Column Lock Woes
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Vernon Tx
Column Lock Woes
I bought a 2000 C5 A4 back in Feb... Ever since I bought the car, the column locks when the key is taken out. I called my dealer to ask about the recall and they told me that it was performed at X amount of miles... Well, fast forward to this past Friday when my girlfriend drives it home for lunch. Comes out of the house, starts the car and everything is fine. Shifts into REVERSE and the column locks up. She didn't remember if it had any messages on the DIC. She turned the car off, turned it back on and it is still having the same problem. I tried disconnecting the battery and fuse #23 ( I think it was 23), but it will not unlock. I removed the knee bolster and the wiring looks stock. I tried jerking the wheel, but I don't want to break anything. The only code that it shows as current is a secondary air system code. Anyone have advice? I don't want a dealer to charge me $100 to diagnose it and then rape me on labor to fix it if I can do it myself.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 216
Likes: 8
+1 for lmc5. Very easy install - great instructions. After my install on Friday afternoon - I got the 'pull key wait 10' message on each startup (about 8 between friday and this afternoon). there was some optional instructions with the lmc5 in the event that the pull key message appeared. pulled the panel and installed the brown wire and cut the loop per the instructions. all is well now, 5 startups - no message.
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 250
Likes: 1
From: MA
I had the CL issue a few years back. It's a mechanical issue where a solenoid plunger gets stuck. With the car off I would grab the wheel at the 9 and 3 oclock positions, try to steer left and right real hard for a few seconds and then try to start it. That worked in a pinch before I installed the CLB.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Vernon Tx
The technique above unlocked the column. Bypass should be here Thursday. Thanks for the help guys, it's much appreciated! Now onto my next question about my FAST, just made a new thread.
