Ok...before you all go 'NOT AGAIN', you are not going to believe what I just heard! I called a dealership to have them explain exactly what's done during the CL recall. They gave me exactly what I expected to hear for checking the lock plate cleareance. They said 'remove the steering column, blah, blah'. Here's the interesing part! I asked what PCM reprogramming is needed and this is what I was told. 'First, it is a very complicated thing to reprogram thru the PCM, you need a special star connector, blah blah'. Then the guy tells me that the reprogramming is needed so the column doesn't lock WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THE CAR. Is this true? I thought the reprogramming had something to do with turning on/off the fuel. I have a 2001 MN6.

 

Dealerships are out to you.

 

The way I understand, you are correct and the reprogram shuts the fuel off in case the module detects the lock not pulled out of the steering column. I don't think the reprogram inhibits the column lock in any condition on a manual transmission. Other members please, if this is not correct let us know. Personnaly I am going to install a bypass and not worry about column lock.

DJ

 

I was just on a bunch of news site describing the problem. It looks like the issue is that the fuel may not be shut off when the lock engages during start up. Therefore, if someone didn't notice the lock up, they could still drive off and find out the hard way.

 

Let me tell you another horror story. A friend of mine bought a 00 coupe and, not knowing a lot about the CL issue, heard about it through the recall. So he took it to the dealer (first mistake) for the reprogramming. Next thing he's asking what happened to the power he had before the procedure. Seems when they did it something else happened and the car now feels like it lost 50 HP. Nice huh?

 

ttt Yup. when I talked to the service guy, he said that it's a tough job to reprogram and that you run the risk of screwing up other settings (whichI guess could result in power loss). It sounded like the guy doesn't want to touch it. I still hope a few folks chime in about his comment that the lock up can occur WHILE DRIVING. I think it's BS but would like to hear from others.

 

I just am not buying that it will lock up while driving. I've heard exactly one rumor from one "new" forum member that it happened to him. When challenged on it, he disappeared....not sure there. I've also read on here that someone heard it from someone who heard it from someone who read about it happening.....not really sure there either. I'm more inclined to believe that any that have wrecked (minor or major) with the column locked drove away with it locked, not that it locked after they drove away. That is what the flash is for. It now will shut off the fuel supply so that the car cannot keep running if it has a column lock indication. This is my opinion and nothing more. If anyone has any proof that the column locked while driving I'd be all ears. I will not bring my car in for the recall. It is a '97 that is running great and I just won't risk it. I've read too many threads on here that the recall had been done and now for the first time they are experiencing problems and I am only thinking about the CLB at this point.....just not sure. I have cleared a friends column lock...honestly, took two minutes and was a non-issue after that so I've been to the edge and looked down and I am not afraid. Said with fingers, arms and legs crossed because I certainly do not want to jinx my own vehicle

Just my .02

Paul

 

Almost looks like the hand is emerging from the bowtie chevy logo. I had to look twice.

 

The reprogramming is only for turning the fuel off in case the column locks. And it is not all that hard to program the computer for the recall. My dealership certainly did not have any problems with it and I did not lose any power as a result.

 

Ya know, I called three different dealer service departments about column lock and got 3 different answers. They don't know, they say what they they think, maybe even believe, whether it's right or wrong.

 

The previous owner probably had the computer reprogramed for maximum performance and the dealership performing the CLB probably restored all the factory computer settings, which would decrease the performance. Your friend could invest a few bucks and take the car to a place that knows how to reprogram the computer again for max performance and then see if the car feels "normal" again.

As an aside, while my Z06 was being serviced for a minor warrenty item, the CLB recall rerogramming was performed. I have not noticed a difference, but then I don't drive it very hard.

 

My biggest fear is losing the custom programming done via LS1 Edit. I guess I can upload after the recall work is done and compare programs.

No... CLB is not an option with my Vert, I tried them all, apparently my 98 is not alone.

 

I thought the CL was only an issue for MN6? I recently brought my 2001 A4 in for its annual physical prior to storage and was told there was a CL recall on it. The dealer said it would take more time than either of us had that day, so I could bring it back in the Spring when I release the Vette from hibernation.

Question is - Is the A4 at risk for CL, and does the recall apply?
Thanks for your input.

 

A4's 02 & above have no column lock installed

 

Yea, the reprogramming simply turns off the fuel if the lock occurs. It fixes nothing, nada, zero, zilch!

Look at it this way, if the column locks while you are going would you rather it stop/go with your commands... or just stop dead?

Secondly, GO TO A DIFFERENT DEALER. Another thread has lots of people who contend they go to competent service departments... sure not yours or mine, though.

All the best.

 

I've had mine lock on me one morning as I started to back out of the garage...had it towed on a flatbed to the dealer....then had them tell me my battery was bad...replaced the battery and it's been fine for 2 years now. I'll probably go get the CLB and put it in one of these days. I can tell you that on my MN6 when the steering locked, I had plenty of power to drive the car, but I doubt it will ever lock while you're driving. The recall for the MN6 only re-programs it to shut off the fuel and nothing more, so the lock can still occur, which seems like a completely lame recall fix. So I've decided there's three things nobody touches: my toothbrush, my guns, or my PCM...oh, almost forgot...my woman But I'll keep reading these posts to make sure I haven't missed anything....guess I'll keep reading then

 

Yes, the difference is that for A4's they remove the CL but for MN6's they leave it on because it is a anti-theft device.

 

Apparently your dealer doesn't know much about the cars he sells/services.....Starting w/ 2001 there is NO steering column lock on automatic tranmission C5's. Now you can save yourself from visiting that idiot dealer. Good luck.

 

NOOOOOOOOO!

The new program they put in is different to the original. Rewriting your program on with LS1edit will fry the computer Happened to me (luckily the tuner paid for the new computer). You need to download the new program and update the fuel and ignition maps manually.

 

The lock that can happen while driving can hapen like this. The steering column has a series of holes drilled around it's circumference. The column lock is a pin that gets slid into one of the holes by a worm gear driven by a small motor. This motor is energized through a relay. The relay is underdesigned for the current required and after a while the contacts deteriorate. When this happens less current flows to the motor and it either doesn't operate or it operates intermittently.

Some guys with the CL problem have been able to get it to work by slamming the steering wheel back and forth with great effort and then the motor starts and the pin winds out. What is probably happening is the relay contacts are shifted or bumped enough by the steering wheel being slammed into the pin that the shock travels to the relay and moves it enough to engage the contact enough to get some current through. I'll bet if you went to the relay and tapped it with you fingers you would get the same result.

The column CAN lock while driving, although it is highly unlikely, if the relay goes intermittent while the pin is being retracted and stops a few thousandths of an inch out of the hole. The pin is out so the wheel can be moved, but the pin is very close to them. Then if the car is driven over a rough road surface the pin can drop into a hole. Not all the way, but you would only need a few thousandths of an inch for it to impede the rotation of the steering wheel. There could be that much mechanical play in the mechanism.

This did happen to a few Corvette owners. I'm not sure if they are members of this forum but I read there was someone that was having a CL problem and was driving it while waiting to take it in for service when it locked as they wer coming onto a highway while on the onramp. They weren't going that fast and ended up in the weeds off the side of the ramp but I believe his letter to the NTSB was what got the CL recall going.

As far as the dealer reprogramming the computer. It is one of the easiest things to do if you know what you are doing. There is an OBD2 connector right underneath the steering column that you plug the Tech2 into. The Tech then runs the correct program to reflash the PCM. I must have flashed my PCM 200 times with LS1Edit in my driveway with my laptop. There is no reason a dealership should have trouble with this, providing they are competent with the reflashing process. The spin that the service manager, or whomever was spoken to, gave out is an effort to maintain job security, nothing more. The problem is most of the good people that own Corvettes don't have the time, experience, tools, or desire to maintain the car on their own. The dealership's service departments are in business to exploit that. They have to make money, so...