TODD L GRIFFITH
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2001
- Messages
- 1,120
- Location
- Middleboro, MA
- Corvette
- 99' MR Coupe, 04' Silverado 03' ZO6 Sold
The column lock finally failed on my 2003 ZO6. Sounds like I've been expecting it. The BCM relays are good, it had a column lock motor failure. I removed the column lock motor, gears and most important, the pin. I ordered the column lock bypass from http://www.corvettesofhouston.com/product_info.php?products_id=54
Corvettes of Houston. The motor and pin are in an aluminum vault around the steering column and the metal is approx. 3/16" thick. I was impressed with the strength and anti theft deterrent design of the column lock itself. The motor is a very small 12V DC motor similar to what you would find in a toy car. No kidding. The motor's polarity is changed via signal relays and diodes in the PCM to move the motor forward, or in reverse and to operate the steering lock pin mechanism. There is a strong spring behind the pin that pushes the pin out and locks the steering wheel when the key is removed. The motor's worm gear setup upon inserting the key, drives a gear that moves a shaft up and down that allows the pin to be driven back in against the tension of the spring. If your steering wheel is turned, and the column lock pin is engaged locking the wheel, there is alot of tension on the pin and it takes alot more motor load to unlock the wheel. This is what others have seen when they receive a pull key and wait ten seconds message. Eventually this burns the motor out over time. Seeing it is a little toy motor, who's a thunk it happenin to anyone? I'm glad I was in my driveway when it happened. It could have happened to me anywhere, so i feel sorry for the stranded ones that never had a chance when their's failed.
Corvettes of Houston. The motor and pin are in an aluminum vault around the steering column and the metal is approx. 3/16" thick. I was impressed with the strength and anti theft deterrent design of the column lock itself. The motor is a very small 12V DC motor similar to what you would find in a toy car. No kidding. The motor's polarity is changed via signal relays and diodes in the PCM to move the motor forward, or in reverse and to operate the steering lock pin mechanism. There is a strong spring behind the pin that pushes the pin out and locks the steering wheel when the key is removed. The motor's worm gear setup upon inserting the key, drives a gear that moves a shaft up and down that allows the pin to be driven back in against the tension of the spring. If your steering wheel is turned, and the column lock pin is engaged locking the wheel, there is alot of tension on the pin and it takes alot more motor load to unlock the wheel. This is what others have seen when they receive a pull key and wait ten seconds message. Eventually this burns the motor out over time. Seeing it is a little toy motor, who's a thunk it happenin to anyone? I'm glad I was in my driveway when it happened. It could have happened to me anywhere, so i feel sorry for the stranded ones that never had a chance when their's failed.