Corvette Engineers and Development

[Rob]

This is probably a little off-topic for the C5 Forum here, but in light of the "noise" thread in this forum, I wanted to try and shed a different light on Corvette Development and the engineers responsible for developing that plastic beast we all know and love.

By nature, I think that Corvette owners can be overly critical at times. In fact, some of us can actually border on being rude and feel that Corvette Development is out of touch with customer concerns and doesn't care what customers think.

That could not be further from the truth!

Regardless of what anyone says, I am 100% convinced that Corvette Development engineers in charge of quality control do the very best they can to meet customer concerns. I have heard several stories in Carlisle this weekend about GM Engineers busting their butts to address and resolve VALID quality issues as reported on the dealer level. They are very much in contact with their dealers' service departments and want very much to satisfy customer concerns.

Before you rag on Corvette engineers in regards to your C5 and how something works, or doesn't work the way you think it should, remember that these guys are just like you and me. They are Corvette enthusiasts to the CORE. They eat, sleep and (bleep) "Corvette".

In talking with a couple of the engineers this weekend, you can literally start to see them get excited and their eyes flare up when they talk about the work they have done on the C5 and the testing they do. They are just as enthusiastic about the Corvette as you and I.

They get just as turned on by seeing some 1962 Corvette with a blower and slicks on the back as we do (well, excluding the NCRS folks :L )

Above all else, they are humans just like you and me and they are extremely proud of what they do.

This also goes for the folks at the Bowling Green Corvette manufacturing facility. If you've ever had a chance to take a tour through there, you can see that these folks take great pride in what they build.

Wil Cooksey, who is in charge of the facility, is not only extremely proud of what he does, but he is a riot! I didn't get much of a chance to talk to him in Carlisle as he was busy signing autographs, but he had many of us laughing away as we were standing in line waiting to get autographs.

This is just a slight glimpse into the type of people that engineer and build the sports car we all know and love.

 

[c4c5specialist]

I know first hand the commitment from everyone at Corvette.
Without the support that I have from Brand quality, line engineers, NCM, and mangers, my job would be so much harder.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[JBsC5]

I know first hand the Corvette team cares about owners satisfaction.

Is my car absolutely perfect all the time. Hell no..but guess what?

The proactive approach to meet and exceed my expectations as a corvette owner make the entire ownership experience the best I could ask for.

This is one kick @ss ride and I will never own another sports car..other than a brand new corvette.

I never was so into corvette and yet since GM invited me to that GM ride of lifetime..with Stu Hayner and I drove one of these..it was all over. I just got on the phone and ordered one up. That was my 1999 C5 A4 which was an amazing car.

When I went for a ride in buddy's Z06..it was all over. I had to get one of those.

I'm sure when I get to drive the next evolution .. C6 or C6 Z06 I'll be tempted to gladly buy again.

Best money I ever spend on a car.

Hell I also get to hang out with cool friends like we've all made on these great forums.

Thanks to C4C5 specialist for always giving us such great insight and also to Rob for this great forum.

Of course thanks to the Corvette team for making such an unbelievable sports car!

The worlds best!

JMO

 

[tankman]

Rob hit it!!

Rob you're right on track with your comments about the dedication and resolve of the Corvette designers and engineers. When you see something that looks wrong, or designed poorly you can bet it was tried a different way and for some reason just didn't make it to production. Corvette designers want nothing more than to put in a huge and powerful motor to crush (not just beat) Vipers and the like, but there's more to it than that. Lots of politics, red tape, bean counters...etc.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Rob,

You have made some valid observations. I have no doubt that many people who work on Corvette development are very, very dedicated.

However, from a consumer/Corvette owner's standpoint, I am frustrated with how long it takes Chevrolet to correct a known problem with the C5 (column lock, premature seat cover wear, fuel gauge problems, A4 shift rumble, headlight bezel plugs blowing out, leaking battery, a/c drain clogging, etc. etc. etc.).

After I ordered my 1999 C5 coupe in June 1998, the dedicated C5 assembly plant workers went on strike, which delayed my car's build and delivery. It was obvious then that the workers did not care about the customers that were buying the cars that paid their salaries.

I enjoy my C5 a lot - it is my third Corvette. But the quality and reliablity issues should not be overlooked or minimized because the car is a "Corvette".

 

[motorman]

i am on my 9 th corvette a 02 coupe and it is the "BEST VETTE YET". a lot of the problems with the corvette,column lock,gas gauge etc are cause by things that GM has no control over. the federal goverment specs the gasoline for different parts of the country and the different additives lead to the fuel gauge problem,BMW has the same problems because they use the same system. the column lock problem is caused by drivers who pull on the steering wheel to pull themselves out of the seat which causes the bind on the lock pin but without the steering wheel lock your insurance would be higher. i will be ordering my C-6 as soon as my dealer has the info and i know it will be the "BEST VETTE YET"

 

[Rob]

99WhiteC5Coupe,

I enjoy my C5 a lot - it is my third Corvette. But the quality and reliablity issues should not be overlooked or minimized because the car is a "Corvette".

I agree. I'm really not sure why it takes them longer to address some issues over others. It may very well be a question of proper time to conduct thorough research, determine if there is a widespread problem and if so, develop a reliable solution to address the problem.

After I ordered my 1999 C5 coupe in June 1998, the dedicated C5 assembly plant workers went on strike, which delayed my car's build and delivery. It was obvious then that the workers did not care about the customers that were buying the cars that paid their salaries.

I'm not sure I agree with that but I also do not have a clear understanding of how Unions operate. Because a group of employees goes on strike, does not mean that they don't care about the customer. It means that for whatever reasons, they feel that their employer is not treating them appropriately, or neglecting some aspect of their employment be it working conditions, salary or benefits.

Motorman:

The problem with the batteries leaking acid is kind of interesting.

Last year, I received a phone call from a friend who had just bought a new battery for his 2001 Pontiac Grand Am from the dealer. He got stranded at a sub shop during his lunch hour. He told me he got in the car, turned the ignition and heard nothing, but all of a sudden the interior lights, gauges etc., lit up extremely bright and then went out.

When he got out of the car, there was a small amount of smoke coming out of the hood. He opened the hood to find that one of the battery cables was hanging there still bolted to the terminal, but the terminal had popped out of the battery and there was acid leaking all over the place.

Shortly afterwards, I started hearing similar reports from other Pontiac and Chevrolet owners.

 

[motorman]

GM DELCO has now changed their battery to top posts from what i have been told. they went for years without a problem,my 88 silverado delco side terminal battery lasted 10 years and i only changed it to be safe. it may have been a design change to the case that caused the problem. my wifes 2000 impala has had no problem with the side terminal battery. i have heard the overtightening of the terminal bolts caused the leaks.

 

[Ralph Kramden]

If the Corvette team is so dedicated, why have they not come up with a permanent fix for the well known and widespread rocking seat problem?

The power seats in my 16 year old Buick were solid as a rock. Why can't the seats in my Vette be as solid?

This is something that drives me crazy every day, and really interferes with my enjoyment of the car.

 

[Rob]

If the Corvette team is so dedicated, why have they not come up with a permanent fix for the well known and widespread rocking seat problem?

The power seats in my 16 year old Buick were solid as a rock. Why can't the seats in my Vette be as solid?

This is something that drives me crazy every day, and really interferes with my enjoyment of the car.

Is this what you're referring to?

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/question.php?qstId=277

 

[Ralph Kramden]

Yes. I've had the "fix" done, even though my car vin is AFTER the breakpoint, and the rocking came back in a couple of months. I've talked to numerous other C5 owners who have had the "fix" only to have it come back like I have.

It is totally unacceptable.

 

[rfe]

Engineer & Dealer Apathy

Sorry Rob that hasn't been my experience. In fact I have experienced the exact opposite with the dealer and the engineers shunning my repair issues.

 

[Rob]

Re: Engineer & Dealer Apathy

Sorry Rob that hasn't been my experience. In fact I have experienced the exact opposite with the dealer and the engineers shunning my repair issues.

Bob,

If you don't mind me asking, what were the repair issues and how were they handled, or not handled?

 

[tankman]

union bashing

99WhiteC5Coupe , in repy to your statement...

After I ordered my 1999 C5 coupe in June 1998, the dedicated C5 assembly plant workers went on strike, which delayed my car's build and delivery. It was obvious then that the workers did not care about the customers that were buying the cars that paid their salaries

From the sound of it you have never worked for a union, especially not the UAW. People think the union workers get a little angry about something and go on strike just because we're sitting around the coffee machine and have nothing better to do.....Couldn't be further from the truth. The union doesn't go on strike without a vote. Also the company is aware of this in advance. Do you think we like not getting paid (althought the union does kick in some cash) while on strike???
I was on strike a couple of years ago. Why? Because at contract time the company's offer was unacceptable. We went on strike to protect the health care of our retirees. The company tried to completely remove it. It hurt to strike.

Although I'm not the biggest supporter of unions, I realize that without them the "working class job" would still be unbearable for many reasons as it was before unions.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

tankman,

The work stoppage / strike at Bowling Green in 1998 was a result of a dispute over the start-up of a new pickup truck line and the stamping dyes. Various plants stopped working to support the other workers.

However, before the work stoppage Cheverolet accepted my order and the car's build was scheduled. When the strike was staged, the workers ignored their contract and the committments to the customers (dealers or individuals) that ordered new cars.

After the work resumed at the plant, a local paper reported that the assembly line was shut down due to worker sabotage. I still have the article in my car's scrapbook. The paper also quoted a local UAW union official stating that those types of occurrences should be expected after a strike.

During and after the strike, Chevrolet and the dealer were unable to provide me with any information about the plant's start-up and the car's build.

I made the mistake of accepting / buying the car after the strike. That is my mistake - one that I will not repeat. The union and Chevrolet did not even send a form "thank you" letter to their customers for buying the car despite the strike and delayed
delivery.

 

[Greg C]

Don't confuse the Corvette Development Engineers with GM's policy's that are driven by the "bean counters". I know first hand of recomendations that the Dev. Eng's send "up the chain of command" only to have those recomendations stopped by the bean counters because they think it costs to much to admit that this or that needs to be fixed or changed.........