WEIRD column lock manifestation
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
WEIRD column lock manifestation
So today for the first time since I bought this car 5 years ago, I got the dreaded "Pull Key -> Service Column Lock" messages. The column lock on my car has never engaged since I've owned it. The steering wheel was still moving freely, but I couldn't get over 2 mph without it shutting down.
Well crap ... I tore into it to see what was going on and what type of work had been done on it. I found the K-harness, but when I traced the wires from it, they weren't even plugged in!
So I hooked it up to see if it would work and no dice ... exact same thing. I assume what happened is it burned up on the previous owner, so he disconnected it and it's just been running in the original configuration all these years (2002)? Plausible?
Then I pulled out the column lock relay, and the contacts were pretty dirty. So I sanded them a little and sprayed contact cleaner into the female contacts. Plugged it back in, and *poof* car is back to normal.
I went ahead an ordered and LMC5 ...
http://complianceparts.com/lmc5description.html
Since I've heard good things about these here, and this solution involves unplugging that relay anyway.
But I guess I'm just curious if that relay can indeed cause the pull key-service column messages, or was that just coincidental?
And is it not unheard of for a C5 to go 10 years on the original factory stuff (as in, no K-harness) before this crops up? It just baffles me that mine was not even plugged in.
Well crap ... I tore into it to see what was going on and what type of work had been done on it. I found the K-harness, but when I traced the wires from it, they weren't even plugged in!
So I hooked it up to see if it would work and no dice ... exact same thing. I assume what happened is it burned up on the previous owner, so he disconnected it and it's just been running in the original configuration all these years (2002)? Plausible?Then I pulled out the column lock relay, and the contacts were pretty dirty. So I sanded them a little and sprayed contact cleaner into the female contacts. Plugged it back in, and *poof* car is back to normal.
I went ahead an ordered and LMC5 ...
http://complianceparts.com/lmc5description.html
Since I've heard good things about these here, and this solution involves unplugging that relay anyway.
But I guess I'm just curious if that relay can indeed cause the pull key-service column messages, or was that just coincidental?
And is it not unheard of for a C5 to go 10 years on the original factory stuff (as in, no K-harness) before this crops up? It just baffles me that mine was not even plugged in.
Last edited by wcsinx; May 5, 2012 at 09:22 AM.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 693
Likes: 6
From: Lancaster Ca. & Post whoring here.
Not familiar with the compliance parts module. It looks interesting however. There seems to be various issues on some C5's with the Service Column Lock message. Some C5 owners have had the steering lock to the point where it mobilizes the car. 
Below are some bookmarks I've saved regarding the issue.
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...d.php?t=125651
http://www.c5forum.com/forum/ubbthre...te_id=1#import
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_08...air/index.html
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_08.../photo_07.html
http://www.thunderracing.com/shop-by...lator_220.html
I ended up getting one of these but I haven't installed it yet.
http://corvettesofhouston.com/43-cor...mn-lock-bypass
.
Below are some bookmarks I've saved regarding the issue.
http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...d.php?t=125651
http://www.c5forum.com/forum/ubbthre...te_id=1#import
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_08...air/index.html
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_08.../photo_07.html
http://www.thunderracing.com/shop-by...lator_220.html
I ended up getting one of these but I haven't installed it yet.
http://corvettesofhouston.com/43-cor...mn-lock-bypass
.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
So Richard from Compliance Parts actually took the time to PM me. Richard, I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to paste your PM in this thread for posterity. It's always good to see active, responsive vendors on the forums. 
Hi,
When you posted that you pulled the CLB relay, I assume you meant that you pulled the column lock relay above the BCM. CLBs use a relay, but they're a different animal altogether.
Yes! The column lock relay can definitely cause pull key and scl messages. It's happened many times. You're lucky cleaning yours did the trick, as they more often seem to fail. Fuse 23 can also cause similar symptoms if it blows.
Why GM added another part is a mystery, since they could have done the equivalent without it.
Yes, the LMC5 disconnects every part of the column lock system from the BCM. No connectors, relays, etc., to ever worry about or troubleshoot.
The absolutely random nature of this problem is infuriating. I've seen C5s lock up with less than 10k. On the other hand, my '02 went 90k miles without a single column lock problem. No k harness, but with the 2 mph cutoff reprogramming. I've had an LMC5 in for the past 10k with zero problems.
On yours, it's easily possible for it to have run in the original config for years. A previous owner may have disconnected a failed k harness and replaced the column lock relay to get going again.
Thanks!
Richard
When you posted that you pulled the CLB relay, I assume you meant that you pulled the column lock relay above the BCM. CLBs use a relay, but they're a different animal altogether.
Yes! The column lock relay can definitely cause pull key and scl messages. It's happened many times. You're lucky cleaning yours did the trick, as they more often seem to fail. Fuse 23 can also cause similar symptoms if it blows.
Why GM added another part is a mystery, since they could have done the equivalent without it.
Yes, the LMC5 disconnects every part of the column lock system from the BCM. No connectors, relays, etc., to ever worry about or troubleshoot.
The absolutely random nature of this problem is infuriating. I've seen C5s lock up with less than 10k. On the other hand, my '02 went 90k miles without a single column lock problem. No k harness, but with the 2 mph cutoff reprogramming. I've had an LMC5 in for the past 10k with zero problems.
On yours, it's easily possible for it to have run in the original config for years. A previous owner may have disconnected a failed k harness and replaced the column lock relay to get going again.
Thanks!
Richard
