gr8corvette

I started my 2004 Corvette Z06 this morning and I get the dreaded "Service Column Lock" message. The steering wheel still turned left and right with no problem, so I go to work praying it would not lock up on me while driving.
I got to work with no problems, but wondered what would happen when I restart the car. I turned off the engine, waited a few moments and restarted it. The message is still on the DIC, but the steering wheel is not locked.
What should I do? Should I take it to be looked at (I am past warrenty)? Should I ignor this message? I had the column lock recall completed when that notice came out, but never put any after market column lock corrections on.

SEE3ER

Had the same thing happen to me a couple weeks ago. Last fall, I had the most recent GM recall performed ( they removed the locking mechanism completely). Had no issue till about a month ago--"Service Column Lock", but car still worked fine. I would push the reset button to clear, but came back each time when starting. So I bought the CLB piece, installed in 15 minutes, followed their directions to remove fuse #25 & #29, and no issues since.

yamahajo

You probably should not have driven it - it's a hit or miss as to whether it will lock up or not when you start it next. I ignored mine when I got it, and within a week I was stranded at a pizza joint in downtown atlanta for 30 minutes trying to break it loose.

I'd go ahead and order the CLB before it locks up.

gr8corvette

and
"So I bought the CLB piece"

Where did you order your CLB from?

SEE3ER

Mine came from that auction site.

Novat_99

Got mine from Corvettes of Houston....been worry free ever since...

BUBBAS 01Z06

SSWEET

Thunder Racing also has them..

C5Vette168

I've bought mine from Corvettes of Houston for a few years now. No problems.

MIKE-C5

Ive seen mine once or twice but never had an issue

tbrent

c3_enthusiast

Big-Red

I thought the problem was fixed on the 04? or is it only fixed on the
04 A4?

Quick Silver Z

Novat_99

Here's a quick write up from when I did mine:

After 8 months of riding around with my newly purchased CLB in the console...I finally worked up enough courage to tear open the lower dash to install the CLB. Actually, I did it more out of fear that I have been living on borrowed time for far too long & didn't want to wait for the day the Z06 would need flatbed service with a malfunctioning locked column.

After getting over the initial shock of removing interior trim panels...the install is fairly simple....although, it always helps to have good instructions like these:

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=24

And this setup:



Now the scary looking part:



And who would have thought that all this would fit under the passenger's floormat:



A quick unplugging of the column lock wiring harness:



And then plug this bypass device in it's place:



Then, simply put everything back in place...managing NOT to have any leftover parts.

All done....and no more sound of the column lock engaging....time for a nice cold drink!

sts57c5

i had the same problem for two months so i bought the clb piece have not had any problems since then.

gr8corvette

Latest update:
I have to admit it: I was too chicken to open the dashboard and put in the Corvettes of Houston CLB fix.
So I took it to the dealer. To my amazement, they told me the extended warrenty covered the column lock. I figured this would not cost me anything so I left my car at the dealer. The service report stated; "Verified found failed steering lock motor, replaced lock motor and relay repair completed." All was done under warrenty and cost me nothing.
Now comes the fun part. They told me the reason the column lock motor failed was that my battery was almost dead. Since the battery is the original battery from four and a half years ago, I thought a bad battery was probably a problem waiting to happen, even though I had not seen any other problems. The battery diagnosis was performed as part of the column lock warrenty work and so was not a charge on my bill.
So I asked the price of a new battery. It was a little high, but the convenience of having it done then and there while my car was already in their hands made it seem OK. However, having been burned by incomplete questions I then asked the question a little more complete: "How much is the total cost to have the battery installed?" All of a sudden the cost jumped tremdously. I asked what the difference was due to. They told me that they have to charge me $48 for the battery diagnostic if I have the battery installed. I said they had just told me it was already done and paid for under the column lock warrenty. They said their policy was that if they put in a battery they have to charge for the diagnostic. I politey told them they were nuts and would have the battery installed elsewhere.
When I picked the car up, I was told the weak battery may cause the same problem again. Sure enough, two days later, the "Service Column Lock" message was back on the DIC. I replaced the battery and the DIC message went away and never came back!
The point of the story is that a weak battery can cause the "Service Column Lock" message on the DIC.

mstromquist

Took it to the Dealer, huh??!!???! That's great that the battery fixed it "this" time. But what about next time? I would still buy the CLB and be done with it all together. I'm sure others will say the same thing.

RayCE

I have an 01 and after going thru some papers that the previous owner gave he I noticed that the dealer re-programmed the computer to fix this issue. I have the CLB....Should I install it any way ???

RayCE

mstromquist

I would....It's pretty easy to do and gives peace of mind.