Column lock bypass????
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Column lock bypass????
How soon do I need to install the column lock bypass?? Just purchased a "new" 2004 Z06 with only 1500 miles. How long can I expect to drive this car before it may fail? I just installed one on my 98 last summer when it failed at approx 135000 miles. Do some of these fail early on???
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,067
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
How soon do I need to install the column lock bypass?? Just purchased a "new" 2004 Z06 with only 1500 miles. How long can I expect to drive this car before it may fail? I just installed one on my 98 last summer when it failed at approx 135000 miles. Do some of these fail early on???
....Congrads on the 1500 mile '04....enquiring minds want to know more about such a great find...details please...price etc....
...also , did they have the recall done(defective lock nuts on suspension)?
Last edited by Yello95; Dec 23, 2010 at 11:45 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Your battery failed to keep proper voltage on the bus, nothing to do with mileage.
Watch this video Parts 1 and 2 (Battery-ECL) then make sure the Z's battery is a minimum of 120 RC. If not replace it. Maintain a good battery and voltage and you can avoid the bypass if you so desire. Or install the bypass and make sure the battery is 120 RC and you don't need to worry.
Watch this video Parts 1 and 2 (Battery-ECL) then make sure the Z's battery is a minimum of 120 RC. If not replace it. Maintain a good battery and voltage and you can avoid the bypass if you so desire. Or install the bypass and make sure the battery is 120 RC and you don't need to worry.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
How soon do I need to install the column lock bypass?? Just purchased a "new" 2004 Z06 with only 1500 miles. How long can I expect to drive this car before it may fail? I just installed one on my 98 last summer when it failed at approx 135000 miles. Do some of these fail early on???
I would do it asap. It only take a few minutes and the peace of mind is worth the $50
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 1,818
with Jet-Jock. Has nothing to do with mileage.
Most common cause of the column lock symptoms is a low or bad battery or loose or corroded battery connections.. If the battery goes below 12.5 volts measured with the neg battery cable disconnected and directly across the battery posts and you start the car you are going to experience the column lock symptoms period.
CLB will simply prevent the column from physically locking. If the GM Column Lock recall service has been done to the car (check the GMVIS to see if the recall is open or closed for your VIN) then the fuel shutoff speed is going to be set to 2mph. This symptom WILL occur even if you have a CLB installed if the battery goes low. A tuner with HP Tuners or EFI Live can set the shutoff speed to a high number. If that is done then the only symptom you will experience with a low battery is the column lock error messages. Car will drive up to the new shutoff speed that you had set.
Last edited by 8VETTE7; Dec 23, 2010 at 12:29 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,998
Likes: 33
From: somewhere in New Hampshire
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,725
Likes: 4,635
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
Make sure that the Z06 has a good strong newer or new battery, usually the cause of column lock. As a preventative measure, you should probably install a CLB in the near future.
Congrats on a great find.
Congrats on a great find.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,656
Likes: 24,870
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Personally, I'd invest the $50 or so and go ahead and get the column lock bypass. Nice peace of mind to have - and it can be bought at places like Corvettes of Houston or Thunder Racing.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,050
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 1,818
Your profile says the car is an 04 but does not say if it is a manual or automatic trans. If it is an automatic then you cannot have the column lock problem. Only occurs on 1997 -2000 manual or automatics and 2001 - 2004 manual trans cars....... GM got a little smarter by 2001 and deleted the column lock from the automatic trans cars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 901
Likes: 1
From: LaPorte Indiana
Your profile says the car is an 04 but does not say if it is a manual or automatic trans. If it is an automatic then you cannot have the column lock problem. Only occurs on 1997 -2000 manual or automatics and 2001 - 2004 manual trans cars....... GM got a little smarter by 2001 and deleted the column lock from the automatic trans cars.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
All you have to do is listen when you start the car. If the CLB is not isnstalled you'll hear a motor running in your steering column. No motor sound, the CLB is likely installed.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
No sorry I didn't read.
Just so everyone is on the same page here, if you have a manual transmission and you have a 2004 year model, then if you pull the key and the steering wheel still turns you either have had a column bypass module installed or have had the recall bulletin 04006C performed by GM/Chevy in which they have removed the collar on the steering column and installed one without holes preventing it from locking. Although the latter is not the best solution.
Just so everyone is on the same page here, if you have a manual transmission and you have a 2004 year model, then if you pull the key and the steering wheel still turns you either have had a column bypass module installed or have had the recall bulletin 04006C performed by GM/Chevy in which they have removed the collar on the steering column and installed one without holes preventing it from locking. Although the latter is not the best solution.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 419
Likes: 3
From: Lexington VA
St. Jude Donor '11
Your profile says the car is an 04 but does not say if it is a manual or automatic trans. If it is an automatic then you cannot have the column lock problem. Only occurs on 1997 -2000 manual or automatics and 2001 - 2004 manual trans cars....... GM got a little smarter by 2001 and deleted the column lock from the automatic trans cars.
Thanks for the info 8VETTE7!