Service Column Lock
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
Service Column Lock
I have a 2004 Commemorative Z06 with 20K miles. It is predominantly a garage queen. Today I decided to take it out for a spin. As soon as I started the car, the odometer flashed up the mileage and within 2 seconds the message "service column lock" appeared on the DIC. I then hit the reset button and the odometer was displayed once again. I drove to the gym finished my work out and started the car and the same error message came up again. I decided to look at the owners manual but the only advise was to have the system serviced so I have an appointment at the dealer where I bought the car to have it serviced early next week.
I was hoping that someone on this forum may have experienced a similar issue such as needing to refill the power steering fluid or something easy that I can do vs takinging it to the dealer.
Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
I was hoping that someone on this forum may have experienced a similar issue such as needing to refill the power steering fluid or something easy that I can do vs takinging it to the dealer.
Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
One major cause of "service column lock" errors is a weak battery.
since you say your car is a 'garage queen' it's likely that is the issue, however, any C-5 owner that does not have some sort of after market fix for the column lock problem is only tempting fate. The Lmcs or column lock bypass fix is a must IMNSHO.
since you say your car is a 'garage queen' it's likely that is the issue, however, any C-5 owner that does not have some sort of after market fix for the column lock problem is only tempting fate. The Lmcs or column lock bypass fix is a must IMNSHO.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
One major cause of "service column lock" errors is a weak battery.
since you say your car is a 'garage queen' it's likely that is the issue, however, any C-5 owner that does not have some sort of after market fix for the column lock problem is only tempting fate. The Lmcs or column lock bypass fix is a must IMNSHO.
since you say your car is a 'garage queen' it's likely that is the issue, however, any C-5 owner that does not have some sort of after market fix for the column lock problem is only tempting fate. The Lmcs or column lock bypass fix is a must IMNSHO.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
Google "Compliance Parts' without the quotes. Read about and then order and install an LMC5. Dealer is going to bend you over BIG TIME. Bring a big tube of KY if you keep the appointment at the Stealership.
Read about a 2003 with the same issue:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-c5-vette.html
Read about a 2003 with the same issue:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-c5-vette.html
However my steering wheel functions fine. It is not locking up like the others on the link you've provided.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,828
Likes: 1
From: Ottawa County OH
I had that happen to my car. The error message came up so I drove it to the dealer. They "fixed" it. One day next week at work, I got the message again as I was leaving. I couldn't clear it and if I put the car in gear, I could drive about 5'.
I called the dealer and told them what happened. They sent a tow truck at their expense and that's how I got home that night.
I called the dealer and told them what happened. They sent a tow truck at their expense and that's how I got home that night.
Last edited by Rush Fan; Jun 6, 2014 at 09:30 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,451
Likes: 27
From: Bay Area CA
Google "Compliance Parts' without the quotes. Read about and then order and install an LMC5. Dealer is going to bend you over BIG TIME. Bring a big tube of KY if you keep the appointment at the Stealership.
Read about a 2003 with the same issue:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-c5-vette.html
Read about a 2003 with the same issue:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-c5-vette.html
EVERYONE READ THE ABOVE MESSAGE!!!!! The dealership does not have a fix or a workaround. Their so-called fix has failed repeatedly. There are only 2 fixes....LMC5 and The Column-Lock Bypass.
The
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 29
From: Chilliwack B.C.
As stated earlier, a weak battery is the cause of most of these issues. If you have a battery charger at home, I'd recommend you charge it up overnight. Read that article - lots of info there.
I installed the LMC5 on my car
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
As stated above the answer is yes.
Without more specific inspection I can only guess that what has happened to your car is that the Column Lock Relay fried with the lock pin in the retracted position. It is a moot point what the detail is at this point unless you want the Stealership to charge you upwards of $1000 or more for a fix that will fail. GM does not now or has ever had a permanent fix for the Column Lock problem. Only EXPENSIVE band aids.
Get and install an LMC5. There is a video out there on the internet about installing it. Google "LMC5 install video" without the quotes should find it.
As noted above, the MOST likely cause of your problem started with a weak or bad battery or loose or corroded battery cables including at the starter. If it were my car that is the first thing I would be checking out/ correcting while I waited for the LMC5 to arrive.
Without more specific inspection I can only guess that what has happened to your car is that the Column Lock Relay fried with the lock pin in the retracted position. It is a moot point what the detail is at this point unless you want the Stealership to charge you upwards of $1000 or more for a fix that will fail. GM does not now or has ever had a permanent fix for the Column Lock problem. Only EXPENSIVE band aids.
Get and install an LMC5. There is a video out there on the internet about installing it. Google "LMC5 install video" without the quotes should find it.
As noted above, the MOST likely cause of your problem started with a weak or bad battery or loose or corroded battery cables including at the starter. If it were my car that is the first thing I would be checking out/ correcting while I waited for the LMC5 to arrive.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,754
Likes: 1,210
From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
Read the directions that come with the LMC5 as it has you pull a fuse before you start that is not shown in the video!!
Good Luck!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
Caution!!!! Just a month or so ago I did the same as you. Took my laptop in the garage and followed the video. The second I started the car the column locked!!
Read the directions that come with the LMC5 as it has you pull a fuse before you start that is not shown in the video!!
Good Luck!!
Read the directions that come with the LMC5 as it has you pull a fuse before you start that is not shown in the video!!
Good Luck!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 352
From: Carson City Nevada
It may already have been worked on at the dealer because it doesn't lock up. That is one sign that an attempt has been made to put the dealership band aid on it. I'm just curious. You've been a member since 2008 and you're new to this problem? 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
Does anyone know if this part is available locally rather than having to wait for the part to arrive by mail? Now that I know the fix I'd like to get it done this weekend if possible. I live in Maryland.Thanks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
Hello All,
Sorry to rehash an old issue. Back in 2014 I had installed the LMC5 to get rid of the Service Column Lock error code on the dash. Since then, that message has not appeared again. Recently I hadn't started it in a while and when I finally did, the Service Column Lock code appeared again. The first response to this thread was that this code might be appearing due to a weak battery. I had replaced my battery 3 years ago. Could the issue be that the battery needs replacing after 3 years or do you think it will eventually go away if I drive the car more frequently? Or could it be something else?
Thanks
Sorry to rehash an old issue. Back in 2014 I had installed the LMC5 to get rid of the Service Column Lock error code on the dash. Since then, that message has not appeared again. Recently I hadn't started it in a while and when I finally did, the Service Column Lock code appeared again. The first response to this thread was that this code might be appearing due to a weak battery. I had replaced my battery 3 years ago. Could the issue be that the battery needs replacing after 3 years or do you think it will eventually go away if I drive the car more frequently? Or could it be something else?
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 786
From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
A brand new battery will eventually be drained significantly over time in a C5. There are a number of things that draw current continuously even while the car is not in use. You need to charge your battery occasionally while the car is not in use.