Hi
I need some help, I have a 2003 vette and when I started it this morning after it had sat for three weeks it stalled twice in the drive way. I noticed the message center said to pull key and wait 10 seconds so I did that, the car ran fine the rest of the day. I bought the vette about a year ago and have had zero problems, I did a little reading in the forum about steering lock problems and was a little worried but never had a problem, the steering colume locking plate must have been taken out because the colume never locks, but I have no idea what else might have been done or not done.
My question is, is this the first sign of steering colume problems and do you think it will do it again, is there a recall on this issue, what should I do.

Thanks for your help

 

I don't think this had anything to do with the steering column issue. I think that only effects older C5's. Check the sticky on weights, measures, etc at the top of the page. It lists all common problems. My 03 does funky things every once in a while, but I clear the code if it throws one , and it's OK. I got a message about "the charging system" a few weeks ago after the car sat for about 2 weeks, but everything ran fine, and it never showed up again. Just keep an eye on things, but like I said, my does some goofy stuff every once in a while, but it's been great for me for over 2 years since I got it to replace my C4.

 

2 part problem you are dealing with.

1. The "pull key and wait 10 seconds" is displayed ONLY by itself is probably something as simple stupid as the key was not in all the way or aligned just perfectly or there was dirt on the computer chip pellet. If you remove your key and put it back in and get no message your probably good to go. NOW.....

2. If you get the dreaded "Service Column Lock" after you see the "pull key and wait 10 seconds" then you have other issues and don't think because your column won't lock up that your immune to this. You really need to research to find out what was done to your car. If you have an aftermarket CLB (colum lock bypass) unit then your probably ok. If however the fix was done by GM, your column may not lock anymore but if the "service column lock" ever displays again, your car may very well go into limp mode and cut the fuel off at any speed greater then 2mph. This totally depends on if GM did any fixes/recalls to your car.

As far as what years does the "service column lock" affect. ALL years of manual transmission cars for the C5 and all years except 04 for the automatics.

Word of warning toward battery voltages: It has been very well documented that the C5 likes a good battery and things will start acting up if the battery is starting to deteriorate. Even if your still able to start the car and everything works fine, if your battery is beginning to get old, the C5 will start having weird things act up. This is the #1 way for your car to have a "service column lock" get turned on. For some reason the BCM when seeing lower voltages is really finicky and this code/fault/message is usually one of the 1st to get thrown. Again read and search.

Only recommendation I have is to get a CLB unit and install it BEFORE you have problems with the "service column lock". Its not a case of IF this problem will happen, its a case of WHEN. The CLB unit is a really cheap fix ($50 from corvettes of dallas, vendor on here located in the tabs on the left). Under no circumstance let GM look at or do anything to your car, even if they say it is free for the first time. Its only their way to hook you in and then later charge you through the nose.

For putting a CLB in: the key is you have to install this BEFORE you have problems. Once you get this message you may not be able to easily clear it or worst, you might be stranded and need a tow.

Hope this helps.

 

You could be getting the message because the key chip sensor reader isn't reading your key resistor pellet correctly. Check out this entire post and then look at post#43:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1567771920

Some of the things people have used to eliminate this issue is:

Clean the chip and polish the contacts with an ink eraser.

Use the spare key or have a new key made.

Its an inexpensive trial but sometimes thats all it takes.

BC

 

Good information except for the bold part above. It's not only the 04 automatics that aren't affected, the 01 thru 03 automatics are not affected by the column lock issue either. Read the faq section on column lock at the top of the tech section.

 

I think it's very possible that the battery voltage was low from sitting 3 weeks. Mine did the same thing once when the battery cable came loose.

 

Extreme vette and Bill Curlee have it pretty well covered for you as you have a M6,,,,and I can vouch for the importance of getting a CLB!!! Mine had 2 recalls done . but got random 10 second warnings. Found an inexpensive source for a CLB and CAGS eliminator and bought them. In a rush I only installed the CAGS eliminator and all was well for quite a while. I figured no rush,,MY WHEEL DOESN'T LOCK and it's had 2 recalls,I'll get it later! Fortunately AFTER I had just returned from a 1,100 mile trip and was helping my son move out of his old apartment (a couple of miles from my house)when I went to restart out of nowhere PULL KEY WAIT 10 SECONDS followed by SERVICE COLUMN LOCK !! I was DEAD IN THE WATER!! Had to get a tow home and install the CLB!! DO NOT PUT ANY FAITH IN THE FACTORY RECALL FIXES!!!! They will let you down,,,not if they will,,it's WHEN they will let you down!!! Since your column does not lock ,,you HAVE had had a recall fix,,,,,,So for peace of mind ----GET A CLB!!!

 

I gather from the previous posts, you can install the CLB even after GM has done their recalls? I was not informed enough to stop the Dealership from doing the latest fix when I purchased the car last year. Do I have to "undo" anything GM has done to install the CLB?
Thanks guys for the info..........Dave

 

Yes Dave you will. The first thing is to find out exactly what they did. There were so many different variations as to what they did it can get very confusing really fast.

These are some things they might have done:

1. K harness and relay
2. Revised K harness and newer version of relay
3. Flash PCM/reprogram it to cut the fuel off
4. Column lock plate changed out
5. Column lock plate removed

These are just some of the things they might have done. They may have done 1 or more of anything in the list. So there are quite a few different combinations.

First step is to find out what was done to the car. If you do a seach for "service column lock" there are quite a few threads that have pictures and tell you how to visually check for the items in the above list.

 

Your best bet is to go to any GM service Dept. and have them run your VIN to get the GM service record and find out exactly what they did. When brought in later they usually "play catch up" on the column lock recalls. The main thing you have to do is remove the "K" harness to install the CLB. If they did the reprogram ,and you eventually get a tune you can have them raise the fuel cut off to something loke 200mph instead of 2 just in case the 10 sec message would pop up in the future!!

 

First sorry for your Vette behaving badly.
Second -- If you are still in need of a CLB -- we do have them in stock and can have one over nighted today if you desire. In the mean time --- if you need any questions answered -- we have over 160 years of VETTE repair experience in our Dealership. So, just call me and we will be happy to help.
Todd