Help!

My car is a 97 A4 and it had a recall on it a few months back for the steerig lock system. I carried it in the for the recall and thought everything was okay. Then on this past Thursday I go to pull out of a parking space and the when I put it in reverse "The Dreaded Message -
Service Column Lock". After a few long minutes I was able to drive it home. Unlike my brother who has an "02" with a M6 who thought the recall had been done on his car had the same thing happen to his car yesterday but his car would not reset itself.

Is their any danger of this happening to me again? What should I do?

Maxfli

 

Get a column lock bypass and be done with it.

 

I have an 02 model A4 thank goodness but this is good advice

 

This may work, and then--maybe not. Some early C5's ('97 + '98) had trouble w/ the CLB. Myself included--I have a '98. I had the Corvette recall done for A4's when it was 1st announced. I think it was 4 or 5 years ago???? Fortunately for me, I've had absolutely no problems w/ the recall "fix." Good luck w/ your car....

 

From what I read on the internet as I did my search... The wheel locks up on the Vette like it does on most cars these days.

I read that all you have to do is pull the wheel hard to the right while turning the ignition to unlock it...

But the way you guys make it sound, you are going to get HUD warnings and annoying codes about it unless you get the bypass to shut it off completely?

 

Its worse than that. The column can lock and if it doesn't release it turns off the fuel. The car's then stuck. It can also lock but not turn off the fuel. Even worse

Two recalls don't seem to have fixed it and you'll find a lot of frustrated MN6 owners here. BTW only 97-00 A4s were affected.

Here's an extract from the TSB:


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.

 

my steering wheel does not lock! the car just want go it revs up in neutral but when placed in gear and then it goes dead when driving off. so the kit will fix this

 

Take a read of the following. The latest recall seems to addresses the locking plate issues, but GM has created a new set of problems because of a new relay they install as part of the recall.


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=column+lock

1. If you can avoid it - don't let the dealer touch it.
2. Get the CLB and be done with it.

 

Yes, it could happen again. Best to get the CLB and put your mind at ease.