Theory/Solution on Column Lock
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 77
From: Louisville KY
Theory/Solution on Column Lock
Just a thought, (came to me after seeing the way people park), could the column lock problem come somewhat from pressure on the steering wheel. What I mean is; 1 - front wheels not completely straight when parking and turning off ignition so that the tire tread is not putting pressure on the column to center itself, 2 - hand pressure on the steering wheel pulling down on the side of the wheel when starting or turning off the igition, 3 - moving too fast with the key in the ignition switch either going in or taking it out. If the tolerances in the device are very small then any little pressure would cause problems with the release of the locking pin.
I do have an obsession with straight wheels on parked cars. I have noticed that in any car that I get into with the wheels turned the ignition switch is many time hard to turn. I have for years always parked (not just the vette all our cars) with my wheels perfectly straight and usually run back and forth a few inches just to get everything really straight.
Since GM cann't solve our problem we need to problem solve ourselves, so this is just for garage talk and thoughts. Yes I do know about the column lock bypass fix.
I do have an obsession with straight wheels on parked cars. I have noticed that in any car that I get into with the wheels turned the ignition switch is many time hard to turn. I have for years always parked (not just the vette all our cars) with my wheels perfectly straight and usually run back and forth a few inches just to get everything really straight.
Since GM cann't solve our problem we need to problem solve ourselves, so this is just for garage talk and thoughts. Yes I do know about the column lock bypass fix.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 448
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
You aren't the first one to speculate on this, nor will you be the last..
Yes, pre-loading the locking pin is not helping matters, BUT it will not (ultimately) absolve you of experiencing a CL failure.
The only known solution (since GM never redesigned the CL motor assembly) is to do the bypass mod.
Yes, pre-loading the locking pin is not helping matters, BUT it will not (ultimately) absolve you of experiencing a CL failure.
The only known solution (since GM never redesigned the CL motor assembly) is to do the bypass mod.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Morganton, NC, USA
I had a little problem over the weekend; got the "pull key wait 10 seconds" message and "service column lock". My 2k MN6 would start, but then shut off when I backed up a little. I believe the cause of this difficulty was the downpour of rain that must have got on the resisitor pellet in the key. I've had several experiences of wet keys fouling up my prevoius C4 and my present C5. It just seems that a little water on the resistor fouls up its reading by the computer so it refuses to start as it is programmed to do. What is interesting is that there seems to be a link between an incorrect resisitor reading and the column lock programming. I've had a CLB in for 5 years and have not been back to a Chevy dealer for the saftey recall. After a couple attemps to drive and the engine shutting down, I pulled the key, wiped it a little more drier, and waited 30 seconds. Then, she started up and I drove off as normal.
It seems like my computer was originally programmed to shut off the engine if it detects a malfunction in the column lock mechanism anyhow, which is what the recall is supposed to do with a reflash. And why would a wet key allow the computer to think there was a problem with the column lock?
It seems like my computer was originally programmed to shut off the engine if it detects a malfunction in the column lock mechanism anyhow, which is what the recall is supposed to do with a reflash. And why would a wet key allow the computer to think there was a problem with the column lock?
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
Originally Posted by 2kbluestreak
IIt seems like my computer was originally programmed to shut off the engine if it detects a malfunction in the column lock mechanism anyhow, which is what the recall is supposed to do with a reflash.
Originally Posted by 2kbluestreak
And why would a wet key allow the computer to think there was a problem with the column lock?
