Emergency Steering Column Unlock - How To with NO tools
03-16-2012, 06:30 PM
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Emergency Steering Column Unlock - How To with NO tools
Although too late to help OleBlaster or piran21, in light of their recent threads, here and here, I want to share a quick and easy way to unlock any C5 steering column in an emergency, using only two wires or even paperclips. This will only keep it unlocked until the next time you remove the key, and it won’t allow you to drive your Vette if you have the 2 MPH fuel shut-off. It also won’t work if your lock motor is bad or if some varmint chewed through the inside lock motor wiring... But, it just might save you from pulling your steering wheel, cutting the pin, or worse. This also won’t work if you have a bypass installed under the steering wheel, but your column isn’t very likely to lock if you do.
Cautions and disclaimers: If you decide to do this, you do it at your own risk! You also agree not to blame us if you turn your BCM into an SEM (Smoke Emitting Module), etc. Since we don’t know your level of ability, how careful you are, etc., we assume no responsibility for anyone who uses this procedure! If you’re at all uncomfortable doing this, then don’t! With all that said, it’s a simple procedure that I have personally done at least a hundred times on multiple C5s with ZERO problems. But, you must follow the directions carefully! The only real risks are touching the wires together (very bad) or inserting wires into the wrong connector holes (very, very bad).
The procedure is different for manual and auto transmissions. Since an auto is easier, I’ll describe that for now. If you know what you’re doing, you can do this in about 3 minutes.
Here’s a summary: Remove the key from the ignition. In the passenger footwell, pull out the floor mat and carpeted kick up panel. Lift out the BCM and remove the GREEN connector. Briefly attach your wires or paperclips into the correct connector terminals as shown, and you should hear the lock motor unlock the steering wheel. Remove the wires and put it all back together.
I’ll use two jumbo paperclips here, but you should probably use two insulated wires - speaker wire, hook up wire, lamp cord, etc. If you use heavier gauge stranded wire (16, 14, 12...), be VERY careful to not let the strands touch! Twist the strands tightly, and maybe even snip off a few of the extra strands. 18-22 gauge solid wire is better. Strip each end about ½”.
DO NOT attach any wires or paperclips to the BCM!!! DO NOT attach any wires or paperclips to the connector until you have removed it from the BCM!!!! Only insert your wires into the terminal holes as shown. Don’t insert anything into any of the other holes!
1. Prepare your paperclips as shown: Bend both ends 90 degrees from the paperclip bodies. On the second paperclip, spread the bent ends apart about 3/4”.
2. With your Vette safely parked and the key out of the ignition, remove the passenger floor mat and then the kick up panel by pulling the top of it toward you.
3. Lift up on the metal tab at the bottom of the BCM and lift the BCM up and then pull it toward you to detach the BCM hooks from the body panel.
4. Remove the GREEN connector. Press the large blue locking tab and wiggle and jiggle the connector from the BCM, while trying not to pull on the wires.
5. Hold the green connector with the holes facing you, and the big blue locking tab at the top. Looking at the top row of holes, to match the service manual, we’ll call the upper right hole #1, and the upper left hole #8. We’ll use holes 2, 4, 6 and 8. Please make sure that the wires going into these holes are: 2 – black, 4 – orange, 6 – purple, 8 – orange. If they’re not, please stop as your wiring may be different!!!
6. Take the first paperclip (bent but not spread) and gently insert the ends into terminal holes 4 and 6. Be sure to use the holes in the top row. Securely hold the connector and paperclip with your hand, keeping the paperclip out of the way of the rest of the holes. Double check which terminal holes you will be working with – look at the photos, then look at them again!
7. Take the second paperclip (bent and spread) and gently insert the first end into hole 8 at the upper left. Again, double check that you have the correct holes. While ensuring that both paperclips don’t touch, briefly insert the other end into hole 2 (second from the top right) for about 2 seconds. You should hear the lock motor unlock the steering wheel. Then, carefully remove that paperclip.
8. Carefully remove the first paperclip. Reattach the BCM connector. Put the BCM hooks into the mounting slots and rotate the BCM back down into position. Replace panel and floor mat.
Again, this is really simple and safe, but you MUST make sure you’re in the right terminals!! Short pieces of insulated wire with 1/2” stripped at each end are MUCH safer than paperclips.
There are many ways to unlock your steering wheel. The only reasons to cut the pin would be if the lock motor was burnt out, or the physical mechanism was damaged and couldn’t retract the pin by any other method.
This won't work on a manual trans. You can easily do it at the column lock relay connector above the BCM, but the wiring is a little different. I'll do a write up as time permits.
Cautions and disclaimers: If you decide to do this, you do it at your own risk! You also agree not to blame us if you turn your BCM into an SEM (Smoke Emitting Module), etc. Since we don’t know your level of ability, how careful you are, etc., we assume no responsibility for anyone who uses this procedure! If you’re at all uncomfortable doing this, then don’t! With all that said, it’s a simple procedure that I have personally done at least a hundred times on multiple C5s with ZERO problems. But, you must follow the directions carefully! The only real risks are touching the wires together (very bad) or inserting wires into the wrong connector holes (very, very bad).
The procedure is different for manual and auto transmissions. Since an auto is easier, I’ll describe that for now. If you know what you’re doing, you can do this in about 3 minutes.
Here’s a summary: Remove the key from the ignition. In the passenger footwell, pull out the floor mat and carpeted kick up panel. Lift out the BCM and remove the GREEN connector. Briefly attach your wires or paperclips into the correct connector terminals as shown, and you should hear the lock motor unlock the steering wheel. Remove the wires and put it all back together.
I’ll use two jumbo paperclips here, but you should probably use two insulated wires - speaker wire, hook up wire, lamp cord, etc. If you use heavier gauge stranded wire (16, 14, 12...), be VERY careful to not let the strands touch! Twist the strands tightly, and maybe even snip off a few of the extra strands. 18-22 gauge solid wire is better. Strip each end about ½”.
DO NOT attach any wires or paperclips to the BCM!!! DO NOT attach any wires or paperclips to the connector until you have removed it from the BCM!!!! Only insert your wires into the terminal holes as shown. Don’t insert anything into any of the other holes!
1. Prepare your paperclips as shown: Bend both ends 90 degrees from the paperclip bodies. On the second paperclip, spread the bent ends apart about 3/4”.
2. With your Vette safely parked and the key out of the ignition, remove the passenger floor mat and then the kick up panel by pulling the top of it toward you.
3. Lift up on the metal tab at the bottom of the BCM and lift the BCM up and then pull it toward you to detach the BCM hooks from the body panel.
4. Remove the GREEN connector. Press the large blue locking tab and wiggle and jiggle the connector from the BCM, while trying not to pull on the wires.
5. Hold the green connector with the holes facing you, and the big blue locking tab at the top. Looking at the top row of holes, to match the service manual, we’ll call the upper right hole #1, and the upper left hole #8. We’ll use holes 2, 4, 6 and 8. Please make sure that the wires going into these holes are: 2 – black, 4 – orange, 6 – purple, 8 – orange. If they’re not, please stop as your wiring may be different!!!
6. Take the first paperclip (bent but not spread) and gently insert the ends into terminal holes 4 and 6. Be sure to use the holes in the top row. Securely hold the connector and paperclip with your hand, keeping the paperclip out of the way of the rest of the holes. Double check which terminal holes you will be working with – look at the photos, then look at them again!
7. Take the second paperclip (bent and spread) and gently insert the first end into hole 8 at the upper left. Again, double check that you have the correct holes. While ensuring that both paperclips don’t touch, briefly insert the other end into hole 2 (second from the top right) for about 2 seconds. You should hear the lock motor unlock the steering wheel. Then, carefully remove that paperclip.
8. Carefully remove the first paperclip. Reattach the BCM connector. Put the BCM hooks into the mounting slots and rotate the BCM back down into position. Replace panel and floor mat.
Again, this is really simple and safe, but you MUST make sure you’re in the right terminals!! Short pieces of insulated wire with 1/2” stripped at each end are MUCH safer than paperclips.
There are many ways to unlock your steering wheel. The only reasons to cut the pin would be if the lock motor was burnt out, or the physical mechanism was damaged and couldn’t retract the pin by any other method.
This won't work on a manual trans. You can easily do it at the column lock relay connector above the BCM, but the wiring is a little different. I'll do a write up as time permits.
