mike-tracy
05-29-2012, 08:03 PM
Story: Friend's mom has an 01 Legacy L wagon w/ 4eat. Her house was broken into when they were asleep, and thieves stole her purse and keys. And the Subaru.
Two days later they find it parked in the woods, not too much worse for the wear. No keys though. So the friend's mom goes to the dealership with her registration and gets new ones made. They work perfectly in the doors, with either side up. Steering wheel was locked by thieves by turning it after the key was removed.
Sounds simple right? Put the key in, and wiggle the steering wheel and it should work, right? Nope.
Took the column's plastic off and pushed the interlock switch while turning the key and a friend rocked the steering wheel back in forth. No luck either.
So I'm thinking, maybe it's not fully in park, so I pushed in the shifter lock switch, and tried the above in "N" and also back in "P." No dice.
I believe the ignition cylinder is in good shape, because the thieves had the car's key, and also because I can feel the replacement key start to turn before it hits the interlock. Doesn't feel like the key's teeth are hitting mangled metal, but that the whole cylinder is blocked from moving.
Additionally, the horn beeps once after I have been working in the car for a while, lock then close the driver side door. Seems like it has an alarm, but there's no led in the normal spot for these cars. Edit: Called owner and she said it had keyless entry but no alarm.
Let me know what you think. They're towing it to my house presently.
Two days later they find it parked in the woods, not too much worse for the wear. No keys though. So the friend's mom goes to the dealership with her registration and gets new ones made. They work perfectly in the doors, with either side up. Steering wheel was locked by thieves by turning it after the key was removed.
Sounds simple right? Put the key in, and wiggle the steering wheel and it should work, right? Nope.
Took the column's plastic off and pushed the interlock switch while turning the key and a friend rocked the steering wheel back in forth. No luck either.
So I'm thinking, maybe it's not fully in park, so I pushed in the shifter lock switch, and tried the above in "N" and also back in "P." No dice.
I believe the ignition cylinder is in good shape, because the thieves had the car's key, and also because I can feel the replacement key start to turn before it hits the interlock. Doesn't feel like the key's teeth are hitting mangled metal, but that the whole cylinder is blocked from moving.
Additionally, the horn beeps once after I have been working in the car for a while, lock then close the driver side door. Seems like it has an alarm, but there's no led in the normal spot for these cars. Edit: Called owner and she said it had keyless entry but no alarm.
Let me know what you think. They're towing it to my house presently.