Been reading about it, had the "Pull key wait 10 sec.", called GM and had them confirm with my VIN that the fix was installed. GM confirmed yes the fix was in. Feeling great, all is well, that was 1 year ago. Now let's forward to April 25, 2012, just returned from a 3 day trip to Napa. Pulled into my garage and "Pull key wait 10 sec." Steering locks up, solid, nothing I can do to unlock it.

So back on this Forum, pulled up several articles on it. I call GM and they tell me, they are responsible for one attempt, and I already had it, the resolution and cost will be on me. They inform me there were 3 prior fixes, the 4th is a sure thing. But that will require the removal of the steering wheel and replace the locking plate with a solid plate without a hole for the solenoid can't lock up. Oh, yes, the cost approx. $600 buck-a-roooosss. You can have this issue with a weak batterey, if under 12 volts, the BCM will send a code to lock up your column, it's that simple. Your key resister can be worn, same... simple things lock up your ride for good. The cost to tow home or to a shop, and for GM to install the 4th fix... your looking at maybe $1000 bucks.

I found a company "Compliance Parts" and they sell a great product called the LMC5 and LMC5 Un-Lock kit (if your wheel is already locked). I purchased it and installed it. The un-lock kit didn't work, my solenoid was frozen. But the Forum said, hit it with a small hammer several times, so I did, and it free'ed it up. I installed the LMC5 kit and all is fantastic now. I even spoke to the engineer, Rich of Compliance Parts, he spent several hours assisting me in trying to un-lock the wheel. Great support if you ask me.

So get the LMC5, you can leave all of the GM NON-FIXES on and just bypass it at the BCM, and you will feel safe driving the vette from that point on. You'll never be left stranded by the deadly Steering Column Lock with the LMC5.... Ride on...

NOTE: There are two kinds of C5s out there, one that has locked up, and one that is going to lock up...

 

Jesse:
I'm currently locked up & installed Rick's LMC5 but can't use his unlocker because a previous fix leaves the purple wire from the relay not plugged in, thus nor unlock current to the lock motor. I used another cigarette lighter unlocker and it finally partially unlocked but caught the next lock hole. What did you hit with the hammer? Are you referring to the lock motor itself and I assume you removed the dash below the column to do this?
Thanks for a reply...guess I'll have to call Rick also.
Don

 

Don, I spend an hour with Rich and the UN-LOCK kit connecting the PURPLE wire WHITE wire in the RELAY, switch them and supplied 12 volts, it still didn't unlock. I put the stock setup back to original, taking off the LMC5 kit. So normal everything then do this. Take the plastic off the steering column exposing the aluminum area where the solenoid is. Take a medium scew driver and small ball peen hammer and hit that aluminum many time. Then try and start your vette. It may take a few times. After 3 sets of tapping it, the solenoid released.. Then I left the key in the ignition, pull the batterery lead off negative, installed the LMC5 kit and all worked great. I too have the PURPLE "Y" wire from the BCM to the RELAY to the SOLENOID. This fix from GM didn't work either..
If you want to talk about it, you can call me on my cell...
Here is my email.... jesse.asis@comcast.net

If the above is hard to understand, please call me it may help you better if we talk.. Yea, this problem sucks, my vette was down for almost a week waiting for a GM tech to come to my house and replace the solenoid and put in the plate to resolve it. The LMC5 is a better fix for sure, it just bypasses the whole wiring and solenoid.

Don go to this site for how to remove the lower steering wheel, and where to tap the solenoid. I tapped it from the right side and that was when it release..
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_08...r/viewall.html

 

There's a third kind of C5. One that can't lock and never will. Those are the 2001-04 automatics that don't need the GM fix, the CLB or the LMC5.

 

Your lucky 65GGvert, mine is a 1999 C5 6 speed WITH COLUMN LOCK built into as a bonus.... but not anymore... the LMC5 saved me... Lucky you...

 

I've got a 2001 6speed, bought it used so I don't know what if anything has been done as far as column lock problem repair or prevention. Can the LMC5 be put on top of any repair or prevention mods or can it be used only with the car being in a certain state of column lock mods?

 

Had2have-it, yes the beauty of the LMC5 is you can install it and leave all the other crap GM did to try and fix THEIR bad design, it replaces it at the BCM and the LMC5 becomes the NEW wiring for the circuit.. GM has 4 fixes out there, the first 3 are FAILURES, 1. K-harness, 2. PCM re-programing, 3. "Y" Purple cable, the first 3 are a joke, it's a hit or miss, some seem to work but they fail anyway. Now the 4th fix from GM is a fix, it replaces the steering column disk ( this disk is what it says, a disk with a hole in it for the solenoid to enter and lock the steering wheel) GM replaces this disk with another disk with a smaller hole so the solenoid won't go thru it and lock up the steering wheel, draw back, it will cost the Vette Owner around $600 to fix THEIR PROBLEM. You see GM will only make one attempt to fix your locking issue, most of them are 1 thru 3, as mine was, and they don't have to make another attempt to fix it. If your steering is not locked, get the LMC5 kit, if it is locked like mine, you also need the LMC5 Un-Lock kit (just a pair of wires with allagator clips and small pins to supply 12volts to two wires removed (purple and orange or white) to give a shot to the solenoid to UN-LOCK it. All other fixes if on, just leave it there, no need to remove the CBL fix, re-programing fix, Y cable fix, K-harness fix, just leave them in place, this over-rides them all right at the beginning, at the BCM..

Call GM and give them your VIN number, if your vette went in for one of the 3 black board fixes, you're screwed, if you want fix number 4. That's the only way to know if your vette came in. Now if you vette never got anyone of the first 3, YOUR first fix is the 4th one, you should be covered.. but get it in writing from GM and the service manager, don't do an oral agreement based on my word. Some of them don't even want to work with us on an 11 or 12 year car that is way out of warrantee.. Each Service dept. is run differently. Best of Luck... Do the LMC5 it is the best fix on the market and will let you feel safe that your steering wheel won't lock up and leave you stranded like it did me. Thank God mine did it in my garage, others have had it done out on the road, you have to have a flat bed TOW, $$$, either to home or the nearest GM dealer, and if they put #4, $$$$ plus the Tow, well you do the math..

The LMC5 is only $50 bucks with shipping, money well spent and headache well eliminated....

Go to this web site: http://complianceparts.com/index.html , tell Rich, I sent you... He rocks...

It should answer all your questions, well designed simple, safe, and it works like a champ. Also best support from owner & designer Richard...

2 kinds of vettes on the road, one that locked up, the other will lock up...

 

LMC5 is a no brainer. Rick is the best. great product and support

 

cut the locking pin with a hacksaw blade.

 

98DC231, got a procedure for this this, can you share it with us.. it sounds hard considering where the solenoid is located..

 

with a compact hacksaw like this, once you remove the shroud from the bottom of the steering column, you can work the blade in between the base of the wheel and the column. It takes some time but if you're patient, you can cut the locking pin to free the column lock.



Of course this method is kinda ghetto but it sure beats going through the hassle of pulling the wheel if your column lock solenoid is cooked and won't retract.

Had to do this on a friend's car where the lock would not retract using the CLB or any of the other methods to try and knock it loose (wiggling the wheel, hitting it with a hammer etc...)

Sorry I don't have pics of where exactly to cut but its pretty obvious once you're in there.

edit: found a pic of where I am talking about. You slide the blade of the saw right where the yellow line is.

 

8Vette7, just my luck, I'd use the sawzall and the steering wheel would be on the floor, what then... crazy glue?? I fixed the lock, opps.

 

Don, how did it go today, were you able to un-lock that solenoid? I'm at work but will be home in the morning. I hope all went well..

 

If you cut the pin with a saw, wouldnt there be the stub left and a piece still in the hole that might potentially bind in the future?

 

Yea, I won't cut it, not sure if the person posting that was serious or just joking. All of GM's fixes were down stream with harness's or re-proraming and the chance of still getting a "Steering Column Lock" is there since the solenoid still had power when you pull out your key (which is a normal safety operation of the vehicle). There are several ways to for the LOCK to happen, low voltage, bad resister in your key etc. etc. as long as the solenoid is part of the wiring design, it can lock up given the right situation.

The LMC5 changes all that at the BCM, it replaces the wiring completely so now you solenoid is left with NO VOLTAGE. Now, that means when you pull your key out of the ignition, your steering wheel won't lock. You ride has just lost the ability to NOT STEER. For me, I'd rather get a CLUB than be stranded on a poorly designed column lock device, but that's just me. If GM had any heart, they could fix the system (Like in the C6 ) with the correct wiring and end this, but again money talks and BS walks on a 12 year old vehicle...

 

Good to know. Thanks for posting those pictures. Luckily I tapped mine with the hammer and got it to release. I have the gizmo to bypass it coming in the mail. I was lucky that it only got stuck in my parking lot. I just drover it up from Florida. Along the way on that trip would have been a monumental nightmare.

Btw....what is failing with this mechanism anyway?

 

8VETTE7, thanks for the photo of a COLUMN lock motor, I always wanted to see where and what I had HIT WITH THAT HAMMER.. Was this from YOUR vette or just a photo of a vette getting the CL solenoid replaced. The GM guy coming to my house ordered a NEW solenoid and the new PLATE, good thing I got the solenoid un-locked, or I would have had my own photos of him taking my steering column apart.. I was planning to pay this guy $400 to do this at my home verus $600 at the Dealer's shop, now it only cost me $50 bucks and I gain some knowledge to boot..

Thanks nice job with the photos...

 

guys i have been driving around for a year with the service column lock on and been reseting it for a year.some member posted this part i mbought it wensday and installed it sunday and guess what it f===end worked im very happy and it took me about 20min easy thanks to the forum guys.

 

Great to hear that, I had that "Service Column Lock" pop up for about 3 years, but when she locked (even after the GM fix)....... it really sucked... Glad this forum helped, I know it helps me..

 

I now have with my 2003 the message service column, When the key is outthe steering wheel locks up, is this normal? I will purchase the LMC5 MODULE, but because of the wheel being locked when the key is out do I need to purchase the unlocking part that go's with this?

Thank you