Low Voltage??

[LeftyVette]

I took my 2000 C5 auto trans Vette to the local Chevy dealer for an oil change and to replace my belts. The service writer called and said my battery was bad (Optima Red Top that is 18 months old). I went up and got the battery and took it to the place I bought it from. They said the battery was good and just need a little charging. They charged it for about fifteen minutes and gave it back to me. I took the battery back to the Chevy shop. Next day, they call and told me the steering column lock motor was burned out. They told me that the cause was low voltage from the "bad" battery. The mechanic said that low voltage can fuse the wires inside the motor. Is this true? I know that low voltage can cause some Gremlins in C5s, but I have never heard it causing a steering column lock motor burning out!!!! Thoughts?

[froggy47]

Originally Posted by LeftyVette

I took my 2000 C5 auto trans Vette to the local Chevy dealer for an oil change and to replace my belts. The service writer called and said my battery was bad (Optima Red Top that is 18 months old). I went up and got the battery and took it to the place I bought it from. They said the battery was good and just need a little charging. They charged it for about fifteen minutes and gave it back to me. I took the battery back to the Chevy shop. Next day, they call and told me the steering column lock motor was burned out. They told me that the cause was low voltage from the "bad" battery. The mechanic said that low voltage can fuse the wires inside the motor. Is this true? I know that low voltage can cause some Gremlins in C5s, but I have never heard it causing a steering column lock motor burning out!!!! Thoughts?

Please read c4c5's sticky about column lock issues, lot's of good info to start with. BTW I have a red top in my 2004 & no CL issues.

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,

That information about low voltage fusing column lock actuators is completely false.

I would get your car out of the dealership as fast as possible.

Allthebest, c4c5

[LeftyVette]

Paul, I was waiting for a response from an expert like you. I have read many of the things you said concerning this issue. I watched the video on the lock situation from your seminars at the Corvette Museum. From what you have taught us I thought this was false. I just wanted to double check.

Before I knew what had happened, the dealership started work on my Vette. I soon woke up and tried to stop the work but it was too late. Paul, do you have any suggestions concerning how to file a complaint with the dealership?

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,

Simply put, go directly to the service manager or the owner.

If you get nowhere, file a case with your department of motor vehicles.

If they work on your vehicle without your approval, that is a violation of law.

Allthebest, c4c5

[LeftyVette]

I did ok the work on a Friday afternoon. They said they were not going to do the job until Monday. When I went up to check the car on Sunday the dash was all apart. Technically, I did give them the ok. I was mainly looking to see what liability the dealership has concerning a technician making a diagnostic mistake.

[LeftyVette]

I talked with the service manager today. He agreed that the low voltage could not permantly damage the column lock motor. He told me that it must just be a coincidence that the column lock went bad while they were doing an oil change and stated that there was nothing he could do. I guess the only thing I can do is be more careful who I trust with my Vette and never again set foot in that dealership. Additionally, when people ask my recommendation concerning Chevy dealers in the area I can direct them to a different dealership. Lesson (expensive lesson) learned !!

[ToolGuy]

So did your car really need a new column lock actuator in the first place, or did the dealer just want to replace it too, just to charge you for something?

Weird to me how you took it in to have the oil and belts changed, only to have the dealer say and oh, your column lock actuator is bad now too without you knowing but blaming a low battery which was/is not the cause for one to burn out as you know.

[dougelam]

I believe that the lock actuator was bad before it was brought in for service. Part of the service is to look over the vehicle and recommend problems or things that could be potential problems. Testing the battery was part of that techs routine and as the lock video showed using a tester his tester failed it, why is another matter. He probably also knew that corvettes had a history of actuators being bad and saw a quick sale.

Just a thought