new guy needs help with his 88

[shakey]

Hi All.I am a very recent Corvette owner and must say that the car and this site are truely great. I do need some help with some questions I have been trying to figure out twith the car. It has the Z52 Sport handling package. I am ordering rotors for the front but the place needs to know if I have the Heavy Duty suspension. Which package was considered Heavy Duty the Z51 or Z52.

The second problem is with the factory alarm system. It itself is not the problem just that the prior owner installed an aftermarket
system as well. The aftermarket system has the remote door unlocks. However that does not turn off the factory alarm system.
Since my horn does not work I can't hear the Factory system but I do have to replace the horn and every time I get in the car I would like to just use the keyless remote.
Is there a way to disable the factory system?

Thanks for your advice and a great site!

 

[Rob]

Shakey,

Welcome to the Corvette Action Center and thank you for the kind words about our site.

The Z51 option is known as the "heavy duty" performance handling package. The Z52 option is known as the Sport Handling Package.

Z51 consisted of: Radiator Boost Fan, Delco Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Engine Oil Cooler, Heavy Duty Radiator, heavy duty suspension, 17 x 9.5" wheels and a faster steering ratio.

Z52 consisted of: Radiator Boost Fan, Delco Bilstein Shock Absorbers, Engine Oil Cooler, 17 x 9.5" wheels and a faster steering ratio.

As for the factory alarm system, I'm unsure about that. Hopefully someone else will be able to help you. Keep us posted!

 

[shakey]

Thanks Rob,
I had placed the order for Rotors telling the guy I had the Z52 Sport Handling package. He guesses that was the Heavy duty. I should have known the Z51 was the beefier choice. Oh well I just placed another order. It is funny how you mentioned what came with the Z51 package as I also have the Heavy duty Radiator.
Are those rotors floating?

 

[69MyWay]

Shakey

Sounds like the prior owner had a keyless system installed, but they did not do their homework and wound up creating a mess.

I recently put a keyless on my 90, and it took me a while to figure out how to work with the factory alarm system.

-=Jeff=- here was a great help in getting me started.

I don't have time to search it for you at the moment, but if you run a search on the C4 section here for Keyless stuff (I think my post was called Generic Keyless, or something like that), I did go into some details on the relay you need to put in the system to "trigger" the keyed door lock switch and disarm the system.


Corvette Mid America sells a kit that has the appropriate relay system in place to do the trick. Don't know the price, but you might want to just call them direct, get that system, and replace all of yours if you can't figure out from my prior post how to get yours working.


Chris

 

[shakey]

69MyWay

I did check out that post and it had alot of info. My biggest holdup
is that I did not put the system in and am very reluctant to play
with the factory system. I figured to just disconnect it (but safe it)
and use the aftermarket.

In the meantime I can just use the aftermarket keyless with remote autostart, and before we get in I just have to manually stick the key in and shut off the factory system. I can usually figure wiring out it's just that I have a major house rebuilding job going on at the same time.
I should have known better than a 2 front war oops I mean 2 projects at the same time. L

Thanks again

 

[JonM]

I installed an Alpine aftermarket alarm with keyless entry in my car. It works "with" the factory alarm system. When a door is opened both alarms go off. When you press the fob it will shut the factory and aftermarket off and open the doors. Its like reaching in the window and pressing the electric lock buttons then opening the doors. If you really want to dissconnect the factory...Their is a fuse behind the multiuse center. (above radio) However, I think that also defeats the auto door locks. (not possitive)

 

[shakey]

JonM

That fuse behind the radio is probably the ticking sound I hear
for 1-2 minutes when I first get in the car. That would be interesting to know if it knocks out the door locks.

 

[JonM]

Hopefully that ticking isn’t from an ex lover or someone that is ****ed at you. (Remember Captain Hook and the Crock?) There are many different components behind that panel that could be ticking. For instance, seatbelt/key module, horn relay, theft deterrent and starter interrupt module.

 

[shakey]

It actually sounds like a flasher but it makes sense that it could be the factory alarm trying to trigger the horn(which is busted)
It stops after a minute or 2 and it does start right up so I don't believe it is a starter interupt. I will investigate further and connect seat belts but I just don't think that is the cause.

Thanks again

 

[WhalePirot]

One problem or many?

My after market system works with the factory system as well. My installer did a good job and I am happy to be able to pop the hatch and do the rest. What a shame that some shops hang out a shingle, calling themselves whatever, and cannot properly install the units they sell on the increasingly sophisticated cars.

Seems it might be about the same amount of trrouble, but much more satisfying, to get the systems to work properly rather than disable, which I'd expect could cause untold headaches. Rather like swapping one problems for two more.

Amen to the two front war! The dust is settling here, at last!

Varoom!

 

[shakey]

If i am reading this right the aftermarket system was installed some 7 yrs ago. The aftermarket system is pretty cool, pops the hatch leyless entry and a remote car start. I believe they only screwed up the shutting off the factory system.

Yes I would love to have both systems working together.
With time I will correct it, so a temp solution is great as long as I don't create more problems.

I spent alot of time last night just replacing the bushings in the drivers side headlight, just so that it works correctly. What a PITA.

 

[shakey]

I did confirm last night that the ticking sound was caused by not shutting off the factory alarm system.
So for now I just have to shut off both alarms and I'll be ok.
I ordered the correct brake rotors for the car and picked up some new horns. I think I am set, but we'll find out after she gets her inspection. Thanks again to all for your info, and with any luck I can contribute some soon too.

 

[shakey]

It looks like I have to do alot more homework. I replaced the horns and adjusted the actual steering wheel activator and now they work fine. I figured I would activate the aftermarket alarm and see what happens figuring the horns would go off. MY big suprise was that they did not. I guess they did use all the proper
gear and relays to hook this aftermarket kit up right. I probably did not enter the car the correct way one time "or something". L

My last bug seems to be that if the car sits for more than 5 days the battery will drain. New battery so I am looking for stuff. But hey it's all good just means I have to drive her more right.

Till next time thanks again for all your help and advice.

 

[Rob]

Shakey,

Keep in mind that there is a constant electrical draw on the battery at all times with a C4 and C5 Corvette. If the battery is weak to begin with, it may not last in between drives. Just something else to keep in mind.

 

[shakey]

Besides the alarm system , What type of drain? I know during the period I mentioned above I was working on replacing the bushings for the driver side light motor . That did use some juice.
I am hoping that by me doing all the small stuff to the car I probably did not help it. I will keep monitoring it just wondering what other drains there are?

 

[shakey]

Well she is in the shop today for the state safety and emissions inspection. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[jeepie]

Sounds like you have a couple of problems that may be related. I posted how to start looking
for a battery drain do a search for "1990 Battery drain " and go to the end, that should get you started, if you have any questions just post them.
Good luck.

 

[vigman]

Like this

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14621&highlight=1990+Battery+drain

Vig!

 

[jeepie]

Yup, that would work too.

 

[shakey]

I really have to test a few things. Like I said during that 5 day period I had been doing some work. All of these things were draining the battery, lights ,horns ,bulbs oh my. L It may have been a self inflicted wound. The other thing I have to check is the alternator and regulator. After about 10 minutes of running the gauge and a voltmeter read about 13.2 - 13.4 even at a higher rpm nothing higher.

On a good note she just passed safety inspection,just waiting on emissions tests.

And a better note I lost my new status . : )