Is there any need to install the aftermarket CLB if the deal is installing the K Harness to prevent the steering wheel from locking?

 

Yep! Remove K Harnass and install CLB, it's actually simple did mine tonight....

Look in the Tech section for a stickied post, all sorts of info in there

 

No need for a CLB if you don't mind getting stranded with the column locked and the fuel shutoff when the GM K Harness fails. It will.

CLB is available from Corvettes of Houston, Corvettes of Dallas and Thunder Racing, all 3 are forum supporting vendors. Cost is about $50 plus shipping. Takes about 30 minutes if you have any mechanical abilities or perhaps an hour if you don't.

Here are the instructions you should use:

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

Follow them EXACTLY.

Here's a picture of the K Harness:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ight=k+harness

When the dealer installs the K Harness he installs it in series between the actuator and BCM. ie Actuator-K Harness-BCM. You first get the wheel unlocked. Then when you install the CLB you are disconnecting the K harness (and hence the actuator as well) and connecting the CLB to the BCM. The BCM now sends its signals to the CLB. The CLB being essentially an electronic relay turns the BCM signals back on the BCM as completed signals keeping the BCM happy. CLB being electronic is far more reliable than the electro-mechanical K Harness relay.

 

With the K harness it's not IF it will fail,,,,It is WHEN will it fail!!! It WILL strand you at some point,,it's just when!! I had 2 recalls done,,,and it got me last fall!! The K harness SUCKS!!!

 

Here is where i was confused, i read somewhere that i couldn't install the CLB if the steering wheel had already locked up. And i couldn't find any information on how to unlock it, so i just had it taken to the dealership. Can install the CLB while the steering wheel is locked up?

 

Not enough info to answer that question with 100% certainty. But the general answer is yes you can install a CLB if the wheel is locked up. You first get the wheel unlocked then install the CLB.

The column can remain locked when you insert the key into the ignition for any of several causes. For example the K Harness if it is installed has failed, or the lock ring and lock pin may have worn sufficiently for the pin to jam in the lock ring, or the battery may be weak enough to not be able to operate the actuator and/or K harness if it is installed. If any of those are the reason(s) for the column lock then you can get the column unlocked easily enough to then be able to install a CLB and be done.

If the actuator itself has totally failed then it is more difficult to get the column unlocked but if you are mechanically capable even that can be gotten around. By the way the chances of the Actuator totally failing is pretty small.

What you MAY have read is that the CLB cannot unlock the column. You first need to get the column unlocked and then install the CLB. When you install a CLB you first disconnect the Actuator, the electric motor that actuall inserts/withdraws the lock pin into/out of the lock ring, so the lock pin no longer has a way to operate.

If the car is at the dealer, do NOT let them sell you a new actuator if you plan on installing a CLB. When the CLB gets installed the actuator gets disconnected and is no longer used. IE column will ALWAYS be unlocked. Dealer will charge you somewhere between $350 and $800 to replace the actuator and in 99% of the cases it is only the microswitch in the actuator that has failed. That issue can be gotten around with the install of a CLB.

Let me know if you have any questions about this.

 

Thanks for all the information. But the dealer is doing doing everything out of their pocket. Labor and parts because when they did the recall they dealership didn't do it rite, they told me the K harness fail somehow. So they told me they would cover all cost. Im think im just going to wait till they get the steering unlocked and install the new k harness. Then ill just take off the one they put on and replace it with the CLB. I ordered my CLB lastnite from Corvettes of Houston.

 

Tell them ABSOLUTELY NO REPROGRAM of the computer!!! That is one of the main problems with the factory fix,,right next to the K harness it's self!!! That is the fuel shut off program,,and you don't want it in there!!

 

I believe that programing was already done when i bought the car. Because when the steering wheel locked up on me the other week, i tried backing out of the drive way and it died. Is there anyway to get ride of the programing? and will it still shut off if i have the CLB installed?

 

Once you have either the K Harness replaced or install a CLB, the fuel shutoff is still in place on the PCM. If the K Harness or actuator were to fail you could experience the Column locking again and the fuel shutting off.

If you install the CLB inplace of the actuator and K Harness then the column will never lock up again even if the CLB were to fail. ( Very low likelihood the CLB will fail compared to the actuator or K harness failing but then ANYTHING man made can fail). If the CLB were to fail you could still experience the fuel shutoff because there is nothing to send completed messages to the BCM. You could find a tuner with either the HP Tuners tuning software or the EFI Live tunering software and have the PCM reprogrammed to set the fuel shutoff value to a very high number like 255mph. However the ONLY two tuner tools that can reset the fuel shutoff speed are the two mentioned above. Cost for a tuner to reprogram the shutoff speed is typically less than $50. Some folk report paying only $20.

 

The K Harness was developed by GM to give those folks that sell CLB's a lot of business...

 

That and to give the stealers a cash cow they could depend on along with the leaking rear seals, the failing Oil Pressure sender, the sticking fuel tank gages, the striping head light gears, the water intrusion, the rocker arm failures, the EBCM failures, the........ Well you get the idea.......

 

HI Chuck:
Thanks for providing the info on how the c/l system works.I have decided to install the clb.Does Gene Culley sell the bypass? Looks like the toughest part is removing the knee bolster & insuring the wiring is correct.
Thanks again
Have a Happy Easter.
robsc501

 

I have not seen a CLB listed in the parts that Gene sells and I suspect that since he sells GM parts that he would not carry it. CLB are after market. There are lots of places that do sell them. Corvettes of Houston, Corvettes of Dallas, Thunder Racing, Mid America etc. The cost is about $50 plus shipping. Best piece of mind you will ever get for the price. I have to agree the toughest part is pulling out and reassembling the knee bolster but if you use these instructions with pictures the project is very straight forward:

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

Here's the link agaim to what the K Harness looks like:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ight=k+harness

You can just disconnect the K Harness connector and leave it where it is unless you want a trophy for your work bench.

 

Do I need to plug in the CLB to the cigarette lighter?

 

I recommend that you use the instructions in this link and not use the connector that they send for the cigarette lighter:

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