Buy the CLB, follow these directions:

http://97vette.com/howto/columnlock/index.html

It takes about 30 minutes.

Also, Yes you can install a CLB on a column that has failed.

 

Wow! Great information! Printed out the threads - will read tonight - car into dealer this morning. They are saying my 98 is not under warranty. I think they are even questioning this themselves. I am a little concerned - I asked the parts department if they had a column bypass and they don't. Can they fix it without it? Because I have been calling all over Vegas and can't find a CLB????? And would the dealer install it anyway?

 

Your car is definately out of warranty but should be covered under the upcoming "recall". The Column Lock Bypass kit cannot be purchased through the dealer, it is not a GM part but rather an aftermarket device. You can purchase it from one of the supporting vendors to this forum (Thunder Racing or Corvettes of Houston). It is pretty easy to install yourself or if you have a friend who has minimal skills I am sure they can help you. The link below will give you an idea of what is involved in the install. Good luck

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=24

 

I have a 97 and I havent received my recall notice yet. Doesnt matter though because I already have the CLB.

 

This is a great website! Thanks! (nhtsa)
The article is good too - although right at this time - I'm not gonna fix it myself. But thanks anyway!

 

The latest recall spurred by the NHTSA is to prevent the car from moving if the column is locked. Basically what happens is that the column will lock, but you will still be able to start and move the car forward and backward (just not be able to turn the wheel). What this latest recall does, GM goes in, reprograms your PCM to shut power to the fuel pump if your column is locked, so you will NOT be able to move your car. It does NOTHING about the column lock problem - you will still have to have your car towed to a dealer and have the lock assembly replaced.

There was a "customer satisfication" recall which closed July, last year (recall # 1044A). In that recall, Chevy replaced the column lock assembly with a "new" one in M6s, and on the A4s, replaced the lock with one that had no locking pin.

Basically, if you column is locked...you are going to have to have your car towed to a dealer, if its an A4, they will replace it with a column lock assembly with no locking pin and you are done, if its an M6, they will replace it with a new column lock assembly with a pin - once you get your car back, order the column lock bypass kit from one of the forum vendors (i.e. Thunder Racing, Corvettes of Houston, etc) and install it, and never worry about the column locking again. Good luck!

 

I am currently dealing with this issue with GM and the NHTSA. It happened to me a few weeks ago, had to tow to Chevy dealer - it appears they installed a new system which still locks! AND charged me over $500!!! Needless to say I argued with them, they said the recall did not cover my vin 98 A4. Filed complaint with nhtsa (suggest everyone do this!), dealing with GM on getting reimbursed for the repair (lots of luck) and still think my car is UNSAFE and could lock again at any time (locked when pulling into parking lot - luckily no accident)

I am mad as h_ll about this and want GM to reimburse the cost and install the plate with no hole in it so my column can never lock again.

EVERYONE with this problem should file a complaint with the nhtsa (email using link to their web site provided above), and also complain to GM about it.

 

Ok guys - here I am back from the dealer. Just picked up the car. They did not honor the recall even though I printed off the information that was given to me on the NHTSA website. I faxed it to them and they still didn't honor it. I'm going to do the same - I'm going to write GM about it. And I will take your advice and write NHTSA if you think that will help out as well. I did luck out on one thing though - the writer from the dealership that I go to is a friend of mine - he knew someone who worked there that just happened to have the CLB so they installed that for me for no extra cost. So, I think he did the best he could do to help me out because let's face it - they know they should be honoring this recall.

 

If anyone is interested, I have a new CLB that I purchased from Thunder Racing, but never used. I paid $65.00 for it including shipping. I will part with it for $45.00, including shipping. Send email if interested.

 

Email sent.

 

email sent to elric.

 

The bottom line, they have decided even though they mailed me the recall they are not going to reimburse me for it. They are saying the recall is different than my repair. What is this?

 

What this is is
They absolutely should honor the recall, and reimberse any money that you have paid. I would start talking to another dealership (or a lawyer), even if you have a friend at this one. What does "different than your repair" mean? They are fixing a known problem, that has been recalled on all 97-04 Corvettes, and should do whatever it takes to prevent it from happening to you again. Which by the way, the recall DOES NOT do. There have been others here, with 97 and 98 model years, that have had the "recall" done on their cars without charge.

BTW, there are also documented cases here where the CLB does not work on 97-99 model years (even causing other problems). Since you have a 98 you should insist that they install a "Harness K", which is GMs version of a CLB, but works on 97-99 model years. There is another thread here titled "97-99 CLB" (or something close to that) that has a link explaining the Harness K in great detail. This, not the recall (unless the recall on 97-99 model years involves installing this harness), will prevent it from occuring again.

Good Luck,



Melodie here is the link talking about the Harness K.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=881814

 

I'm starting to understand. So the fix with the CLB is different than with the harness? GMC will not honor the fix with the CLB but will with the harness. What do you think of that?
The dealer still wants me to go in for the harness

 

Melodie, you should go and let GMC install the harness, that is the correct hardware for your car.

But, this is a recall and a historically known problem, so don't accept letting them charge you anything. If this dealer wants to charge you, then talk to other dealers in the area. Some are much more reasonable than others. Or call GM Customer Service and complain to them. As I said earlier, this has been fixed on 98 model cars without charge.

Good Luck,

 

Not true Column lock recalls have been recieved for several years of C5s in the last two months. I received mine, for a 2000, two months ago and had it performed at that time. Numerous posts have been made during that time by others receiving them as well.

 

Melodie,

I may have missed it, but do you have a manual or auto?
If you don't get the dealer to honor the recall, I would call the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 888-327-4236.

I agree that you might want to try another dealer. Bear in mind the CLB needs to be removed BEFORE you take it to the dealer. Then REINSTALLED after the recall is performed (if you have a manual) If you have an auto you won't need the CLB.

good luck. I go in for my recall on Tuesday (fingers crossed)

 

If you have an A4 (I searched the thread after my original post and didn't see where you stated you had a manual or automatic), the recall includes the harness and replacement of the lock plate with a new "cam orientation plate." The new plate is reportedly smaller and won't allow the locking pin to engage, thereby totally eliminating the chance of steering lock.

The recall is free, as stated above. Don't let anyone try to convince you otherwise. If you don't remove the column bypass, they will.

Now the bad news - and maybe the reason for your problems with the dealer.

According to the NHSTA website literature, GM still hasn't posted a fix for 1997 manuals or 1998 manuals made through 5/28/98. There is still a part they need to design before they can fix these units. If your car has a VIN from this time period, you won't receive a recall notice and the dealer won't show it on his computer, because THEY CAN'T FIX IT YET (Thank you GM)


Regardless, the dealer should have made this clear to you. Sounds like you're working with a stealership instead of a dealership. Find a more reputable one in your area if you can.

 

with the post above. I had my CLB fail last week on my 1999 Corvette coupe MN6. I was able to free the column by jerking the wheel hard to the left and right (4 times) with the key out of the ignition and once the steering column was free, drove the car into my local dealer (Hamilton Chevrolet in Warren, Michigan). Hamilton took care of the recall and installed the new parts (lock plate, new harness, PCM reflash). No charge. They have seen a lot of this recall work lately.

I'm tempted to see how this recall parts work before I install a CLB bypass. I was also glad I could unlock the failed unit myself (learned that from the Tech Section of this forum), so I did not have to have my car flatbedded into the dealer! This is the second time my CLB has failed on the car (18K miles and 40K miles).

 

Yeah, forgot to mention, if the tech "hears" a clicking or scraping sound they'll open up the steering column and modify the lock plate on the MN6 vehicles; I think they may install one with larger holes for better clearance? Anyway, for anyone with an MN6, since hearing is subjective and tech dependent, I'd politely insist, schmooze, kiss a**, whatever it takes, and get them to replace the locking plate regardless if the tech "thinks" he doesn't hear scraping or clicking.