1999 Dakota, 5.2l, 4 speed auto. Truck was my Dad's, it sat for 8 years after he passed and I've been going through it for about 2 years. I do know it was repaired up front after my stepmom rear-ended someone. I got to the steering, changed everything out as it was all in bad shape (didn't need to replace the column attached to the wheel). (The wheels are straight ahead, steering gear centered) As I'm installing the upper shaft to the steering column I discover the wheel doesn't lock when the ignition is in the lock position. I take out the bolt and lower the upper shaft and turn the wheel and it locks up-side-down. The service manual states the wheel is supposed to lock when the key is removed. I don't remember if it locked right-side-up before I started all the work as it didn't even run. The upper shaft won't bolt onto the column with the steering wheel up-side-down. What gives?

 

Can't tell you for sure, but I can tell you that on my truck, it has never locked with the key off unless I went more than a 3/4 turn.

 

same here it mine dosnt lock unless its turned almost a full turn

 

Thanks for the quick replies. More than one not locking wheels straight. The service manual just states: "The steering wheel should lock when key is in LOCK position. Rotate steering wheel to verify." It doesn't state what position the wheel should be in when it does lock: Mine locks, steering wheel up-side-down, but it does lock. I'll finish assembly and move on to the next thing.

If someone tries to steal it they won't be hard to find. Just look for the Dakota stuck in a turn.

 

If you are new to the 97-04 dakota world, just assume you anything you find as an anomaly was designed by somebody half drunk, and that it is working as [poorly] designed.

 

You are spot on.

 

Don't worry. The more you work on it, the more you will ask "What the F*** were these a*******s thinking?"

Well, they weren't.

They were drunk.

Keep a drill bit and a hammer ready, some of the bolts you will encounter will seriously make you question how this &^%$ made it off production floor.

 

Dodge ain't alone in that..... When I worked at the Chevy dealer, we would get Celebrities (cars, not people) in for water pumps and such. One the 2.8 V6 versions, you actually had to drop the cradle down to get one of the bolts out..... I thought that was a truly stupid design. (as did the other mechanics....)

I went to a Mensa event in St. Louis not to much later, and there, I met a GM 'designer', he worked in the powertrain division. When I found that out, I told him "I know a fair few folks that would like to kill you." He was greatly surprised.... and asked "WHY???" I asked him if he ever worked on something he designed. Answer: Nope. I suggested he spend a year as a tech in a dealership, and I would bet him his whole design philosophy would change....

 

so true. One of the things that was not taught in my engineering classes - only on the Formula SAE team or through otherwise experience.