Need Help ASAP
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Florence Ky
Need Help ASAP
I own a 97, it is at the body shop and now is column locked. I had the guy call me and ask what to do, I said I think that there is a recall and that I would call the GM dealer and find out. I called my service guy that I deal with at the dealership and asked about the recall. He checked and said that my year wasn't on the recall and that even if it was, the recall might not fix it. He said that they had a 98 in there early this week and it cost the guy $650 to fix. I've heard tons of stories about column lock and bypass, can I fix it myself? Does anybody have any suggestions. Thanks
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 1
From: Louisville KY
If your 97 is an automatic it can be fixed.
It should be included in the recall.
Call another dealership and give them your VIN and have them check it .
There is a kit you can purchase and install it yourself.
If your 97 is a manual than that's awhole different story.
It should be included in the recall.
Call another dealership and give them your VIN and have them check it .
There is a kit you can purchase and install it yourself.
If your 97 is a manual than that's awhole different story.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 58,783
Likes: 1
From: D*ck ina Box
CI III & IV Vote Ho
CI II, III, IV & V Vet
CI IV Bracket Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Welcome to Column Lock General...there's only like a dozen or so open threads and new ones started daily, going back at least 3 years 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,490
Likes: 1,811
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by Mean Green
Welcome to Column Lock General...there's only like a dozen or so open threads and new ones started daily, going back at least 3 years
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
Likes: 2
From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
Hey Mojo - long time no talk.
You could try the method that has worked for others - shake the wheel back and forth hoping it will unlock - then put on the CLB right away if it does. As has been noted GM is not ready to step up to fixing this, so the CLB is the only true cure, but the column must be unlocked before installing one.
You could try the method that has worked for others - shake the wheel back and forth hoping it will unlock - then put on the CLB right away if it does. As has been noted GM is not ready to step up to fixing this, so the CLB is the only true cure, but the column must be unlocked before installing one.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Moncks Corner South Carolina
Same thing happened to me when mine was in the shop. I had it hauled to my house (I didn't know about shaking the wheel back and forth to free it). I ordered the CLB from Corvettes of Houston. Took about 3 days to get it. Installed it and got back on the street. Read in the CLB posts from the past. They should answer all your questions about the recall and how it effects M6 and A4 cars. MHO, get it back to your house and install CLB and forget the dealership. If your car was an A4, you would have to get the recall work done.
The CLB from COH comes with a plug that hooks into your cigarette lighter that unlocks the locked column. Then you can install CLB.
The CLB from COH comes with a plug that hooks into your cigarette lighter that unlocks the locked column. Then you can install CLB.
Last edited by Hiteck; Sep 2, 2004 at 01:14 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Pro
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 726
Likes: 2
From: Denver CO
FYI -
The 97 and some of the 98 M6's (up to 5/28/98) and the export model 97/98 A4's haven't gotten the recall yet b/c GM is still working on the fix for them
Only caution I would give you is the fact that many '97s experience problems with the aftermarket CLBs. Maybe since your's is an M6 you won't have a problem. From the recall, apparently there's something different in the M6 and export A4?!?!?!?
You might try the GM shorting harness for the '97 A4 instead of an aftermarket CLB. You might be less likely to get the "pull key" msg from the DIC, but it would be an expensive ($85-100) experiment.
BTW, the reason they use this fix on the A4s and not the M6s is b/c of a federal anti-theft device law. On the A4s, the transmission still locks into Park; on the M6, nothing is left to lock once you disable the electronic column lock.
Best of luck either way you go.
The 97 and some of the 98 M6's (up to 5/28/98) and the export model 97/98 A4's haven't gotten the recall yet b/c GM is still working on the fix for them
Only caution I would give you is the fact that many '97s experience problems with the aftermarket CLBs. Maybe since your's is an M6 you won't have a problem. From the recall, apparently there's something different in the M6 and export A4?!?!?!?
You might try the GM shorting harness for the '97 A4 instead of an aftermarket CLB. You might be less likely to get the "pull key" msg from the DIC, but it would be an expensive ($85-100) experiment.
BTW, the reason they use this fix on the A4s and not the M6s is b/c of a federal anti-theft device law. On the A4s, the transmission still locks into Park; on the M6, nothing is left to lock once you disable the electronic column lock.
Best of luck either way you go.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Concord CA
When it happened to me I called GM hotline . A lady told me to remove the key wait 20 seconds then grasp the wheel at ten to two position and rock it back and forth a few times Then put the key back in start the car and hey presto it worked first time
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,407
Likes: 1
From: HONOLULU HAWAII
Originally Posted by Hiteck
Same thing happened to me when mine was in the shop. I had it hauled to my house (I didn't know about shaking the wheel back and forth to free it). I ordered the CLB from Corvettes of Houston. Took about 3 days to get it. Installed it and got back on the street. Read in the CLB posts from the past. They should answer all your questions about the recall and how it effects M6 and A4 cars. MHO, get it back to your house and install CLB and forget the dealership. If your car was an A4, you would have to get the recall work done.
The CLB from COH comes with a plug that hooks into your cigarette lighter that unlocks the locked column. Then you can install CLB.
The CLB from COH comes with a plug that hooks into your cigarette lighter that unlocks the locked column. Then you can install CLB.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Florence Ky
I'll try it, it's locked before and the rocking has worked. I'm going to the shop tonight to see if I can get it loose. What is it exactly that goes bad in the column?
Last edited by MojoRisen; Sep 2, 2004 at 03:59 PM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 726
Likes: 2
From: Denver CO
Originally Posted by MojoRisen
I'll try it, it's locked before and the rocking has worked. I'm going to the shop tonight to see if I can get it loose. What is it exactly that goes bad in the column?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,374
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
Originally Posted by TopCat
I've read a lot on this subject and haven't gotten firm answers. I've read that the lock pin binds in the steering column locking plate and the pin actuator/drive can't pull it out. I'm not aware of the lock pin drive/actuator actually failing, but this is an evolving issue.
You have a 97 M6 with a locked column, right? I'd call the dealer, tell them it is GM's responsibility to take of this including the towing charges per the claim sheets they send out with the recall notice, have the car towed at the dealer's expense, get the recall call work done for free, then install a CLB just to be sure.
Phew! I got that out in one breath.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,887
Likes: 2
From: Macomb MI
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by MojoRisen
I guess nobody can help me out?
Post your Vin#, let me take a look and see if your car is excluded from the recall, I'll let you know the scoop.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Florence Ky
The Jerk like Hell method worked. Thanks to everybody who helped a brother out. I have a few more questions though. I've read where you can make a column bypass, does anybody have any info on this? And can the column lock while you are driving it? I don't have my VIN availible right now, I'll get back with you, Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
Likes: 2
From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
Originally Posted by MojoRisen
And can the column lock while you are driving it?
I haven't seen instructions for building a CL bypass (I have for the CAGS eliminator), but maybe someone else has - I have seen installation instructions though.
