagram of the switch positions.

[timotb]

Yes, I have the manual in front of me on this topic. No specifics on how to have a key and stirring lock off at same time. Are there two key positions of ON before off and acc.? Still looking.

[mowermech]

The instructions are in the Owners Manual.
IIRC, it is(it has been a while since I sold my '06 Liberty):
Transmission in Park
Transfer case in Neutral
Ignition switch in "OFF, not locked" position. Smart key or dumb key, makes no difference.
Be sure parking brake is released before driving off.
Come to think of it, the instructions for the Liberty are exactly the same as those for the '06 Wrangler I had!

Yes, the steering lock can be disabled on nearly any vehicle. Just have your mechanic remove the steering wheel, remove the lock pin, and reinstall the wheel. Or, do it yourself, if you have the expertise to mess with the explosive airbag.

[timotb]

phays wrote:
On my 2006 the ignition is in the off position, not ACC. I use a dumb key. Once the transfer case is in neutral, I put the dumb key in and turn to the on position. Shift the transmission out of park and then turn the key off. It won't go past the off position. Now put transmission back in park and leave the ignition key alone. Been doing this for 8 years with no problems.

Don't know if the steering lock can be defeated.

I found a "dumb key" that I never knew what it was for. Using my smart key, had to return the transmission to park while the transfer case was neutral to remove the key.

So if I use the dumb key, the proper tow position is transfer neutral and transmission neutral? The dumb key allows the ignition to be off in tow?

[timotb]

accsys wrote:
On my 2004 Libby there is a position between off and on where the wheel is unlocked but no systems are getting power. Are you sure yours is not similar?

good point. I dont remember after driving this vehicle 100k miles. I will have to check.

[phays]

On my 2006 the ignition is in the off position, not ACC. I use a dumb key. Once the transfer case is in neutral, I put the dumb key in and turn to the on position. Shift the transmission out of park and then turn the key off. It won't go past the off position. Now put transmission back in park and leave the ignition key alone. Been doing this for 8 years with no problems.

Don't know if the steering lock can be defeated.