FX3 question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: "Philly" Pennsylvania
FX3 question
How can you tell if your FX3 adjustable suspension works? When I change settings from touring/sport/performance I cannot detect any change by feel or sound. Rides hard in any setting, has 98K miles. Do most people just remove this system and put on regular shocks?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,710
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From: Green Bay WI
Originally Posted by tsts
How can you tell if your FX3 adjustable suspension works? When I change settings from touring/sport/performance I cannot detect any change by feel or sound. Rides hard in any setting, has 98K miles. Do most people just remove this system and put on regular shocks?
If you need replacements, DRM sells them (although the're a bit pricey).
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,905
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From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
In the book, 101 projects for your Corvette 1984-1996" Richard Newton explains the FX3 system very well. I was really surprised with what it does/doesn't do and how it can be fine tuned. I suggest you pick up a copy and give it a read.
Now, if your FX3 doesn't seem to make much difference in the settings, I can't really tell much difference either. Do you happen to have the Z07 option? This will make the car ride rough as well with the heavy duty sway bars and higher rate springs.
Now, if your FX3 doesn't seem to make much difference in the settings, I can't really tell much difference either. Do you happen to have the Z07 option? This will make the car ride rough as well with the heavy duty sway bars and higher rate springs.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
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Read Richard Newton's 101 Projects. He explains it very well. In regular driving the computer senses what the correct setting should be and will shift over to it to give you the most ideal ride. The touring mode is used the majority of the time as this is what we experience in everyday driving. I'm with you, I can't feel a difference on mine either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Why are there squished peanut butter cups in my underware?
The system does a self check every time you start the vehicle. If the system is working properly the "service ride control" light will come on in the DIC for a few seconds during its self-test at engine start-up.
Once the light turns off, the system is working properly.
If you do not see the light turn on at all, either the bulb burned out or the system has been disabled by a previous owner.
There really isn't a drastic night a day difference between the settings on normal roads. Find a really bad road or some railroad tracks and go over them repeatly in the tour and perf settings to feel a noticeable difference if the system is working.
Once the light turns off, the system is working properly.
If you do not see the light turn on at all, either the bulb burned out or the system has been disabled by a previous owner.
There really isn't a drastic night a day difference between the settings on normal roads. Find a really bad road or some railroad tracks and go over them repeatly in the tour and perf settings to feel a noticeable difference if the system is working.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
My 92 has FX3 and I can tell a distinct difference between "Tour" and "Performance" even on the freeway. The system also uses vehicle speed to make adjustments in the shock stiffness at any of the selector settings. The Tour setting at 80MPH is actually stiffer than the Performance setting at 30MPH!
There is a section of freeway locally that is concrete and has tar expansin strips. In the Tour mode, I don't feel them at all, In Sport mode, I can hear a slight thump and in "Performance, I can definately feel the bump as the tire goes over it.
If a prior owner had some sort of failure in the system, he could very well have simply removed the indicator bulb in the DIC. Does the light come on at all ?? Should be on the far right side of the middle row of the display.
There is a section of freeway locally that is concrete and has tar expansin strips. In the Tour mode, I don't feel them at all, In Sport mode, I can hear a slight thump and in "Performance, I can definately feel the bump as the tire goes over it.
If a prior owner had some sort of failure in the system, he could very well have simply removed the indicator bulb in the DIC. Does the light come on at all ?? Should be on the far right side of the middle row of the display.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 9
From: "Philly" Pennsylvania
FX3 system
Yes, I do have the Z07 option on the part I.D. sticker under the console lid (but I don't know what that option is). Original rear transverse rear spring replaced (delaminating) Oct. 2004 with one from BVP. good ride height (28") and feels like the original without the driver's side 1" dip (lean).
On start-up, I get the "service ... ..." message. This is usually the last light to go out (last about 4-5 seconds). Checked for codes and get the welcomed "C12" and "---" everywhere, no DTC showing.
I'll try some more experimenting with road surfaces and see if I can detect any changes based on the posts received below. I was hoping there was a test I could discover like maybe touching actuator and feel it work or hear it or something concrete. Maybe it makes setting changes but the shocks are dead, I don't know.
Thanks for the replys
On start-up, I get the "service ... ..." message. This is usually the last light to go out (last about 4-5 seconds). Checked for codes and get the welcomed "C12" and "---" everywhere, no DTC showing.
I'll try some more experimenting with road surfaces and see if I can detect any changes based on the posts received below. I was hoping there was a test I could discover like maybe touching actuator and feel it work or hear it or something concrete. Maybe it makes setting changes but the shocks are dead, I don't know.
Thanks for the replys
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
It sounds as though the SRC system is working correctly. When the system in energized, the actuator goes to a sort of "starting point". This is done as part of the self-test procedure and I believe that it requires input from the wheel speed sensors (that's one of the inputs that the FX3 system uses for adjustment) for the test to work properly.
The Code 12 is the sequence start and stop code and if all is working there should be no codes. But if you cycle the ingintion switch 3 times without the car moving, a Code 23 'Loss of vehicle speed signal' will be set.
The Z07 performance suspension package has stiffer springs, larger sway bars, the FX3 Selective Ride Control and the J55 heavy duty brake package. This package cost over $2000!!
The Code 12 is the sequence start and stop code and if all is working there should be no codes. But if you cycle the ingintion switch 3 times without the car moving, a Code 23 'Loss of vehicle speed signal' will be set.
The Z07 performance suspension package has stiffer springs, larger sway bars, the FX3 Selective Ride Control and the J55 heavy duty brake package. This package cost over $2000!!
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Well with the Z07 package that will explain partly why you have a stiffer ride. The J55 will include the 13" rotors in the front, not sure but I believe the rears are slightly different too. When you go to get your parts make sure that the parts supplier knows that you have the "big brakes". By the way my 94 had the Z07 package and I didn't know it until after I bought it. And have been trying to learn more about it since. Congratulations!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,975
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From: "Philly" Pennsylvania
Fx3
Thanks TeeBee1994,
I'll have to stay on top of the brake thing and try discovering more about the vette; I try to do most of my own work unless I don't have the technology (electronic tools). Email me if you find out anything else interesting about the package.
Thank,
I'll have to stay on top of the brake thing and try discovering more about the vette; I try to do most of my own work unless I don't have the technology (electronic tools). Email me if you find out anything else interesting about the package.
Thank,
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,905
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From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
I can tell you that there were only 884 cars built in 1994 with the Z07 package (coupe only for the Z07). So we have something pretty special. Z07 freak has quite a bit of info on the Z07 package, so maybe he'll chime in here and spread some more light on the matter.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Here's a link to a chart that has information about the different suspension packages: http://corvetteactioncenter.com/tech/c4/susp_chart.html Just scroll down the page to the 94 data.
The J55 rotors were not only larger in diameter at 13" instead of the standard 12" ones, but they are thicker too (1.1" thick for HD and .8" for std). The big rotors have directional fins so they are marked left or right side. You cannot swap them side to side. The rear rotors are the same size as the rest of the C4's.
The J55 rotors were not only larger in diameter at 13" instead of the standard 12" ones, but they are thicker too (1.1" thick for HD and .8" for std). The big rotors have directional fins so they are marked left or right side. You cannot swap them side to side. The rear rotors are the same size as the rest of the C4's.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 9
From: "Philly" Pennsylvania
Fx3
Thanks again guys, Its nice to get some good news about the car. The chart tells me why the rear spring that I took out is so much different from the standard replacement I put in from BVP. I'll have to see about an equal spec swap now for this spring.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,717
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From: RI
If the shocks are fresh you'll feel the differences between all three settings. Like anything else, as the shocks age, they will not be as responsive.
In my case I bought one set to go right on the car and have two other sets ready to be rebuilt and ready to replace when necessary. While that may seem costly to some, as the shocks get harder to find, at least I'll always have a fresh system on demand.
If this is impractical, I'd take the two weeks necessary and have them rebuilt.
Chris
In my case I bought one set to go right on the car and have two other sets ready to be rebuilt and ready to replace when necessary. While that may seem costly to some, as the shocks get harder to find, at least I'll always have a fresh system on demand.
If this is impractical, I'd take the two weeks necessary and have them rebuilt.
Chris