HELP!!Just bought a 2000, think it's a lemon (it is yellow)!!!

[DaMoose]

Here goes... my love affair is short lived. I was really excited when I got it (purchased a few weeks ago) barely put any miles on it (had 19,500 on it when I bought it).

Front end shakes at 70 miles. Right front tire keeps losing pressure (slowly) shakes even when tire pressure is even.

I now have a loud squeek from the engine when it's cold (very loud) When it warms up it goes away.

Throw out bearing now making noise when clutch is dis-engaged... but the worse problem is... I found a stream and puddle of reddish fluid this morning trailing out from the rear end... I am assuming it's tranny fluid since it's a rear mounted tranny.

Any help or direction would be appreciated... I am really bummed right now... thanks for letting me vent!

Moose

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Have a bit of a look!

DaMoose,

I am no mechanic, but I would be checking a few things.
Firstly, get your Vette down to the local tyre (yes this is spelt right, I am in Australia) outlet and get those wheels balanced and the alignment checked. Vibration on the front end is usually a balance problem, if not the aligner will find it.
Secondly, your sqeek sounds like a pulley on the engine that is dry. I would have a look at each pulley to see if it has a lubricant trail leaking from the middle of the pulley to the outside of the pulley. These pulley leaks are common on all serpentine belt systems even our Holden Commodore here in Australia has this GM problem.
Finally, your leak is definately in the trans. I would have a look around at things like speedo cables to see if the leak is coming from there. If not, rip her down to the mechanics to find out where it is coming from. Do you have a small leak or a large leak???

Good luck,

Tony

 

[JBsC5]

I might suggest going to www.corvettemechanic.com and making this post.


Keep the faith...maybe its just a bad tire and /or wheel..

Maybe an extended gmpp WARRANTY from Ken fitchner in montana is a good idea..

Best prices..no sales tax..

I've order two from him and its always worth every penny..

If you decide to sell the car you can get a partial refund too..(I did that with my 1999 C5 and was pleasantly surprised how much GM gave me back..

If you think you have a lemon...contact fitchner chevy in montana and buy one over the phone..

Could really save your @ss...
and if everything works out fine..and you don't need a repair..its still good piece of mind..


JMO

 

[Daryllawman]

Sorry to hear about your sick Vette.......Hang in there, it will get better...Welcome to the Corvette Action Center

 

[pvtpilot]

Well, at the risk of insulting a new member, I would hardly categorize a car as a lemon because a tire is leaking air and it needs a wheel balance (could be previous owner hit a curb and bent the wheel and damaged the tire??). The squeak you describe is probably the serpentine belt. Just replace it. They have a tendency to develop an annoying squeak at about 20K miles. The reddish fluid is the only thing that I find a little serious, but as well as the C5 drivetrain is put together, I wonder again about what the previous owner might have run over ... might be a good idea to get the car on a lift and let your local GM Goodwrench Professional look at it.

 

[ChuckG]

I'm new to C5's but I do know that the trans seals are prone to leakage. It's been an ongoing problem since introduction of the model.

I recently bought a yellow 2000 C5 convertible with 37K miles. Put it on a lift before I bought it, and noticed that one of my rear seals is weeping somewhat. It will need to be replaced sometime in the future.

Is the car still under warranty...with only 19K miles? Do you have an extended warranty? Repair of the seals is covered.

Squeaky belts are no problem.... The shake? Bent wheel...maybe a damaged or flat spotted tire...maybe a shifted belt within the tire. No big deal there. Hope this helps. Chuck

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Or this!

...The squeak you describe is probably the serpentine belt. Just replace it...

This is probably another good tip. Our Holden Commodores have the same serpentine system. I put a Bosch belt on our Commodore after several GM belts and it shut it up straight away.
I do not know if you can get the Bosch part, but the GM part will continue to squeel! The Bosch part has a fabric on one side which eliminates pulley squeels.

Cheers

Tony

 

[Gman]

Well, at the risk of insulting a new member, I would hardly categorize a car as a lemon because a tire is leaking air and it needs a wheel balance (could be previous owner hit a curb and bent the wheel and damaged the tire??). The squeak you describe is probably the serpentine belt. Just replace it. They have a tendency to develop an annoying squeak at about 20K miles. The reddish fluid is the only thing that I find a little serious, but as well as the C5 drivetrain is put together, I wonder again about what the previous owner might have run over ... might be a good idea to get the car on a lift and let your local GM Goodwrench Professional look at it.

Have to agree with pvtpilot. I understand your disapointment, but you're probably over-reacting a bit. Calm down a bit and attack the problems and once again your love affair will be on. Good luck and welcome to the CAC!!

BTW, let us know how things turn out.

 

[theblackvette]

Did you purchase this vehicle from a private owner or a dealer?

If it was from a dealer then this is the kinda of crap that really ticks me off!

Obviously, they did not do a thorough check on the vehicle. If it was from the dealer I would try to get them to buy it back and get another one. This sort of stuff is totally uncalled for. I am also assuming that you have not been doing burnouts each day since you owned the car.

Keep us posted. Sorry to hear about this and I hope it gets resolved SOON!

Here goes... my love affair is short lived. I was really excited when I got it (purchased a few weeks ago) barely put any miles on it (had 19,500 on it when I bought it).

Front end shakes at 70 miles. Right front tire keeps losing pressure (slowly) shakes even when tire pressure is even.

I now have a loud squeek from the engine when it's cold (very loud) When it warms up it goes away.

Throw out bearing now making noise when clutch is dis-engaged... but the worse problem is... I found a stream and puddle of reddish fluid this morning trailing out from the rear end... I am assuming it's tranny fluid since it's a rear mounted tranny.

Any help or direction would be appreciated... I am really bummed right now... thanks for letting me vent!

Moose

 

[JBsC5]

Here's a good plan of action: Get gmpp warranty


Here goes... my love affair is short lived. I was really excited when I got it (purchased a few weeks ago) barely put any miles on it (had 19,500 on it when I bought it).

Front end shakes at 70 miles. Right front tire keeps losing pressure (slowly) shakes even when tire pressure is even. probably the tire or rim..thats easy to fix..

http://corvettemechanic.com/board/index.php?

I now have a loud squeek from the engine when it's cold (very loud) When it warms up it goes away. Thats most probably a belt...or idler arm

Throw out bearing now making noise when clutch is dis-engaged... but the worse problem is... I found a stream and puddle of reddish fluid this morning trailing out from the rear end... I am assuming it's tranny fluid since it's a rear mounted tranny. The seal on differential might just need being properly torqued? I'm just guessing as I don't know the color of the rear differential fluid..but if you suspect its the tranny? Then definitely get in on the GMPP warranty...GET THE GMPP WARRANTY FROM KEN FITCHNER "best pricing" and then write a list for your car to be repaired. In the extended portion of the GMPP warranty..there are even a few shops that are outside the dealer network that can be used..but you need to check which..(if your concerned about bringing back to the same dealer you might have bought the car from if thats the case)

Any help or direction would be appreciated... I am really bummed right now... thanks for letting me vent!

Dont be bummed..you'll get it all straightened out and then you 'll be enjoying the best dam sports car in the world!!

 

[DaMoose]

Thanks to all... am I over reacting??... kinda'... This is my second vette and I have wanted a C5 since they came out. I recently sold my 73 roadster which was pretty cherry, no issues with it... course just about everything had been rebuilt near the end So I am a bit spoiled, I rarely have problems with cars cause I take care of them and do things before they are an issue.

I have to take ownership of the shaking problem since I did not get it up over 70 during the test drive. This was a dealership purchase and my 6th car from them over the years. It is going in Tuesday to have everything looked at.

I will be buying the KEN FITCHNER Warranty that has been suggested.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING SO COOL TOWARDS ME AS I FREAKED OUT!!!!! PVTPILET... no worries about insulting me my brother... all is good.

Moose

 

[theblackvette]

Damoose-I sent you a PM regarding this matter.

Thanks to all... am I over reacting??... kinda'... This is my second vette and I have wanted a C5 since they came out. I recently sold my 73 roadster which was pretty cherry, no issues with it... course just about everything had been rebuilt near the end So I am a bit spoiled, I rarely have problems with cars cause I take care of them and do things before they are an issue.

I have to take ownership of the shaking problem since I did not get it up over 70 during the test drive. This was a dealership purchase and my 6th car from them over the years. It is going in Tuesday to have everything looked at.

I will be buying the KEN FITCHNER Warranty that has been suggested.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING SO COOL TOWARDS ME AS I FREAKED OUT!!!!! PVTPILET... no worries about insulting me my brother... all is good.

Moose

 

[JBsC5]

I would ask that the dealership take responsibility of the car to a great degree.

Was this a GM Preowned certified car?

If so..NAIL THEM ON EVERY ISSUE in the form of a written statement and ask for a written response to the technicians findings.

Meaning give them a list of what is wrong with the car with a proactive tone in the letter..

Then as they return the car to you...

Wheel balancing, tranny leaking...or differential..whichever..belt squeeking..

I recommend at the end of the service call..have a written documentation from the service writer at the desk..

I believe if you bought a preowned certified car your good up to 3 months after purchase..

(contact Ken Fitchner Chevrolet for GMPP warranty pricing b/f you go see the local dealership..)

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

JB

 

[DaMoose]

UPDATE

Took the C5 to the dealer today. They called me back later this afternoon with theses comments.

Leaking tire replaced.
Both front wheels rebalanced. (shake solved)
Serpenitne belt replaced.
Parking brake adjusted.
Tranny to be removed and split the case to repalce seal.
My cost............. Nothing! Without me even asking they said they would cover it... I am very happy!!

The C5 should be home Friday, and I cannot wait!!

Thanks to all for your input... next on the shopping list... WARRANTY!!!!

Damoose

 

[JBsC5]

Congrats and glad it all worked out for you.

Enjoy the Vette..

JB

 

[1g1yy]

In the future only buy cars that are on the Consumers Reports Good Buy list!!