What to Do When ESCL Failure Prevents the Car from Starting?
3 Answers
While driving, if the steering wheel remains in the central position without movement, yet the car automatically veers to one side. Troubleshoot step by step based on the possible causes of the failure. When turning the steering wheel left or right, it feels extremely difficult to operate. The reasons may include incorrect front wheel alignment, underinflated tires, or deformation and wear of the steering linkage mechanism.
Last month, my car also experienced an ESCL malfunction, which was actually the steering wheel lock getting stuck. Here’s a trick you can try: after sitting in the driver’s seat, don’t rush to turn the key. First, forcefully twist the steering wheel left and right (even if it feels locked, apply some strength) while attempting to start the car. Sometimes, it’s just a jam triggering the protection mechanism. If that doesn’t work, check the smart key battery—low battery can cause authentication failure. In my case, replacing the battery fixed it immediately. If all else fails, you’ll have to call a tow truck. Whatever you do, don’t recklessly dismantle the steering column computer.
When encountering an electronic steering column lock failure, perform three basic checks first: keep your phone away from the key (signal interference), test with a spare key (the main key chip may be faulty), and open the hood to check the battery voltage (voltage below 11V may trigger anti-theft protection). My neighbor's auto repair shop says 60% of this issue is caused by a dead battery. If the dashboard displays 'Check Steering Column Lock,' you may need to disconnect the battery negative terminal for 5 minutes to reset the ECU. If these steps don't work, the only option is to read the fault codes.
