I follow and read the different threads at least once daily. What strikes me is the number of electrical system issues folk have cropping up out of the blue. Is this inevibly happen with every C4? (i realize some years and models may have such issues more than other years). Does the frequency of issues cropping up have more to do with how the car has been cared for, or not? Or, living in more humid areas? Or living outside for some extended periods of time? It makes me a little paranoid, as my '94, big 31 years old with 87k miles, has no issues, i'm probably tempting fate sking this question... Makes me wonder if i can expect such gremlins to rear their nasty little heads or if a well cared for car, always having lived indoors in a climate controlled environment helps make a difference? Or, if it's luck of the draw, some cars, regardless of what care they receive, or lack thereof, have more problems crop up than another car, say, two '94's for example. Both receive more or less the same care, but one seems prone to having more issues than the other.

 

I feel as though the earlier C4's are more prone to electrical issues versuse the say the 1990 and up model years. Though to be fair, I've only ever owned two 84's, an 86, a 93, 94, and 95. I have read that GM had gotten much better with the quality control on the Corvette as time went on and even developed a very good squeak and rattle program to detect squeaks and rattles with every new Corvette produced.

My 84 has been really reliable over the years but the cluster, even though it was rebuilt by Batee in 2020, it still works only when its warmer outside and sometimes is partially dim on the right side of the information readouts. My power locks try to work, but it feels like the actuators barely move and the lock rods barely move. My radio works but it had the typical Bose amp issues and the antenna only works sometimes. The 84 has slow power windows and I feel as though I should replace the power window motors. Sometimes the interior lights stay on after all of the doors are closed. Both door switches and the hatch switch function properly, so I'm not sure why it does this once in a blue moon. As far as running condition, the car has been amazing. Its just had little issues I've dealt with over the years.

My 93 on the other hand has been very reliable with almost zero electrical issues. I have had to repair some wiring that went bad for the coolant temperature sender in the water pump. The power locks do the same thing as the 84, in that they work, but the lock rods don't fully move back, they just kind of move a little and stop. I have had to replace worn mechanical components in the 93, but that's to be expected with age and mileage.

Overall, I would say these cars are reliable if maintained properly. I have put over 900 miles on my 93 since the weather broke after my kidney transplant in February. I have had zero issues with the car other than the broken wire I had to repair. The car still need Weatherstripping and the door panels are pulling away, vut the car came from Florida originally and given the age and mileage, this is to be expected. I drive the car every nice day we have and I couldn't be happier with it. I drive my 84 as well and its been great. I just like driving the 93 is all.

 

I think upkeep is the the biggest thing. Being outside doesn't help, but being inside with rodents is worse.

There's a BIG argument in design life about what's worse, temperatures or temperature deltas. The prevailing thought right now is it's the cycling and deltas more than anything. So something stored outside in a humid but stable warm environment (say under a carport in FL) would see less design life wear than something in a dry but wild temperature swing location (like a carport in the desert).

 

Thank you both@mazdaverx7 @FAUEE, for your comments on design, climatic and environmental factors impacting things mechanical. I suppose like anything in life, it (and we humans) eventually begin aging out and other things are just not as well designed as any manufacturer intended.. Agreed on temp deltas particularly taking their toll over time, moreso than a consistent environmental climate that may be at times somewhat more or less extreme. Temp deltas are interesting. I'll never forget seeing a motorcycle stored indoors in n unheated portion of the house, where temps got down to low 30's overnight and then mid 70's during the day and watching condensation dripping off the engine, not to mention the horror of that also happeining on the engine's inside. And that wasn't even that much of an extreme temp delta. Imagining increasing severity of temp deltas, it's easy to envision materials not only condensing moisture, and also the expansion and contraction of materials taking their toll on parts made of different materials and assemblies held together however they are fastened together. Ever since i was able to afford to keep what i treasured indoors,in a temp controlled climate, i've done so. I'm so glad, that the acommodations of my domicile make for providing temp controlled environments for my Corvette and motorcycles. It makes sense that the earlier C4's have their share of electrical issues, given that their electrical systems were made up of parts and components that were cutting edge, ahead of their time and evolving from designs and technologies that were continuing to change or improve with each unfolding year.

 

Another factor is "human intervention". By that I mean every time someone decides to do any type of modification to the car, especially electric the odds of an issue cropping up goes up exponentially. Cut, soldiered and spliced wiring invite all sorts of potential issues and if some one has used things like small/wrong gauge wires, wire connectors meant for household wires, inferior electrical tape, etc. trouble is lurking. You can usually, but not always, tell by carefully inspecting underhood, under dash and under body how well its been maintained or beat to hell.
It can get expensive, but what has given me peace of mind is to do preventative maintenance. And I say this today with a HUGE caveat. Purchasing potential failure items before they fail (starters, alternators, water pumps, etc.) was my go-to routine. HOWEVER in the last several years, the quality of these replacement parts have become unreliable. Even those from GM suppliers have been known to fail or not work right out of the box. And some are outright bogus counterfeit parts.

 

Thank you, @Crossed Flags Fan, for your comments. What you write makes complete sense, any alterations in the miles of factory wiring can lead to problems down the road. I'm feeling fortuntate in that my '94 LT1, other than a Sony replacement radio, the electrical system is unmolested. And, i think like you in terms of purchasing potential failure items to have at the ready in the event of failure. It seems these cars, if well cared for, are very reliable and at least somewhat relatively trouble free...

 

Electrical problems are common on all cars. My sister had an 85 Celica back in the 80’s. The power windows would intermittently work. My dad fixed them by cleaning the contacts. Around 1991 I bought a 67 Mustang as my first second car to learn how to work on. I replaced the starter, battery, alternator and the solenoid on the fender wall because it was always hard to start. Even after replacing all these parts. Finally called my dad to help. He took sand paper to the inside of the battery cables and I never had a hard start again. He even gave me a grin that said how many times have I fixed your moms or sisters cars by just cleaning a connector. A couple of years later my bf bought back his father’s 65 GTO that was highly optioned and had power windows. The car was left to sit outside by the guy who had bought it so pw weren’t working, signals, brake lights etc. My dad spent an evening and got everything working perfectly. Didn’t spend 1 cent. Just cleaned every connection. Around 2010 I bought a project Porsche 928. Total basket case. I cleaned every connection I could and got most of the problems solved but couldn’t get the rear tail light ti work. Finally called my dad and he found the rear light socket was oxidized and cleaned it. Gave me that same look. I’ve had countless appliances, tools, cars, motors that have stopped working and fixed them by just cleaning contacts. The power antenna on these C4s is another one I have fixed many. The electric motor has 2 brushes like most. Clean those and it works perfectly. So does the C4 have more electrical problems than other cars? Maybe since they’re more advanced than other cars of the same era. More electrical connections means more contacts to oxidize. Most C4s have the digital hvac system instead of the typical slider controls of cars from the same era.

 

A more true statement was never written. I just traded in a 2023 Mercedes E Class Coupe. 10K miles into it the car abruptly stopped and a huge red gear icon appeared on the dash with the words "Catastrophic Failure"

Huh???

Years of heat, vibration and use will deteriorate any circuitry, but I was always happy to get into my C4, turn the key and go. I don't have to tell it my name, a destination or my SSN. It just goes.

 

GM products will run poorly longer than most other cars will run at all.

 

Beware those old, fragile plastic pigtail electrical connections. I've had them just break in my hand, even being extremely careful in handling them.

 

@Dougs63 Yes, indeed! sometimes they seem to break just thinking of disconnecting them!