New C5 & Steering Column Lock

[leo532]

I have been busy the last month and while I was looking for a 1969 to 1972 vette, I bought a 2000 C5! Wow!! What a switch! It has some front end damage but I had a body man/frame expert check it out and he said there would be no problem.

The car is driveable and that brings me to the next dilema. I was backing the car out of my shop when I heard a click and the steering wheel locked and then the engine shutdown! I cannot get the column to unlock. The DIC shows "Service Steering Column" "Pull Key And Wait 10 Sec" I tried everything and nothing works. I checked back in your earlier posts and found several comments about the steering column lock problem. Should I just replace the parts with the proper ones for the man. trans or should I use the auto parts and bypass the lock altogether? One note, I did have the battery disconnected and when I reconnected it to move the car, I only hand tightened the terminal. Do you think I lost power momentarily that set off this event?

[Beta_Tester_C6]

leo,

sorry you've experieced the column lock issue that has plauged the C5 6Sspd units since the 1st year of production back in '97.

Your local dealer can repair thie problem ,but unless you have an extended warranty you'll have to pay fot it out of your own pocket.

The column lock issue has/will plauge the entire build of the C5 since there is no economical fix at the engineering level.

Unlike the C6 Fuel sytstem that is currently being used in late year '03's and all '04's Corvette engineers could not pull forward the C6 system into the '04's in time of production etc.

It should be noted that by using the aftermarket by-pass unit may have some negative security effect on the security system on your car as well as possible PCM/BCM issues.

I hope your enjoying your '00 in the best of health!

Beta:)

[Y2KFRC]

Here are the Vin #'s for 2000 involved in the "Customer Satisfaction Campaign" (TSB) 01044A Corvette Electronic Lock. Vin# Y5100001-Y5116233 This service bulletin did expire on 07-01-03 but I would check with a dealer and see if they will still cover the "fix" under this TSB. Try cleaning the key and moving the steering wheel back and forth with the key on. Good luck

[fatherlarry]

Originally posted by leo532
I have been busy the last month and while I was looking for a 1969 to 1972 vette, I bought a 2000 C5! Wow!! What a switch! It has some front end damage but I had a body man/frame expert check it out and he said there would be no problem.

The car is driveable and that brings me to the next dilema. I was backing the car out of my shop when I heard a click and the steering wheel locked and then the engine shutdown! I cannot get the column to unlock. The DIC shows "Service Steering Column" "Pull Key And Wait 10 Sec" I tried everything and nothing works. I checked back in your earlier posts and found several comments about the steering column lock problem. Should I just replace the parts with the proper ones for the man. trans or should I use the auto parts and bypass the lock altogether? One note, I did have the battery disconnected and when I reconnected it to move the car, I only hand tightened the terminal. Do you think I lost power momentarily that set off this event?

Congratulations on your new C5. You mentioned a few things that got me thinking. When I had my bodyshop, when someone brought a late model car into my shop, I usually worked with a dealer for the appropriate make car. Especially when I wrote the estimate, I would leave some things open that I felt I wouldn't know of until I got involved with the car.

Now being it was a front end hit and damage to the frame as you stated, the impact may have disturbed or loosened something, and also damaged the computer. I don't know if you had the body work done yet or not, but if not, I would tell the bodyshop you are using what your concern is. If the body work has already been done, then I would bring it to a dealer and be up front with him. Tell him that you bought the car damaged and had it repaired so he can do a thorough check of the system, ruling out the possibility of the collision causing your problem. Also check the service records with your vin# and see if the column lock work was already done under warranty. Some dealers might say that being that the car was in an accident and not repaired by an authorized Chevy dealer, that the warranty is void, but in this case, if it doesn't show up that it has been fixed, and they examine the whole car and find that the collision has nothing to do with the steering column lock, then they may cover it. If you are really concerned about having peace of mind, then go with the by-pass system. I know of people who have done it and have had no problem. I have heard of cases where the lock was fixed by the dealer and the same problem reoccured. Corvette Kotze, technician, also has mentioned another way of doing it. You may want to check one of the previous threads on this subject in his forum.

As far as the terminal being hand tightened, that is a no-no. When it's tightened by hand it can cause a spark between the two connections, and with today's computer technology can surge the computer and some components. You can also do harm to the voltage regulator. Just like on a personal computer, you need a power surge protection plug, so that if the electric goes off and then on, it won't damage the system. Hand tightening the cables can cause damage. Hope this helps. Let us know how you make out.

[MKOTZE]

Originally posted by leo532
I have been busy the last month and while I was looking for a 1969 to 1972 vette, I bought a 2000 C5! Wow!! What a switch! It has some front end damage but I had a body man/frame expert check it out and he said there would be no problem.

The car is driveable and that brings me to the next dilema. I was backing the car out of my shop when I heard a click and the steering wheel locked and then the engine shutdown! I cannot get the column to unlock. The DIC shows "Service Steering Column" "Pull Key And Wait 10 Sec" I tried everything and nothing works. I checked back in your earlier posts and found several comments about the steering column lock problem. Should I just replace the parts with the proper ones for the man. trans or should I use the auto parts and bypass the lock altogether? One note, I did have the battery disconnected and when I reconnected it to move the car, I only hand tightened the terminal. Do you think I lost power momentarily that set off this event? Hello Leo532, There are currently two different ways of repairing the column lock using GM parts. If you want to keep the column locking system functioning as designed then you will probably only need the lock cylinder. If you do not want the steering column to lock ever again then install the kit that GM has for the automatic trans. cars. This will eliminate the locking wheel on the steering shaft and therefore it will not lock. If you have difficulty finding the parts let me know and I'll get the numbers for you. Good luck.:chevy: MKOTZE

[DavisZR1]

It seems that Mike already answered this in detail for someone else. Here's the link.

http://www.fatherlarryscorvetteshop.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?s=&threadid=536

If you skim through that section you'll find lots of info on it including the GM bulletin. Hope we all helped.

[leo532]

Thanks for all the advice. I already had the service record run by a dealer and the steering column lock has never been repaired. My VIN number, however, is later than the number range shown above by Y2KFRC so it would have not been included in the recall.

The body work has not been done. I only stripped off all the bad parts. The car is scheduled to go to the body shop next week. I have a meeting with the owner on Saturday to discuss what I want done on the car. As per your advice, I will discuss the problem with him.

Regarding the fix, I tend to like having things original so I am leaning that way. That being said, the column did lock while I was moving the car!! That's SCARY even though I was only backing up!! What would you guys do? Have any of you changed your locking systems?

[fatherlarry]

Glad we could be of some help. I tend to lean towards stock also. I had the column lock replaced on my '99 hardtop, even though it never locked up, because it was always in back of my mind. Anything that's electrical will always have a problem. I felt a lot safer with the older mechanical steering column locks and I think a lot of others do also. I have to say that this is a decision you have to make on your own. Good luck, and keep us posted. Show us some pics of the car when it's done.

[lopezst5]

Greetings all, I must first say that driving my C5 is a blast, as for this site; FatherLarry has done a great thing. Thanks!
Please refer to WWW.theautochannel.com/news/2004/02/10/179934.html
Dated 2/10/2004
Everything comes in threes. G.M to recall 127K 1997-2004 corvettes for Electronic Steering column.
Is this the same thing?
A friend here at work has a Z06. Had the problem as well.
I called my dealer for information on the recall. All they said was that all corvette owners would be notified by mail.

:shift:

[HiLandR]

Is there something I need to know? I just bought a 2001 coupe withe 10,000 miles. Should I assume I am going to have a problem? If so can I be proactive, How?