Remember the Pre-Internet Days When....
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I used to own an 86 coupe and subscribed to 3 different car magazines (early 90s). It took months to get an answer to any problems that you had. I read about so many problems with the C4s in the "help me" sections that I thought they must all be very unreliable. I didn't stop to think that the owners with reliable C4s never wrote in and complained.
My next Corvette was a C3 as I thought they were less prone to electrical and computer problems. I then learned that these fine Corvettes had their own set of issues.
I have owned an 86, 87 and a 96. Other than a VATS issue with the 87 (which I fixed by following the no-start guide in the FSM) I really never had any issues with those C4s. (Unless you count the speeding tickets
)
I do remember going to the internet and searching both here and the Corvette Action Center in order to fix the 87's VATS issue. I was overwhelmed by information. It took hours to wade through all the postings and did not help me at all. The FSM did the trick! When I replaced the part I needed with a used one from Vette2Vette and turned the key and finally got her to start I was just so freakin happy and proud that I did it myself!
My next Corvette was a C3 as I thought they were less prone to electrical and computer problems. I then learned that these fine Corvettes had their own set of issues.
I have owned an 86, 87 and a 96. Other than a VATS issue with the 87 (which I fixed by following the no-start guide in the FSM) I really never had any issues with those C4s. (Unless you count the speeding tickets
)I do remember going to the internet and searching both here and the Corvette Action Center in order to fix the 87's VATS issue. I was overwhelmed by information. It took hours to wade through all the postings and did not help me at all. The FSM did the trick! When I replaced the part I needed with a used one from Vette2Vette and turned the key and finally got her to start I was just so freakin happy and proud that I did it myself!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,129
Likes: 1
From: Pasadena CA
I rebuilt my Volkswagen based on magazine articles. I still prefer the written page and print stuff out when I go work on the car. I did talk to a shop owner a few times. He ended up lending me his torque wrench - very trusting!
I totally agree tho, the instant-gratification culture we have now is changing the way people behave, and their expectations
I totally agree tho, the instant-gratification culture we have now is changing the way people behave, and their expectations
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,269
Likes: 142
From: Ottawa Ontario
Yeah, I remember the pre-internet days. I have Haynes, Clymer and Chiltons manuals for a bunch of cars & bikes from a '73 Super Beetle up to my '91 Escort GT. From 1998 to 2003 I only leased new cars & since then I have relied on forums & the Auto Zone web-site repair section to fix whatever is giving me troubles at the time. FWIW, the internet didn't recommend the best solution for separating the rear drum from it's hub on my wife's '93 Spirit (PB Blaster overnight & BFH the following morning). Or how to deal with a rounded lug nut on my '03 Focus (hammer drill the stud) Though I do give major props to this forum for helping me fix the HVAC Vent Control Problem on my '96
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
