Have Early C5 Corvettes Unfairly Earned a Bad Reputation?
Electronic Brake Control Module. Say that to any owner of a Corvette made before the model year 2000, and you’ll likely elicit quite a reply. It’s a well-known sore point with early C5s, because once it transforms into a brick, there’s no reliable known fix. Chevrolet doesn’t make the part anymore, and although some repairs exist, an actual replacement part is somewhat obscure to come across. Sadly, parts from later C5 Corvettes can’t be fitted either, but after hearing from most of our forum members, the EBCM module is not all that common of a failure.
It’s spawned some search threads to find a reasonable fix, but that thread in itself has spawned yet another tidbit of information. Halfway through production of the 1998 model year, the location of the ABS module was changed in the car, along with the addition of RPO code JL4. JL4 was the active brake module, which now became standard equipment. This thread might hold the answer to solutions for both versions of the faulty module. Jackthelad, the thread starter, is potentially going to order the “old” 1997 unit for his early-production 1998 model. If it works out, there might be a huge sigh of relief on the way.
On a much smaller scale is the issue of the steering lock. Since it was a documented problem, most owners have pre-emptively modified their cars accordingly, in order to prevent the issue from happening. It’s not a pricey fix either, which should alleviate some strain if you are eyeing an early C5 to put in your garage. Other than those two issues, most other C5 owners have reported reliable performance, with the usual maintenance you’d expect with a car creeping up towards 15-years of age.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
