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Hi all, I read alot on the threads and am pretty new to owning a vette. I have a 2002 Coupe Z51 M6 with 49,000 miles on it. I bought it in October and love it! I went to work this morning and when I started the car the "pull key, wait 10 seconds" showed up. Previous owner had the column lock recall done. Is this going to effect anything? or do I need to take it in? I have read a few threads on this but nobody has a M6 with this same problem. Thanks in advance!
You may need to remove the dealer installed K harness and install a Column Lock Bypass in it's place. Could also be your ignition switch needs the contacts cleaned manually or the switch replaced. I have an A4 and installed a CLB years ago but I still get the PKW10S every once and awhile. ;^(
Cearly you have not read many threads on the Pull Key and Wait message if you have not seen anyone with an M6 with this problem.
On the 2001 through 2004 cars manual trans cars are the ONLY ones that can have the problem. Problem can occur to either manual or auto on 1997 - 2000 car.
Start with your battery since it's the MOST COMMON cause of the column lock symptoms. Weak or bad battery or loose or corroded battery connections. Use a DMM to measure the voltage across the battery posts with the neg battery cable disconnected.
You need to have more than 12.5 volts to have the electronics in the car function properly. The car will start with as little as 12.2 volts (measured as I described) but the electronics in the car, especially the column lock electronics, does not like low voltages. If the voltage is not greater than 12.5 have the battery fully charged. A good battery at full charge will measure 12.7 to 12.9 volts. If you cannot charge the battery to 12.7 volts it's on it way out.
You CANNOT use the readings on the dash to determine the state of health of the battery. They measure the state of health of the charging system. With engine running you measure the output voltage of the alternator. Great that it wants to charge the battery but the column lock electronics runs LONG before you start the engine so that's too late. Key on and engine off and there are many electrical circuits in the C5 loading the battery so that reading means nothing.
Once you have a know good battery you should consider installing a CLB. GM does NOT have a long term solution for the column lock symptoms other than to deplete your wallet at regular intervals when the symptoms reoccur.
Read the first few pages of this thread then the last dozen or so pages of it and you have a better understanding of the column lock problem on the C5:
(and it has happened to me in the past with an 04 M6 aslo). there are many causes for that "error" message. it could even be as simple as the resistor on the key itself being dirty or (particularly if you live in a cold climate and wear gloves) the chip actually being blocked by the fabric of the gloves. if it is repetative, good chance the battery is the problem.
If it only happened once, I wouldn't panic yet. If it happens again, try your back up key if you have one. I had a 98 once that would occasionally give the warning if you turned it off and pulled the key out and immediately put it back in and started the car. If you clean the key pellet, you probably won't see it again. I would however get a CLB if you don't already have one. All this assumes a good battery and connections.
If it only happened once, I wouldn't panic yet. If it happens again, try your back up key if you have one. I had a 98 once that would occasionally give the warning if you turned it off and pulled the key out and immediately put it back in and started the car. If you clean the key pellet, you probably won't see it again. I would however get a CLB if you don't already have one. All this assumes a good battery and connections.
It has happened to me twice in 10 years,just wait 10 seconds if it continues to happen do the above.
with what 8VETTE7 said. He's been giving sound advice on the column lock issue for a long time.
The factory/dealer fix CAUSES more trouble than it fixes!! Though I was save as it had multiple dealer "fixes" of the problem. It STILL stranded me!! 8vette7 and several others guided me through the CLB install.(since no one said it CLB is the aftermarket Column Lock Bypass). A 45 min.to 1hour install and you don't have to worry about getting stranded again!!Regardless if the voltage or key cleaning remedies the current situation,,you owe it to yourself for peace of mind, to install a CLB!!