Anyone disassembled the steering column?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,392
Likes: 218
From: Merritt Island, FL
Anyone disassembled the steering column?
I'm curious about one aspect of the column lock issue...
Clearly, there's still much debate about what the right way to deal with this problem is. Some say the CLB is the ideal, some say the CLB can damage the BCM. It seems to me that the only guaranteed way to fix the issue is to remove the lock plate and/or the actuator motor.
Is there anyone who has done this, that would be willing to describe the procedure for the benefit of others who wish to do the same?
I've been in and out of the older GM steering columns many times, for tightening wobbly tilt knuckles, and replacing multifunction switches, steering wheels, etc... so I figure it can't be that difficult with the proper tools. Most recently I did some work on the column of an '01 Z28 so I'm familiar with the airbag circuitry, assuming it was similar between the F-Body and the vette.
Anyone brave enough to post? Any GM techs here who have done the recall for the A4 cars?
Thanks!
Andrew
Clearly, there's still much debate about what the right way to deal with this problem is. Some say the CLB is the ideal, some say the CLB can damage the BCM. It seems to me that the only guaranteed way to fix the issue is to remove the lock plate and/or the actuator motor.
Is there anyone who has done this, that would be willing to describe the procedure for the benefit of others who wish to do the same?
I've been in and out of the older GM steering columns many times, for tightening wobbly tilt knuckles, and replacing multifunction switches, steering wheels, etc... so I figure it can't be that difficult with the proper tools. Most recently I did some work on the column of an '01 Z28 so I'm familiar with the airbag circuitry, assuming it was similar between the F-Body and the vette.
Anyone brave enough to post? Any GM techs here who have done the recall for the A4 cars?
Thanks!
Andrew
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
I removed the lockplate and installed the smaller plate provided as part of the GM Harness K recall kit. You need a couple of special pullers to remove the steering wheel and to compress the lockplate spring.
I also installed the Harness K wiring harness that is used in the recall for the automatics on my Z06. Everything is still working fine.
One caution:
You cannot just remove the lockplate and unplug the actuator.
If the BCM does not receive the correct signal from the actuator to tell it that the actuator is in the unlocked position, the fuel will be shutoff when you try to drive it. The relay in the Harness K harness provides the signal to the BCM to prevent fuel shutoff, and keeps the actuator in the circuit to provide the correct resistance.
I also installed the Harness K wiring harness that is used in the recall for the automatics on my Z06. Everything is still working fine.
One caution:
You cannot just remove the lockplate and unplug the actuator.
If the BCM does not receive the correct signal from the actuator to tell it that the actuator is in the unlocked position, the fuel will be shutoff when you try to drive it. The relay in the Harness K harness provides the signal to the BCM to prevent fuel shutoff, and keeps the actuator in the circuit to provide the correct resistance.
