I was about to drive my 1998 M6 to work this morning and got the dreaded: "Pull key, wait 10 sec" message. Tried that, then it gave me the even more dreaded: "Service Column Lock" message. The steering column locked up and the car is parked in the garage.

So I took my Audi to work instead.

I'm planning to take a trip to the beach this afternoon after work and want to take the Corvette. Anything I can do after I get home that might cause the column to unlock? Can I disconnect the battery? Pull any wiring harnesses?

Thanks!

D

 

You can do all that but only two things will get you going soon... Shake the wheel sharply left and right and see if it releases the lock pin. It seems to work for many.

The other is to put a CLB module on the car. Order one from Corvettes of Houston or similar for $50.

Good luck!!

 

I have read numerous times here on the forum that '98's and CLB's do not always work together. I do not know why!
There is a recall out from Feb 2006. The dealer will remove the locking plate for free. Just try to convince them not to reprogram your computer to shut off your fuel supply.
I have an '02 MN6 with a CLB and have had no problems with it and I haven't had the recall done because my local dealer wouldn't do it without messing with the competer. I have read on here that others have had the locking plate removed under the recall but no reprogramming was done at their request.
Also, one recent post said another recall is in the near future regarding the column lock issue.
Good luck with getting it unlocked. Like the PP said, try jerking the wheel abruptly side to side.

 

Perfect timing I wanted to pose these questions back to you and the board as well.

A couple of questions leading up to this event.

Have you had any battery problems recently?
How old is the current battery?

Did you do a quick crank?

If you've had this happen to you, did any of the above question apply in your situation?

Try this:
Start the engine, turn your ac off and run it for about 4-5 minutes with rpms about 1500-2000 or so.

While it is running you can clear the codes. If you have a message displayed press reset to clear. Then press and hold the options button and while holding press the fuel button four times within 10 seconds. It will go through the automatic display of all current and historcial codes once done press and hold the reset button until it chimes and displays no codes.

By this time you can shut down the engine. Remove the key. Jerk the steering wheel to the left against the stop and back to the right stop. Insert the key and turn to On it should unlock. If not press reset and try again. If still nothing try removing the key pulling fuses 25 & 29 for a minute replace and try again.

I'm trying to gather information about these events as Chevy claims they are directly related to a low voltage condition. So that's why the questions about batteries and asking you to put a quick charge on it by running the engine for a few minutes.

One more note, you must get the system back working before you can install the column lock bypass.

 

To all you vetters with the column lock issue........, I recently posted a thread about this because my neighbor had it occur to his 2000 A4 coupe. He is partially disabled and I had to do the talking to the dealer for him. The first 2 service bullitins had been done to his car in the past. But, we all know they didn't work very well. His car had already had the pin removed but not the wiring harness changed, His battery went dead and triggered the column lock, again. Of course the steering didn't lock, but the part of the system that shuts off the fuel still activated. His car would start, but when you put it in gear, it died. I asked on the forum here the other day, here's what I got back. There is a new bullitin that supercedes the 1st two. Ask the dealer to refer to
GM p06-028-04006C. It is a product safety recall, not publisized by GM. The dealer here had no knowledge of it and wanted to charge my neighbor $450.00+ to change the harness, allowing the fuel pump to remain on. I called the dealer and gave them the above numbers, they researched it, fixed the car at NO CHARGE!!.. Why pay $50 or more for a "bypass" when the latest fix from GM essentially removes the system at no charge regardless of mileage, or time. If you have any questions call your dealer with those numbers.. The local dealer here is New Smyrna Chevrolet. Ask for Pete in service.

 

Battery is fairly new, maybe 2yrs old. Its an AC Delco 6-yr.

My battery problem is a bit embarrassing. About a month ago, I was trying to "trickle-charge" (2A) the battery overnight with my charger and I think that the charger got unplugged (or I forgot to plug it in). In either case, the battery got completely discharged and the next morning the car was totally dead.

I immediately started charging the battery using the normal mode (10A) and after about 4-5hours it charged full. I had to reprogram my key fobs, but otherwise car ran fine.

I drove it several times since and the DIS showed volts of about 13.5-ish (with the lights off). I assume that is normal. No problems.

I usually do a quick start (i.e., don't wait for the DIS to clear or the instruments to reset fully from the initial pre-start sweep), but this morning did a slow start.

 

Dookie.I sent you a private messge........call my # if you have any questions

Jim

 

I used Jet-Jock's instructions. I charged the battery with my charger (it was a wee-bit low) and started motor and cleared codes. There were a lot of codes (maybe 10). Turned the motor off and turned wheel back and forth. Started and it unlocked the wheel.

I pulled out of the garage and am loading car now. Wish me luck in getting it to unlock again.

Thanks to everyone. I'll update if something changes.

I printed Jet-Jock's instructions and have them in the car just in case.

D

 

I think I'll be visiting that dealer in New Smyrna real soon. A friend of mine in Milwaukee just had his locked column fixed by a dealer (stealer) there. He doesn't use computers much, so he doesn't get to this forum much. The dealer charged him $600 to "fix" the lock (actually, just replaced the solenoid -- didn't replace the plate). I told my friend about the letter from GM. It turns out he had the letter, but not the descriptive attachment that says what will be done and for NO charge. I sent a copy to him. He argued with the Chevy dealer and GM. GM said they couldn't help him now because the work was already done, and he had already paid for it. But, because GM is such a nice company, they said they'd give him a Certificate for $200 toward the purchase of his next GM automobile (within the next 12 months).

Word to the wise -- when you go to the Chevy dealer for the column lock issue, take along the complete letter for its correction at "no charge". Do a search of this forum for Column Lock. I believe the campaign expires at the end of September 2007.

 

 

Do not rely on GM fix, none of the recalls work, trust me I have been down this road, even had the solenoid act up while it was in the shop after the recall was done the day prior, you should have seen the chuckle heads trying to get the car to move, right in the pull through. They added the repair to the GMPP but man I would have been ticked if I had to pay for it. I installed the CLB and all is well.

As a side note since I just installed the CLB, I believe the dealer removed the K harness and reprogrammed the computer to remove the fuel cutoff, the only reason I say this is I can not find the harness only the zip tie was left behind and prior to the CLB I got the Service Column Lock and the car did not die once moved, the last time I got Service Column lock the engine shut down once moved and this was with the K harness and re-flash.

 

"There is a new bullitin that supercedes the 1st two. Ask the dealer to refer to
GM p06-028-04006C. It is a product safety recall, not publisized by GM. The dealer here had no knowledge of it and wanted to charge my neighbor $450.00+ to change the harness, allowing the fuel pump to remain on. I called the dealer and gave them the above numbers, they researched it, fixed the car at NO CHARGE!!.. Why pay $50 or more for a "bypass" when the latest fix from GM essentially removes the system at no charge regardless of mileage, or time."


Now that's the most exciting piece of info on the Column Lock issued I've read yet! Hope people will try it and get back to us and let us know if it worked for them.

 

 

I agree you should have a copy of the "c" version and read through it. Know what the procedures are and what the final procedure will entail. I've spoken with GM on this and it helps if you have any issues at the dealer on this, call their assistance line and they will notify the dealer it's a no charge recall notice.

Here's the bulletin in PDF if you want a copy:

http://hometours-center.com/dropbox2...etin04006C.pdf

Most likely when you drained down the battery you interrupted or caused low voltage to the PCM which in turn caused the ECL to fail.
(My battery drained down too, charged it up for a few hours with a trickle charge, got it started, cleared the codes, drove it a bit to ensure everything was ok, next day replaced the battery with a new AC Delco three days later the ECL failed on mine as well.) It's been ok since, but know this can happen if your having voltage issues to the PCM. The quick crank can cause the pins not to fully retract and thus the can be heard and lock the steering while driving.

Most likely just putting a head charge on the battery and clearing the codes is enough and cycling the key gets the system to function properly.

I have my bypass here on the desk. Just haven't decided which to do yet, bypass or recall notice. I'm just not comfortable yet with what an average line tech will be doing to my vehicle.

 

Thanks for posting this up, Jet-Jock.

 

I just spent a long time reading the Feb 06 recall Jet Jock referred to in his post. Maybe I missed something but everything I read was just the Feb 2006 recall which explicitely said that if the previous recalls have not been done that the dealer must do those first.
I am obviously missing something here.
Will someone please print the most recent thing people are talking about.
I still refuse to let them remove my locking plate because they would not remove it without first reprogramming my computer to shut down the fuel supply.

If something is recent it will be dated July or Aug of 2007 not Feb 2006.

 

That's the latest version and I read thru it with the CA rep on the phone. I came to the same conclusion; perform proced 1 first if ok done, if problem reoccurs do proced 2, if not the remove plate and ring. Seems like having to endure the failure two more times before they finally do that last final part and just remove the plate and ring. Plus re-pin one connector on ECB.

 

I was under the impression that there was something new out. If you find anything new please post it.
Removing that locking plate seems to be a very complicated process having to deal with the air bags, etc.
I think I'll just stick with my CLB.

 

I posted this a few days ago:

Do not bring your car to the dealer for the recall.

You may want to try this. Turn the key to the off position and remove it from the ignition. Next, firmly tug the steering wheel back and forth several times, it may help to give you better leverage if you stand outside the car while doing this. Then get insde and turn the key to the "on position" without starting the engine and the column lock should release. This has worked for many people including myself on my '98 Vert.

Once you release the pin and unlock the steering column you can install a Column Lock Bypass.

Install a Column Lock Bypass:

http://97vette.com/howto/columnlock/index.html

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=24

You can get from either of these vendors:

http://www.corvettesofhouston.com/pr...e9bf70207aef69

http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...d=220&pcid=156

 

Here is the thread: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1797457