Column Lock- HELP NEEDED
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 831
Likes: 2
From: Silver Spring, MD
Column Lock- HELP NEEDED
Developed the dreaded column lock when I started have "charging system fault" problem. i have read a ton of the info found here including the sticky which was very useful.
Now that i got the electrical problem resolved, the dealership says the lock motor is shot (vs. the ECL). Beofre taking it to them i changed out the connector to the alternator from the harness, the alternator, and three batteries. the drain would kill the battery is less than two days. i was able to "unlock" to steering wheel by using the method found here (pulling the #25) while i was still searching for the drain (which turned out to be connnector from the wire harness to the alternator) but now the steering column is locked again.
They said the part is around $200 plus 3 hrs labor, all said about $500+.
any ideas as to what is going on ? or should i have this part replaced?
Thx,
Now that i got the electrical problem resolved, the dealership says the lock motor is shot (vs. the ECL). Beofre taking it to them i changed out the connector to the alternator from the harness, the alternator, and three batteries. the drain would kill the battery is less than two days. i was able to "unlock" to steering wheel by using the method found here (pulling the #25) while i was still searching for the drain (which turned out to be connnector from the wire harness to the alternator) but now the steering column is locked again.
They said the part is around $200 plus 3 hrs labor, all said about $500+.
any ideas as to what is going on ? or should i have this part replaced?
Thx,
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 417
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
I don't know if it will help if the motor is possibly already bad, but mine started acting up and I installed the bypass kit that's $50 from Corvettes of Houston. You can order it online and call them as well to see if this kit will help your situation. I think there may be other kits available for a comparable price, too but Corvettes of Houston is a great source of knowledge. Hope this helps!!!!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 417
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 417
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
If the column is locked right now, have you tried, taking the key out violently shaking the wheel, turning the key back on while shaking the wheel? I've had to do this MULTIPLE times before it would unlock, but it unlocked eventually every time.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,450
Likes: 1,155
From: Dyer, IN
You really have to be careful who you take advice from on this forum. 8VETTE7 is one of the good sources, follow his directions with confidence.
