I'm aware of all the problems with the Column Lock, but had a couple questions regarding my 01 z06 that I just recently purchased.

The first time I went to the dealer to look at the car, I couldn't test drive it because it was giving the "Service Column Lock" message. The car was immaculate and I was interested, so the Chevy Dealer said they would have it fixed that week and I told them I would be back that weekend to finally drive it.

Drove it, loved it...bought it. I assumed the Column Lock issue was fixed. I've had the car for a week now and today was the second time I've had a chance to drive it. Took it to a buddies shop for lowering and an alignment. All went well.

As I was pulling out of the parking space to go home, the message said "Pull Key and Wait 10 Seconds". I did so, and it continued saying that anyway. Then it said "Service Column Lock". The steering wheel never locked up, ever. However, once I started moving more than say 5mph the entire car shut down. That's all it would do. The shop is storing it for the night and the Chevy Dealer is sending a truck to haul it an hour south to their Service Center to get it looked at.

What do you guys think is going on?

How could the dealer fix it temporarily, or could it happen a 2nd time within a week?

I'm interested in your thoughts on this.

 

From what I've heard, dealers only temporarily fix the problem. First get it unlocked (I'm not sure how, hopefully others can help you with this) and then immediately afterwards install a CLB (Column Lock Bypass). I actually installed a CLB in my '01 z06 earlier today. Although my steering column never actually locked up, "Service Column Lock" kept popping up on the DIC so I figured I better go ahead and buy a CLB. Now the messages are gone. Good luck.

Edit: Just re-read your post, and noticed you said it never actually locks up. Maybe that means you can install a CLB and be done with it, hopefully?

 

I think you are right.

Although, I'm at a loss of what to do right now. I may just ask the dealer to do their temporary fix again just so I can get the car home. I'll order the Column Lock Bypass and get it in right away.

Right now, the car isn't driveable. The steering wheel doesn't lock up, but if I even try to move the car much it shuts down completely and you have to restart the motor.

It's just a pain since the dealership is sending a flatbed to pick it up and take it an hour south of where that happened, which is another 30min from me. Not sure what other options I have at this point though. I just hope they can get it running again, reliably...by Saturday morning. I have a car show I've already payed registration fees to enter on Saturday afternoon.

 

Yeah, hopefully they can get it running again soon. Just go ahead and order a column lock bypass and install it directly afterwards. Good luck with the show.

 

Thank you.

Just for the sake of those seeing this thread and haven't researched the crap out of this...here are two very valuable references. I urge everyone to do this if they haven't already. $50 and 20min or so of your time is well worth the trouble over being stuck out in the middle of nowhere.


Column Lock Bypass Kit
http://www.corvettesofhouston.com/pr...products_id=54

How To Install Instructions
http://97vette.com/howto/columnlock/index.html

Good luck out there guys!

 

I'll just echo the comments here - once the column is unlocked, install the CLB and be done with it. Good luck.

 

were can i get a bypass for the colum lock

 

what is the cost ....

 

I made a link directly to the Column Lock Bypass in my post in bold print, how did you miss it?

Here it is again, just simply click the link man.

Column Lock Bypass Kit
http://www.corvettesofhouston.com/pr...products_id=54

 

How does the Chevy dealer unlock the column and prevent the message from popping up again. I know it's not a permanent fix, I'm just curious what they may have done to fix it the first time.

I'm thinking I can just tell my buddies at the performance shop I was stranded at what to do, and they can fix it themselves and send the bill to the dealership maybe. That way, I don't have to worry about my car being hauled away on a flatbed and trying to find the time to go an hour and a half south to pick it up...

Also, what shuts the car down in this problem? The Column Lock wasn't locking when I left the vehicle there, it was giving me all the messages but the steering wheel was free. Only when I tried to actually go anywhere did the car die. I'm not sure what I could tell my buddies to fix on that thing if the column isn't actually locked.

EDIT: Since the column isn't actually locked...I wonder if I could just have them pull the battery connections and reset the computer to get it to go away? At least for the 40min it would take for me to get it back here.

What do you guys think? I REALLY don't want to go through the hassle of worrying about the car in transfer and getting it back.

 

Corvettes of Dallas has the solution to your problem. We have in stock a CLB complete with install instructions at a cost of $49.95 plus shipping. Please call me direct and we will get you back on the road.
Todd

 

I had my 01 in the dealship this spring to flush and fill the coolant. Lo and behold they said I needed the column lock recall.

Anyhow they did the update, which btw the previous owner said he had already done. Long story short I got stuck two weeks ago. It was at the gas station the night before i was leaving for vacation.

I had the same symptons (gas shutoff / no wheel lock too) and error message. I had the car towed to my house the next morning and ordered the CLB. The only problem was I did not unplug the purple black wire at the socket. Be sure to reach up in the dash. Once I had it all the way out and the CLB plugged in correctly, all was well. The car is happy once again. The GM fix is ridiculous. However, does anyone know if it's true that when they reprogram that it retunes the engine to better specs? Mine had the Predator tuning. Car is running great, but I wonder if I should rerun the Predator?

 

I just went through this myself after 7 years of never having a problem. I had both recall's done. The second one added the K harness and the lockplate was removed. Thought I was all set. Got the message again and got stuck with the fuel cutoff. Mine ended up being a weak battery. I have a co worker that does performance tunes and he reflashed my PCM to reset the fuel cutoff from 1.5 MPH to 255MPH. Problem solved forever.
Why GM didn't reset the fuel cutoff to a higher level as part of the fix baffles me.