Steering Wheel Locked

[wegs the wegs]

I suck with cars. My girlfriend's 2003 Ford Focus has a locked steering wheel. It was fine when she parked it but when she came back it was locked up. It turns to the left and the right a slight amount, maybe an inch total either way. I know there is a way to fix this just don't remember how. Key will go in but that is locked too.

What needs to be done?

[d10]

Shake the steering wheel back and forth while turning the key? Although this is like the auto equivalent of checking to see if your computer is plugged in, so I almost hope the problem is more serious.

[Lester B]

Is it all the way in park?

Could be a malfunction in the security feature. Try a different ignition key.

[n.s.]

The steering wheel is locked because it's supposed to do that when the key is out (or in the 'off' position). The key won't turn because the steering wheel locking mechanism is binding up against it somehow (is she parked on an incline at all?).

Try turning the steering wheel as far to the left as you can and keep pressure on it while you turn the key (you might have to pull on it pretty hard). If that doesn't work, try again but turn it to the right instead.

[Ren McCormack]

a