Date:         Fri, 20 May 2011 18:50:40 -0200
Reply-To:     Phil Menchions <pwmenchions@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Phil Menchions <pwmenchions@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Steering wheel locked after replacing blower motor
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I just finished putting a new blower motor in my '89 (pheww! don't want to do that any time again soon). Anyway I was feeling quite satisfied with myself after putting everything back together. However, much to my chagrin I found the steering wheel was locked and the key will not turn in the ignition.
 
I noticed that when I had everything apart the steering column torqued in a clockwise direction. ( I did not see the two pins at the bottom of the column ). So when the time came to reattach the steering column it took quite an effort to torque the column back to its original position to fit the 4 bolts.
 
What have I done? While sitting with the key in the ignition I noticed that the marker lights were on as well as the dash lights for the speedo and tach. I couldn't switch them off and wound up disconnecting the battery.
 
Any help ideas are greatly appreciated.
 
Cheers,
Phil Menchions
'89 Westy