Hi everyone, I have read all the steering column lock threads for hours and still can't figure out where I stand right now. Here's my situation:

1) After driving, turned off the car, when I restarted about 5 minutes later, I got the "pull key out, wait 10 seconds" thing
2) I did that, then I got "service column lock"
3) I can turn the wheel from lock to lock, but it sounds like it's clicking on the lock twice while turning the wheel. It doesn't stop the rotation of the steering wheel, but there is a "feel" when it hits whatever is making the clicking sound. This happens 4 times from lock to lock.
4) The 2MPH limit has kicked in and fortunately I was able to get it backed into my neighbor's driveway by doing a series of quick reverse burnouts
5) I read this forum for about 3 hours. Went out and bought a new battery, charged it, and swapped batteries. No dice.
6) Pulled #25 fuse from passenger footwell and waited 10 minutes. No dice.
7) Looked like an idiot pulling and yanking on the wheel both up and down and lock to lock. No dice.
8) Listened for the column lock to engage when turning the key and I don't hear anything. I seem to recall that the dealer wanted to do the recall a while back and he said it would mess up my tune, so he gave me the part. I still have that, it looks like a wire harness with a relay on it.

I'm at a loss as to what to do now. It's like the lock is partially engaged, but not enough to stop the wheel from turning. I have a custom tune from ECS for my supercharger, and apparently the dealer will screw that up if I take it to them. Can they get the lock to completely release and sync up the brain so that I can then put a column lock bypass on it? Can I take the lock plates off? I don't want to pay to take it to the dealer just to hear them say they can't do anything without flashing the brain.

My wife and I finally got someone to watch the kids and we were planning on taking it on our anniversary trip on Thursday and she's really bummed. I'd appreciate any input.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Why do you think your problem is unique?? It the same answer as the last 1000 guys that have asked it. Get a CLB. If the steering wheel is unlocked you can install it. The dealer gave the GM version of the CLB (K-harness)-it junk but may get you around till the clb comes.

 

I've gone through the same problems with the column lock and "pull key, wait 10 seconds, SErvice Column Lock" messages.

MY Gm dealer did actually do the correct fix for the column locking by installing the newer column lock (2004 models)- that's the real fix...not the wiring harness that the recall tells the dealers to install. The wiring harness kit will continue to fail and you will continue to go back over and over. They installed the newer lock and that solved the locke column problem.

Unfortunately it didn't solve the message/fuel shut off problem. I've been left sitting 4-5 times over the past 4 years because of that.

Last Friday I finally wised up and installed the CLB kit. This week I am going to Corvettes at Carlisle and having one of the tuners change the fuel shut off speed from 2mph to 250mph. That's what needs to be done to solve the fuel shut off problem.
IF YOU GO BACK TO THE GM DEALER MAKE SURE THEY INSTALL THE NEWER COLUMN LOCK...DON'T LET THEM PUT THE HARNESS KIT IN...TELL THEM THAT THE REAL FIX FOR THE LOCKING STEERING COLUMN IS TO PUT THE NEWER 2004 LOCK IN.

iF THE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TELL THEM TO CALL THE ENGINEERS AT DETROIT. BUT THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT PART YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IT'S THE COLUMN LOCK THAT THEY STARTED PUTTING IN IN THE LATER MODEL C5'S.

I REPEAT....DO NOT LET THEM INSTALL THE HARNESS KIT...IT DOES NOT WORK!!!!!

PM ME IF YOU NEED THE PART # FOR THE NEWER COLUMN LOCK.




Good luck

 

Thanks vette99coupe, that is very helpful. This is getting me on the right track. If the dealer put in the newer model column lock, it sounds like they don't need to reprogram anything. Do you know how much this costs? I'm guessing it isn't covered under the CLB recall. I would really appreciate it if you could also send me the part number. One last question, if they put in a new lock, then I install a CLB, does that mean that the 2MPH fuel cutoff is still in effect, or does it only kick in if you get the DIC message again? I'm going to call the dealer now.

Thanks,
Mike

Dougbfresh, I don't think I was necessarily saying my situation was unique, I'm more stumped on what to do. I've sat here and read for many hours, tried all of the free solutions, then spent $115 on a new battery. Now I'm just doing a sanity check before I take it to the dealer. My two issues are a) I can't have it reprogrammed because it's tuned for the supercharger, and the first thing the dealer wants to do is reprogram and b) while the lock isn't fully engaged, there is a loud clicking sound and resistance when turning the wheel. There is no way I will drive the car while it's doing this.

 

Unfortunately the computer will need to be re-programed back to pre-recall state or the fuel cut-off speed set higher, then the CLB will work. Typically the dealer will not re-program back so it will be third party. I had Chuck at COW do mine along with getting rid of the 1-4 skip shift and light and also a good tune.

 

I can shut off the fuel shut off for you and send a CLB, but you would need to send me the PCM. If you choose to do that today, I can have it back to you for Thursday?

Anything we can do let us know!