Service Column Lock Advice Needed
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Mundelein,il,us
Service Column Lock Advice Needed
I got the dreaded " Service Column Lock " while the car was started up in the garage last night. None of the two recalls have been done and no CLB kit has been installed. The car is in the garage and will
start. Can someone advice me as to what I should do at this point.
Any advice would be appreciated..The car is a 2002 MN6.
start. Can someone advice me as to what I should do at this point.
Any advice would be appreciated..The car is a 2002 MN6.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
But the CLB and install it. Don't let GM touch the car. If you have no recalls, the CLB should take care of it in the future. There was a thread on here, and maybe in the tech section, on how to free it up. I would just park the car until a CLB is installed.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Mundelein,il,us
Thanks for the advice vettenuts. I'll place the order for the CLB kit today. The tech at my dealership is the number 2 vette tech in Illinois.
If I had to tow it in I should be in good shape. One question for you,
once the kit is installed I should be able to start it up and go cruising,
right ?? Anything else I need to do after the kit is installed ??
If I had to tow it in I should be in good shape. One question for you,
once the kit is installed I should be able to start it up and go cruising,
right ?? Anything else I need to do after the kit is installed ??
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
That would be the last place to take it, a lot of guys who never had problems started having problems when they had the recall done. Do a quick search, there are a million complaints on the recall.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
If you have a trusted Corvette mechanic at the dealership, I would go ahead and do the recall to remove the lockplate and install the Harness K kit.
If you have a problem with the relay harness failing, at least you will have the lockplate removed so the column cannot lock, then you either install the CLB or try just reconnecting the actuator. However, if you are already getting a column lock message, I am not sure I would trust the actuator.
I have a Harness K kit installed on my 04 Z06 and have not had any problems, but I got one of the early kits with the good relays.
Your best combination might be to get rid of the lockplate, and go with the CLB instead of the GM harness.
If the column unlocks and the car starts and keeps running when you start to drive it (fuel does not shutoff), then it should be safe to drive to the dealer for the work.
If you have a problem with the relay harness failing, at least you will have the lockplate removed so the column cannot lock, then you either install the CLB or try just reconnecting the actuator. However, if you are already getting a column lock message, I am not sure I would trust the actuator.
I have a Harness K kit installed on my 04 Z06 and have not had any problems, but I got one of the early kits with the good relays.
Your best combination might be to get rid of the lockplate, and go with the CLB instead of the GM harness.
If the column unlocks and the car starts and keeps running when you start to drive it (fuel does not shutoff), then it should be safe to drive to the dealer for the work.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; May 31, 2006 at 03:43 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by midas1
Thanks for the advice vettenuts. I'll place the order for the CLB kit today. The tech at my dealership is the number 2 vette tech in Illinois.
If I had to tow it in I should be in good shape. One question for you,
once the kit is installed I should be able to start it up and go cruising,
right ?? Anything else I need to do after the kit is installed ??
If I had to tow it in I should be in good shape. One question for you,
once the kit is installed I should be able to start it up and go cruising,
right ?? Anything else I need to do after the kit is installed ??
they can not, by law, put the column lock bypass on your car, but you can...if it was that easy, GM would just make a column lock bypass and install them in every car... but they still need to address the theft deterrent.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
Your Number 2 tech would indeed lose his job and the dealership would be fined if they add a column lock bypass... It a federal violation to have dealership bypass the theft deterrent system.. it is the same as if the dealership removed the seat belts... Both are covered under federal regulations... You could turn around and sue them for removing the theft deterrent system from your car...
they can not, by law, put the column lock bypass on your car, but you can...if it was that easy, GM would just make a column lock bypass and install them in every car... but they still need to address the theft deterrent.
they can not, by law, put the column lock bypass on your car, but you can...if it was that easy, GM would just make a column lock bypass and install them in every car... but they still need to address the theft deterrent.
The current recall from GM disables the Column Lock!!!!! The CLB disables the Column Lock!!!! Either Option will basically do the same thing!!!! GM finally realized their CL is a piece of $hit.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 14,553
Likes: 1,547
From: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by vettenuts
That would be the last place to take it, a lot of guys who never had problems started having problems when they had the recall done. Do a quick search, there are a million complaints on the recall.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 14,553
Likes: 1,547
From: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by midas1
The steering wheel moves and the car starts up. Do you think it is safe to drive it to my local chevy dealership ??