This is an interesting development. I've been getting, and ignoring, the reacall notices for qiute some time. One day back in early November I had some time, and decided to write GM Customer Service a letter telling them how I felt about this whole fiasco.

In my letter I specifically stated that I didn't need the BCM to tell me that the column was locked, that I was more than capable of figuring that out myself. I added that the "fix" that GM had come up with could still leave me stranded with a locked column, and was nothing more that a "cover our asses" move by GM. I further stated that even though the lock might satisfy some government regulation, I was the owner and end user of the vehicle, and if I wanted the lock plate removed, it should be my decision. Yes, those were my exact words, especially the "cover our asses" part.

A couple of weeks later, I got a call from some GM customer rep, wanting to discuss my letter. I again reaffirmed that I was intelligent enough to know what a locked steering column felt like, and they were just trying to avoid lawsuits with the "recall". I emphasized that until a true cure was developed, there was no way I was participating in the recall. She said, "Well, I think they're working on something", and I'll tell my supervisors about your feelings. Maybe something I said to them got some attention....finally!

 

They are addressing it now but what about all of us who have had a column lock? There are lots of us who have had to pay GM to “fix” our locked column? I am not a lawyer but isn’t this latest recall from GM almost like an admission of guilt/wrong doing? Would this help in get a class action lawsuit against GM so that we could get the money back that we spent to fix a defect in their product?

 

Will they be reprograming the Manuel cars?

If so will that erase my aftermarket tune?

 

Well...here is my two cents...and I am not happy.

I own a 99 mn6.

In Mar 05...The CL locked up on me as I was leaving a restaurant. Car undriveable. Had to leave it there, overnight. Rented a car. The next morning I had it towed to the Chevy dealer. All in all I spent $900 dollars getting this thing fixed, because the column lock was not covered in the first recall. And the first recall was already performed.

?????

I argued and argued with GM...they kept putting me off, until nonetheless I got frustrated and gave up...I imagine this is what good customer service is all about. Make them wait until they give up or it costs us money (our time).

Now, they 1 year later, when they knew there was a problem for the past 8 years.

Hmmmm...is it worth my effort to pursue this yet again?

Is my column lock going to fail?

Do I need to get the new recall done?

Thanks for any input.

--------------------
If they hear you before they see you, it is loud enough.

1999 Torch Red C5 Coupe
K & N Dual Air intake, B&B Bullet, Michelin A/S Pilot Sport ZP, Black Z06 Rims

 

I doubt this will occur on Friday? Dealers still need to get parts in stock and notification letters don't go out until Feb 15.

But to answer your question, NO FLASHING. They are to follow the procedure in 4006C which only requires PCM flashing for Canadian and export vehicals retaining the ECL.

 

NEGATIVE, I had mine done yesterday on my '02 Z06 and no programming was required.

 

good info - thanks...I'd thought I was OK from previous fix.

 

 

I've seen a couple of posts about this and I'm confused. When I got the original recall notive in 2004, it included a form to submit incurred costs by owners who had lock-ups. They even reimbursed for towing. Am I dreaming here?

 

Part of this recall includes the installation of a "shorting harness". I'm guessing it acts like the by-pass kit which fools the computer.

 

I've read the service bulletin in PDF form and it's a pretty involved procedure. Removal of a lot of panels, switches, connectors, re and re the steering wheel, do the job and put it all back together.

Seems like an awful lot of work and that it would take some time to do it right and be careful not to damage anything in the process. I have never performed this procedure so take this with a grain of salt.

True to form, GM (like any other manufacturer dealing with a warranty recal) has allowed a grand total of....get this, .8 hours for the job.


It's going to take a tech .2 hours just to get the car in and out of his bay so that leaves him a grand to total of .6 hrs to do the work and earn a paycheck. Doesnt seem like much time to me. I doubt any tech will be able to break even on this flate rate time, certainly not the first time they do one.


My take? Techs working flat rate will hate it when this work order falls in their lap knowing they are going to lose money on the job. I know I would, I always hated warranty work when I was working flat rate because it always cost me time/money. As a good and concientious mechanic, I just smiled and did the job and ate the loss so the customer could go home happy, the service department was happy, and the manufacturer was happy. As a mechanic I knew it was my lot in life to bend over and spread 'em for warranty work.

Some techs are not like this and get pissed when they have to do this type of work and will rush the job trying to get the job finished as fast as they can taking any short cuts they can. They wont care if they scratch or damage any stuff as long as you dont find out or see it. Not all techs are like this and I'm not trying to paint them with a wide brush. I'm just warning you.

If you know the guy who will do the work and you trust him then you are golden. If you are just going to drop it off at the dealership and let them have at it....well...

Me? I'm buying CLB and putting it in myself. YMMV.

 

Thanks for sharing a mechanic's perspective....

 

Just chiming in here with my CLB issue. I have a 99 MN6 that I took in for the recall and they accidently took out my locking plate by misreading my VIN . I then take it back after getting a service column lock message so they can give me a new harness because the one they put in the first time was for a 2000, not a 1999- they left out the plate. Now they are taking out the plates on all cars, isn't that illegal to not have a locking mechanism on a MN6 for theft reasons? I thought I was the only MN6 without a locking plate.

 

I put my CLB in myself.....

Took 25 minutes

 

I cant for the life of me understand why GM didnt use this method in the first place, or the second place.

Oh wait, yes I can.

 

Any lawyers in the house? I am in on this class action. I spent several an hour on the phone with GM about this...I want punitive damages as well. I love the smell of lawsuits in the morning. Oh, wait that is napalm.

 

[QUOTE=99magredcoupe]Now they are taking out the plates on all cars, isn't that illegal to not have a locking mechanism on a MN6 for theft reasons? /QUOTE]

This was a Government requirement, one which GM would have loved to have eliminated long ago. They were successful in lifting the requirment for automatics in '01 and forward production but not for manual transmissions. Recently the requirement was lifted for manual transmissions for 2006 production. I suspect that's what triggered the current elimination on all C5's.

BTW - the Canadian government has not followed suit which is why they are still required in the freezing north

 

 

yeap I have one too on my 01 MN6...I had the recall done colunm still locked up a year later

For all of you who have not purchased an aftermarket CLB,, BUY IT, DO IT,unless you want to do the latest recall and have a Stealership work on your car (for MN6 people that is).

Got my CLB from ThunderRacing. 50-54 bucks no more worries about this nightmare

 

Now I'm curious. Is it possible that the dealership did the recall service on my 98 AND LEFT MY CLB IN PLACE? I know they didn't give it back to me????????? Can you have both????????