After reading the forum stories about steering column lock up, I decided I better look at my car. I went through the shop manual, schematics, routing diagrams, etc. and decided my car was at risk (04 A4). I have had to disassemble columns on other older GM products that have locked and it ain’t no fun.

I ordered the CLB kit from Corvettes of Houston and got it the next day. This afternoon I decided to do the install. Their instructions were clear and the dash kneepad removal was easy. But that was the last easy part. I couldn’t find the cable for the column lock mechanism.

I got the shop manual out and went through the pictorials and routing diagrams. Laying sideways on the car floor, I identified every cable in the column area. I could not find the wire bundle color combination described in the instructions and shop manual. Pushing wires aside under the column, I finally realized why I couldn’t find the connector. It wasn’t there. The connector going to the column-locking relay was difficult to see back behind some other wires. There was nothing plugged into it. It was empty. The cable that controls the relay doesn’t seem to exist on this car. I tried the CLB connectors and they were a perfect match to the empty connector I found. I pushed apart the other bundles looking for something dangling--- nothing. My 04 shop manual shows this cable. My car was born Feb 04. Apparently somewhere up the line, GM has already done what the CLB kit is supposed to do.

Anybody else found this in their car?

 

When I first read about the column lock problem I asked the Forum if 2002 A4's had the problem. I was told A4's do not have the column lock. It's only on the standard shift trannys.

 

I think that is right, that the '04 A4's do not have the column lock.

 

I believe all 2001 - 2004 C5's equipped with an Auto Trans do not have the column lock.

 

Well, its pretty easy to test if you don't trust it. Put it in park and take out the key. If you can turn the steering wheel you don't have the lock.

BTW, folks above are right about the A4s not having the lock starting in 2001.

 

The lock on A4s post 2000 (01-04) is not there. They use the automatic transmission lever instead.

 

I'd send back the CLB and get my money back!!!

 

For the "dealer" fix on the '97 - '99 A4, my understanding is that the lock was removed. If you have the early A4 and can turn the wheel as described, the "fix" has already been completed. The M6 fix is completely different.

 

you are 100% correct... sorry the originator of this psot did all that work..