RECALLS - TO: ALL CHEVROLET DEALERS

ATTENTION: SERVICE MANAGER, PARTS MANAGER
AND WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR

GM SERVICE AND PARTS OPERATIONS
DCS1521
URGENT - DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY


Date: February 8, 2006

Subject: 05081 – Special Policy Adjustment
Electronic Column Lock System

Models: 1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette Equipped with a
Manual Transmission (RPO MM6/M12)

1997-2000 Chevrolet Corvette Equipped with an
Automatic Transmission – Export Vehicles Only

2001-2004 Chevrolet Corvette Equipped with an
Automatic Transmission – European Export Vehicles
Only

To: All Chevrolet Dealers

Attention: Service Manager, Parts Manager
and Warranty Administrator

PRODUCT FIELD ACTION ANNOUNCEMENT

General Motors is announcing Special Policy Adjustment 05081 today. The total number of vehicles involved is approximately 72,000. Please see the attached bulletin for details.

This repair should only be performed after verifying that Product Safety Recall 04006 has been completed (check the vehicle's claim history for labor codes V1144, V1145 or V1153). If the recall has not been completed, perform the service procedure described in bulletin 04006C and submit a claim using the appropriate recall labor code.

Mailing Information
Customer notification letter mailing will begin on February 15, 2006.

GM Vehicle Inquiry System (GMVIS)
GMVIS information is not loaded for Special Policy Adjustments.

Service Information System (SI)
Bulletin 05081 will be available in SI on February 9, 2006.

Campaign Initiation Detail Report (CIDR)
The CIDR is not available for Special Policy Adjustments.


Go here to read the actual service bulletin:
http://corvetteforum.net/c5/kenficht...olumn_lock.pdf


Have a great day,
Ken Fichtner
Fichtner Chevrolet

 

thanks for sharing Ken...

Please tell us what this new bulliten really means for us

 

My quick interpertation is that you can have your CL removed by your friendly local Chevy dealer, which should actually prevent any CL problems. Of course if you already have a CLB installed, you don't really need to do anything.

Thanks for posting the info Ken.

 

I don't think this removes the CL on 6 speeds. In fact it still seems like nothing is really done other than a software change for 6 speeds. So I don't see any new fix other than what GM has been doing all along with the recalls.

Am I right or wrong Ken?

 

This looks like REV C of the same safety recall bulletin.

See the note: THE SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR U.S. VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REVISED."

After looking at the details of the procedure I think a column by-pass is the real answer for this fiasco. Looks like all US Zees fall under Procedure 1A -- Install Wire Kit 89023816. Starts on page 5. I don't think I want the steering wheel messed with this much ... too much room for screwing something else up IMO .

 

I was thinking the same thing.
Thanks Ken

 

Don't mean to disagree with you Shylor, but when I look at the top of page two of the TSB, it states "Dealers are to remove the column lock plate on U.S. and Canadian vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and U.S. vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. After the service correction, the steering column will no longer lock when the key is removed."

So it's not just a software change - the physical lock will be gone!

 

P.S. - Ken, thank you for keeping us updated!

 

Thanks for correcting me acrace. I didn't read the whole thing. But now how do they comply with the having a locking device for 6 speeds?

 

It also looks like not all of the 2004 are not in the recall by looking at the vin #s.

 

Thanks for the up-date ,maybe GM will take care of this correctly and stop sending us recall notices! For me I'll wait until many have been done so the GM superwrench has time to know what he is doing!

 

Why do they not include all of the Corvettes though?? The VIN list is about 6300 below mine? Does anyone know what that is all about??

 

Mine is not on the list also do not know why.

 

So wait..
Does this mean they are finnally going to remove the wheel lock once and for all on Stick shifts?

 

This is all quite interesting to follow.
But, there does appear to be one drawback. The above notice states that GM should not perform the latest recall w/o first assuring the previous recall had been completed. So for those of us that have been dodging the first recall for fear of GM screwing up our custom PCMs this is very bad news. As they will be forced to perform the first recall before doing the second recall; which in all reality makes the first recall a moot point since we are removing the entire locking mechanism all together in the second one.

 

what 2004 vin #s are effected? i couldnt open that pdf....

 

Guess that the column won't lock at all.

 

On the 2004s up to vin #45120862 Dont know why its not all of them.

 

That is strange. I've got a call into my service manager to see if they know anything about why not all of us are affected.

 

i have recently had 2 strange instances with my column lock. it was the same situation both times. i got off work and was starting the car. i got my seat belt on was pulling out of the parking spot. the car runs a little rough when its cold and the temperature is cold. the car has died and column locks while the key is still in the on position. i restart the car but the column is still locked. i turn the car off, wait a sec and it unlocks. i start the car and drive off and nothing abnormal happens again. for kinda obvious reasons this has worried me some. here is the question all this leads up to now. is this a new tsb that will fix my problem or the same tsb/recall they have been doing?