column lock question?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: gainesville florida
column lock question?
Good evening,
I just had to call a taxi to pick me up from dinner as my column is now locked.
I have read all the threads here but still have a question.
I have a 02' m6 with 30k and never had a problem till tonight.
I do have heads and cam with RWTD program on my predator,( so I can replace the tune)
Do I order the kit from Corvette of Houston, or take my car to the dealer to have the plate removed as per the directive of 06? Will they reject my claim because of the program?
Any advice is welcome.
Thanks,
Jw
I just had to call a taxi to pick me up from dinner as my column is now locked.
I have read all the threads here but still have a question.
I have a 02' m6 with 30k and never had a problem till tonight.
I do have heads and cam with RWTD program on my predator,( so I can replace the tune)
Do I order the kit from Corvette of Houston, or take my car to the dealer to have the plate removed as per the directive of 06? Will they reject my claim because of the program?
Any advice is welcome.
Thanks,
Jw
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 21,766
Likes: 25
From: The artist formally known as NONO5.0 Mobile, Al
I'm not sure what ya mean by removing the plate...but if your column is locked, then the bypass won't work. You have to get the column unlocked again. Some have gotten it unlocked by pulling hard on the steering wheel with the key in the on position. Once you get it unlocked, you can then install the bypass. I think all the dealer will do is program the PCM to shut off the fuel 
but I'm not 100% sure on that. But definitely try to get it unlocked first...that will save you a ton of money. 
Good luck 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: gainesville florida
The second sticky from the top has a letter from GM, dated feb. 06, instructing dealers to "remove column lock plate", where as they were just reprograming before.
I saw a kit from Corvette od Houston the had a devise that was sopose to unlock, then a module to prevent, but removing the plate makes more sense to me.
Thanks for your input,
Jw
I saw a kit from Corvette od Houston the had a devise that was sopose to unlock, then a module to prevent, but removing the plate makes more sense to me.
Thanks for your input,
Jw
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 21,766
Likes: 25
From: The artist formally known as NONO5.0 Mobile, Al
The second sticky from the top has a letter from GM, dated feb. 06, instructing dealers to "remove column lock plate", where as they were just reprograming before.
I saw a kit from Corvette od Houston the had a devise that was sopose to unlock, then a module to prevent, but removing the plate makes more sense to me.
Thanks for your input,
Jw
I saw a kit from Corvette od Houston the had a devise that was sopose to unlock, then a module to prevent, but removing the plate makes more sense to me.
Thanks for your input,
Jw
I'd try that first because the dealer is gonna charge ya pretty good to pull out the plate.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: gainesville florida
Thanks for your replys,
According to that letter in the sticky, the dealer is suppose to remove the plate at NO charge.
Now, getting that done at no charge maybe more of a problem than the problem itself..........
Still not sure how to "unlock " the thing.
Thanks again,
Jw
According to that letter in the sticky, the dealer is suppose to remove the plate at NO charge.
Now, getting that done at no charge maybe more of a problem than the problem itself..........
Still not sure how to "unlock " the thing.
Thanks again,
Jw
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,003
Likes: 248
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I just fix mine tonight. I have a thread a couple below yours.
It locked twice and I was able to get it unlock. My CLB arrived and I just got done installing it. The steering wheel did not lock this time when I turned the key on and went through the installation procedures.
It took a little more than a half hour to install. I got mine from thunder racing. I didnt know COH had them, and they are a little cheaper.
The two times it locked, I was able to get it to unlock by jerking the steering wheel in both directions a couple times and pulled the key out for ten seconds.
Good luck to you
It locked twice and I was able to get it unlock. My CLB arrived and I just got done installing it. The steering wheel did not lock this time when I turned the key on and went through the installation procedures.
It took a little more than a half hour to install. I got mine from thunder racing. I didnt know COH had them, and they are a little cheaper.
The two times it locked, I was able to get it to unlock by jerking the steering wheel in both directions a couple times and pulled the key out for ten seconds.
Good luck to you
Last edited by phils C5 vette; Sep 9, 2007 at 06:20 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 966
Likes: 9
From: Phoenix AZ
I got mine to unlock by removing the steering column shroud to expose the lock mechanism and banging on it with a ratchet (all I had at the time). Once it unlocked, I disconnected it so it could never lock again. 
Never had any recalls done, so I could drive it in this condition until I got around to installing the CLB. Picked up one from Adaptive Performance for $35, installed, and now I'm golden.
Never had any recalls done, so I could drive it in this condition until I got around to installing the CLB. Picked up one from Adaptive Performance for $35, installed, and now I'm golden.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,050
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
I think when the take out the locking plate you can still get the issue of the fuel cut off happening. If you can shake the wheel loose then get the CLB (I just got mine from COH) and put that in. It should take 20-30 minutes and all done. Never have to worry about it again. The recal that GM does uses something similar to the CLB but it apparently doesn't work well and has had issues where it fails. There are many posts on here in great detail about all that.
- Try the shaking method.
- Get a CLB if shaking works.
- Drive without worrying about it again.
- Try the shaking method.
- Get a CLB if shaking works.
- Drive without worrying about it again.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: gainesville florida
Thanks for all the input and the stickys as well.
Is this forum great or what?
I pulled trhe fuse for 5 minutes and put the key in on the "ON" position and cranked like H-ll and it unlocked, so it's now safely at home.
I guess I will be call COH in the am.
Jw
Is this forum great or what?
I pulled trhe fuse for 5 minutes and put the key in on the "ON" position and cranked like H-ll and it unlocked, so it's now safely at home.
I guess I will be call COH in the am.
Jw
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 21,766
Likes: 25
From: The artist formally known as NONO5.0 Mobile, Al
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 794
From: Longview Texas
You might still want to have the dealer remove the lockplate so the column cannot lock again. Then you can decide if you want to use the GM harness k relay kit or install an aftermarket kit.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: New York
My steering column locking plate was removed by GM in June/07 and I just received the service steering column lock again, I could not get the fuel cut off to reset while installing a CLB. Flatbed to chevy & I'm waiting repair status?
Rich
Rich
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 794
From: Longview Texas
The service column lock message came up, and you tried to fix it by installing an aftermarket CLB???
Did you try removing the Harness K and reconnecting the actuator?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 5
From: Holly, Michigan
I just got mine back form the dealer on Friday. A couple of weeks ago my column locked up. I called the dealer and they came and extricated it from my garage (for free!) and took it ot the dealer. They removed the lock plate after programming the fuel cut. When I came to pick it up, I noticed that they were pushing it into the service bay...Apparently, the ECU thought it was locked (not possible as there was no longer a lock plate) and so it was cutting fuel. I left it there, came back the next day, picked it up and had the same problem that evening. I took it back they fixed it again, and have had no problems since...It took a few tries, but I'm satisfied with the solution...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 103
From: Des Moines Iowa
I just got mine back form the dealer on Friday. A couple of weeks ago my column locked up. I called the dealer and they came and extricated it from my garage (for free!) and took it ot the dealer. They removed the lock plate after programming the fuel cut. When I came to pick it up, I noticed that they were pushing it into the service bay...Apparently, the ECU thought it was locked (not possible as there was no longer a lock plate) and so it was cutting fuel. I left it there, came back the next day, picked it up and had the same problem that evening. I took it back they fixed it again, and have had no problems since...It took a few tries, but I'm satisfied with the solution...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 1
From: Tigertown Ohio
If you are like the vast majority of forum members, you won't be satisfied for long...........eventually the harness K will fail, and you'll not be able to move the car, it will start, and then die as soon as you exceed 1 or 2 mph. Suggest you purchase and install a CLB unit and be done with this problem waiting to occur, once and for all.
the k harness is junk and GM tech knows it!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 5
From: Holly, Michigan
I bought a CLB form CoH, but the dealers removed the column lock (ie. the steering wheel turns fine with the key out). Is the CLB still installable? If so, I have no problem with putting it in...