This scared the hell out of me yesterday! I'm going down a long stretch that seemed pretty straight to me on any normal day, but the wheel locked and I kept going to the right! Its a 2 lane road and I was in the fast lane. No one near me thankfully! I've driven cars and had the steering pump crap out, or the belt throw, etc in the past so it was an adrenaline scare but I rode it over and stopped just on the grass to the side. poopie my pants! Once I rode out the nerves of almsot being tossed into the woods and checking under the hood - everything was in place. Started the car, "pull key, then wait 10 sec". Column lock! I did what it said. Didn't work the fist time. Didn't work the second time. I got pissed at the car and threw my adrenaline-pumped weight into the wheel to both sides and it came free. I limped it home with no incident, but going 20 in a 55. Park the car at home thinking its ok and that I'll be calling GM about this one.

What else could possibly go wrong with my car, right? Not just Column Lock. I thought if I let the car sit or disconnected the battery it would work like before. No dice. Tried forcing the wheel again, no luck. She is stuck. And where the car is now it cannot be towed or even moved in any way I can think of that would not cause damage.

I backed off from the Lemon Law last month on other issues because I found out that I would be looking at about $12k to get into another car give or take. I figured that for 12k I could fix most any problem on this car and go from there. But this is just unsafe now because I know the column lock can happen while driving! And it seems (from what I've read here) like once it happens it can never be fully fixed, that it comes back.

So tomorrow (after I see Star Wars at 10am) I am going to call in a BIG favor from a friend and see what he can do with the Regional GM Rep. Concurrently I will be filing the state lemon law. This one's going to the top. I don't care if I do have to take another loan, this C5 is GONE. I'm glad I didn't order those tires yet - thanks to the guys that helped me with that topic.

I get the feeling that GM will be buying this one back...
:mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad :mad

:U :chevy


[Modified by Brett C5 SCCA, 6:51 AM 5/16/2002]

 

Whenever you tried forcing the wheel, were you turning the igition on and off at the same time? This worked for me......Just a suggestion if you were not.
Good Luck :cheers:

 

When I got it last night I had both hands firmly on either side and was cranking it one way then the next. Like any good chevy with a problematic part it only took a little force and some fury for it to work. I had the key engaged at the time.

The same tactic did not work today. I also wasn't trying as hard! I went to get in and go to the dealer but it was jammed. The locals know I'm pissed. I'm hoping the Regional will hear by tomorrow when I contact him. They are going to have to do a LOT of sweet talking on thing one.

Also, I noticed that I hit something when I went 4x4 last night. Not too bad, but the underside of the nose has a set of digs down to the primer and corresponding scratches. There was a scratch on the rail down there before, but not on the nose itself. I have tomorrow off though, so GM is going to get to know me. I already have tickets for SW so I will do that first since I promised Karen, then off to war.

 

I would first suggest visiting http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ and filing a complaint. This is a BIG DEAL!

 

Pat, I never even thought to contact the NHTSA. You are right! I will be driving down shortly to see a friend and discuss what GM will want to do and possible advice on steps for me to take with them. Right now I am more interested in getting my car replaced and not having to go into more debt over it than anything else. This will be a full frontal assault on GM over the column-lock.

 

Great... so the car can't be towed from where it is. I'm not about to be the one responsible for jacking it and trying to turn it so this one so GM Roadside is going to have to pay one of the locacl wrecking crew to give it a shot. Last thing I need is for the car to fall off the jack and pop the pan or something right?

A friend of mine is a cop in Hartford here and he suggested that I speak to an attorney and look into the possibility of a criminal negligence case. That seems to make some sense. Several other people have suggested suing GM over the series of problems with my car which include this latest incident. I'll probably sit down with someone next week about it. In the mean time, I have GM processing my 2nd Buy Back claim. I told them straight out that the car risking my safety is unacceptable and that the coupe is leaving the stable. Just letting them know that I'm going with BBB, Lemon Law, NHTSA, etc. Whatever it takes this time around. I'm not holding my breath though, so I'm gearing up for taking another loan out. Maybe I'll luck out.

 

Brett,

I had my column lock up last summer in the back woods of Vermont. GM sent the local flatbed tow company who did a great job of getting it on the bed and to the dealer. After a weekend of angst, the dealer "stole" a SCL fix off of their salesman's 99 and we were on our way. No problems since. Get the dealer to install the fix and forget about it. You are lucky you didn't hit or get hit by someone else. You can probably get the dealer to fix the scratch also.

Just my thought for the day.

 

This is scary as hell. I've never heard of the column locking while you're driving. This is obviously a MAJOR design flaw with massive safety ramifications. Definitely make a LOT of noise about this.

 

I've been there too. GM will try and tell u that it won't lock while the car is in motion but that's bull. Happened to my wife last summer and the Chevy rep said it couldn't happen. It's a shame that they know this crap happens and still they use the ostrich theory. This is indeed my third and final Vette.

 

Did you previously have the "GM Fix" for the colum lock done by a dealer?? If so, that is the serious flaw I have identified with the "GM Fix".

 

Well, they can't very well tell me it won't happen since it already did...

I won't know what their response will be until Thursday afternoon. The car is still in my driveway awaiting a tow "crew" to come get it. The dealer, via Gm and the warranty, is paying for the guys to come out, jack the car and get it out of my driveway. I took ALL of my stuff out of it except electronics since I don't think I'll be seeing it again soon. Going to play hardball and either have the dealer keep it in the garage once it is "fixed" or pay to have it flatbedded home. I flat-out refuse to drive it now. :nono:

Paul, you're lucky you didn't end up in a ditch. In another 10 feet I would have. We are BOTH lucky that this problem did not take us or someone else with it. Nevermind the history of my car, I just can't be so nonchalant about this happening while the car is in motion. Would you be more worried if the car had a tendency to have the e-brake lock-up while the car is in motion on corners? This is essentially the same thing and just as deadly!

I have to admit though, that I used to have the same approach to the car that you do. If it can be fixed, why not? And don't worry about it. But it just KEEPS happeneing to my car. If it was just mechanical or something minor - no problem. But this is a **DIRECT** threat to my safety and that of my girlfriend or family that rides with me and anyone near the car on the highway. :mad

No I have never had the "GM fix." It did lock up after I first bought the car but the DIC warning never flashed and it came undone once I started the car again. This essentially came out of the blue. :eek:

 

I agree. I went through this a couple of weeks ago. GM roadside assistance arranged for the tow and the dealer installed the fix. Everything was covered under the GM earranty.

 

I had it happen to me. Got it unlocked by manhandling the wheel. Drove to Dealership carefully. They did the fix. Several days later it lock again. Took it back to dealer. I, after doing research on this pblm told them what to do. To be sure it won't happen again they have to remove the pin that does the locking and that is what they did. I still can hear the motor driving but no lock. I feel safe now. But... I am with you on GM products. It's not so much their products but their service and backing up the product. This is my third Vette and I think it's my last GM product. Hope this helps. Tom.

 

this is a steering information note within GM:

#A001328A ALLEGED STEERING COLUMN LOCK ENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING - ACTUATOR CONNECTOR ENGAGE INFORMATION WHEEL A001328A SUPERSEDES A001328

they seem to be aware...

 

My column lock was "fixed" by recall in 01. My dealer of choice at the time must have known of on going probs..they removed the pin also. Still get motor sounds too. Haven't told my insurance company yet, I gotta wonder if GM or the dealer could be held responsible if the car is stolen??

Good luck!

 

This column lock problem is absurdly unsafe, I never heard of such a thing. Does this problem affect all corvettes or just the ones prior to 2000?
:mad

 

Good question about the possible theft. Or consider the possibility of the wheels turning while the car is parked on a hill.

Edit - btw, the car was just towed out. They did a masterful job of ramping it onto the flatbed. I wish I had a picture for every time this car has been flatbedded. Makes me angry every time. I drove a number of real junkers before I worked up to the C5 and NONE of them needed this kind of constant service. I think I only had to have one towed once because the alternator crapped out at night in a bad area.

I tried again (daily ritual) to unlock the wheel with all the same techniques, still no good. So at least GM is getting a bona-fide case.


[Modified by Brett C5 SCCA, 3:32 PM 5/22/2002]