Picking up my 1st Vette (2000) need advice

[Greg C]

Am picking up my 1st Corvette. It's a 2000 Convertible with only 1200 miles on it. Don't know yet exactly the reason for the low miles or how long it sat between drives. The used car dealer that I am buying it from has put 100 or so miles on it recently. Anyway am looking forward to getting the car (I am a car guy...have a 72 442 Convertible now..the Vette is mostly a summer car for the wife). Hoping to get as much of the documentation from the orignal owner if possible. A buddy of mine who is a GM drivetrain development eng. who worked on the C5 project is hopefully going to go with me to pick the car up.
Anyway back to my original question.
When I get the car home (going to trailer it back this saturday), I am planning on taking it to a local Chevy dealer that the service dept. works on Vettes alot to have it checked out, fluids changed ect.....
I have heard that the C5's came with Mobil 1 Synthetic oil....Is this true (cause once you use this type of oil you should stay with it)? Also is there any other special type of fluids (brand, ect....) that should be used in this car? I am mostly into the older cars so this is my first "hands on" with a modern day high performance car. I am assumimg that the owners manual will have all the information I need about tire rotation (if it applies - I have heard that on the newer Vettes the tires are NOT rotated.....that the tires are dedicated to each wheel) but hopefully everything I need to know is in the ower's manual.
What about shop manuals?.......I have seen references to a 3 book set and a set of CD Roms.....any tips on where to buy them and or which ones not to buy? Also are there assembly manuals available for a 2000 C5? Any other manuals that I should get?Any other advice or help on maintaining the car will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Edmond]

Hi Greg and welcome to the CAC. I think that some people bought the car as an investment piece and just didn't drive it. That's why you can still find relatively low miles on ZR-1's.

I forgot when they started using synthetic from the factory but that was many years ago so you do have Mobil 1 synthetic in the vehicle. I would be concerned if the oil has been changed since then. I would assume that the car was delivered in 99' if it's a 00' model right? I hope that they changed the oil and other fluids even though they didn't put the miles on.

 

[Tuna]

Hi and welcome to the Corvette hobby.

1. All Corvettes have been delivered with Mobil 1 in the pan since the first 1992 model (LT1) left the factory. Synthetic has higher temperature capabilities and is better suited to the the operating temps of the Corvette motors. If I'm not mistaken, using regular oil will void the warranty. Stick with Mobil 1 or some other synthetic.

2. I would start out by changing the oil and filter and checking all the other fluid levels. This will give you a base line to begin your ownership of the car.

3. The C5 comes with directional tires and different size wheels front to rear. Don't rotate the tires/wheels. There is also the issue of the tire pressure sensors. They are unique for each wheel. When the DIC gives you a low pressure warning for a particular tire/wheel. You want to know that is true and not have to chase around the car trying to find the low tire because you rotated them.

4. Helms for shop manuals.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gorgon]

As Tuna said the Corvette will come with Mobil 1 in the engine. As to other fluids, GM has their own recommendations for transmission fluid and differntial fluid along with special additives to the differential. The transmission fluid used by my local dealer is called Synchromesh or something similar and is a fully synthetic transmission fluid. The dealer will be able to tell you more.

If this is a 6-speed car the side plates on the differential tend to leak as was stated in the other thread.

Tuna is also correct on the Helms manual. Helms prints the GM shop manual for GM and is the same 3 book set you've seen. You can order direct from Helms or perhaps find a deal on Ebay.

Head over to GM"s web site and register your car in the owner's center.

http://www.chevrolet.com/gmnav/owners/index.html

Then you can download the owner's manual in PDF format to read before hand. All it says about towing is make sure you do it properly. You have to be careful with the low overhangs of the front facia so you don't do any damage.

Good luck.

Leon

 

[wallstAL]

1200 miles thats great, how much are you paying for it???

 

[Cirrus8]

Check the BATTERY!! If it is a Lead/acid, change it out for an AGM battery before it leaks on your main computer module. You shoud check under the battery for leakage before you buy the car. If there has been leakage into the computer module, you are in for big trouble.

 

[Greg C]

Thanks for the tip. I did check that out before I bought the car home. It had 1200 miles on it, battery looks like new (as everything else does), but i did see a posting about the battery leakage and am planning on changing the wet cell out for a AGM type. Thanks again.

 

[hawaii-5-lo]

aloha,
im a do-it yourselfer,and have begun to mod my 99.i got the GMPP extended warrenty.there is 5(i think computers)plus your car doesnt have enough miles on it to show some or all of the c5 querks.fuel sending unit,column lock,leather seats,motors for seats electrical pods in the doors.the list goes on.mine had most of the problems,they were all fixed by 20,000 miles.enter Todd to swoop in and score the deal.i have had zero problems,no leaks,nothin.and i drag race the car alot.good luck and enjoy,Todd.

 

[Blade]

You will even find that the Oil Cap recommends Mobil 1 Synthetic Oil.

Gas it with a High Octane Super Unleaded (Mobil or Amoco).

The Low miles either mean it was more of a collection that stayed in a garage or it was only driven by a little old lady to church on Sundays!

 

[Greg C]

I was told an older couple that seldom drove the car.......

 

[cruzer99]

So........where in the hell are the pictures........

 

[Greg C]

Tomorrow going to Clay-Bar the paint then polish & wax and detail the engine, ect........then if I can find the digital camera..hopefully I can figure out how to put a photo up........