Now that is one heck of a daunting prospect! All over again 10 times! I think I will lay down and cry a little first. lol
 
> Date: Fri, 20 May 2011 17:39:46 -0700
> From: scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM
> Subject: Re: Steering wheel locked after replacing blower motor
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> hi dear First Foray ..
> 
> it is entirely normal to have something like this happen on something
> semi-intense like steering column work ..
> part of the learning curve.
> I'd say just 'back up' ...
> undo all that you have bolted up ..
> and wires ..and kinda 'start over' .
> 
> it's odd that the key and steering are jammed or locked together badly ..
> can't imagine how you did that ..
> but ...........with luck and cleverness you can get it back apart and find
> out where you might have made a mistake ..
> I'm not thinking that you have a ground problem..
> but if ever you do see things like lights working when they shouldn't ...
> if it's not directly the wiring, the fuese or how things are connected ..
> then you think about grounds.
> 
> Had one case where the only thing that would happen when you tried to start
> the car ....
> was the headlights would come on when the key was turned to the start
> position. Otherwise everything was dead.
> That turned out to be poor contact on the main battery ground cable. Just
> putting a jumper cable from engine to batt. negative made it work right.
> my point is ..
> for very weird electrical symptions ..consider grounds for sure.
> 
> it's totally normal to have to go over your work on a first-time thing.
> btdt. Part of the learning process.
> Don't give up..
> just get in there....and check everything very carefully. Even if it takes
> hours.
> I've had to put things togther 10 times a few times, to get them right.
> 
> scott
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Phil Menchions" <pwmenchions@HOTMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, May 20, 2011 4:30 PM
> Subject: Re: Steering wheel locked after replacing blower motor
> 
> 
> 
> I'm familiar with the situation you described usually seen when the wheels
> are cut hard over when parking. In this instance the wheels are straight
> ahead but I suppose it is possible that with the steering column torquing
> after the bolts were loosened it may have had the same effect. I'll give it
> a go again tomorrow.
> 
> Has anyone else encountered the same situation that I have described?
> 
> It is also disconcerting that simply having the battery ground wire hooked
> up results in the side marker and dash lights illuminating. The only
> electrical mod was to splice a spade connector for the blower motor itself.
> Otherwise it was clean up whatever grounds could be see, plug in and go. (or
> not)
> 
> This has been my first foray into doing my own labor on the van. Thought
> that perhaps I had bitten off more than I could chew but this forum has been
> a wonderful help. Thanks to all for the advice.
> 
> Phil Menchions
> '89 Westy
> 
> 
> > Date: Fri, 20 May 2011 15:48:05 -0600
> > From: mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM
> > Subject: Re: Steering wheel locked after replacing blower motor
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> > Turn the wheel HARD R or L and see if while doing that in one or the other
> > of those directions, you can remove/turn the ign key.
> > It just sounds to me like the steering wheel has pressure on it in the
> > locked and turned position. I've had that happen periodically
> > and just turned the wheel further toward the position the front wheels
> > were pointing.
> > bob
> > On May 20, 2011, at 2:50 PM, Phil Menchions wrote:
> >
> > > I just finished putting a new blower motor in my '89 (pheww! don't want
> > > to do that any time again soon). Anyway I was feeling quite satisfied
> > > with myself after putting everything back together. However, much to my
> > > chagrin I found the steering wheel was locked and the key will not turn
> > > in the ignition.
> > >
> > > I noticed that when I had everything apart the steering column torqued
> > > in a clockwise direction. ( I did not see the two pins at the bottom of
> > > the column ). So when the time came to reattach the steering column it
> > > took quite an effort to torque the column back to its original position
> > > to fit the 4 bolts.
> > >
> > > What have I done? While sitting with the key in the ignition I noticed
> > > that the marker lights were on as well as the dash lights for the speedo
> > > and tach. I couldn't switch them off and wound up disconnecting the
> > > battery.
> > >
> > > Any help ideas are greatly appreciated.
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Phil Menchions
> > > '89 Westy
> =