The Corvette Recall
Discussion
This is driving me nuts. I have copied the bulletin that was previously posted on this forum about the Corvette recall and it is clear from that that the manual cars are all to be recalled to reprogramme the computer.
I'm trying to buy a Z06 in the US and am making it a condition of sale that the recall work is completed. However, it seems the retards at GM haven't actually got round to doing anything about it and haven't told any of their dealers about it, what to do about it or how to fix cars. Accordingly, the guy who is hoping to sell me his car has been banging his head against a wall trying to get the work done.
I don't particularly want to jeapardise the sale over a ha'porth of tar but is it anticipated that such warranty work will be done in the UK? I don't particularly relish the idea of using my annual allowance travelling to BM in Manchester five years hence when they can fit me in.
Has anyone heard anything more about this?
I'm trying to buy a Z06 in the US and am making it a condition of sale that the recall work is completed. However, it seems the retards at GM haven't actually got round to doing anything about it and haven't told any of their dealers about it, what to do about it or how to fix cars. Accordingly, the guy who is hoping to sell me his car has been banging his head against a wall trying to get the work done.
I don't particularly want to jeapardise the sale over a ha'porth of tar but is it anticipated that such warranty work will be done in the UK? I don't particularly relish the idea of using my annual allowance travelling to BM in Manchester five years hence when they can fit me in.
Has anyone heard anything more about this?
The dealers must know about it in the same way as we do, but they probably have not been fully briefed by GM yet. I think the bulletin said that the recall was during "the second quater of 2004" so we are not quite there yet. There will be numerous UK owners with US vehicles over here. As GM have instigated the recall, surely they must want as many cars as possible to be rectified regardless of which country they have ended up in. They would not want the publicity should they refuse to do the warranty work in (say) England, and then someone is injured (or worse) as a direct result of this problem.
Why not speak to BM for reassurance. I'm hoping that any cars recalled will be trailered to BM as many of us will have limited mileage policies but that is probably wishful thinking on my part.
Don't let this put you off buying your car.
Why not speak to BM for reassurance. I'm hoping that any cars recalled will be trailered to BM as many of us will have limited mileage policies but that is probably wishful thinking on my part.
Don't let this put you off buying your car.
GM have declared all yellow Z06 cars to be unroadworthy.
Alternatively try:
http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=2496
Alternatively try:
http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=2496
Well our 02 is going on a flatbed tomorrow and heading to BM for some other warrantee work. We asked about the recall and they are supposed to be doing that also. Bit worried about being one of the first but didn’t want to send the car up there more than necessary so hopefully they know what they are doing.
Bit better than Chrysler where I had to spend 2 days to drive the 350 mile round trip to get the viper sorted and they still charged me £40 for the 5 minute job I asked them to do while they had it.
Bit better than Chrysler where I had to spend 2 days to drive the 350 mile round trip to get the viper sorted and they still charged me £40 for the 5 minute job I asked them to do while they had it.
From the information I have, the autos have a locking plate on the column that is actuated electronically but which can and should have been removed as it was on US cars. The manual cars have a different system controlled by the computer and not involving any locking plate so the computer has to be reprogrammed.
Inspiring isn't it. Given that the area rep in the US doesn't know what's going on, I suspect that the dealer who is goin to fix it will just remove the plate per general advice. Manual owners moght have to sweat a bit longer.
Stick Corvette Recall into Google for full details.
Inspiring isn't it. Given that the area rep in the US doesn't know what's going on, I suspect that the dealer who is goin to fix it will just remove the plate per general advice. Manual owners moght have to sweat a bit longer.
Stick Corvette Recall into Google for full details.
I e-mailed GM Europe recently to find out about the timing of the recall. What follows is their response.
"Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding your Chevrolet Corvette.
The only information we at Cadillac Europe have at the moment is that certain Corvette models 1997 – 2004 will be recalled to the dealer and that this action will take place somewhere in the second quarter of 2004.
It could be that the actual campaign does not start until the 3rd quarter of 2004. As soon as the campaign starts all customer and other parties will be notified.
Thank you for contacting Cadillac Europe and allowing me to comment.
Yours sincerely
Trina Whiteside
Customer Service Manager
Cadillac Europe"
"Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding your Chevrolet Corvette.
The only information we at Cadillac Europe have at the moment is that certain Corvette models 1997 – 2004 will be recalled to the dealer and that this action will take place somewhere in the second quarter of 2004.
It could be that the actual campaign does not start until the 3rd quarter of 2004. As soon as the campaign starts all customer and other parties will be notified.
Thank you for contacting Cadillac Europe and allowing me to comment.
Yours sincerely
Trina Whiteside
Customer Service Manager
Cadillac Europe"
Incidentally, the recall only stops the car being driven away by shutting off the fuel feed, it doesn't fix the actual column locking up problem. Call it prevention of legal liability but the column lock bypass is still the answer apparently which is why I went ahead and bought one without the recall.
I've been following the discussion on this recall and do not yet fully understand the risk if any other than inconvenience, provided we are aware of the possible problem. Questions,
How is the steering lock pin activated? What I mean is does it move in one direction on a spring and the other by motor/solenoid or does it move both ways by motor/solenoid? (I hear a noise as it engages)
If it locks by motor/solenoid is the risk an electrical risk of activation at the wrong time?
How is the steering lock pin activated? What I mean is does it move in one direction on a spring and the other by motor/solenoid or does it move both ways by motor/solenoid? (I hear a noise as it engages)
If it locks by motor/solenoid is the risk an electrical risk of activation at the wrong time?
I believe it's activated by the computer on manuals but not sure about autos, except that it's different.
The fault is that sometimes the steering lock does not disengage. When it doesn't disengage, the fuel pump is supposed to shut off automatically, stopping the car from starting and being driven. The fault is that this doesn't always happen so the car can still be driven with the steering lock on, leading to accidents (in theory although you'd have to be doing a getaway driver routine not to notice). The recall does not cure the steering lock fault (as I understand it) but rather ensures the fuel pump cuts out. You get to keep the fault, GM avoid liability.
The fault is that sometimes the steering lock does not disengage. When it doesn't disengage, the fuel pump is supposed to shut off automatically, stopping the car from starting and being driven. The fault is that this doesn't always happen so the car can still be driven with the steering lock on, leading to accidents (in theory although you'd have to be doing a getaway driver routine not to notice). The recall does not cure the steering lock fault (as I understand it) but rather ensures the fuel pump cuts out. You get to keep the fault, GM avoid liability.
Cadillac Europe have e-mailed me today. This is what they said:
"Dear Mr. Rogers,
I have checked our data and your vehicle is indeed included in the safety campaign.
At this moment Cadillac Europe B.V. is collecting all the date and owner information of all vehicles involved.
We are doing this for all of Europe some you can image this taking some time.
In the nearby future you shall receive a letter from us requesting you to contact a dealer for the repair/replacement of some parts of your vehicle.
To be short, we are busy handling this safety campaign"
"Dear Mr. Rogers,
I have checked our data and your vehicle is indeed included in the safety campaign.
At this moment Cadillac Europe B.V. is collecting all the date and owner information of all vehicles involved.
We are doing this for all of Europe some you can image this taking some time.
In the nearby future you shall receive a letter from us requesting you to contact a dealer for the repair/replacement of some parts of your vehicle.
To be short, we are busy handling this safety campaign"
Stuff GM.
Basically, on the later and European autos, GM took out the column locking pin altogether so you shouldn't have a column lock at all. This, to my mind, is an admission that it's a "no fixer". Reason they took it out of the auto only is that the transmission provides a theft deterrent as it locks in Park and let's face it, a column lock is no deterrent to your average thief. They left it on the manual as a token theft deterrent but the fault remains: You get a message saying to remove the key and well, look it up yourself, the long and the short of it is that the column locks and you have to have it towed to fix it if brute force fails to disengage it.
The only way to ensure it doesn't happen is a column lock bypass. These are $50-$60 and I got mine from Corvettes of Houston. Basically, you take off the driver's side knee panel, unplug an easily identified connector, use the supplied power lead (which plugs into the cigarete lighter)to automatically disengage the lock then unplug and discard the power lead. You then simply plug in the little black box provided and stick it to the column shroud, replace the panel and then forget the C5 ever had a problem with column locks.
Basically, on the later and European autos, GM took out the column locking pin altogether so you shouldn't have a column lock at all. This, to my mind, is an admission that it's a "no fixer". Reason they took it out of the auto only is that the transmission provides a theft deterrent as it locks in Park and let's face it, a column lock is no deterrent to your average thief. They left it on the manual as a token theft deterrent but the fault remains: You get a message saying to remove the key and well, look it up yourself, the long and the short of it is that the column locks and you have to have it towed to fix it if brute force fails to disengage it.
The only way to ensure it doesn't happen is a column lock bypass. These are $50-$60 and I got mine from Corvettes of Houston. Basically, you take off the driver's side knee panel, unplug an easily identified connector, use the supplied power lead (which plugs into the cigarete lighter)to automatically disengage the lock then unplug and discard the power lead. You then simply plug in the little black box provided and stick it to the column shroud, replace the panel and then forget the C5 ever had a problem with column locks.
LuS1fer said:
Basically, on the later and European autos, GM took out the column locking pin altogether so you shouldn't have a column lock at all.
Wayne - are you sure about this because mine is a European Auto and yet it is included in the recall. I've thought about the by-pass and may well pick one up later this month. However I'm all for the recall as no doubt GM will transport my car to the authorised dealer and with any luck I can coincide it with a service.
No, I'm not sure about that but as for GM transporting your car to the dealer, I'll believe that when I see it.
LOL.
Simple test really. When the key is out, is there a whirr and does the steering lock engage - ie can you still turn the wheel. If you can turn the wheel, you haven't got a locking pin. If you haven't got a whirr, whirr ya gonna be?
>> Edited by LuS1fer on Monday 9th August 17:37
LOL.
Simple test really. When the key is out, is there a whirr and does the steering lock engage - ie can you still turn the wheel. If you can turn the wheel, you haven't got a locking pin. If you haven't got a whirr, whirr ya gonna be?
>> Edited by LuS1fer on Monday 9th August 17:37
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