C5 bug...

[maxm]

Hi guys !
I have got the C5 bug. Have been looking at a -97 touch red coupe. 18k on the meeter and a fair price (6000 $ under aver. price)...but...but..there are ofcuorse some things that dont work.

1. Traction control light is on.
2. ABS light is on.
3. Tire presure sensor light is on.
4. A/C does not work.
5. CD player is stolen

I dont know enything abaut the codes yet.
Drivetrain seems OK. It runns nice. BORLA exhaust
What do you think ? What is the worst senario ?
Max

 

[rrubel]

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that 1, 2, and 3 are probably related. Many traction control systems (including GM's on a number of vehicles) use the ABS sensors to determine unequal wheelspin. Same with low tire pressure - not sure about the Vette system, but on some cars low tire pressure is measured by a difference in rotational velocity between the two wheels on an axle (lower pressure effectively lowers the diameter of the tire). Pull the codes and see if it points to a bad ABS sensor.

AC, no idea - could be anything from low refrigerant (depending on car, can keep compressor from cycling because it provides lubrication and the compressor is shut down to avoid seizing) to bad sensors to a bad switch?

[RICHR]

 

[poorboys831]

hi maxm,just a few things to remember or caution you about-I had a '97 and it spent more time in the shop than in my driveway.when i ordered it i didn't want a bunch of bells and whistles.I'm not saying they were bad but chevy did not hesitate to buy it back with 9000 miles on it.I then ordered my '99 and just a few problems with it.I would make sure you get a complete read out from your local dealer to see what has been fixed on it already.Don't get stuck with someone elses problems. those cars are not cheap to fix.BUT they are fun to drive.The traction control lights may go off by pushing the switch-it has an indicator light to show you whether it's on or off.my compressor on my '97 and'99 were on all the time.I'm not sure but the codes can be read by the dealer to see what tripped them.what does the driver info read out say when you push the buttons for tire pressure read out? hope some of this helps you. dennis

 

[poorboys831]

hi again mazm- i just re-read you question -is there a place in sweden that services corvettes?if not i remember seeing an article in VETTE or CORVETTE FEVER a year or so ago that tells you how to pull the codes out of the driver info. center.i can't seem to find it though.I'm sure if you go to the c-5 forums and ask(c4c5specialist)he'll be able to help you out or get you in touch with someone who can give you the directions .he helped me a lot when i had my c-5's dennis

 

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
Personally, extract the codes from the DIC and then we can tell you what is what, in a more informed light.
You see, codes in c5 are tough to diagnose, however, they can tell you more than you can possibly imagine.
Have the car running, clear the DIc messages with the reset button.
Then, push and hold the #4 button, while pushing the #1 button four times.
Have a pen and paper ready, as they come quick, and repost what they are.
YoursinCorvette, c4c5

 

[Vettelt193]

I can say that problems numbers 4 and 5 are not cheap... also 1,2, and 3 can be expensive as well... Without further information, I would guess it has been in an accident... if it hasn't, that is a ton of problems for a vette with only 18k miles!

 

[maxm]

The history of the car is difficult to trace. Like most Corvettes in Sweden it came from Germany.

I did ask the dealer some questions. The car HAS been in an acident. It was hit by an other car on the left front side and the left door. The dealer says it had only scratches in the paint. What is true i dont know.

I will take a very close look at it on friday and try to get the codes.
The buttons you are mentioning are the ones to the right of the gasmeeter. ????

I will get back on the matter.
MaxM

 

[poorboys831]

hi maxm,yes that is correct they read from top to bottom:1-fuel,2-gauges,3-trip,4-options,5-e/m,6-reset dennis

 

[Vettelt193]

only scratches my A$$... it is hard to get into an accident on the front left side, and the left door and leave only scratches on the paint... IMHO the previous owner got rid of the car because he had a ton of accident related problems... I would be very wary of this one... unless the price is unbeatable.... i would inspect the front left side brake, wheel, and the surrounding area... my guess is you will find all of your problems there... probably smacked the wheel around, which messed up the tire sensor (my guess is a faulty front left tire sensor, check by hitting the 'gages' button until it pops up, and you are going over 5 MPH) and also messed up the brake... this could cause errors 1,2, and 3. The A/C could have been affected from the accident as well... and, CD players are notorious for getting stolen from yards where cars are towed to after accidents... why? because the cars are usually left open, and many times the CD players are stolen by the tow truck drivers.... You may have a handful of easy fixes, or you could have far more problems on your hands besides the 5 you already know of... my guess is the latter of the two.

 

[maxm]

talked to yhe dealer 15 min ago...you are right again. He says the fixes are very easy, left weel sensor is broken. The A/C is aut of gas beacuse the meckanik opend the wrong tube.
But wen i drow it it felt OK. No chaking in the steringweel. breaks felt OK.
The price is 23 000 $, a -97 Corvette were everything is OK would cost 27 000 to 29 000 $
The vette i have now is very nice with everything working....dont know....i like the C5 and it is always greener on the other side.
MaxM

 

[Vettelt193]

I think the dealer knows something else is wrong... if the fixes are easy, the dealer would do it for a few hundred bucks, then make thousands more on the sale... obviously something is up, or the dealer is just really dumb... to charge a '97 vette's A/C system, the cost shouldn't be more than $50, the dealer would do that just to make one less thing wrong with the car... people like working A/C.... I would stay away from this one... the grass is green enough on the C4 side of the fence

 

[greg]

my abs /trac cont light was on and it cost 700 bucks just for the part-awheel bearing sensor, plus acouple hrs labor. these cars are way more expensive to fix than the older vettes . you better buy an extra warranty with the car.

 

[maxm]

OK guys...I did not by the car.
The dealer had his office in his back pocket, he did not know the prewius owner, he got the car from someone he did not remember.... and so on.
Once again....thanx....you made me think with the brain not the heart.
MaxM

 

[maxm]

forgot. the grass is green enough on the C4 side of the fence.
MaxM