How many people with C5's do you know that have been BITTEN BY THE COLUMN LOCK BUG????

It's VERY common.... It happens all the time. The "column lock" device that locks your steering wheel when you remove the key is likely the most common failure/complaint with C5 corvettes.

You car is fine for years....never a problem...you hear about it....but, it never happened to you.....UNTILL

You turn you key to start your C5.....and THE COLUMN DOSEN'T UNLOCK.. and you CAN'T STEER YOUR CAR..NO you can't drive it either....You are stuck right where you are...TOW TRUCK! DEALERSHIP!

or you get the DREADED "Pull key - wait 10 seconds" (you're gonna get stuck REALLY SOON message...)

The BIG bummer here...aside from being stuck and stranded...is that there are 3 "FIXES" the dealer will try.....The sucky thing is.....None of them work for very long.....and you WILL get stuck again.

HOWEVER...there is a solution..... It's called a CLB or Column Lock Bypass....It disables the system and tells the computer that "everything is good" and "it's ok to let the car drive" So, YOU NEVER GET STUCK AGAIN......

The cool thing is....it's a great Idea to do BEFORE you actually get stuck....

IF YOU OWN A C5 CORVETTE you are invited to attend the CORVETTES OF WESTCHESTER COLUMN LOCK BYPASS MOD PARTY on SUNDAY OCTOBER 22 Rain or shine.

We will have CLB devices on hand and a small crew installing them for $150 per car....Additionally, We will have free drinks, PIZZA, and snacks. Oh, and tons of FREE ENTERTAINMENT from the wacky NORTHEAST CREW!!

The CLB devices will be available on a first come-first serve basis.

Please POST HERE ASAP if you are interested in attending or call the shop any time. We would like to be prepared with the proper number of CLB devices.

NOTE: SOME Vehicles perviously fitted with the RECALL attempts may not work. (RARE) and On occasion, some of the GM RECALL fixes must be removed. (this service is included free.) while some other vehicles will require reprogramming to effect a complete repair. (also included free)

DON'T DELAY! Sign up NOW to GUARANTEE your CLB device.

Please call the shop at the number below if you have any questions.

Stay TUNED!
Chuck CoW

 

Mine locked the day after I got the recall notice!

 

Great event...Wish I lived closer...

 

Let me get this straight....the CLB sells for $50 and you are charging another $100 to install it???? That install takes anywhere from ten to 30 minutes depending on your skill level of removing screws and panels.

Does not sound like a very good deal to me...

 

 

plus the installation is VERY easy. not sure why anyone would need to have this "installed".

 

I've got a 2002 - I've looked for this recall on the 2002s and don't see it listed - was this "problem" cured by the 02 production run?

 

Only if your car has an automatic transmission....

 

Stealership?

 

CLB + install + pizza, drinks = $150. Not too bad for those of us that don't feal like contorting beneath the dashboard. Plus the Northeast guys will probably make this into an event.

 

yes sometimes its an easy install, and sometimes it not... I have done a few cars that the dealer did the recall on and it was a mess.. i seen cut wires, broken clips and all kinds of stuff... its a piece of mind... take a chance and have your vette lock up on you, then you need it towed, and then let the dealer play with your vette.. cost over 150...

 

So everyone understands......If you read the above text....MANY TIMES the CLB repair involves reprograming the BCM or making adjustments in the tune AND OR removing the GM K-Harness....This is all included in my price. I can reprogram your BCM (body control computer) you can not do it yourself....in fact....most shops can not do it either.....

Sometimes just installing the CLB device is not enough...The CLB product would not be such a popular fix if any of the DEALER FIXES actually worked..And they dont.....

Yes, your car will drive out of the dealer when they perform the fix....BUT YOU WILL BE BACK....Thousands of people will tell you this. And then ....you will get stuck....and get towed....and be annoyed.

Many C5 corvettes are now with second owners...and the present owner does not know the status of recalls performed or the complete service history of the vehicle. In my shop, we have access to this information....That is invaluable.

ADDITIONALLY, Many C5 owners DO NOT GO TO THE DEALER AT ALL because they have been "tuned" and they know that the DEALERS CLB "fix" will erase their custom computer tune..... SO, many people who want to keep their tunes and DO NOT HAVE THE REPAIR MADE......I have the tuning software to make the CLB FIX work and your custom tune will not be erased in my shop.

For these reasons the service in my shop costs what it does. If you buy it yourself....and try it yourself....and it dosen't work....I WILL charge you alot more than $150. to fix it.

Stay TUNED!
Chuck CoW

 

Sounds like a great offer...if you need the full compliment of services! So, temper the great offer with some great customer service, ie. if you only need the CLB installed, charge $75 total. If the customer needs a reprogram, tack on $50, and if the customer needs to undo some dealer work, charge the additional $25.

You're gonna lose out on a lot of potential customers with a one-size fits all offer to a crowd of people bitten by a mod bug that encourages making your vette your own!

my $.02

 

The only way to know if he needs the extra work is to.....

A) Let him leave thinking it's all fixed.....and wait for the call..."YO! ***** F*&#$%---I'm stuck again!!!

or

B) ACTUALLY go online and check.....ACTUALLY REPROGRAM THE BCM....PULL UP THE CARPETS and ACTUALLY FIND THE "GM K HARNESS"

It seems to me that "B" is the better way to do it....Which I am proposing.....So, you see....There is alot more than 30 mins of work here.....his is why I change what I charge.....It's more than fair (and don't forget the PIZA AND DRINKS!!! ) and for most of it....especially if it needs ECM OR BCM reprogramming....NO, YOU AND YOUR MECHANIC FRIEND CAN'T DO IT AT HOME.... it's not possible.

Stay TUNED!
Chuck CoW

 

Not bad for all that you will do to the car. Hope it is a success.

 

There are some people who have never taken their car to the dealer for any of the recalls (like myself), so why should they have to pay for all the "extras"? Your one price fits all strategy is not right, but hey, you are free to charge what you want. I just hope people realize that in most cases the install is pretty straight forward...

BTW I installed my CLB in 15 minutes and have had no problems since.

 

NO ****

 

what adjustments would you have to do in the tuning for the CLB to be effective ???

 

There is an adjustment in the ECM and you need to have a TECH II to be able to reprogram the BCM (Body control module) in many cases to make the fix work.......

Chuck CoW

 

Chuck, if your car has never had a tune and has never been to the dealer for the recall (in fact my late build '04 Z06 was not subject to the recall), would any BCM reprograming, tune adjustments or K-Harness removal be required? If so, why?