Had the column lock recall performed in March. On Monday, 12 miles from home I get the service column lock code.

After a trip on a rollback to the dealership I was told it may take a day or two to get to the car. They have one Corvette specialist on hand and he had 3 before me that I saw. Fortunately the mechanic squeezed me in and found the harness relay that was replaced during the recall was faulty.
As other threads have mentioned there apparently was a bad batch produced.

The Chevrolet nightmare never really ends.
Thanks to Herb at Koons Chevrolet in Whitemarsh, MD.
I'm not thrilled with the service department in general but at least the Corvette guy Herb seems pretty good. He takes the time to talk with the customer and makes you comfortable with his knowledge of Vettes.

 

Wouldnt surprise me the recall failed. You're close by I'm near bel air. Koons Chevy thats the one next to Car Max? Anyway, order the CLB and be done with it. Thats what I did.

 

Once again, the factory recall "fix" doesn't guarantee that your column won't lock up again. Get the CLB, and you'll never have to worry about column lock again. Guaranteed!

 

column lock bypass!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

CLB
30 minute install includes 15 minute beer break

 

Mines been to the dealer 3 times! Its still not fixed. I'm a BIG "GM guy", but they really dissapointed me this time. I give up and now am going to install the column lock bypass.

 

Isn't the CLB for manual trans only??

 

That's the one. Who do you use?

 

No.

 

NOBODY. I use my garage and jackstands. I've owned my car for 2.5 years and never once has it so much seen a dealer. Although I heard Bob Bell in Bel Air also has a vette technician.

 

At least you were close to home. Once you get the car back, get a column lock bypass and not worry about the issue again.

 

What ???????

My fathers, cousins, former roomate (who is an engineer) said the CLB is a waste of time once the factory recall was performed...

 

I have a friend that 1999 C5 (6 speed) had the Recall performed 3 times. The column locked again this past week, so this is the 4th time. The dealer found that the Column lock solenoid went bad and was not covered under the warranty/recall. So $420 later and 2 days @ the dealership (had to order the part) he got is Vette back. That sucks...
He order the CLB the next day, so did I.

 

Why do statements like this keep coming up. Now pay attention....the recall for 6 speeds is only a reprogram so the fuel pump shuts off if a lock is detected while the car is moving (which is impossible anyway). The recall for 6 speeds does not address the problem of the column locking up! GM has not come up with a fix (or intends to). The recall for automatics basically blocks the column locking pin with a plate so the column doesn't lock up.

By Federal law GM cannot remove or block off the column lock in 6 speeds. The auto's have a shifter lock, so they can remove the column lock or block it.

 

I'll never understand why people fight the idea of installing a CLB. I wouldn't take my Vette to a GM dealer if they did the work for free. I certainly wouldn't pay them to screw my car up! I wouldn't take my Lincoln to Fords either, or my wifes Dodge Durango to the Dodge dealer. I've been around way too long to trust those bunch of clowns!

 

Calm down guys. I think Mr. Mercury was being facetious. – C.

 

Shylor,
You're close here, but not quite correct. The recall for 6-speeds involves up to four procedures. The first is to determine if the column lock relay has been replaced under the previous recall/campaign. I believe this effects only pre-2001 cars but can't remember. If not, the relay is replaced with the new one.

The the technician then actvates the column lock, usually by attaching a battery charger to acquire the proper voltage. He/she listens for any sound of binding of the locking bolt into it's mating socket. If binding occurs, the locking pin is replaced. This is done because some earlier bolts were found to be oversize or out of round. This is GM's attempt at prevention but not a very good one.

Lastly, the PCM is flashed to prevent the car from being driven when locked. Yes, there have been reported cases where this has happened, and is actually what triggered this recall in the first place.

Although I can't say for sure, I would argue that no Federal Law exists preventing GM from removing the column lock in 6-speed? GM made the decision to leave it in place as a security device, but remove it in automatics which, as you point out, lock in park. The point here is the Feds don't get involved unless it's a safety related issue, and this one is only a security issue.

I'm not attacking you, honest, just going through the recall process.

 

Actually no, there has not been one proven case were the column locked up on the car while it was moving. Many claim this happened and GM is only acting out of media pressure. If it were true I think GM would actually fix the column locking issue once and for all. Because this would be a major loss in court for them if it were true and they didn't fix it right.

 

Below is an owners report of a lock-up while driving 40MPH. The end of the story is that GM bought the car back for full price, and did so within two weeks of the occurance.

Hello Everyone,
> Well it finally happened! I was driving back
> from
> a long road trip with
> my '99 Torch Red Cpe/6M when the warning came on
> "service steering column
> lock" then the steering wheel locked up at over
> 40mph!
> I immediately dumped the clutch and drifted to
> the
> side of the road
> afterward pulling the #25 fuse to see what would
> happen. I heard a clicking
> sound then replaced the fuse and everything went
> back
> to normal. I could
> steer again and the column locked properly when I
> shut
> it down again.

From: Stephen C. Meli" <HotVette2Sm@AOL.COM

 

Anyone can post anything, doesn't mean it's true. Sorry but until GM says it can happen, I'm not on board believing it. Again, it must be proved it can happen. I tell you what if it happened to me, I wouldn't be satisfied with GM just buying my car back. I'd be in court!

I just checked again about the 6 speed recall. It's only a reprogram with a function check of the column lock. So if the column lock fails the function check, then more is done to the car.