Dreaded Column Lock
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 204
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From: North of TMS Texas
Dreaded Column Lock
I mentioned the dreaded column lock problem to a vette friend who has a '03 Z-06 with about 6500 miles on it. He hadn't heard of it but went to a function at Texas Motor Speedway and parked in the underground parking garage. Guess what? His wife was going to drive the laps for the fund raiser and the steering wheel locked in the underground garage. Fortunately, they did the "pull the key out, wait 10 seconds etc." and it worked. When he went to a local dealer (that is not a vette expert) they told the vette owner that there had been low voltage that may have caused the problem. Anyone heard of that?
In the meantime, I installed the column lock bypass on my 2000 FRC so that I don't experience that. Bot from Thunder Racing just before they got hit by Katrina. On-line instructions were excellent (with pictures) and took 45 minutes like the instructions say. Now I have to reprogram my keyless entry but feel much better. GM should belly up to the bar and take care of this.
In the meantime, I installed the column lock bypass on my 2000 FRC so that I don't experience that. Bot from Thunder Racing just before they got hit by Katrina. On-line instructions were excellent (with pictures) and took 45 minutes like the instructions say. Now I have to reprogram my keyless entry but feel much better. GM should belly up to the bar and take care of this.
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Tell your friend that he needs to get a column lock bypass now. No use taking any more chances.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,487
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From: Naples Florida
Originally Posted by turbosupra18
When I installed my CLB, i got the "pull key and wait 10 sec" message. It went away after I waited but is that suppose to happen?
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
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From: Southern NH
Originally Posted by turbosupra18
When I installed my CLB, i got the "pull key and wait 10 sec" message. It went away after I waited but is that suppose to happen?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 869
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From: Nashville TN
Yup, that's the message I got before the system cut off my fuel pump at any speed above 2 mph!! On my '99 A4 I had the column lock recall done about a year ago. They removed the ring or pin, whatever, so the column cannot lock anymore. Great, I thought -- but then, about two weeks ago, I got the "remove key..." message, followed by the "service column lock" message. To make a long story short, because of a bad relay related to the column lock system, the system would cut my fuel pump off at 3 mph! I had to have it flat-bedded to the dealer. 
Since it was related to the recall the dealer didn't charge for the fix -- and my insurance covered the tow -- so I didn't suffer financially, only emotionally! 
Since it was related to the recall the dealer didn't charge for the fix -- and my insurance covered the tow -- so I didn't suffer financially, only emotionally!
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,806
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From: Rochester MN
[QUOTE=Fixed Roof Coupe] Fortunately, they did the "pull the key out, wait 10 seconds etc." and it worked. When he went to a local dealer (that is not a vette expert) they told the vette owner that there had been low voltage that may have caused the problem. Anyone heard of that?
At Carlisle this year at the C5 tech meeting, the C5 specialist speaker from CT also told be low voltage when I told him I got that message that morning. I then told him I has just put in the CLB. Then he was stumped. However, the message never came back
The CLB is the way to go. I ignore the recall notices
At Carlisle this year at the C5 tech meeting, the C5 specialist speaker from CT also told be low voltage when I told him I got that message that morning. I then told him I has just put in the CLB. Then he was stumped. However, the message never came back
The CLB is the way to go. I ignore the recall notices
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 404
Likes: 2
From: VB Va
That damn column just happened to me at lunch, had the dealer "fix" the problem, so I thought. I am pretty sure that I would screw something up by trying the CLB myself, anyone know where I could get this done? I live in the Virginia Beach, VA area.......
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 24,592
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From: The Rock Arkansas
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Cruise-In III Veteran
Originally Posted by JC in XTC5
This message is not necessarily related to the column lock. It's displayed when the passkey security system has trouble reading the pellet on the key for a variety of reasons, such as the they contacts in the ignition keyhole are dirty, the key is inserted, removed and reinserted quickly, etc. By pulling the key and waiting 10 seconds, the system is allowed to reset.
"SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" is the message you will get when it's a column lock problem. Still a good idea to install a CLB.
column lock