Couple of things that I do or not do which I think keeps me away from the dreaded column lock. I never use the steering wheel to help me get in or out of the vette. When I park it I don't turn the wheel until it "locks" after I take the key out. I've seen some drivers lock the steering then grasp the wheel to help leverage themselves out of their vettes. I bet in the long run that could bring on the dreaded column lock. What do you guys think?

 

Interesting but doubtful.

 

I think you'll still eventually get the lock problem even without doing that, but interestingly the first time mine locked was just after the first time I had used my steering wheel to pull myself out of the car. My leg was asleep, and I was in a hurry. After about a 7 minute drive, of which about 4 minutes of it was on I-85 driving 65 MPH, my steering column locked-up as I was pulling into the parking lot at work. I was very lucky it didn't happen a minute sooner or I could have been killed on the Interstate when the column locked-up.

 

no i dont think so.When its time its time.my02.

 

I agree.....interesting observation and while that practice may cause other problems over the long run, I don't think it is going to accelerate the locking problem.

 

You're kidding yourself, and playing with FIRE. For $40, and half an hour of your time, you can forget about the column lock forever. Save yourself from that sick feeling of being stranded, and big bucks wasted. Don't delay install the CLB A.S.A.P.

 

Did you file a report of this to the NHTSA, they were investigating locking while moving & after discussion with GM they concluded that we were not checking that the lock was unlocked before driving out of the garage. A real load of BS them caving in to GM.

 

 

Dave 68 thought the same thing last year and keep us posted. Well it finally happened to him also. So I would say your still in jeopardy regarding the CL. Good luck with it if you continue the experiment.

 

Fix it now or tow it later

 

I don't believe for one second your column locked up on you while the car was moving. There are just to many safeguards in the system for this to happen. I think there would be many lawsuits if this did happen, yet I have not heard of one proven case of this issue happening.

 

I think you should go ahead and buy the column lock bypass and be done with the worries.

 

Yes I did. I posted about it here last August when it happened, and someone posted the link to the NHTSA site. Also, I called 1-800-CHEVUSA immediately after it happened, and I offered to leave the car there until they could get someone there to look at it. My hometown & initials are posted here so if anyone from GM is reading, you can read back over what happened. I gave them my name, the VIN # of the car, and the address where it was stuck. I did not hear back from GM after 48 hours, so I turned-on the AC as someone here suggested and got the column unstuck. I haven't heard back from NHTSA either. I'm still looking for a dealer that will do the recall. I put in the CLB about a week after that happened, and only once have I had a problem with it since then. I had to connect the power cable that came with the CLB to get the lock to retract again.

About two hours ago I was at Whitaker Chevy on Laurens Rd in Greenville, SC, and they again refused to do the recall. They were more than happy to try to talk me into the $60+k convertible they had in their showroom, but they weren't interested at all in even talking about the recall. I happened to be near there to buy new tires from Discount Tire that's about two miles from their dealership. They wouldn't even consider setting-up an appointment. I really wish GM would more closely manage their dealerships. Like I've seen others post here, unless a traffic investigator knew about the steering lock issue, they'd probably assume other causes for an accident. There's no real way to know how many people this problem has killed.

 

I question your theory concerning column lock. Let's face it - you've been lucky so far! Your luck may hold out. Then again, you might be on a trip down the coast when column lock strikes. The CLB was the first mod I installed on my '99 coupe six years ago when I bought it new. As a result, I will never have to worry about column lock on this C5 - ever!! JMHO.

 

I will be getting my vet this Monday and have been reading this forum with interest. Now, abut the column lock. What is the purpsoe of the column lock in the first place. why woiuld that function exist in the first place?

 

If I remember correctly you posted about the column lock (while driving) last year and nobody believed you. Then you disappeared and never responded again. That is why many believed it was . I also find it difficult to believe that a dealership refused to do a recall. They are mandated by GM to do recalls. What excuse did they give for not doing it? If what you say is true, call GM and report them.

 

OK, I have had my C5 for about a month. I got the vehicle service history, and the following was listed:

10/13/1999 022846 # E7501 - LOCKING PARTS, RACK/SECTOR/LOCK BOLT/ACTUATOR ROD, STEERIN 4059 miles
10/13/1999 022846 # Z7903 - 3-DAY COURTESY TRANSPORTATION 4059 miles
10/12/1999 752130 # T2020 - TOWING 4059 miles


I assumed this is the repair. Am I correct?

Should I worry about it locking up, or not?

 

Wait a minute you installed a CLB and yet the car still locked up? From what I understand as to how a CLB works, it is impossible that the column would lock up after a CLB is installed. I may be wrong but, I'm getting the feeling this story is

 

And, I've got to say, I don't understand people's reluctance to take our word for it. That the odds are Column Lock Failure will strike, and probably in the summer. A simple, cheap, install, and you don't have to worry! Oh well, some people have to learn the hard way, like I did!

 

Have you ever felt like nobody could hear you speak?