Any body have any luck getting a column lock to release after a recall has been done. My wife took our vette in for an oil change and didn't know that I had bypassed the column lock. Well long story short the dealership did the recall and removed the bypass by my wife's orders!! Now it is in the garage with the remove key wait 10 sec message followed by a service column message. I have tried shaking the wheel to get it to release and no luck. The big problem is I have no idea how I am going to have it towed when I can't turn the wheel. It is in my garage which is very difficult to get at with the positioning. Any suggestion????

 

Did you shake the wheel violently ? I've read that works.
Good luck.

 

I guess I was wondering if I reinstall the clb will it fix the problem or the wheel remain locked???

 

That question is easy... The CLB will only work if the column is in the unlocked position. You will probably just have to keep pulling on the steering wheel while turning the key on and off, and/or tap on the bottom of the steering column itself closer to where the actuator mounts.

My question would be, if a recall was done, why does the column still lock? If your car is an automatic, the lock plate should have been removed on an early recall. If it is a manual, the last recall should have removed the lockplate, so the column cannot lock. With the lockplate removed, you still might have a problem with the relay failing and cutting off the fuel, but at least the column cannot physically lock.

 

Read here

 

1st of all if they performed the latest recall, the column would not be able to lock, as it calls for removing the locking plate.
2nd, as for repositioning the car, try putting a floor jack under it (front or rear) and reposition it out of the garage then call them to bring it in and perform the latest recall that will ensure the column does not lock in the future.

I would guess one or more of the relays that control/operate the ECL is not functioning and they will need to run it down and either clean it or replace it. I had the earlier recall performed on my 2000 hardtop over a year ago and just a few weeks ago the column locked and would not unlock regardless of what I did. I had it flat bedded home and was able to get the column unlocked. I called our dealer and described the problem. They were prepared to flatbed it in and perform the latest recall. Since I had gotten it unlocked I drove it in and they performed the recall removing the lock plate and everything else. I talked to the technician later and he told me he found a couple of the relays corroded and cleaned them. The car has been fine since.

I do not know how installing the CLB would affect it if installed as I have no experience with them... yet. But if one of the relays fails to perform properly in the future, and doesn't send the correct signal to the PCM, I have no doubt it will cut the fuel to the engine even though the column will remain unlocked. Once the original recall on the 6-speeds has been performed, I'm not yet convinced the CLB will solve all the problems as the original recall called for reflashing the PCM so that it must receive the correct signal from the ECL or it will now cut the fuel to the engine when you try to move it.

I would talk to the technician that performed the earlier recall and ask his opinion. When appropriate, gently remind him if necessary that the latest recall when performed will not allow the column to lock. The latest recall does not in my opinion resolve the issue of relays malfunctioning, but it does remove the lock plate as was done earlier on the automatics.

Good luck...and I hope this helps... GUSTO

 

If the recall they performed was done recently(I'm assuming like in the past 6 months) then your wheel should no longer lock even though the BCM can still cut fuel. By the sounds of it you don't have the latest recall (4006C) so the first thing to do is let the dealer fix it like they should.

 

Hmm... I wonder if they didn't do s*** and just said they did and billed GM with the paperwork. Stranger things have happened.

 

WOW I am shocked by this, I didn't realize that the recall should stop the column from locking because I have the paper work that says the recall was done.

I did however go back out to my garage this morning and held the steering wheel to the right very hard while I turned the key and it Finally unlocked!!

Now the big question, do I reinstall my clb, or take it to another dealer to find out if I can get the real recall done??

 

You should re-install the CLB to make sure your column does not fail to unlock again.
I would go ahead and drive it to the dealer and have them do the recall to remove the lockplate. Then you can decide if you want to stay with the factory relay harness installed as part of the recall or switch back to the CLB. IF the relay fails, you could have problems with the fuel being shut off, but at least with the lock plate removed, you will not have to deal with having to get the column unlocked before you can do anything.

 

Congrats on getting it unlocked. I assume your wife will no longer drive the car

 

I would immediately contact a GM factory representative and file an official complaint against the Chevy dealer for incompetence and/or fraud for having messed with your car and saying they did the recall when in fact all they did was screw it up. There is absolutely no possible way a 97-04 Corvette steering column can lock if the latest recall has been performed as there would be no locking plate in the column. CASE CLOSED!

I would demand that they reprogram your BCM back to original to get rid of the unwanted and unneeded fuel shut off feature. I would also demand they reinstall your CLB.

Good luck with getting your problem solved!

 

FLACHUSNRET...

Some good advice regarding contacting a factory representative... at the very least, he may be able to help you understand what GM has done to resolve this problem.

Regarding your comment about reprogramming the computer. The dealership does not have the ability to simply reprogram the computer. The software the dealer uses to reprogram your computer (new or original) is downloaded from the GM system and is specific to your vehicle. Some adjustments to the program can be made by a Tech II, but deleting the fuel cut-off function is not one of them at this time. At this point, if your PCM was re-flashed as part of the earlier recall to install the fuel cut-off software, the latest recall will not delete the fuel cut-off program (it does not involve any reprogramming). The dealer can not do it, and it does not appear that GM has any plans to at this time. Again, speaking with a factory representative might get you more or better answers about GM's intent.

It would appear that unless the professional "tuners" can do this or you can locate a pre-recall PCM, (that is programmed for you vehicle?) you are stuck with it.

Good luck... GUSTO

 

1) Reinstall the CLB.

2) Do NOT take it to the dealer for anything to do with the CL.

3) Consider the punishment for the wife.

 

Why would you want to screw with the dealer anymore?????
Install the CLB and be done with their headaches.

 

Just want to clarify the fuel cutoff design to ensure there's no confusion:

1. Fuel cutoff has always been in place as part of the original CL logic/design. If the BCM doesn't receive the expected CL state it will instruct the PCM to cut fuel.
2. The PCM reflash performed during the earlier recall was to modify the existing logic to the fuel cutoff program to prevent a condition where low voltage could allow a car with a locked wheel to drive (i.e. it would not cut off fuel when it should have done so).
3. There is no current procedure available to reprogram the BCM to prevent fuel cutoff due to CL state error/mismatch.
4. The only current solution is to disable the lock and keep the BCM happy with a simulator like the CLB or GM's Harness K.

 

Keep at it, it will get unlocked. Then re-install the CLB

PS- I have to laugh about how the GM recall messed you all up.

 

I liked all three.

 

It helps to read the entire thread before posting...he unlocked it two days ago...

 

I have a better idea..stay out of a thread if your not going to add any value to it. Hows that?