.. Tuesday night after the gym my steering column lock up on me.. Needless to say i was furious because in 2005 when i bought the car i specifically asked and have written correspondence to the dealer where i bought it, asking had the column lock by pass been performed on this car.

They told me yes,.... after a month or so after i bought it i took the car in again to get it check the column lock and again they told me its done.

Thus i was enraged when i could not move and had to leave my vette outside in hollywood overnight on tuesday.

The next day i had it to towed to a local chevy dealership where they would said A.) they would have to charge me 85 bones to look and see if it is the column lock .. even thought i kept explaining to them that that is what the DIC is saying .... and B.) that it might not be covered by GM and the process would require three hours to fix by installing it correctly...................GM service .. not looking soo good at this point to me ....

After an exhusting day of wasting away at the dealership/service shop the manager finally tells me that oh GM will fix your car,,.... but it wont be done today . and we do not have loner car.... !!!!! .. But we can give you a discounted rate on a rental !!!

YEAH THANKS FOR NOTHING !!! ..

PS. need help what should i do .. does anyone think i could get GM . to pick the tab for towing . which came out to be 103 bones and the rental which is not bad 25 dollars a day....... but still i think the entire process is cold and taxiing.....

THOUGHTS OPINIONS PLEASE !!!!

 

Do you still have the "written correspondence" where you were told it had already been fixed? If so, I would make whoever said that (dealer, GM, etc) pay for it. Rental cars are not typically covered by GM unless you have GMPP. If you need to, get the number for the regional service manager and work your way up the chain. Good luck

 

I believe that GM is finally removing/disabling the column lock on the latest recall. If they do that, go with it. You'll know it's disabled of course if you can still turn the wheel with the key out of the ignition.



column lock

 

thanks.. and yes i do still have the correspondence.



still welcome all opinions !!

 

Are you serious? Mine show as the recall as being done, but I cannot turn my wheel without the key in the ignition.

 

I would sure push for GM to cover the cost of towing. Don't know when you bought the car, but the most recent notice on the column lock problem has GM fixing the car so it can't lock again.

 

thankx

 

ttt

 

It ain't done Eric!

 

[QUOTE=Cali17 i specifically asked and have written correspondence to the dealer where i bought it, asking had the column lock by pass been performed on this car. [/QUOTE]


You don't have to ask if it was done: if you can turn your steering wheel without an ignition key, you're good.
I avoided this problem and installed a CLB before anything could happen

 

Don't confuse the two different recalls, the one in 2004 and the latest in February 2006. The latest one does disable the locking plate in manuals unlike the 2004 recall.

 

Please see my recent question regarding where to find information on the recall on the column lock. I bet yours had done what mine had done....been fixed for the recall in 2004, so it won't lock up going down the road but it will sitting still. I cannot find a recall notice on the web anywhere. My GM dealer said there is none except the one for 2004.

 

Go to www.NHTSA.com and complete the requested info. There are 2 recalls for your '99. The column lock recall (issued Feb 06, 2004) and one on seat belts is there. If it ain't fixed, it ain't fixed regardless of what the wheeler Dealer sez.

Cheers

 

MODELS:

1997-2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1997-2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001-2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION – EUROPEAN EXPORT
VEHICLES ONLY


DESCRIPTION:
PRODUCT SAFETY #04006C
DATED: FEBRUARY 8, 2006
IMPORTANT:

THIS BULLETIN CANCELS AND REPLACES BULLETIN 04006B, ISSUED NOVEMBER 2004. THE SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR U.S. VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REVISED. PLEASE REVIEW THIS NEW INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY.

ALL COPIES OF BULLETIN 04006B SHOULD BE DESTROYED.

General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 1997-2004 model year Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. When you remove the ignition key, the electronic column lock (ECL) system prevents turning of the steering wheel. When the vehicle is started, it unlocks the steering. Two conditions can prevent steering while the vehicle is moving:

1. The vehicle is designed so that if the column fails to unlock when the vehicle is started, the fuel supply will be shut off if the driver tries to move the vehicle. If voltage at the powertrain control module is low or interrupted, however, the fuel shut off may not occur and the vehicle can be accelerated while the steering is locked.
2. During quick cranks, the ECL lock pin may not withdraw fully and, in vehicles where there is abnormally low clearance to the lock plate, there may be contact between the pin and lock plate. This can cause a noise or ratcheting when the steering wheel is turned or, if there is insufficient clearance, the steering wheel cannot be turned.

If one of these conditions occurs, a crash could occur without warning.


CORRECTION:
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.

On Canadian and export vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, and export vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, Dealers are to 1) reprogram the PCM, and 2) verify there is adequate lock plate clearance and, if necessary, replace the lock plate. After the service correction, the steering column will continue to lock when the key is removed.

Refer to the Product Safety Bulletin #04006C for further information.


EFFECTIVE DATE:
Owner mailing is scheduled to begin February 15, 2006.


GENERAL INFORMATION:
Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO – Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO – Customer Special Order.

The Parts list follows:


Part Number Description Quantity/Vehicle
89023816 Harness Kit, Strg Whl Theft Dtrnt Lk Shorting (US manuals and all automatics except export vehicles) 1
88952428 Wire Kit, Strg Whl Theft Dtrnt Lk (1998-2000 Canadian and export manuals & export automatics) 1 (If Req'd)
26056108 Nut, Strg Whl 1 (If Req'd)
26094767 Plate, Strg Shf Lk (Canadian manuals) 1 (If Req'd)
88964588 Plate, Strg Shf Lk (Export vehicles) 1 (If Req'd)
05694191 Ring, Strg Shf Lk Plt Ret 1 (If

 

The steering column will no longer lock, on MN6 cars, but the fuel flow will still be shut off and leave you stranded

Get a CLB, or you are "rolling the dice"

 

AHHHHHH i had the latest recall done (remove the plate) but yesterday I got the pull key message WTFFFFFFFFF what do I do now????

 

The pull key message has nothing to do with the column lock. It is the VATS system. Clean the "pellet" on your key with rubbing alcohol and a q-tip. That will usually fix the problem.

 

are u sure ??? because my gas got cut off... is it the pellet or someone else said maybe an 04 actuator..

 

With these cars I am sure of nothing. However, from experience, it is the most likely culprit. Best of luck.

 

thanks i hope thats it