HELP! STEERING WHEEL Locked!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Country Boys Can Survive.
Originally Posted by Stock Man
Absolutely no doubt about it. If you have a 6 speed and you haven't installed either the CLB or the Harness K you will experience the horror of the column lock locking and not unlocking. It's just a matter of when this will happen to you. It could be 2 weeks or 3 years but it will happen.
It'll happen suddenly, when you least expect it. The CLB is easy to intall, use ls1howto.com. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,433
Likes: 4,589
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
If you would prefer not to flatbed your Corvette and not have the dealer touch it then you may want to try this. Turn the key to the off position and remove it from the ignition. Next, firmly tug the steering wheel back and forth several times, it may help to give you better leverage if you stand outside the car while doing this. Then get insde and turn the key to the "on position" without starting the engine and the column lock should release. This has worked for many people including myself.
Once you release the pin and unlock the steering column, do not attempt to start the engine until after you install the bypass or it may lock up again. You might not get a second chance if it does.
Just follow the installation instructions that come with the CLB kit, it's really not difficult at all. The hardest part is to re-attach the lower dash panel. You can buy a CLB for less than $50 at Corvettes of Houston or Thunder Racing. Many other Forum vendors carry them as well.
Here is a link to the best instructions for installing a CLB:
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=24
Once you release the pin and unlock the steering column, do not attempt to start the engine until after you install the bypass or it may lock up again. You might not get a second chance if it does.
Just follow the installation instructions that come with the CLB kit, it's really not difficult at all. The hardest part is to re-attach the lower dash panel. You can buy a CLB for less than $50 at Corvettes of Houston or Thunder Racing. Many other Forum vendors carry them as well.
Here is a link to the best instructions for installing a CLB:
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=24
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Boscawen NH
Originally Posted by Corpsvette
Uhhh, unless you have an older automatic and they put the blocking plate in, your recall did absolutely nothing for you except that when (not if) your column does lock, the car will cut your fuel so you can't have a terrible accident. So, if you have a 6 speed, be afraid, be very afraid and go buy the CLB ASAP. 
Jim K.
PS. Bought CLB on 12 December, bought car brand new on 19 December. I did enough reading on here to know better before I owned my car.
Jim K.
PS. Bought CLB on 12 December, bought car brand new on 19 December. I did enough reading on here to know better before I owned my car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,026
Likes: 178
From: Jacksonville, NC
Originally Posted by acecpa
Thanks for the heads up. The car is a 98 automatic. The steering wheel does not lock at all now so I hope I'm ok.
Jim K.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 19
From: Carson City, NV
Ohhh the dreaded Column Lock 
....it makes me so angry to read about it happening to so many of you folks. I've taken a special interest in this problem and designed my own once I understood the problem better. Now I try to help whenever I can.
After reading this thread, please note the following comments:
John
....it makes me so angry to read about it happening to so many of you folks. I've taken a special interest in this problem and designed my own once I understood the problem better. Now I try to help whenever I can.After reading this thread, please note the following comments:
- Q How can I tell if the column lock problem can happen to me?
- A With your key removed, turn your steering wheel. If it turns freely, your column lock is disabled
- Q If I have the dealer install the GM "k harness" on my car, am I ok?
- A If the dealer did the work following the recall instructions, he should have removed the locking plate in your steering column. This is important! If you install the K Harness yourself, and insert it in series with your harness and do not remove the locking plate in your steering column, you are not fixing the problem. One member sent me a wiring diagram for his K Harness. It shows that the Column Lock Motor still remains in the circuit and the GM CLB simply sends status back to the BCM. Again, if you remove your key and your steering wheel is locked, you are not fixing the problem.
John
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Originally Posted by Cscokd
[*]Q If I have the dealer install the GM "k harness" on my car, am I ok?[*]A If the dealer did the work following the recall instructions, he should have removed the locking plate in your steering column. This is important! If you install the K Harness yourself, and insert it in series with your harness and do not remove the locking plate in your steering column, you are not fixing the problem. One member sent me a wiring diagram for his K Harness. It shows that the Column Lock Motor still remains in the circuit and the GM CLB simply sends status back to the BCM. Again, if you remove your key and your steering wheel is locked, you are not fixing the problem.[/list]Good Luck All
John
John
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 19
From: Carson City, NV
Originally Posted by Stock Man
Actually if you check the schematic it'll show that the unlock portion of the CL is the only part of the CL that is connected once the Harness K is installed. So that the only signal the CL will receive is to unlock. That is why a few here disconnect the CL once the Harness K is installed and unsed once. The first time you use it it will unlock the CL. From that point on the CL will not get a signal to lock. And some say that as long as your not experiencing a ratchet noise when you turn your wheel the locking ring is not required. .02 deposited. Any other views on this greatly appreciated.
john_neese@msn.com
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 19
From: Carson City, NV
Originally Posted by LS6v
What would happen if you just disconnected the CL plug (before it locks), and didn't install the CL bypass module?
John
