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Steering Column Lock FAQs - please read before you post (sticky please)
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 29,937
Likes: 22
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Cruise-In 1-2-3-4-5 Veteran
I have a 1998 MN6 car. I don't know the vehicle's previous recall history. VIN is -117518.
I have always been able to hear the ECL cycling but the column does not lock. I am able to turn it freely whether or not the key is in the cylinder and engaged.
Three weeks ago I had the car tuned on a dyno. The tuner said he "cleaned up" the programs - took out some of the emissions reporting code, removed the "torque management" - and similar (part of the tune included installing an LS6 intake manifold).
Now, every time I insert the key, I get the "Pull Key, Wait 10 Seconds" message.
If I remove the key, and re-insert it, I get the "Service Column Lock" message, which I reset and go on my merry way.
If I don't remove the key and start the car, I can still proceed on my merry way - no stalling, no noticeable effect at all on drivability - except the "Pull Key" message flashes every 5 seconds or so.
What should I do, what should I try, so I no longer get that "Pull Key" message? Back to the tuner?
I have always been able to hear the ECL cycling but the column does not lock. I am able to turn it freely whether or not the key is in the cylinder and engaged.
Three weeks ago I had the car tuned on a dyno. The tuner said he "cleaned up" the programs - took out some of the emissions reporting code, removed the "torque management" - and similar (part of the tune included installing an LS6 intake manifold).
Now, every time I insert the key, I get the "Pull Key, Wait 10 Seconds" message.
If I remove the key, and re-insert it, I get the "Service Column Lock" message, which I reset and go on my merry way.
If I don't remove the key and start the car, I can still proceed on my merry way - no stalling, no noticeable effect at all on drivability - except the "Pull Key" message flashes every 5 seconds or so.
What should I do, what should I try, so I no longer get that "Pull Key" message? Back to the tuner?
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Lawton Oklahoma
Think mine's repaired!
Have had my 2001 for almost 3 yrs. A few incidents with the column lock but recently it got bad. Ordered the CLB & installed it tonight (getting that temperature sensor back in was a bear!! smile)
Tried to email JmX to say thanks but his link didn't work so hope he sees this. Also a big thanks to 8VETTE7.
Going for the "real" test now. Drive at night in the rain and cold to see if it strands me..lol
Tried to email JmX to say thanks but his link didn't work so hope he sees this. Also a big thanks to 8VETTE7.
Going for the "real" test now. Drive at night in the rain and cold to see if it strands me..lol
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Fried K Harness??
Ran the battery low a couple of weeks ago and 99 A4 wouldn't start. Charged then battery after the no start and the dreaded Column Lock has been on since. New owner of the car (3 months) and the steering wheel turns without the key.
Did I fry the harness??
Did I fry the harness??
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Racer
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 355
Likes: 14
BCM fix
Actually this Vette belongs to a friend who lives 50 miles away. The car left him stranded and he knew it did not have the last recall done (with the relay). He had the dealer tow it in and put in the relay recall and they thought it was fixed. They went to bring out the car to him when he went in after the repairs, and they could not drive it. They then spent a lot of time, including talking to Corvette engineering. He was then captured and had to agree with the BCM replacement. I wanted him to get the car to me for the CLB, as I have one to install. But unfortunately for him, the choices were not great seeing how it would not drive. He did not consult with me before paying the bill. Since, I have never heard of a BCM failure like this, unless someone on this board has experience, I am going to advise he write to Chevrolet with a complaint. Sorry, it was always a long story.
Steve
PS. I've fixed a lot of C5's with the CLB and never had a problem. Even one with the last recall where the relay failed.
Steve
PS. I've fixed a lot of C5's with the CLB and never had a problem. Even one with the last recall where the relay failed.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
column lock with fuel shut off
ima a new member and read all the post on steering column lock . i have a 2000 automatic i have replace the bcm shortly after i got the car due to water damage i have replace the bypass and relay 3 times in the last year and a half . all gm parts the last time it went out took by pass out and hooked up direct now displaying column lock again and fuel shut off wont let car run any help would be greatly appreciated
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Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Up North MN
Column lock fix?
I found this company that has a C5 column lock solution. It looks like they are a forum vendor too as of last November. They were referred to in post #1635. There were never any responses. I searched and I haven't been able find much forum talk about them.
Any info or comments?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-products.html
complianceparts.com
I have an 04Z with 8600 miles on it that I bought last fall currently with out any troubles and I want to keep it that way. It is in winter storage now so I have the time for preventative fixes.
Any info or comments?
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-products.html
complianceparts.com
I have an 04Z with 8600 miles on it that I bought last fall currently with out any troubles and I want to keep it that way. It is in winter storage now so I have the time for preventative fixes.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,831
Likes: 21
From: The Voice of Reason!
St. Jude Donor '14
It can not completely do away with the 2mph fuel shutoff. Best it can do is help insure that the BCM gets it's completed message back when sends a lock or unlock command. If the BCM fails to get the completed signal back on an unlock it WILL commant the PCM to enable fuel shutoff. Then what ever the fuel shutoff speed has been set to in the PCM WILL determine when the fuel get shutoff. Many things can prevent the BCm from receiving back the completed signal but LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE is by far the most common cause. GM Column Lock Recall service sets the fuel shutoff speed to 2mph.
So indirectly it can minimize the chances of a fuel shutoff just as the CLB from any other source does.
So indirectly it can minimize the chances of a fuel shutoff just as the CLB from any other source does.
Thanks for your help,
Greg
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Up North MN
Right from Compliance parts website. I hope it's OK to quote them.
"The LMC5 has been designed and tested to work with system voltages below 4 volts. It has been designed and tested to reliably output the proper signals even with the battery too low to start the car, and to continue working through recharging or installation of a new battery."
"Will maintain sync with the BCM, even with the battery too low to start the car - so no fuel shut off problems caused by a low battery"
I don't know the specs of the other bypasses but solid state relays that work down to 4 volts got my attention. I don't think the GM relays are solid state as I have seen pictures of burned up ones because of the low battery voltages causing troubles. And my guess is that most mechanical relays, even good ones, won't work at such low voltages. If the BCM is triggered for fuel shut off and 2 mph by no relay signals or incorrect relay signals then you want to prevent that at all costs. (or reprogram) The above quotes sure look like this would be a slim to none possibility and even if your battery gets low or went dead all you would have to do is replace it and you would be go to go. Hopefully someone will give their part a try and report back some results.
"The LMC5 has been designed and tested to work with system voltages below 4 volts. It has been designed and tested to reliably output the proper signals even with the battery too low to start the car, and to continue working through recharging or installation of a new battery."
"Will maintain sync with the BCM, even with the battery too low to start the car - so no fuel shut off problems caused by a low battery"
I don't know the specs of the other bypasses but solid state relays that work down to 4 volts got my attention. I don't think the GM relays are solid state as I have seen pictures of burned up ones because of the low battery voltages causing troubles. And my guess is that most mechanical relays, even good ones, won't work at such low voltages. If the BCM is triggered for fuel shut off and 2 mph by no relay signals or incorrect relay signals then you want to prevent that at all costs. (or reprogram) The above quotes sure look like this would be a slim to none possibility and even if your battery gets low or went dead all you would have to do is replace it and you would be go to go. Hopefully someone will give their part a try and report back some results.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Well, yesterday I got the "pull key wait 10 sec" message. So that's what I did and everything was fine, until this morning when I had to go to work. I didnt think I would ever have this problem, but unfortunately, now I do. I have an '03 Z06 that I got in '04 and I never put a bypass on it and I am quite sure it didnt happen before I got it. The column did lock properly before this morning when it locked up solid after pulling the key and waiting ten seconds, while subsequently getting the "service steering column" message. I didnt have time to do much troubleshooting since I had to find another ride to work, but I disconnected the battery for a couple mins and jerked the steering wheel, but neither worked.
It is possible that my battery may be low since I have a underdrive pulley and mostly just make short trips that probably do not give much of a charge. I threw a charger on it so hopefully when I get home from work it will be fine.
My question is, has anyone found a fix to this without bypassing the locking mech? I live in Georgia, and it's full of thieves. I live in a good neighborhood and someone still tried to steal my truck the other day. I really dont want someone to be able to just hop in my vette and pull it down the road.
It is possible that my battery may be low since I have a underdrive pulley and mostly just make short trips that probably do not give much of a charge. I threw a charger on it so hopefully when I get home from work it will be fine.
My question is, has anyone found a fix to this without bypassing the locking mech? I live in Georgia, and it's full of thieves. I live in a good neighborhood and someone still tried to steal my truck the other day. I really dont want someone to be able to just hop in my vette and pull it down the road.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Thanks again for the info.
I got a chance to run home and check it after being on the charger all day. It still had the problem but I did a lot of reading I recall a buddy of mine having the same problem with his '97. He would just hold the steering wheel tight to the right and it would unlock.
So, I tried it out and luckfully it finally unlocked. I put the key in, turned it and took it back out a few times to see if it would still work and it did.
Could this just be a fluke? Maybe it will be fine now or maybe this will just happen from time to time? One thing I do know, as long as I can keep getting it to unlock with this method, Im not gonna bypass the lock. I can just picture a my vette being pulled down the road by someone from the ghetto with their Crown Vic on 32" wheels and a 8"inch lift.
I got a chance to run home and check it after being on the charger all day. It still had the problem but I did a lot of reading I recall a buddy of mine having the same problem with his '97. He would just hold the steering wheel tight to the right and it would unlock.
So, I tried it out and luckfully it finally unlocked. I put the key in, turned it and took it back out a few times to see if it would still work and it did.
Could this just be a fluke? Maybe it will be fine now or maybe this will just happen from time to time? One thing I do know, as long as I can keep getting it to unlock with this method, Im not gonna bypass the lock. I can just picture a my vette being pulled down the road by someone from the ghetto with their Crown Vic on 32" wheels and a 8"inch lift.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,831
Likes: 21
From: The Voice of Reason!
St. Jude Donor '14
If a person had a clb and the cigarette lighter attachment to unlock the column lock, can this be done AFTER you have gotten the dreaded column lock message and 2mph fuel shutoff has kicked in? Seems to me it would work if there wasn't some setting, like the 2 mph fuel shutoff, that was left in the bcm.
I'm not having a problem with my car at this time. I like the idea of the wheel locking for anti-theft purposes. But, I don't want to be on a trip somewhere and have it lock up and have to have it towed and be at someone else's mercy to get it unlocked and back on the road.
Also, I know the problem is often caused by a low battery. If that is in fact the cause and you buy a new battery and install it, does it take care of the problem or are there other things that have to be done to "clear out the mess" the low battery caused?
I read quite a few pages and didn't find these answers before posting my questions.
I'm not having a problem with my car at this time. I like the idea of the wheel locking for anti-theft purposes. But, I don't want to be on a trip somewhere and have it lock up and have to have it towed and be at someone else's mercy to get it unlocked and back on the road.
Also, I know the problem is often caused by a low battery. If that is in fact the cause and you buy a new battery and install it, does it take care of the problem or are there other things that have to be done to "clear out the mess" the low battery caused?
I read quite a few pages and didn't find these answers before posting my questions.
Last edited by Suthunman; Jan 22, 2012 at 02:27 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,831
Likes: 21
From: The Voice of Reason!
St. Jude Donor '14
See above in BLUE and yes, all those questions have been answered not just once but many times if you go back and read this thread carefully. I know the thread is getting hugely long but that is because people insist on asking questions in THIS thread and not opening a new thread of their own with the questions they have. This Column Lock problem has been going on since 1997 and there are THOUSANDS of people that have experienced it, so it's not likely that a new "original question" about the column lock is going to be asked. Just one you want answered and that is fine.
No personal offense but people need to spend the time carefully reading this and the hundreds of other threads about the Column Lock problem, and save this thread from getting any longer by opening your own thread when you have questions.
Good luck with you solution.
No personal offense but people need to spend the time carefully reading this and the hundreds of other threads about the Column Lock problem, and save this thread from getting any longer by opening your own thread when you have questions.
Good luck with you solution.
While there is a world of information about the column lock problems on this forum there is another world of misinformation. I have googled and read articles from magazines that are conflicting in their information. I blame GM for a lot of this with the way they handled the recalls and doing different things to different cars at different times.
For someone that is knowledgable about these issues it's easy for you to know fact from fiction when you read it. For those of us that didn't know what a clb was 2 months ago it's very confusing to read one thing a post and then have it rebutted on the next page or a different post. I'm just trying to figure out what would be best for me and my situation. I still have a couple of unanswered questions but I'm going to ask the manufacture of one of the clb devices and see if they have an answer. If they don't, I will post my question on a new thread.
I do appreciate your time and effort answering my questions.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,809
Likes: 10
From: ST LOUIS MO
I have an 04 Z and am getting the service column lock message on the DIC, but I can still drive the car. I've been DD'ing it with this message for the last month. Does this mean I've got a CLB installed?