Help.....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
Help.....
I bought a 2005 corvette about 9 months ago and I've had problems with it not starting 4-5 times....
The first time it happened I stopped at a friends house for 20 minutes and came back out to leave and everything came on but it would start... (said I had around 14v) my dad took the battery to auto zone and it was dead and they recharged it...
This past weekend it did the same thing twice.... everything comes on but wont start and says "service steering column".... then you turn the everything off, open the door and close it, and try again and it starts...
I have an optima red battery, I drive it everyday except when raining (sits for no more than a week at a time), its only not started that initial time but its saying "service steering column" and running in the high 13V now....
Does anyone know whats going on.... is this my battery or alternator or a computer thing.....
The first time it happened I stopped at a friends house for 20 minutes and came back out to leave and everything came on but it would start... (said I had around 14v) my dad took the battery to auto zone and it was dead and they recharged it...
This past weekend it did the same thing twice.... everything comes on but wont start and says "service steering column".... then you turn the everything off, open the door and close it, and try again and it starts...
I have an optima red battery, I drive it everyday except when raining (sits for no more than a week at a time), its only not started that initial time but its saying "service steering column" and running in the high 13V now....
Does anyone know whats going on.... is this my battery or alternator or a computer thing.....
Track Junky
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 36
From: Orlando Area
Tech Contributor
Run a search for the steering column lock or service steering column. If I remember right, the car doesn't recognize the FOB and locks the steering column. If you grab the wheel and shake back and forth a few times real hard, it will start (at least for me). There are other suggestions out there like poor batteries in the Fob that you could try replacing but that didn't work for me.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: South St Paul Minnesota
I would look at that battery again. A bad battery will do some weird stuff in our cars. The 05's do have a problem with the column lock so as already stated do a search. There is tons of info on this problem. Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Service column lock and other DIC messages usually are the result of a weak battery. In you case since you have and 05 with the manual transmission make sure it has had the GM flash for DBS. It was a problem that some 05 owners had. The battery would discharge in hours and the car would not start. GM has a fix for it. A few dealers don't know about the flash but if they research it they will find the TSB. The other thing is to make sure you are pushing the clutch pedal down all the way. Mine will not start if it is not pushed hard to the floor. And you know to park it in reverse. 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
so yesterday the car wouldnt start again like the first time... so i took the battery cables off and back on and tried to start it and it fired right up.... so the dealership said get a new battery and i did... put the new battery in and it wouldnt start, locked the steering, and the driver door was making a beeping noise. took the negative off and back on again... fired right up..... ANYONE HAVE ANY CLUE WHATS GOING ON?..before i pay 200 to diagnose it......
ps its already had the "flash" last year.....
ps its already had the "flash" last year.....
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
so yesterday the car wouldnt start again like the first time... so i took the battery cables off and back on and tried to start it and it fired right up.... so the dealership said get a new battery and i did... put the new battery in and it wouldnt start, locked the steering, and the driver door was making a beeping noise. took the negative off and back on again... fired right up..... ANYONE HAVE ANY CLUE WHATS GOING ON?..before i pay 200 to diagnose it......
ps its already had the "flash" last year.....
ps its already had the "flash" last year.....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 3
From: CA
so yesterday the car wouldnt start again like the first time... so i took the battery cables off and back on and tried to start it and it fired right up.... so the dealership said get a new battery and i did... put the new battery in and it wouldnt start, locked the steering, and the driver door was making a beeping noise. took the negative off and back on again... fired right up..... ANYONE HAVE ANY CLUE WHATS GOING ON?..before i pay 200 to diagnose it......
ps its already had the "flash" last year.....
ps its already had the "flash" last year.....
I'm searching for a "work around" for this issue. I'm hoping there's a way to bypass this damn thing because mines is doing the same thing. It really takes the fun out of driving the car.
Is the DBS reflash only covered under warranty or is it a recall and I could just take it in and not worry about paying for it?
Last edited by Sparo2; May 20, 2011 at 03:32 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 27,420
Likes: 64
From: San Clemente CA
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
update:
I finally got the car to the dealership and they couldn't diagnose it with the computer so now on Monday they have to drop the column and test each pin in the one of the modules, wiring harness, etc.... the guy working on my car is the main electrical tech for GM and he has NEVER seen this.... so i hope no one is having these same issues because its costing a minimum of 500 to just diagnose the problem. I'll let you know what happens on Monday when the tech starts this wonderful project....
I finally got the car to the dealership and they couldn't diagnose it with the computer so now on Monday they have to drop the column and test each pin in the one of the modules, wiring harness, etc.... the guy working on my car is the main electrical tech for GM and he has NEVER seen this.... so i hope no one is having these same issues because its costing a minimum of 500 to just diagnose the problem. I'll let you know what happens on Monday when the tech starts this wonderful project....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
I think it's going to be your column lock. Just make sure the battery is fully charged and in good condition (new batteries can be defective). If all that checks out then you'll need to replace that column lock.
I'm searching for a "work around" for this issue. I'm hoping there's a way to bypass this damn thing because mines is doing the same thing. It really takes the fun out of driving the car.
Is the DBS reflash only covered under warranty or is it a recall and I could just take it in and not worry about paying for it?
I'm searching for a "work around" for this issue. I'm hoping there's a way to bypass this damn thing because mines is doing the same thing. It really takes the fun out of driving the car.
Is the DBS reflash only covered under warranty or is it a recall and I could just take it in and not worry about paying for it?
I hope youre not having the same issue because its gonna be expensive... ill let you know how they fix it so maybe it will save you some money. and im not sure about the flash...id just call the dealership and ask
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 934
Likes: 0
From: jax fl
steering colum lock
had the same issue, I have the gmpp extened coverage on my 05 cause i new it would come in handy, told the dealership what was going on. they told me that i was the first one with this problem. bit my tonge, cough after having the car for the day they ordered a new steering colum lock module. and have not experienced it again it's been 3 weeks.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
had the same issue, I have the gmpp extened coverage on my 05 cause i new it would come in handy, told the dealership what was going on. they told me that i was the first one with this problem. bit my tonge, cough after having the car for the day they ordered a new steering colum lock module. and have not experienced it again it's been 3 weeks.
but they call it a colum lock actuator. told me mine was shorting out. good luck