UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ... WHAT I LEARNED
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 959
Likes: 2
From: Hartford CT
UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ... WHAT I LEARNED
I got the "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" this past weekend. It happened while the car was in my garage.
I asked for advice on this forum and everyone was very helpful. Thanks.
I reviewed all the posts on the "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" issue - my experience may have revealed something new.
While the car was in my garage I tried the following (all unsuccessful)...
(1) Pull fuse # 25 (for 30 seconds)
(2) Disconnect battery (for 10 minutes)
(3) Quickly starting and shutting off the car
(4) Violent turning of the wheel with one hand while I rapidly cycling the ignition with the other - true rage
Finally, ready to give up, I decided to try one more technique.
I asked my wife to rapdily cycle the ignition while I used BOTH hands to firmly (but not violently) cycle the steering wheel. The wheel unlocked on the second wheel cycle with a gentle "pop".
I think the added leverage, using both hands, made the difference.
The lesson may be that two people are better than one for this situation. Something to keep in mind. At least it worked for me.
The car is now at the dealer.
Again, thanks for all the help.
Len
I asked for advice on this forum and everyone was very helpful. Thanks.
I reviewed all the posts on the "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" issue - my experience may have revealed something new.
While the car was in my garage I tried the following (all unsuccessful)...
(1) Pull fuse # 25 (for 30 seconds)
(2) Disconnect battery (for 10 minutes)
(3) Quickly starting and shutting off the car
(4) Violent turning of the wheel with one hand while I rapidly cycling the ignition with the other - true rage
Finally, ready to give up, I decided to try one more technique.
I asked my wife to rapdily cycle the ignition while I used BOTH hands to firmly (but not violently) cycle the steering wheel. The wheel unlocked on the second wheel cycle with a gentle "pop".
I think the added leverage, using both hands, made the difference.
The lesson may be that two people are better than one for this situation. Something to keep in mind. At least it worked for me.
The car is now at the dealer.
Again, thanks for all the help.
Len
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 24,592
Likes: 44
From: The Rock Arkansas
Elite Member
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ... WHAT I LEARNED (Len16)
I tried all of those things except for the two person manuver. The next day it just worked. Immediately ordered the bypass and installed it.
:smash: :smash: :smash:
column lock
:smash: :smash: :smash:
column lock
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,124
Likes: 3,760
From: Charlotte NC
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'25
Re: UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ... WHAT I LEARNED (Doughan)
Question: Mine was locked about 2 years ago..went to the dealer and got it "fixed" :rolleyes: The car has been fine for two years now without a problem. Just the other day out of the blue it does it again (service colum lock), i turn the ignition while turning the wheel and it unlocks and the message hasn't returned since. That was about 2 weeks ago. Now my question is...What are the odds that this is going to happen again? and What does the Dealer actually do that turning the key and moving the wheel won't do?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Re: UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ... WHAT I LEARNED (Nitro-C5)
Now my question is...What are the odds that this is going to happen again?
agin you. :nonod:
What does the Dealer actually do that turning the key and moving the wheel won't do?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,179
Likes: 1
From: Honolulu Hawaii
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ... WHAT I LEARNED (Patches)
Paul @ COH has one that works even with the GM "fix". (his words, not mine) . I just ordered one for my '02 Roadster with only 5k miles...better to be safe than LOCKED! :smash: :smash:
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,124
Likes: 3,760
From: Charlotte NC
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'25
Re: UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ... WHAT I LEARNED (OCMike)
This has probably already been adressed in another thread, but if GM did the "fix" and it locks again...what is my recourse? Don't they warrantee the "fix'? Has this happened to anyone else?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 912
Likes: 1
From: Clinton Twp. MI USA mi
Re: UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ... WHAT I LEARNED (Len16)
Yep just pull firmly to the right while you turn the key and it will pop out. Had to do this twice and it never happened again in the last year or so. The bypass is a waste of money in my opinion cause if it ever locks you just turn the wheel firmly to the right and it pops out, no big deal.
[Modified by abraham, 2:49 PM 6/19/2002]
[Modified by abraham, 2:49 PM 6/19/2002]
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 798
Likes: 0
From: Manchester NH
Re: UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ... WHAT I LEARNED (Untouchable00)
The A/C trick worked for me every time.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
Likes: 44
From: Swansea IL
Re: UNLOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN ... WHAT I LEARNED (Len16)
Here's a starange twist to this. I purchased and installed the by-pass kit when I bought the car. I forgot all about it. I was going back through my dealer receipts as I noticed on my last oil change they had a new part number for the oil and I was concerned they may have used dino oil. Well lookie what I find. They noticed I didn't have the recall done and did it. They never mentioned it as I was out BS with the Service Manager and tech's (I really like my dealer) and they sent my on my way. My steering wheel still turns the wheels when the motor is off, so I have the CL By-Pass kit and the recall done to my car. Car seems fine with the by-pass and recall peacefully co-existing.
Tom
USAF Retired
Tom
USAF Retired
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I got the "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" this past weekend. It happened while the car was in my garage.
I asked for advice on this forum and everyone was very helpful. Thanks.
I reviewed all the posts on the "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" issue - my experience may have revealed something new.
While the car was in my garage I tried the following (all unsuccessful)...
(1) Pull fuse # 25 (for 30 seconds)
(2) Disconnect battery (for 10 minutes)
(3) Quickly starting and shutting off the car
(4) Violent turning of the wheel with one hand while I rapidly cycling the ignition with the other - true rage
Finally, ready to give up, I decided to try one more technique.
I asked my wife to rapdily cycle the ignition while I used BOTH hands to firmly (but not violently) cycle the steering wheel. The wheel unlocked on the second wheel cycle with a gentle "pop".
I think the added leverage, using both hands, made the difference.
The lesson may be that two people are better than one for this situation. Something to keep in mind. At least it worked for me.
The car is now at the dealer.
Again, thanks for all the help.i
Len
I asked for advice on this forum and everyone was very helpful. Thanks.
I reviewed all the posts on the "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" issue - my experience may have revealed something new.
While the car was in my garage I tried the following (all unsuccessful)...
(1) Pull fuse # 25 (for 30 seconds)
(2) Disconnect battery (for 10 minutes)
(3) Quickly starting and shutting off the car
(4) Violent turning of the wheel with one hand while I rapidly cycling the ignition with the other - true rage
Finally, ready to give up, I decided to try one more technique.
I asked my wife to rapdily cycle the ignition while I used BOTH hands to firmly (but not violently) cycle the steering wheel. The wheel unlocked on the second wheel cycle with a gentle "pop".
I think the added leverage, using both hands, made the difference.
The lesson may be that two people are better than one for this situation. Something to keep in mind. At least it worked for me.
The car is now at the dealer.
Again, thanks for all the help.i
Len
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 1,214
From: Wisconsin
Dealer fixes do not work. As explained in the sticky, the only sure cure to steering column lock failure is the LMC5 or a column lock bypass install
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ky-please.html
by the way the thread you responded to is 20 years old
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ky-please.html
by the way the thread you responded to is 20 years old
Last edited by feeder82; Aug 17, 2020 at 04:02 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 26
Likes: 15
From: Texas
Yep just pull firmly to the right while you turn the key and it will pop out. Had to do this twice and it never happened again in the last year or so. The bypass is a waste of money in my opinion cause if it ever locks you just turn the wheel firmly to the right and it pops out, no big deal.
[Modified by abraham, 2:49 PM 6/19/2002]
[Modified by abraham, 2:49 PM 6/19/2002]
