On 3/10/2010 9:44 AM, Jack wrote:
I posted here because of the great number of posters, some of whom might
have an opinion. I was right !!

Why people take the time to reply to a post to say that "they personally
do not care to reply" is beyond me.

My cars are 2000 and 2003 GM products and the keys are on the steering
wheel and when you turn the key off it locks the steering. Maybe if the
key is in the dash it does not lock the steering just by turning it off.

The guy in CA said he was afraid to take his hands off the steering
wheel (I think).

Sorry to have bothered the group, I will not be back.

Please turn off the orange HTML stuff,
it's almost impossible to read.

Ok, I got up off my can and went 17
stairs to the garage where there are 2
GMs ... well, only one today, the other
is presently out. But, I then had to
hike back upstairs to get the keys. I
always leave the keys in the ignition
when the car is in the garage, but for
some reason they came upstairs and got
put on the table. Anyway, the 2002
Trailblazer column mounted key has 4
positions in this order.
1. Off and key removable
2. Accessory position .. key not removable
3. On
4. Spring return start
I started the car 4 then 3 and then put
it in drive. I then turned the key to 2
.... engine off, key not removable, but
accessories on.

A lot can depend on whether you have a
column mounted gear selector or console
mounted. The Trailblazer has a console
selector. BTW, the gear selector also
locks under some conditions, but I
didn't "test" that. It actually locks
the little button that allows the
selector to be moved.

Now, many of the newer cars have a
pushbutton to start turn on and start
the car. It detects the presence of you
electronic key which doesn't have to be
touching the car .... obviously, some
electronics in this type of switch.
Seeing the Toyota problems would make be
scared to have one of these pushbutton
things. It also makes me wonder how
much of the gear selector is done
electronically, even though we move that
big lever.

Also, I just heard the noon news and the
911 tape from CA. The guy said, "My
breaks are burnt and I'm trying to shut
it off." The Asheville news person said
that the car finally lost power
(whatever that means) and the car rolled
into the squad car.