A curiosity inquiry.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,987
Likes: 26
From: Kerrville, Texas USA Hook 'em Horns!
CentralTX Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Apparently lot of folks. Watch this section. You'll see at least a couple of posts every week about someone having the "pull key wait 10 seconds" message. 
I installed the CLB 3 year ago before ever having a problem.
I installed the CLB 3 year ago before ever having a problem.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
It wasn't an issue with ALL C5's.
All C5's 2000 and earlier could be problematic, as well as all manual transmission cars throughout the C5 generation. If you have a 2001 or newer C5 with the automatic transmission, the column lock was not installed.
A simple way to tell if the column lock has been addressed is to simply try turning the steering wheel with the key out. If the wheel will turn, you're okay. If not - you will have a problem. It's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN.
There are only two kinds of Corvettes that still have the column lock - those that have had an issue and those that will.
All C5's 2000 and earlier could be problematic, as well as all manual transmission cars throughout the C5 generation. If you have a 2001 or newer C5 with the automatic transmission, the column lock was not installed.
A simple way to tell if the column lock has been addressed is to simply try turning the steering wheel with the key out. If the wheel will turn, you're okay. If not - you will have a problem. It's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN.
There are only two kinds of Corvettes that still have the column lock - those that have had an issue and those that will.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: Dallas Texas
It wasn't an issue with ALL C5's.
All C5's 2000 and earlier could be problematic, as well as all manual transmission cars throughout the C5 generation. If you have a 2001 or newer C5 with the automatic transmission, the column lock was not installed.
A simple way to tell if the column lock has been addressed is to simply try turning the steering wheel with the key out. If the wheel will turn, you're okay. If not - you will have a problem. It's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN.
There are only two kinds of Corvettes that still have the column lock - those that have had an issue and those that will.
All C5's 2000 and earlier could be problematic, as well as all manual transmission cars throughout the C5 generation. If you have a 2001 or newer C5 with the automatic transmission, the column lock was not installed.
A simple way to tell if the column lock has been addressed is to simply try turning the steering wheel with the key out. If the wheel will turn, you're okay. If not - you will have a problem. It's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN.
There are only two kinds of Corvettes that still have the column lock - those that have had an issue and those that will.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
I tried to install the CLB on my 98 before I had any issues. The CLB started causing problems, and produced the "Pull key wait 10 sec" error. I returned the car back to factory (the error went away). Now I am running the risk of the column locking. I do still have the CLB in the car (not installed) in case I have any issues. I will install it and hope it gets me home.
Shannon
Shannon
Racer
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 383
Likes: 180
From: Montgomery, Alabama, USA Alabama
It wasn't an issue with ALL C5's.
All C5's 2000 and earlier could be problematic, as well as all manual transmission cars throughout the C5 generation. If you have a 2001 or newer C5 with the automatic transmission, the column lock was not installed.
A simple way to tell if the column lock has been addressed is to simply try turning the steering wheel with the key out. If the wheel will turn, you're okay. If not - you will have a problem. It's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN.
There are only two kinds of Corvettes that still have the column lock - those that have had an issue and those that will.
All C5's 2000 and earlier could be problematic, as well as all manual transmission cars throughout the C5 generation. If you have a 2001 or newer C5 with the automatic transmission, the column lock was not installed.
A simple way to tell if the column lock has been addressed is to simply try turning the steering wheel with the key out. If the wheel will turn, you're okay. If not - you will have a problem. It's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN.
There are only two kinds of Corvettes that still have the column lock - those that have had an issue and those that will.
I was a little concerned about installing the CLB as I assumed I would have to undo some of the GM mod in order to connect everything appropriately. Now Randy says "if the wheel moves freely without the key, you are OK." That sounds great to me because I don't really want to mess with the GM mod unless I have to.
So what is the final verdict? Am I OK? If not, will I have to disconnect any of the GM mod stuff in order to connect the CLB?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
IF you had the GM Mod done with the K-harness and the fuel re-program, YOU CAN STILL HAVE A PROBLEM IF YOU STEERING WHEEL IS FREE TO MOVE.
What happens is that a relay in the harness goes out and you are limited to 2 mph. You can either re-program fuel cutoff or take out the k-harness and install a CLB.
Bottom line, if you have a MN6, install a CLB BEFORE you have a problem.
What happens is that a relay in the harness goes out and you are limited to 2 mph. You can either re-program fuel cutoff or take out the k-harness and install a CLB.
Bottom line, if you have a MN6, install a CLB BEFORE you have a problem.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,357
Likes: 5,242
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
My 02 6 speed with 13,000 has not had anything done. No problems...yet.
My last C5, a 98 6 speed, also had no column lock fixes and no problems. It had 41,000 miles when I sold it.
My last C5, a 98 6 speed, also had no column lock fixes and no problems. It had 41,000 miles when I sold it.