Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

[Robert B.]

Is the column lock judged during Flight Judging? If I were to install a bypass, would it cost points, or would it be dismissed because of the recalls?

[Bob D.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

Robert

That should be judged during Operations and yes that would cost you some points. Get a copy of the judging sheets which are available on this web site.

Bob

[Robert B.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

Bob, I have the Judging Manual and the score sheet and actually neither one makes any mention of this at all. Can I assume it's just not judged, in that case?

[Robert B.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

It is noted in the PV but not for Flight Judging. Mine works perfectly but I have been strongly encouraged to bypass it as it can go bad at the worst time.

[Bob D.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

I would not assume that it is not judged. The PV manual usually encompasses ops, they just are not a stringent as on a PV.

[Ken R.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

On one of my cars, dealer did the GM fix to bypass the steering column lock. If it is a safety "fix" by GM I would think it would be ok. That may need to be addressed in manual in future. I may still have a copy of the bulletin, will look.

[Tom R.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

Good question and one I had not thought of...in the event I elect to get my 2000 judged. The bypass on my 2k acted up and when taken in, the dealer just flash the chip or something. Its a six speed which is a different treatment than the automatic. It acted up again and I corrected the recurrence by installing the bypass. That was years ago and hasn't occurred since. Think my last major drive was the national at Windsor.

Its not fun getting stranded somewhere because the freaking bypass locks up...points or no points!

[Ken R.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

Here is a copy of shop ticket for the GM recall warr. work done on my 99 auto in March, 2002. Since it is a safety recall I would think NCRS has to address that in judging as no deducts. Was not fun to try to unlock steering column when it locked on me.
IMG.jpg

[Tom R.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

I just thought of something while retrieving a battery core to pickup a battery for my 78. BTW, AutoZone now carries AC Delco batteries!

What came to mind in regards to the C5 column bypass is a seminar I listed to from the C5 Tech who conducts seminars at Carlisle on this topic and many others. As I recall, he said the issue is that the mechanism depends on the reserve capacity of the battery and that as owners changed out batteries, the RC was insufficient of the service replacement batteries. Thus the battery RC power was insufficient to unlock the column bypass mechanism. I thought I had this written up but couldn't find it. I'll have to think about where I might have stuffed this. But here's the numbers off what I believe is my original C5 Battery

Model 78-7yr
800 CCA
110 RC

Just to contrast, these are numbers off what I believe is the 78 battery:
Model 74-6yr
555 CCA
100 RC

I also have another what I believe is for the 78 with 670 CCA and 90 RC. The point is...check your battery for reserve capacity. According to the C5 Tech...that's the key. In fact if you Google you can probably retrieve that particular seminar just use the verbiage of the bypass interlock or whatever its called. That way, with a correct, configured, cranking amp, reserve capacity battery the requirement for the bypass mechanism is off the table. BTW, I'll have to check the RC for the Current C5 battery...I believe its out of compliance! LOL

Oh yeah, as I recall this was fixed on 03

[Ken R.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

As I remember my problem was a binding up of the pin in the lock. The lock is actually a metal ring with slots in it around the outside. If steering wheel is a bit turned when the lock engages, the pin is in a bind against the lock ring. Then the motor doesn't have horsepower to retract the pin. GM fix was to take out the metal ring with slots and install a "washer" with smaller diameter. No way it will lock then!
Here's a bit of explanation:

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/vemp-0808-c5-corvette-steering-lock-repair

[Tom R.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

Interesting the date of this tech tip was 2008 and sponsored by Mid-America in MotorTrend Magazine. The C5 tech seminars all occurred in the second decade and thus the history of the problem came into focus with critical thinking and analysis.

Frankly, this would be a great tech article for the Restorer with the correct fix accompanied by a constructive, informative review of the problem and relevant solutions. Let's face it, early fixes amount to buying parts by vendors with that task but worked. But if the problem was no more than reserve capacity cranking amps, that should be communicated to the membership.

[Ken R.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

In my case, the problem was the binding of the pin in the disk. The motor was not powerful enough to retract the pin in this case. A new battery may or probably not have solved the problem over time. In some cases the pin would "bounce" upon retraction and go back into the slot. That was an entirely different problem presented. GM just did not make a very good design of the entire setup. The "new" solution is to bypass the entire column setup and fake out the computer. Then you just hope the pin doesn't jam into the ring at some time.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Column Lock Bypass and Flight Judging

For judging, I would suspect this is treated like any other recall item. Those who do not have it fixed may score slightly higher than those who do, as we aim to have the car in "Day 1" configuration.

However, given the severity of the issue, it's up to the C5 Team Leader and Dave B to determine if a bypass is a PV fail. I suspect few would pass PV as time goes on if this is a "pass or fail" item.