Finally got me!!!!

I had the column lock a few times two years ago and not since, until today. No recalls performed. I got the pull key and wait 10 sec message last week. I did that and the message cleared with no issues (column lock). The car sat in the garage since then until today. I drove it to work and out for coffee mid morning with no issues or warnings. At lunch time, I get in to go and get the pull key wait 10 sec followed by service column lock. Did the steering wheel jiggle which worked two years ago. Not working this time. Tried several time sequences with same results. Ordered the bypass kit from COH but I have to get the issue cleared before I can install it. I would say that if you get the pull key wait 10 sec message with no issues or warnings beyond that, it may be a pre warning for what's coming next.............

 

That's exactly what happened to me a week ago. I ended up disconnecting the battery for a minute and reconnecting it and that seemed to have reset it.
More evidence this has something to do with low voltage: One week later, my battery seemed to not hold a charge so I took it to the parts store and had it tested, they said it had to be replaced very soon, so I got a new one and will report back if the Service column lock message comes back.

IF YOU HAVE THE DIC MESSAGE "PULL KEY, WAIT 10 SECONDS", THIS IS THE PRECURSOR FOR THE COLUMN LOCKING!

 

pushing your vette home from the grocery store is pretty embarrassing, let me tell you!
I've spent a couple of hours reading everything there is to know about the column lock problem but I'm still stuck. I have a 98 A4 that has had two column lock warrenty jobs done (according to the info sheet I got with the car in spring) (The steering wheel moves with the key out) My car is dying at 2mph and I have tried all of the tricks of pulling fuses and disconnecting the battery etc and it still won't go and gives me the service column lock display.
Here's my question, where do they normally install the K harness? There doesn't appear to be anything by the BCM but I did notice a three terminal connector with wires cut off and taped up (black, orange and yellow if that means anything).
The local dealer wants $330 to fix this but if I figure I am better off understanding this and fixing it myself. Can anybody tell me what's been done to my car?
Thanks,

 

I spent some more time under the dash and have managed to get my car working properly again but unfortunately I am not entirely sure why. My lock motor is still active but it is obviously not locking so I assume the plate has been removed and I found the K harness and I found the safety relay. My question is, why did they leave the lock motor connected when it doesn't lock? If it is there in order to get the switch locked/unlocked status back to the BCM than why is the K harness needed?
I suspect that by taking the safety relay out and testing it on the bench and then re-installing it I freed it up. I think I will just bypass it as suggested but I still need some advice on whether I should replace the K-harness just as a maintenance item.

 

Probably the relay only wires don't go bad.
as to why the lock motor is left in......most likely to insure that the drivers in the body control module are properly loaded or just because it's more work to take it out!
mine is still in just unhooked (i have the CLB)

 

good point about leaving the motor connected because of the driver. One more question and then I'll go away. Has anybody found a replacement Tyco relay for the GM K harness? The price is now $250 if I buy a replacement kit from GM just to get the relay so I can either replace it with an aftermarket kit or find a suitable replacement Tyco relay and leave everything in place, as is.
thanks again,

 

I have a 99 MN6 that appears to have a recall relay under the passenger panel. Per page one I pulled the relay and connected the 30 connection to the 87 connection. I did this while the battery was disconnected. Re-connected the battery, went through the codes, resetting those showing, removed the keys, crossed my fingers, put the key back in and started the car. It still showed "remove key.." and Service Column Lock" but I trudged forward all of ten feet when the engine shut off.

Very early on page one there was the mention of if the problem had not occurred! I don't like the sound of that. Is my pretty black coupe destined for a flat bed?

OR

Did I miss something on page ??

thanks

 

I pulled my 02 Z06 out of the garage yesterday to wash it. After I parked it, I tried to restart it to reposition it on my parking pad outisde the garage. No dice, car started but had the pull key wait 10 second message and the column awas locked. I just let her sit outside for the night, I have not tried to put key in while turning wheel to the right in hopes to get the column to unlock. I plan on ordering a CLB from COH on monday morning. What can I do to get the column to unlock if the turning right trick does not free it? First part of this thread makes me think the only way to get it unlocked it to take it to the dealership, and installing a CLB is to be done before this problem happens. Any suggestions.

 

I was told by a clb vendor that the clb should not be used after a problem has occured. I was able to talk the dealer into just removing the locking plate. Now it can not physically lock and the lock pin still functions but there is nothing for it to end up locked in. To my understanding there is also no reason for it to end up shutting the fuel or engine off now since there was no relay or harness replaced. Not sure if you can talk them into just removing the plate. But I picked mine up after a couple hours so it can't be too hard. I also found out by the performance shop that hp tuners now have an option to just turn off the column lock but for some reason they were not able to on my 99. That should be a considered option for anyone it may work for.

 

From my reading, try cleaning the key first. The little chip in the key itself. Mine did the same, car would start but as soon as you go over like 2 mph it shuts off and I got the pull key wait 10 sec thing. Wiped the key off and it seems fine now. Ive only driven a few times since then, but no probs.

 

Well I did the turn the wheel to the left then right and insert the key and the lock disengaged. So I put the car back in the garage and I went inside and immediately ordered the CLB from COH. I will not drive or attempt to start the car until the CLB gets here and I install it. I refuse to take my car to the dealership to have anything done only to have to still install a CLB kit so I figure thats my best option, kit should be here by end of week.

Leeland

 

I have no idea if the recall was done on my 2001 vert. The only thing in my GM vehicle history report that looks like it is this:

09/21/2004 185190 0 E7501 - LOCKING PARTS, RACK/SECTOR/LOCK BOLT/ACTUATOR ROD, STEERIN 34323 miles

Is this the recall work done by the dealer? If so, should I go ahead and install the CLB I have ordered?

 

Bought the car over the weekend, went to pick it up and the column was locked and the 2 warning messages were displayed. I disabled the locking pin by grinding it down flush and then the car would not go over 2mph as suggested here per the original recall. I removed the relay and jumpered the orange and white wires at the BCM, problem solved !!

As long as the wires are jumpered does this problem re occur ?

Thanks in advance !

 

Listen guys, Chuck from Corvettes of Westchester (Chuck CoW) is been fixing this problem the right way for the longest time. Between his computer fix and Corvettes of Huston CLB device you will no longer have any problems guaranteed. The price sure beats numerous trips on the flat bed to the dealer, being stuck in the parking lot at the restaurant when trying to impress your date or worse.
This is really a very easy decision to make, besides who knows, you might get a couple a freebies thrown in the PCM that would make you smile


FireEyes

P.S. While the CLB is a good device, it will not solve the problem by itself.

 

it has on my 99 for going on 7 years

 

Hi All,

I bought a 2001 LS1 6-speed with only 20,000 miles on the clock a couple of weeks ago - my fourth Corvette. I had a 63 convertible that I bought for $1k back in 1971. I kept it up until 2005 and then gave it to my son. I also had a second 63 convertible that was purchased just for resale back in the mid 70's and a 1971 big block convertible that I built for my wife - also back in the mid 70's. Both 63's gave me plenty to do just trying to keep up with all of their electrical problems. I was amazed at how much more reliable the electrical system of the 71 was by comparison. When I saw all of the gadgetry on the C5, I marveled at how things had progressed... I thought.

When I picked up the C5, I found the turn signals had an intermittent problem. Arriving at home, I also noted that the headlight actuators weren't quite ready to stop when I was. I had owned the car for about 20 minutes and already a couple of things to occupy my spare time. I decided to do some research before getting started... which brought me to this forum. I've since learned more than I could ever have imagined about C5 problems. In the good old days, we didn't have to worry about rebooting anything but the Hurst shifter.. But I darn sure wouldn't want to go back.

So, I have now ordered a digital flasher by-pass that I hope will resolve my turn signal issues - still waiting for delivery. I bought and installed brass replacement gears for the headlight actuators - they seem to work flawlessly but probably contributed to the next problem (low battery).

Saturday morning I got the old "Pull key and wait" and the "Service Column Lock" messages on the DIC. The 2 mph fuel shut-off has taken almost all the fun out of owning a 350hp super car. Plus, it takes forever to get anywhere. I spent a good part of the weekend browsing the forum for information and shopping for fix it components. I ordered the CLB from CoH. I also made a trip to the local dealer to try to find out where I'm at with respect to recall history on the car but I got there at 12:35 and they closed shop at 12:30 so, no one could/would talk to me until Monday.

I pulled the knee kick from the dash to learn what I could and found the K harness installed. Also noted that I can hear the lock actuator working @ key-on / key-out, but the steering does not lock. So, the lock plate has been removed/replaced. I also checked under the passenger floor board for an installed relay, but don't really know what I'm looking for, or where to look. One of the Q/A on page 1 said the this relay should be removed before installing by-pass. If anyone knows, I could use a little more help locating/identifying it. I pulled all of the error codes and was surprised to find nothing current - all had the H notation indicating that they were no longer a problem and I found nothing at all on the column lock? Last, but certainly not least... Is there a way to reset the "Service Column Lock" message before I install the CLB, or am I doomed to an eternity of reseting the DIC? I assume that once the CLB is properly installed that the fuel shut-off issue will resolve on its own. If an invalid assumption, I would appreciate any advice.

I've found the forum to be a very valuable information resource. It looks like I'm going to need an awful lot of it for a while. I just hope that I can pull my weight by contributing as I learn more about this car.

Thanks to all.. $troker

Update Monday, Oct 29... Visted dealer again today. They couldn't or wouldn't tell me when the recall mod was installed or what was done. They said the last service record on the car was in Dec, 2004, but they could not tell me the reason for the visit. Advised me to tow the car in and they would test to diagnose the problem.

I pulled the harness K out of the car and plugged the ECL actuator back in again. And presto... the car was ready to go. Noted a barcode label attached to the harness dated 12/09/05. It has what appears to be a QA stamp and possibly, the inspector's initials. I assume it is the date of manufacture for the harness. If dealership wasn't BS'ing me, service history doesn't appear to be too reliable as the mod was obviously installed sometime after 12/05. CarFAX indicated a change in ownership about that time. I'm guessing a dealer installed prior to the sale.

I was tempted to button it up and go for a ride. If 25 years younger, I probably would have, but decided to wait on CLB delivery so I can install before putting things back together.

 

This weekend when about to hit the track I was changing my clutch fluid at a gas station and afterwards hopped in the car only to find a "pull key for 10 seconds" message. I did that then tried again, then I got a "service column lock" message but the wheel wasnt locked so I reset it and tried to take off, car shut off on me 2 times in a row. So I removed the key and tried again, everything was fine this time so I drove to pick someone up and came back. I shut the car off while getting some coffee and we headed out to the track, I got the the track and shut the car off and when I got back in, the message was back and the column was locked for good.. had to have it towed..

The car is a 2004 z06 and had the recall done in 2006. The wheel is currently locked but the car is at a friends shop. What are my options?

Thanks in advance.

 

So GM's non-resolution to the ECL problem ...

1.) Remove or replace the lock plate to disable the ECL, but leave the actuator active.
2.) Add a cheap relay to the ECL circuit to send a signal back to the BCM replacing that previously provided by the limit switch on the ECL acturator.
3.) Add a second relay to assure fuel shut-off just in case the disabled ECL fails to unlock the steering??

Now.. If anyone should get 'Service Column Lock' message on their DIC, there is certainly no danger of them driving with a locked column. In fact, there is no danger of the driving at all. Just advi$e them to tow the car in for complete diagno$tic$ and if at all po$$ible, charge them out the YingYang to in$tall a new actuator for the di$abled ECL.. Once the recall mod is in$talled, money meter i$ ticking $$$.

These GM guy's are pretty sharp.. They've devised a recall that assures customer safety (if not satisfaction), skirts any potential law suits due to a major design flaw and enhances GM revenues in the process... Screw-ups like this cost Ford million$.

$troker

 

I'm certainly no expert. I experienced the 'Service Column Lock' problem myself just last weekend. My car in an 01 LS1 w/6 Speed, recall mod installed and the lock plate removed so, I didnt have to deal with a locked column.

I've seen other posts where guy's sucessfully unlocked the column by bumping the wheel hard to the right while turning on the key. Others reported success by cleaning and/or tightening battery connections, charging a low battery or replacing a bad one. From what I've read, the general concensus is that a Column Lock Bypass (CLB) is the prefered solution. However, if you choose to go this route you will have to resolve the steering lock issue first. The CLB from Corvettes of Huston comes with a temporary harness that you can use to send current to the actuator to unlock the steering. If all else fails and your actuator is not completely shot, this should do the trick.

When going the CLB route, the actuator is removed from the circuit and the steering lock no longer functions - just something to consider. If you want to keep the steering lock, I think you will have to stay with the GM recall mods. Although, I've seen posts that claim the latest recall version calls for disabling the ECL on all cars as well.

The recall mod is primarily to prevent you from driving the car with a locked steering condition. In my case, the ECL had been completely disabled but I was still stranded because the GM mod calls for reprogramming to shut off fuel at 2 mph if the BCM does not get a signal from the ECL indicating the steering was successfully unlocked. I've read that some have had tuners to reprogram, eliminating the fuel shut-off. However, doing so in conjucntion with disabling the ECL all but eliminates all theft deterent systems.

There may well be other options, but this is the extent of what I've learned on the subject in the last couple of days. In any case, welcome to the 'Service Column Lock' club and best of luck with what ever option you choose.

$troker

 

So- I've had the recall done- the damn thing started flashing the "service column lock" this morning- do I have anything to worry about (2 mph max??) or is it just going to flash that light..