Originally Posted by Chilliwack vettes

My understanding was that the dealer 'fix' was never a permanent fix. Get a LMC5 or CLB.

Originally Posted by 8VETTE7

November 2002 ( if you gave us the correct date) was a year and 3 months BEFORE the RECALL forced by NHTSA even was available from the dealerships.


The 04006 Recall didn't start until mid January 2004.


There was a predacessor service (called a Customer Satisfaction Program) that did some of but not all of the actions required by the NHTSA recall service. Owners that complained the loudest about the column lock issue had that work done to the car free of charge. It is NOT a replacement for the actual recall service. You can determine for yourself what has been done to the car at GM's expense by obtaining a printed copy of the GMVIS for your VIN. You can send an Email to either of the two following Forum Supporting Vendors along with your VIN and ask them to email you back the report. In the section CLAIM HISTORY there will be info about everything done to the car at GM's expense. There will also be an indication as to whether the Recall is closed (done) or still outstanding (open). If it's closed, the date of the close will be indicated.

dfichtner@fichtnerchevrolet.com Dennis Fichtner

gene@gmpartshouse.com Gene Culley

Be the above as it may, I would NOT let the dealer touch the car. Get and install either a CLB or LMC5 and the column lock problem should be gone forever.

Most likely cause of your problem is a low or bad battery or loose or corroded battery cables. The MOST common causes of the Column Lock Symptoms is battery related/initiated.

Originally Posted by tikiman

Yesterday, while away from home, my steering column locked. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ked-today.html
Had the car towed to a Chevrolet dealer in Richmond and got a call from them just now. When the car was delivered to them, the steering column was not locked. Also, from the VIN, they were able to ascertain that the factory recall work was performed in November of 2002, four months before I purchased the car used. My guess is that the dealer I bought it from performed any outstanding recall work before reselling the vehicle. Makes sense. With the column no longer locked, should I just go pick up the car, get it home, and install the aftermarket solution(s)? Anyone heard of this problem being intermittent before?

Originally Posted by Chilliwack vettes

My understanding was that the dealer 'fix' was never a permanent fix. Get a LMC5 or CLB.

Originally Posted by tikiman

Wow. Thank you! That sounds like some very valuable information. The date of correction is what the current dealer gave me. It is also four months before I purchased the car used in February of '03. I can see the car sitting on the lot for four months given that it was a wet and snowy winter. So, according to your information, my vehicle did not receive the complete NHTSA recall service. Bottom line here is, to get the vehicle home and perform the correct actions on it. Between the CLB or the LMC5, which is better for my vehicle? It is a '99 convertible with the A4. Thank you again for the information.

Edited to add: The vehicle in question receives a new battery each spring since it sits for so long in the garage in the winter that the battery dies completely. And, when I say completely, I do mean completely.

Originally Posted by tikiman

Arm strength is not an issue. At one point I was worried about the steering wheel. This wheel was locked and would not turn a half turn in either direction. My best guess of travel would be ten degrees max in either direction. Perhaps not even that. Which is better - CLB or LCM5? And, thank you again for your expertise.

Originally Posted by cessna10

My goodness sounds like you have found an honest dealer, you
should share the name for owners in your area

Originally Posted by 8VETTE7

First a question. Do you trust the dealer that you take your car to???


While you can install either a CLB or LMC5 and get around the fact that the recall was never done to the car, if it were me I would take the car to a dealer you can trust and have the 04006C version of the GM Column Lock Recall Service done to the car. The recall was mandated by NHTSA as a safety recall. Not trying to play lawyer here but should your car be in an accident and the fact that there was an outstanding safety recall on the car, you expose yourself to many possible actions none of which you want to deal with.

The 04006C variation of the recall for your 99 automatic will replace the lock plate, and install a GM K Harness. It will NOT reflash the PCM with the dreaded 2mph fuel shutoff.

With this version of the recall service your column will never lock and you will NOT ever experience the 2mph fuel shutoff. Therefore you really do not need either a CLB or LMC5.

If you would like to talk to me directly, let me know and I will PM you my phone number. I can assure you that I am a VERY knowledgeable person on the C5 Column Lock situation.


Here is a link to the FULL text of the 04006C recall service:

http://corvetteforum.net/c5/kenficht...olumn_lock.pdf

Originally Posted by 02z06dave

Wouldnt it be a better idea to spend 40 bucks on a battery tender than buying a nee battery every year? Unless you get batteries for free...

Originally Posted by STALION

LMC5

Originally Posted by 8VETTE7

What this is telling you is that on 4/19/2004 the GM Recall Service was done to the car. I see that the car is a manual trans so what was done is the PCM reflashed with a load that sets the fuel shutoff to 2mph. That resulted in the status of the recall for your car being changed to "closed" meaning the recall has been done.

Originally Posted by Keith Richards

No offense to 8VETTE7 but, I do not believe for a second that the work was performed on 4-19-2004 on his car as I have a GMVIS report on my '98 done a few weeks ago by one of the forum supporters and mine says the same thing, I believe that is when GM "closed" it? Doubtful that both are cars got that done on the same day?

The supporter also said that he could not bring anything else up on my car as it is over 10 years old? so my report shows product safety recalls for the column lock with a release date of 4-19-2004 and "closed' and the Lap Belt webbing twisted dated 11/10/2000 and "closed" . I do know the lap belt was done as the car has a sticker on the inner fender by the engine sticker showing it was completed. Somebody has done something to my column in the past as the steering wheel does not "lock" with the key out so I am putting in the LMC5 today for extra insurance.