I dutifully took my '00 6-speed Coupe to Issaquah chevy here in WA to have them "fix" the steering col. lock as part of the recall program. I drove home, moved the car in the driveway once, then drove to work the next day. When I left to go home that day, I got the dreaded "steering col lock" message on the DIC. DOH!! They caused the problem somehow during the reprogramming. Problem was compounded by the fact that none of the tow companies could get a truck down into the lower level of the parking garage at work. I convinced them to send a tech over to try to reprogram here in the garage, which they did. The programming didn't take. The tech drove my car out of the garage at .9 mph to keep the fuel cutoff switch from kicking in (and no the steering col didn't lock) and as soon as we got it into towing position outside the garage it managed to start without the error, so luckily I avoided a tow and we drove it back to issaquah chevy. <sigh> I hate to think what that escapade did to my clutch. It took about 10 min to crawl out of the garage.

This was frustrating since the tech told me there's NO WAY to verify if the reprogramming actually worked or not. No CRC check, no compare and verify function, nada. Just cross your fingers if you get the recall work done.

The next day the car was fixed and I went to pick it up. It was actually in a garage bay at the shop. I started the car, and got the error immediately. Right there in the shop. <big sigh>. They took me back to work. Rinse and repeat. Since I had no ride home they picked me up and set me up with a free rental (Dodge RAM 1500 with the 5.7L Hemi - woo that was fun) for my trouble since I had no way to get home.

I went to pick up the car that night, and they assured me it was fixed now. It started... No error... That's a good sign. Went to work. That night in the garage (lower level again) I got the error AGAIN. ARGH. This time the steering col locked every time. I knew what to do. I just started the car over and over until I got a clean start (maybe 30 times?). Hey I wanted to avoid a tow, right? I lucked out and drove it back to the shop that night. <freaking angry sigh>.

This time they just replaced the entire computer module and kept it an extra day to try to make sure. At least they washed the car this time. That seems to have done it, no problems since then.

Ya gotta wonder if I should ever have taken it in to begin with. The guy at the shop said they've never seen a problem with the steering col. lock reprogramming.

 

I feel your pain. My column locked up within a week of getting the the recall. Cost me $600 to replace the motor. Worst thing is I had the CLB at home, just too lazy to install it! Not to mention the front end (fiberglass) scrape up the back of the roll back (3 times as the tow truck driver realized what I told him about the fuel pump shutting off).

 

I dont know why you took it in for the recall. Having a 6 speed you must have known the recall was not an actual fix for the problem. They only compounded your problem by programming your fuel to shut off when the column lock fails. Get the CLB...

 

yep...I quit preaching this because no one will listen....

this is not directed at the author of this thread but it kills me that people post in here and get the info yet still go and have this done by the dealer.....WTF???? why ask?? I told the guy at my dealership when I went for warranty work not to touch mine as I did the CLB and I had custom programming...he ask me to sign off on a waiver and that was that..closed the open campaign on it.There ARE mod friendly dealers out there...you just have to find one....

 

Sorry you had so much trouble - go get a CLB and be done with it. Hope it doesn't happen again - it can be a real pain to deal with.

 

 

Don't surprise me none!

 

Now I'm really glad I didn't take my car in for the recall. I installed the CLB 3 years ago and have never had a problem since. I was actually thinking about going in for the recall too... good thing I came to my senses.

 

Get the CLB and never look back. I installed mine 4yrs. ago and have had no problems. I recieved 4 recall notices in the mail from GM, tossed them all, didn't want to take the chance

 

I would love to be able to install a CLB. Unfortunately our 98 is one of the cars that won't accept the CLB. Keep your fingers crossed, I am.

 

where can I get the CLB from?

 

http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...d=220&pcid=156

 

Sorry you got bit, but it sounds like the dealer bent over backwards to
resolve the issue (which GM should have fixed years ago!!). Like everyone
says, install the CLB.

 

Ditto over here with the CLB. I tried 2 different CLB's with no luck. I won't let the dealers touch my Vert either.

 

Once the PCM is programmend with an update with a TECH2,it can not be programmend again.The programming will detect that the latest calibration is allready installed.If the programming did not "take" the 1st time,the PCM would have been fried resulting in a no start condition and your vehicle would have not left the dealership.On rare occasions,this happens when programming with an insufficiently charged battery during programming...
The BCM contols the column lock,not the PCM that was reprogrammend From what you describe,your column lock is stuck in the "unlocked" position.On the 2000 M6,a jumper harness to the BCM and a new column lock relay is installed at the BCM in addition to the reprogramming during the recall procedure (if the vehicle was not involved in the 1st recall in 2001)...Ask them if they installed this jumper harness and if they did it correctly.If the circuitry is correct,you can reset the BCM by removing and reinstalling BCM fuse #25 to reset the column lock.This will make a column lock operational again if stuck in the "unlocked" position.

Then get the CLB

 

I am proud to say that being a member to the forum for just 3 months I've read enough CL problems, purchased one from thunder racing, put that sucker in (in) less then 45 minutes, and I am not mechanic. I feel safe and secure and almost smart

 

sounds like a dealer

 

My local Chevy dealer is 2 blocks from me but I dont want to trust them with the recall due to many 6-speed owners complaining about having problems after the fix.

I got my CLB months ago, stood on it and waited for the GM recall. But I decided to install it after all this.

 

Not trying to steal this post...but.....the 99 FRC I'm buying Tuesday already has the recall done.....can I/should I still install a CLB?

 

Yes!! The 6spd fix doesn't work from GM, It will happen again..They disable the lock on the automatics but aren't allowed to on 6spds so the CLB is your way to go...