Vette Glitches
Discussion
Can't help wondering whether the famed reliability of GM products is going to hold up with the Vette. Having checked the forums, it seems my 3900 mile car is already suffering from the well-known glitches like a weeping diff seal. Yesterday I finally got her onto the road and was taking some of the club members out on a swift circuit.
The guy who wants a C5 got in and so did I having unlocked the car remotely. Noticed the electric windows weren't working. Odd. Then no memory seats although they adjusted manually. Odd. Halfway round,, hard boot in second, Blackpool illuminations and SErvice Traction Control, Service Active handling screams onto the DIC. Aaaargh.
I pulled over and pulled the key for 10 seconds and restarted and everything was normal - wiondows, memory seats and no more alarms. My comparing the car to a TVR suddenly made me wonder....
Still, no further problems to report. The car goes like a rocket. I've ordered some stainless steel lettering, the CAGS defeat plug, the column lock bypass, a performance hood seal and some dust caps on the basis someone will steal the ones I have. Has anyone replaced their shifter yet?
I used Corvettes Of Houston who were the only company who had all the stuff I wanted immediately. Same old story, about half a dozen suppliers, none of whom have everything but rather have 4 out of the 6 items required. Even this place didn't have the shorty aerial. Can't use the website as it's US only but so I faxed an order through and they replied promptly.
The guy who wants a C5 got in and so did I having unlocked the car remotely. Noticed the electric windows weren't working. Odd. Then no memory seats although they adjusted manually. Odd. Halfway round,, hard boot in second, Blackpool illuminations and SErvice Traction Control, Service Active handling screams onto the DIC. Aaaargh.
I pulled over and pulled the key for 10 seconds and restarted and everything was normal - wiondows, memory seats and no more alarms. My comparing the car to a TVR suddenly made me wonder....
Still, no further problems to report. The car goes like a rocket. I've ordered some stainless steel lettering, the CAGS defeat plug, the column lock bypass, a performance hood seal and some dust caps on the basis someone will steal the ones I have. Has anyone replaced their shifter yet?
I used Corvettes Of Houston who were the only company who had all the stuff I wanted immediately. Same old story, about half a dozen suppliers, none of whom have everything but rather have 4 out of the 6 items required. Even this place didn't have the shorty aerial. Can't use the website as it's US only but so I faxed an order through and they replied promptly.
Try www.westcoastcorvette.com they are wonderful for bits. I have the Breathlessperformance shifter as the standard one is pants!
LuS1fer said:
Still, no further problems to report. The car goes like a rocket. I've ordered some stainless steel lettering, the CAGS defeat plug, the column lock bypass, a performance hood seal and some dust caps on the basis someone will steal the ones I have. Has anyone replaced their shifter yet?
I've replaced my Gear knob on a Auto, the destructions made it sound dead hard in the end i just fitted the dam thing with out them and it was really easy, looked loads better than that rubishy black one with the big centre button.
...and I have the Hurst. Anything is better than the standard shifter and gear knob. Some people just cut down the shaft of the stock shifter to avoid getting extra noise through. Personally I like the noise !
Here's a good page for you to look at: www.thelapd.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=thelapd&Category_Code=STST
>> Edited by te51cle on Tuesday 13th July 20:37
Here's a good page for you to look at: www.thelapd.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=thelapd&Category_Code=STST
>> Edited by te51cle on Tuesday 13th July 20:37
I've looked at most of these places but West Coast Corvettes don't do the column lock bypass. Shame really as they were potential winners until I got that far. Some have the Hurst shifter but not the white Hurst knob that I want. Weird.
I'll definitely do the shifter but as usual the forums serve only to confuse. Some swear by the original Ripper, including one who was on his third shifter. Many have the Hurst (there's a thread on corvetteforum about not inverting the original seal but cutting it down instead to seal out and minimise the noise as well as the stocker - oh, here it is: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=857381), someone says the Kirban is good and others swear by the BBF or PFF or something which has an adjustable angle so you end up just as confused as you were before. Anyone know if a Vararam intake can be shipped or is it too big?
I swopped the auto gearknob on the Z28 for an MBA Products push down billet piece - it's so much faster to use.
>> Edited by LuS1fer on Tuesday 13th July 22:42
I'll definitely do the shifter but as usual the forums serve only to confuse. Some swear by the original Ripper, including one who was on his third shifter. Many have the Hurst (there's a thread on corvetteforum about not inverting the original seal but cutting it down instead to seal out and minimise the noise as well as the stocker - oh, here it is: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=857381), someone says the Kirban is good and others swear by the BBF or PFF or something which has an adjustable angle so you end up just as confused as you were before. Anyone know if a Vararam intake can be shipped or is it too big?
I swopped the auto gearknob on the Z28 for an MBA Products push down billet piece - it's so much faster to use.
>> Edited by LuS1fer on Tuesday 13th July 22:42
On the Vette Glitches....
I have a list of things I would rather change, or not have. They are mostly little things which are either part of the personality of that car or the brand, namely:
- The boot takes a long time to open via remote (i think there is a fix for this).
- AC outlet is non-switchable
- My Memory seats sometime don't move as Wayne put. I think it is the skirt of the leather catching on the rails.
- Cruise increments sometimes are in two's - ie 77, 78, then 80, then 81 etc...
-HUD is not always synched to Speed Gauge or Cruise Exactly.
- Excessive wind noise over 100mph on the drivers side (mine is a coupe). Anyone else?
- Air Conditioner does not always turn off when pressing the AC button. It flashes a few times but stays on! Anyone else?
- Erratic Fuel Gauge (a common problem)
- Handbrake position and effectiveness
- HUD does not adjust with driver memory
- Glove boxes (central and passenger) too small
- No in door storage
- High Tyre Pressure Alerts (common again)
- Key/Remote wear of button symbols and design
Please note that I love my car, even with all these characteristics! If i was designing the car I would probably look at revisting some of these items. I wonder how many of these a C6 fixes!
I have a list of things I would rather change, or not have. They are mostly little things which are either part of the personality of that car or the brand, namely:
- The boot takes a long time to open via remote (i think there is a fix for this).
- AC outlet is non-switchable
- My Memory seats sometime don't move as Wayne put. I think it is the skirt of the leather catching on the rails.
- Cruise increments sometimes are in two's - ie 77, 78, then 80, then 81 etc...
-HUD is not always synched to Speed Gauge or Cruise Exactly.
- Excessive wind noise over 100mph on the drivers side (mine is a coupe). Anyone else?
- Air Conditioner does not always turn off when pressing the AC button. It flashes a few times but stays on! Anyone else?
- Erratic Fuel Gauge (a common problem)
- Handbrake position and effectiveness
- HUD does not adjust with driver memory
- Glove boxes (central and passenger) too small
- No in door storage
- High Tyre Pressure Alerts (common again)
- Key/Remote wear of button symbols and design
Please note that I love my car, even with all these characteristics! If i was designing the car I would probably look at revisting some of these items. I wonder how many of these a C6 fixes!
Buy a Camaro and all your problems are solved. Mainly as it has door and centre console storage and isn't fitted with half the rest. He he.
Wind noise can be bad. The frameless windows mean the window gets sucked out and you get an earful of whoosh. Surprisingly, it's better on the Camaro than it is on the Vette.
Wind noise can be bad. The frameless windows mean the window gets sucked out and you get an earful of whoosh. Surprisingly, it's better on the Camaro than it is on the Vette.
gsmcoverage said:
On the Vette Glitches....
I have a list of things I would rather change, or not have. They are mostly little things which are either part of the personality of that car or the brand, namely:
- The boot takes a long time to open via remote (i think there is a fix for this).
- AC outlet is non-switchable
- My Memory seats sometime don't move as Wayne put. I think it is the skirt of the leather catching on the rails.
- Cruise increments sometimes are in two's - ie 77, 78, then 80, then 81 etc...
-HUD is not always synched to Speed Gauge or Cruise Exactly.
- Excessive wind noise over 100mph on the drivers side (mine is a coupe). Anyone else?
- Air Conditioner does not always turn off when pressing the AC button. It flashes a few times but stays on! Anyone else?
- Erratic Fuel Gauge (a common problem)
- Handbrake position and effectiveness
- HUD does not adjust with driver memory
- Glove boxes (central and passenger) too small
- No in door storage
- High Tyre Pressure Alerts (common again)
- Key/Remote wear of button symbols and design
Please note that I love my car, even with all these characteristics! If i was designing the car I would probably look at revisting some of these items. I wonder how many of these a C6 fixes!
Sounds like we've got off lightly with our Z06!
We've had one door lock fail (replaced under warranty) but apart from that not much to complain about.
The only real pains are:
Opening the boot when it's been raining so as to avoid pouring water in.
Parking on a camber in the rain tends to get water collecting on the 'uphill' door sill (where the black plastic bit is).
Screenwash coming in through the windows when they're open (but what do you expect).
Wing mirrors vibrating when the stereo's on... kinda trippy!
Oh... and morons taking photos of you with their mobile instead of looking where they're driving... not really a design flaw but definitely a driving hazard. Very tempting to tap the brakes then blip round them on the wrong side :-)
-kenski
We've had one door lock fail (replaced under warranty) but apart from that not much to complain about.
The only real pains are:
Opening the boot when it's been raining so as to avoid pouring water in.
Parking on a camber in the rain tends to get water collecting on the 'uphill' door sill (where the black plastic bit is).
Screenwash coming in through the windows when they're open (but what do you expect).
Wing mirrors vibrating when the stereo's on... kinda trippy!
Oh... and morons taking photos of you with their mobile instead of looking where they're driving... not really a design flaw but definitely a driving hazard. Very tempting to tap the brakes then blip round them on the wrong side :-)
-kenski
gsmcoverage said:
- Excessive wind noise over 100mph on the drivers side (mine is a coupe). Anyone else?
If the glass is getting to the top of its travel then I suggest you check to see if the window surround rubbers are sitting flush when the roof is on and the doors shut. I've noticed that the vertical one tends to tuck in and fold over on itself when putting the roof back on. This can cause a surprising amount of wind noise.
If that doesn't fix it make sure your roof latches are clamping down properly. If its none of the above then your window tip-in may need adjusting, which is a fiddly job from what I have read elsewhere.
LuS1fer said:
it seems my 3900 mile car is already suffering from the well-known glitches like a weeping diff seal. Blackpool illuminations and Service Traction Control, Service Active handling screams onto the DIC.
Weepy diff seals were around in the late 90s but I thought that was sorted by now. UK dealers should still remember how to change the seals although at that time it seemed only the better ones knew how or had the right tools. The less attractive alternative would be a faulty casting so the seal cannot seat correctly.
Blackpool illuminations syndrome sounds like what happened to me shortly before the battery died. If the car hadn't been out much during shipment and waiting for SVA it could be low on charge. Also the big Bose stereo draws a fairly high current and over time puts a heavy drain on the battery if the engine's not running.
LuS1fer said:
Can't help wondering whether the famed reliability of GM products is going to hold up with the Vette.
Just dropping in on the forum, but since when were GMs famed for reliability? Consumer Reports magazine would indicate that GMs on average have more problems.
Nice car though, performance wise.
PiB said:
Can't help wondering whether the famed reliability of GM products is going to hold up with the Vette.
Just dropping in on the forum, but since when were GMs famed for reliability? Consumer Reports magazine would indicate that GMs on average have more problems.
Nice car though, performance wise.
Just based on a flawless 3 years with my '98 Z28 and a clean bill of health for every Chevy I've owned since 1994 (3). Possibly just ben lucky.LOL.
PiB said:
Just dropping in on the forum, but since when were GMs famed for reliability? Consumer Reports magazine would indicate that GMs on average have more problems.
Oh dear, this could get nasty......
Personally, over the last 10 years I have had five Corvettes (and a Camaro). None of them have ever had anything other than routine maintenance except once when I changed two front wheel bearings.
Maybe I've been lucky but I am well pleased with the performance of GM.
I'm in no postition to argue with you, in fact, perhaps the Corvette is more realiable than the rest of the GM fleet. I have seen a few other GM's personally with some annoying problems. Leaky oil pan on a supercharged pontiac grand prix, nasty interior construction, Consumer reports ratings, but I have also seen a video of a Z06 surpass a Henessey Viper so. . .
I may be a bit out of my knowlege/experience.
>> Edited by PiB on Friday 16th July 03:23
I may be a bit out of my knowlege/experience.
>> Edited by PiB on Friday 16th July 03:23
GM is the worlds largest manufacturer, how can you cover all their cars/brands under one banner?
My vette is ok - it's not been anywhere near as reliable as my Toyota Celica or 167K mile Supra were but then the company Avensis I had wasnt either (probably 'cause it had a made in Britain sticker on it). Both company Vauxhalls have been ok - the biggest Vauxhall failing I have found is crap main dealers....I mean really crap, even by main dealer standards.
My vette is ok - it's not been anywhere near as reliable as my Toyota Celica or 167K mile Supra were but then the company Avensis I had wasnt either (probably 'cause it had a made in Britain sticker on it). Both company Vauxhalls have been ok - the biggest Vauxhall failing I have found is crap main dealers....I mean really crap, even by main dealer standards.
These days the reliability of GM cars is much better than it used to be. GM for one American conglomerate has done well in the consumer surveys. I'm sure GM know reliability is very important because they've also got Toyota creeping up on them to take the largest carmaker spot and we all know what Toyota reliability is like so GM would go to extreme lengths to maintain reliability in all of its products and reliability is important in keeping sales of products high.
>> Edited by z064life on Friday 16th July 20:54
>> Edited by z064life on Friday 16th July 20:54
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