Has anyone seen this message on their DIC:
"Pull out key, wait 10 seconds".

This happened last week right when I was leaving work and I had just started the car? I did as the message said, turned the car off waited 10 seconds, no issues? Weird?

Anyone else get this message, and what does it mean? Should I be worried?

 

Not unusual at all.

It is usually followed by a locking steering column

 

Never heard of that one.

 

Along the steering column locking with that message, if you try to drive the car, it will shut down before you hit 2MPH. That is a safeguard so that you can't move the car with the column locked up.

GM has issued a notice for the "final" fix of the column lock issue. Do a search on "Column lock" and you can find a post with the text of the GM letter. If you have a MN6 car, go to the Corvette of Houston webpage and order the Column Lock Bypass kit. $50 bucks, less than an hour to install and no more problems

 

 

Your not alone on that one , My '99 displayed the same "Pull out key wait 10 sec." it only happened once and while I was starting the car It stalled when I went to go, so I started it the 2nd time without...say giving the cars computer time to reset. It was on that 2nd startup the message appeared. The remove "KEY" part is most likely that in order for everything to reset properly , that small computer chip on your key must be totally out of the ignition. Car never did it again after. I wouldn't sweat it, just more computer overkill. Aug-Dog

 

Yes, be worried. This message usually preceeds the dreaded column lock where it leaves you stranded in the most inopportune place. Take c4cruiser's advice and go ahead and purchase the Column Lock Bypass from one of the forum vendors. Install shouldn't take more than 30 minutes.

 

If it is an MN6, take it to your favorite Chevy house and have them apply the latest fix which entails removing the locking pin from the column and putting an electrical bypass which fools the computer into thinking that the column is locked. Your problems will go away. No need to buy anything from anybody. GM will square you away for free.

 

This is probably the most written up subject in this forum. Take 5 minutes and do some research here. You will then run to get the CLB.

 

Mine did that just as the column locked and I had to have it towed.

 

So why do people go buy the bypass and DIY if it's a recall and GM will do it for free?

I just bought mine less than a month ago, and have no idea if it's been fixed or not.

 

Because GM's fix has resulted in varying levels of effectiveness, as I understand it.

 

My DIC stated a VERY unusual message just the other day!

I was tinkering around with the engine doing some upgrades when all of the sudden the DIC flipped on voice activation and said "What do you think you're doing Dave"

From that moment on I started callin him Hal9000


Sorry bud... had to do it... From you're question, it's obvious your new to the forum so dont take any of this personal.. we're all just playin around..ya know, givin you a "warm welcome"

You should consider doing a search before posting this thread because this topic has been covered "let's just say more than once".

You're problem is nothing major! Luckily there is a quick remedy for it called the "Column Lock Bypass" which can be purchased from any of our forum vendors.

Welcome!

 

Some GM dealers will want to try to sell the work to you. The earlier notices required a PCM flash to make an attempt at solving this issue. If you have an aftermarket tune, this is a problem unless you can reload the factory programming before going to the dealer.

My 02 already had the first GM column lock work done on it and that involved the PCM flash. The car had an aftermarket tune before it went to the dealer and the prior owner told me that with the mods on the car, the factory tume would not really allow the car to run much less drive. His dealer did the work, but charged to load the aftermaket tune back to the programmer, did the column lock work for free, and charged again for re-installing the programmer tune.

I took the latest letter to my dealer and they told me that even though the earlier PCM flash was done, they "might" have to do another flash. I would have to pay to do the tune swap as they would not allow me to do any work myself on the car in their service bay.

The latest "fix" for this issue should solve the column lock issues especially with the MN6 cars, but if GM didn't get it right the first time, then I don't necessarily see a reason to trust this new "fix". That's one good reason to go with the CLB kit.

VinnieR - Until there are glowing reports of absolutely fail-safe operation of an MN6 car with this new fix, there is no reason to assume that GM has got it right this time There are too many threads here about the column lock problem that pretty much condems GM for not stepping up and fixing this right the first time.

C5Aggie - Any GM dealer will be able to tell you if the early column lock work has been performed. They can run a service history on the car and that will tell them.

 

Hmmm, I wonder what that means?

 

Not necessarily - there are a couple of things that can cause the message, including a dirty security pellet on the ignition key, and turning the key once without starting the car, and then turning it again before the lock has time to cycle.

 

Take the VIN to a dealer, and they can tell you everything that's been done to the car.

 

Well, that's why I used that one word in there, USUALLY

 

The CLB is the "no-brainer" here. Undoubtedly GM will have "fixes" for the next 20 years.

 

The dealer handed me the parts they took out of the column. That puppy ain't locking again. And the electronic bypass part of the fix does essentially what the after market fixes did. But if you want to spend your money, be my guest.