Some CLB Questions, any help appreciated
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
Some CLB Questions, any help appreciated
I know there's lots of threads on this, tons. Too much to sift through to see if my situation is typical, since I don't know the car.
I bought a 98 6 spd, two weeks ago. Have a pile of reciepts. I see work has been done in the past (twice) on the column lock, but can't make out if it was a GM fix or what (it was at a dealer).
The steering wheel NEVER locks. I do hear the steering lock motor when shutting off the car.
Once in 2 weeks the screen said 'Column lock...issue or?", then never again.
Today, I jacked up the front end to do an oil change; then remounted the battery (was loose). Got in and backed up and car shut off. Restarted and backed up and shut off again.
Then I got a message that said "pull key and wait 10 seconds". I did, car started and then no issue.
Is this a CLB issue? Do I need to do the Non-GM fix?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
I bought a 98 6 spd, two weeks ago. Have a pile of reciepts. I see work has been done in the past (twice) on the column lock, but can't make out if it was a GM fix or what (it was at a dealer).
The steering wheel NEVER locks. I do hear the steering lock motor when shutting off the car.
Once in 2 weeks the screen said 'Column lock...issue or?", then never again.
Today, I jacked up the front end to do an oil change; then remounted the battery (was loose). Got in and backed up and car shut off. Restarted and backed up and shut off again.
Then I got a message that said "pull key and wait 10 seconds". I did, car started and then no issue.
Is this a CLB issue? Do I need to do the Non-GM fix?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
If you still hear the column lock motor but your steering wheel does not lock, it probably means that the lock pin has been removed. However, even though your column does not lock you still will be stranded if the motor fails to initialize. The only way to fix the problem once and for all is with a CLB. But, you should read the column lock sticky. I'm not sure but there may be issues with using a CLB on a 98.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
I know there's lots of threads on this, tons. Too much to sift through to see if my situation is typical, since I don't know the car.
I bought a 98 6 spd, two weeks ago. Have a pile of reciepts. I see work has been done in the past (twice) on the column lock, but can't make out if it was a GM fix or what (it was at a dealer).
The steering wheel NEVER locks. I do hear the steering lock motor when shutting off the car.
Once in 2 weeks the screen said 'Column lock...issue or?", then never again.
Today, I jacked up the front end to do an oil change; then remounted the battery (was loose). Got in and backed up and car shut off. Restarted and backed up and shut off again.
Then I got a message that said "pull key and wait 10 seconds". I did, car started and then no issue.
Is this a CLB issue? Do I need to do the Non-GM fix?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
I bought a 98 6 spd, two weeks ago. Have a pile of reciepts. I see work has been done in the past (twice) on the column lock, but can't make out if it was a GM fix or what (it was at a dealer).
The steering wheel NEVER locks. I do hear the steering lock motor when shutting off the car.
Once in 2 weeks the screen said 'Column lock...issue or?", then never again.
Today, I jacked up the front end to do an oil change; then remounted the battery (was loose). Got in and backed up and car shut off. Restarted and backed up and shut off again.
Then I got a message that said "pull key and wait 10 seconds". I did, car started and then no issue.
Is this a CLB issue? Do I need to do the Non-GM fix?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
GM issued 3 recalls due to column lock issues. After not being able to get it right twice, GM issued a 3rd recall a few years back where the fix was to remove the column locking plate so that the steering wheel could never lock.
Given what you said, I am guessing your car was fixed under this recall.
Hope that helps a little.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
^^The CLB issue is kind of complicated. At least to me.
GM issued 3 recalls due to column lock issues. After not being able to get it right twice, GM issued a 3rd recall a few years back where the fix was to remove the column locking plate so that the steering wheel could never lock.
Given what you said, I am guessing your car was fixed under this recall.
Hope that helps a little.
GM issued 3 recalls due to column lock issues. After not being able to get it right twice, GM issued a 3rd recall a few years back where the fix was to remove the column locking plate so that the steering wheel could never lock.
Given what you said, I am guessing your car was fixed under this recall.
Hope that helps a little.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Sounds like the lockplate has been removed and the GM Harness K relay has been installed. The GM harness keeps the column lock actuator in the circuit, so you can hear it cycle even though the column cannot physically lock.
If you had the battery disconnected, then the problem may have just been to re-synchronize the column lock actuator circuit with the BCM.
If the relay has failed, the BCM will not received the correct signal and the fuel will be cut off when you drive the car over 2-3 miles per hour.
You need to either get an aftermarket relay (CLB) or install another GM Harness K relay.
You need a working relay to make the system work.
If you had the battery disconnected, then the problem may have just been to re-synchronize the column lock actuator circuit with the BCM.
If the relay has failed, the BCM will not received the correct signal and the fuel will be cut off when you drive the car over 2-3 miles per hour.
You need to either get an aftermarket relay (CLB) or install another GM Harness K relay.
You need a working relay to make the system work.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Mar 5, 2010 at 08:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
Sounds like the lockplate has been removed and the GM Harness K relay has been installed. The GM harness keeps the column lock actuator in the circuit, so you can hear it cycle even though the column cannot physically lock.
If you had the battery disconnected, then the problem may have just been to re-synchronize the column lock actuator circuit with the BCM.
If the relay has failed, the BCM will not received the correct signal and the fuel will be cut off when you drive the car over 2-3 miles per hour.
You need to either get an aftermarket relay (CLB) or install another GM Harness K relay.
You need a working relay to make the system work.
If you had the battery disconnected, then the problem may have just been to re-synchronize the column lock actuator circuit with the BCM.
If the relay has failed, the BCM will not received the correct signal and the fuel will be cut off when you drive the car over 2-3 miles per hour.
You need to either get an aftermarket relay (CLB) or install another GM Harness K relay.
You need a working relay to make the system work.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
there's 1100+ posts in there, going back and forth regarding automatics vs. 6 spds, pre 2000 vs post 2001 etc. It gets confusing. There are posts there telling you to do the CLB before the GM fix, but appears I've had some GM fixes. So, I'm trying to get a step by step giving the info I have.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
If the problem is a failed Harness K relay, then the aftermarket CLB relay should fix the problem. It leaves the column lock actuator disconnected, so you will not hear the actuator cycle anymore when you turn the key, but the BCM should get the right signal and keep the fuel from being cut.
If you have the panel off below the steering column, one way to determine if the relay has failed is to disconnect the harness k relay, and reconnect the column lock actuator back to stock position. If your actuator still works, this should get you where you can drive the car because the actuator will send the correct signal back to the BCM.
When you get the CLB, you disconnect the actuator, and connect the CLB in its place. Be sure you completely remove the Harness K relay harness, and connect the CLB to the main wiring harness and not to the Harness K connector.
If you have the panel off below the steering column, one way to determine if the relay has failed is to disconnect the harness k relay, and reconnect the column lock actuator back to stock position. If your actuator still works, this should get you where you can drive the car because the actuator will send the correct signal back to the BCM.
When you get the CLB, you disconnect the actuator, and connect the CLB in its place. Be sure you completely remove the Harness K relay harness, and connect the CLB to the main wiring harness and not to the Harness K connector.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Mar 6, 2010 at 10:32 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
there's 1100+ posts in there, going back and forth regarding automatics vs. 6 spds, pre 2000 vs post 2001 etc. It gets confusing. There are posts there telling you to do the CLB before the GM fix, but appears I've had some GM fixes. So, I'm trying to get a step by step giving the info I have.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 15
From: OC Calif
St. Jude Donor '10
If the problem is a failed Harness K relay, then the aftermarket CLB relay should fix the problem. It leaves the column lock actuator disconnected, so you will not hear the actuator cycle anymore when you turn the key, but the BCM should get the right signal and keep the fuel from being cut.
If you have the panel off below the steering column, one way to determine if the relay has failed is to disconnect the harness k relay, and reconnect the column lock actuator back to stock position. If your actuator still works, this should get you where you can drive the car because the actuator will send the correct signal back to the BCM.
When you get the CLB, you disconnect the actuator, and connect the CLB in its place. Be sure you completely remove the Harness K relay harness, and connect the CLB to the main wiring harness and not to the Harness K connector.
If you have the panel off below the steering column, one way to determine if the relay has failed is to disconnect the harness k relay, and reconnect the column lock actuator back to stock position. If your actuator still works, this should get you where you can drive the car because the actuator will send the correct signal back to the BCM.
When you get the CLB, you disconnect the actuator, and connect the CLB in its place. Be sure you completely remove the Harness K relay harness, and connect the CLB to the main wiring harness and not to the Harness K connector.
