20 replies to this topic

[paulrockliffe]

It's a 1975 car, I don't know if that makes a difference, but thought I'd throw that into the ring.

I'm moving all the switches off the column and want to neaten everything up completely by getting rid of the steering lock too. My understanding is that it is a legal requirement, but I'm sure there's a way of complying with the law without having that ugly lump of metal on top of my column?

(I keep banging my knee on it)

)

[Ethel]

[Don't think you need a steering lock by law just a means of stopping the engine from the driver's seat. They just put one there as it's the best place for it & it makes it a bit harder for toe rags. It's only screwed on with a couple of shear bolts so not too hard to remove.

[Jammy]

You either need a steering lock, or a battery kill switch. I can't remember if this is law or MOT.

[chairchild]

My first mini's steering lock never worked, and it didn't fail the MOT on it?

[Ethel]

My first mini's steering lock never worked, and it didn't fail the MOT on it?

It's not part of the test, I'd have been a little worried though. A steering lock that doesn't work isn't a problem: one that decides to work while you're driving is!

[Dan]

No it's not part of the MOT but it is the law (Road Vehicle Construction and Use Regulations) that there be a physical immobiliser built into the car and that it be impossible to forget that the immobiliser is active or for it to come on accidentally. The manufacturers all decided in the 60s that the best way to do this was to fit a key ignition with a steering lock that had to be disengaged while the ignition was on and could not renegage until the ignition was off. We did look into this before and find something that can apparently be legally used in place of the steering lock but I can't remember what that was. Search should find the answer. Whatever it is, the most convenient and easy to use thing that complies with the law is the ignition key.

[paulrockliffe]

Ok, so when they say physical, can I physically disconnect the battery supply with one of those motorsporty kill switches?

As I see it that's a far better method of imoblising the car as it doesn't matter if you can turn the wheels or not if yu can't go anywhere.

It would be impossible to forget it was on as the car wouldn't work and t couldn't come on by accident coould it?

That said, I'm not sure how its dfferent to the ignition switch?

Ta

[paulrockliffe]

I've been trying to find the original thread that this was covered in, without success!

Was it in a build thread somewhere? I thought it was part of a busa powered Monte Carlo build by a guy in america? Aric? I just can't find the user or the thread!

I tihnk he also had some trick relays or something that held the indicators on for 10s at just a push of the switch, which would be useful too!

[Bass Man]

a physical immobiliser built into the car and that it be impossible to forget that the immobiliser is active

I think this is the key comment here, a switch isn't a 'physical' immobiliser. I have a big chain that goes through the steering wheel and is anchored to the floor, technically it is possible to drive off with this still in place so this wouldn't satisfy the legal requirement as the sole means of immobilising the car. If you are banging your knees perhaps you need to investigate ways to move the seat further back?

[paulrockliffe]

a physical immobiliser built into the car and that it be impossible to forget that the immobiliser is active

I think this is the key comment here, a switch isn't a 'physical' immobiliser. I have a big chain that goes through the steering wheel and is anchored to the floor, technically it is possible to drive off with this still in place so this wouldn't satisfy the legal requirement as the sole means of immobilising the car. If you are banging your knees perhaps you need to investigate ways to move the seat further back?

But you can drive off with the steering lock on too and cause a hell of a lot of damage too, though you can't do that with the electrics immobilised, unless you're on top of a hill! But I don't really want to debate the sensibilities of the Law.

I'll be moving the seat back if the car is on the road and I can drive it home for Christmas - my Dad has a welder, so I can modify the seat subframes. I'm more after a nice clean look to my column than anything else.

Someone must know where the thread I'm after is?

Cheers.

[GraemeC]

But you can drive off with the steering lock on too ...

Not if everything is as it left the factory as once you put the key in to start the car the steering wheel lock is de-activated. Hence why the ignition barrel does noth jobs.

I think removable steering wheels might class as a suitable physical security device but not sure as they rely on you removing them!

[paulrockliffe]

But you can drive off with the steering lock on too ...

Not if everything is as it left the factory as once you put the key in to start the car the steering wheel lock is de-activated. Hence why the ignition barrel does noth jobs.

I think removable steering wheels might class as a suitable physical security device but not sure as they rely on you removing them!

I thought this law was a security measure? If it's not to immobilise the car to stop thieves, then what's it for? I mean if you've got the key, the car isn't actally immobilised at all really! Actually thinking about it, is the law not something to do with stopping the Germans when they wanted to invade???

My housemate just said, "Remove the steering wheel, like Mr Bean." So maybe that's the right approach?

Or perhaps the approach shoudl be, "Just don't get caught."

[Jammy]

I think removable steering wheels might class as a suitable physical security device but not sure as they rely on you removing them!

In the same way a removable steering wheel relies on your removing the wheel, and a battery cut off switch relies on your turning the key and removing it, the barrel ignition switch/steering column lock relies on your turning the key and removing it.

[Ethel]

Minis and many other cars up to around 1970 just had a key switch and no steering lock unless the law changed after that date to require a mechanical lock I think that would suffice.

My guess would be that the law was intended to stop cars being started accidentally, by kids playing in them and the like.

[koss]

In a sva test a battery cut off switch is acceptable as long as it has a removable key.