So I finally got the stupid "service column lock" on the display. Showed up while I was driving the other day.
Nothing is locked, I've started and restarted and turned the wheel a few times (in the garage). Everything seems ok, is it going to lockup one of these days? By pass has not been done. But probably will be soon I am thinking.

 

Are you able to drive it with no fuel shut off?

 

It started up in the garage 3 times in a row today. Haven't tried to drive it yet. But it drove home the other day when it first appeared just fine.

 

Hmm, maybe a previous onwer had a tuner set fuel shut at 200MPH? I'm sure someone else will chime in, but from my experience with service column lock, when the message is displayed, you can't go past 2MPH. Maybe it had the recall done at dealer early in it's life, where they remove the locking pin as well. Probably get a CLB, and be good to go....

 

"Member Since: Oct 2000"

 

Pretty sure the dealer did the recal bit...I know...still should have done it.

 

Is your battery discharged or in poor condition?

 

Don't think it's discharged, it is the original battery still.
It drove to work fine and on the way is when it came on, didn't get the fuel shut off.
Kinda a afraid to take it out of the garage and test it, might not get it back in.

 

I have yet to do this column lock bypass on my 2004.
I like the factory locking feature but I don't want to be stranded someday.


Here's some real good information.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ky-please.html




.

 

[QUOTE=bearcatt;1578842858]I have yet to do this column lock bypass on my 2004.
I like the factory locking feature but I don't want to be stranded someday.


Here's some real good information.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...ky-please.html





I was going to look for that link, thanks.
I think the dealer had done the column lock recall before I bought it, I'll have to check my records.
So let's assume the dealer did its think, might explain why its not locked. Would it still display the service on the dash then? can I make it go away?

 

I don't have an easy answer for you.

However...

Maybe your car has had the dealer recall.

Maybe your car is programmed to not cut fuel off at 2 mph.

If I was in your situation I would see if I had the recall mod done...
( that's if you can't find your paper work. )

Inspect your wiring by removing your knee bolster under the driver's side. Inspect your column lock harness. If the four wires in your ECL harness are Orange, Purple, Green, Black on both sides of the connector, then you DO NOT have the recall mod installed. If you have White, Purple, Green, Black on either side of the connector, then you DO have the recall mod.

If you have the recall mod done allready...
Go into your passenger footwell. Remove your BCM and locate the recall mod relay, remove it and add a jumper wire between the white wire (pin 30) and the orange wire (pin 87). Note that there are two orange wires, so make sure you get the right one!

If you don't have the recall mod done... get yourself a CLB.




.

 

I have a late production '04 (05/28/04) Z16. I also put off installing a CLB on it because I recalled reading that (most of) the problems were of earlier cars and/or often had to do with discharged batteries. Your battery should be load tested to insure its viability. My car had never had the dealership installed fix performed. My car is always maintained on a BATTERY TENDER PLUS. I never experienced the DIC message. I also do not use adjust the tilt column with every entry/exit which I always wondered if that had anything to do with the issue or not (?).

Anyway, two months ago I went ahead and purchased a column lock bypass from CORVETTES OF HOUSTON. Installation was not the 30 minute ordeal that I've read in some threads. It took me about an hour and a half because I removed the radio surround as well to reduce the chance of me breaking any of the plastic trim tabs. And getting to the connection where the column lock bypass is connected was a PITA for me.

I used the CORVETTES OF HOUSTON instructions and the instructions in this link. I studied them everyday while I waited for the kit to arrive. http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=24

 

Here's another link regarding this issue.

http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_08...r/viewall.html


Starting from the third paragraph.
There are two conditions that can inhibit steering. The first is when the steering fails to unlock when the vehicle is started. The fuel supply should shut off in this case, preventing the vehicle from being driven. But if the voltage to the PCM is interrupted, it's possible that the fuel shut-off may not occur, allowing the car to be driven with the steering locked. The second situation occurs if the lock pin doesn't withdraw fully, allowing contact between the pin and lock plate. For obvious reasons, either one of these conditions could have dire consequences.


Fourth paragraph
On February 10, 2004, Chevrolet issued a recall (No. 04006B) of 127,000 C5s to fix steering-column locks that could fail in the locked mode. Dealers disabled the column locks in automatic cars and installed a column-lock bypass. In manual C5s, the PCM was simply reprogrammed to remove the lock feature. But many Corvette owners with manual transmissions still experienced the problem after the recall was performed.


Fifth paragraph
Nearly two years later, on February 8, 2006, Chevy issued a second recall (No. 04006C). It stated, "Dealers are to remove the column lock plate on U.S. and Canadian vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and U.S. vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. After the service correction, the steering column will no longer lock when the key is removed." This recall applies to the following models:
C5 Corvette Steering Column Lock Repair
Now you can begin to remove...

* '97-'04 Corvettes equipped with a manual transmission
* '97-'00 Corvettes equipped with an automatic transmission
* '01-'04 Corvettes equipped with an automatic transmission (European export vehicles only)



.

 

Thanks, I'll pull the panel tomorrow and see what has been done. I kinda remember checking to see if the recall had been done when looking to buy it, but been too long ago, can't remember. Might see if I can drive it around the sub-division and see if I get the fuel cut off.

 

I would get CLB asap. Unless you guys like calling tow trucks.

 

/\

A tow truck is the last thing I would want, I will be ordering a CLB monday.
I just want to be sure that someone has them in stock before I place the order.

Gary04Z06, let us know what you find out.



.

 

I just went through this about a month ago and I also had an original battery in a 2004 Z06. I replaced the battery and installed the CLB(as well as the skip shift bypass) that I had purchased 3 years earlier. So far, all is well and I am enjoying not fighting the skip-shift.

 

I'll probably get a new battery while I'm out there tomorrow just to be sure. I keep it on a tender during the winter to maintain it. Drive it enough in the summer to keep it charged. But if its too old, time to go.

Who sells the best CLB? or are they all pretty much the same?

 

I just bought mine and according to the carfax mine has an outstanding recall for the column lock. On my last Z it had the dealer recall done to it and I still installed the CLB on it. Should I take my current Z to the dealer and have the recall performed or just install the CLB and forget about the dealer?

The CLB can be bought at Corvettes of Houston for $49.95

 

I didn't get time to look at it yesterday, but the dealer did confirm the the recall was done (before I bought it) according to GM's records.