Column lock problem AFTER car was wrecked!

[George Mc farland]

What about a colum lock bypass kit,that every ones talking about on the general 1997-2004 forum. Everyone there seems to think that this a common problem with the C5's. I would love to have C4- C5 specialists input on this one as he's the best source. I've just purchased one but yet to have installed it.

 

[bwing]

Yep, I had the actuator replaced in mine too and that darn message still occasionally pops up.

Another thing, do not rely on your DIC to give you an exact readout of your battery's voltage. Use a voltage meter or have a qualified mechanic perform it. Even with a new battery the readout on the DIC is still 11.8 volts. Either I've got a good electrical drain or my readout is all messed up.

 

[c4c5specialist]

mine never gives the message if I leave the key in.....it is giving me a u1255 code whick is telling me a communication error fromthe drivers seat module

HI there,
Yes, if you leave the key in, its not trying to lock the actuator, so that is normal.
As for the drivers seat module, that has no bearing on the actual column lock function.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[RVN]

When I went back to pick it up to my horror, they ran it into the wall I wont get into details

What are the details of the accident? It might provide us with something to look out for. Here's a stab in the dark.

Is it possible that the column lock and the fuel-shut off problem happened for the first time, at the time of the the collision? And this prevented the driver from turning the wheel and causing him to hit the wall? I read some instances where the column locked after starting and the fuel shut off didn't occur until the vehicle reached 2 to 5 mph.

Some people reported that a failing or discharged battery was related to getting the column lock warning message for the first time. What I'm getting at here is that prolonged leaving the doors, trunk and/or hood open while servicing or detailing might have drained the battery.

Just a couple of thoughts that crossed my mind since I first read about your plight. I have a 2002 ZO6 and haven't had the problem ...yet. I've been researching it in anticipation.

 

[c5blackvert]

What are the details of the accident? It might provide us with something to look out for. Here's a stab in the dark.

Is it possible that the column lock and the fuel-shut off problem happened for the first time, at the time of the the collision? And this prevented the driver from turning the wheel and causing him to hit the wall? I read some instances where the column locked after starting and the fuel shut off didn't occur until the vehicle reached 2 to 5 mph.

Some people reported that a failing or discharged battery was related to getting the column lock warning message for the first time. What I'm getting at here is that prolonged leaving the doors, trunk and/or hood open while servicing or detailing might have drained the battery.

Just a couple of thoughts that crossed my mind since I first read about your plight. I have a 2002 ZO6 and haven't had the problem ...yet. I've been researching it in anticipation.

The punk was doing a hole shot with traction control off lost control and hit the wall.....twice

Here is a pic of where they were sideways

 

[c5blackvert]

and the missing piece of cinderblock and black mark on the wall is where the car hit.....DEFINATELY going over 2 mph......when it locks I cant get it back in the garage let alone sideways!

And aftermath

 

[c5blackvert]

What are the details of the accident? It might provide us with something to look out for. Here's a stab in the dark.

Is it possible that the column lock and the fuel-shut off problem happened for the first time, at the time of the the collision? And this prevented the driver from turning the wheel and causing him to hit the wall? I read some instances where the column locked after starting and the fuel shut off didn't occur until the vehicle reached 2 to 5 mph.

Some people reported that a failing or discharged battery was related to getting the column lock warning message for the first time. What I'm getting at here is that prolonged leaving the doors, trunk and/or hood open while servicing or detailing might have drained the battery.

Just a couple of thoughts that crossed my mind since I first read about your plight. I have a 2002 ZO6 and haven't had the problem ...yet. I've been researching it in anticipation.

Just checked my battery (which was a new delco aug of last year) it was at 12.1 on my guage and 12.4 on the meter.......NEVER had I got the message in the 3 1/2 years I owned the car.......After going down to get the car (and almost getting arrested for choking the owner) I limped the car back to my place of work...about a block......column wasnt locked.....it sat inside my place of employment for about a week and a half for the adjuster to come out to look at it........then I drove it on the flatbed to get it to the body shop, upone taking it off the column was locked.....I thought it was due to them tilting the car without the keys in it.......that was the first time it locked......but the key was in the car the whole 2 weeks after the impact......something happened from the time I dropped it off to get detailed to the time it came off the flatbed.......thinking its a ground......nobody knows

 

[c5blackvert]

O.K., I called the local electronix place and asked about adding a "di-ode" to make the car "think" it has a remote start in it....thus the key in in the ignition....wha ya think?

 

[c4c5specialist]

ONT DO IT!!!
Lets get back to basics.
Remove your battery and charge it with a battery charger.
Then, reattempt to install the battery and start the vehicle.
Chances are, you will be fine and NOT need to do anything else.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[c5blackvert]

ONT DO IT!!!
Lets get back to basics.
Remove your battery and charge it with a battery charger.
Then, reattempt to install the battery and start the vehicle.
Chances are, you will be fine and NOT need to do anything else.
Allthebest, c4c5

O.K., daughters boyfriend is disconnecting the battery as we speak and throwing it on the trickle charger........I'll hook it back up tomorrow morning....working until 9 tonight!

 

[c5blackvert]

just one more question I dont think has ever been answered here.....anyone else who has this problem left there keys in it and not get the remove key message?

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
Sure, if the lock cylinder inner plunger is shorted, this could occur.
A quick test is to insert the key into the ignition and then open the drivers side door.
If the BCM sees the key in the ignition, your chime will go off once per second to tell you the key is still there. This is the same chime that you would hear if you left the headlights on.
If you do not here the chime, then the BCM doesnt see the key, hence the reason for you not getting the message.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[c5blackvert]

ONT DO IT!!!
Lets get back to basics.
Remove your battery and charge it with a battery charger.
Then, reattempt to install the battery and start the vehicle.
Chances are, you will be fine and NOT need to do anything else.
Allthebest, c4c5

Daughters boyfriend never made it last night so this morning is disconnected the battery, put in terminal bolts and threw the trickle charger on (yes I took the key out of the ignition) and WOW! I went to taking 6 amps!!!! Could this really be it? The battery was new in aug of 07 but was dead when I picked the car up at the body shop in January.......could it never have fully charged? I'll let U know later today!

 

[c5blackvert]

O.K., after only an hour of charging it's down to 1 on the trickle charger, doesnt seem to be real short on voltage to charge that quick, I'm going to give it another hour and reconnect and see what happens......seems my boat takes a lot longer to charge back up when I run it dead.....sorry not a battery expert! LOL

 

[DRTH VTR]

I have had the "service column lock" message on the DIC for about a week. I also had some flickering of the lights for several months. I took the battery in for testing a couple of times, and was convinced by the automotive people that I did not need a battery. But I kept coming back to that as a cause for some of my issues. I put in a new battery yesterday, and both issues are now resolved. The old battery tested at 12.4 volts.

 

[LLC5]

A fully charged battery does not mean that it is good, only that it is ready to be tested. After fully charging a battery it needs to be load tested (preferably with a real carbon pile load tester), to see if it is any good.

 

[bwing]

HI there,
Sure, if the lock cylinder inner plunger is shorted, this could occur.
A quick test is to insert the key into the ignition and then open the drivers side door.
If the BCM sees the key in the ignition, your chime will go off once per second to tell you the key is still there. This is the same chime that you would hear if you left the headlights on.
If you do not here the chime, then the BCM doesnt see the key, hence the reason for you not getting the message.
Allthebest, c4c5

Thanks for the info. Going to give this a try today.

 

[bwing]

A fully charged battery does not mean that it is good, only that it is ready to be tested. After fully charging a battery it needs to be load tested (preferably with a real carbon pile load tester), to see if it is any good.

Will take my new battery to the shop later today and have them test it by putting a load on it. Thanks.

 

[c5blackvert]

Charged the battery......."remove key" every time I took the key out.........I was DONE!......... Got in the car with the door open, pushed in the clutch, turned the key and it siad "door opened", and the car started....no remove key...........I have started the car 5 times (in a 5 hur period) with the "door opened" and no "remove key" message.....HHHEEEELLLPPPPPP!!!!

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
What are you looking for???
Service column lock? or remove key, wait ten second?
'remove key', meaning that your chime is going off after you remove the key??
Please explain.
Were you able to drive the vehicle?
Allthebest, c4c5