This forum is great...you're all so helpful. I just bought a 2002 C5 for $24k + $2500 for warranty from a not so reputable used car dealer in Daly City. Took it into WestCoast Corvettes in Burlingame, CA to have it checked out. Mind you, it was the first one I test drove and could barely contain myself with the excitement. I noticed the front tires weren't too good, right front rim had a cracked spoke, small crack in the bumper right under right side fog lamp, but otherwise the paint looks great, the engine feels like it's on steroids, and 6spd. feels perfect. Even with all its flaws I wanted it! It was like a wounded animal I thought I could save for just a couple thousand dollars down the road when stuff starts to go wrong. I did no research on repairs and maintenance either before I decided to purchase this dream machine. Wanted a vette since I was 5 years old, and at the current age of 26 I thought I was slick finding this great deal for $24k. The shop gave me a "tune up"...belts, spark plugs, various fluids and such. He also replaced the busted rim, all for $830. I thought that was good since the dealer wanted $875 just for the tune up and to look it over for any major issues. The shop told me the oil pressure gauge is messed up, reads 130 all the time, but it doesn't really need to be repaired right away. Is that true? Then told me to get new tires, the runflats have a nail in one and a small leak in the other, and the other 2 were bald. Besides that, he said it was all good for the 5 hour drive to L.A. in 2 weeks. Bought cheap non runflats couple days later for $800, love em compared to the originals. Then today, toolin around for fun, the "service active handling" message pops up! Does this NEED to be dealt with right away? Can I have confidence in driving this thing 5 hours straight? What the hell is with this car? Is it a piece of crap? I know I screwed the pooch :o by not researching anything at all, just buying first thing I saw. Did I get seriously ripped off? Or was the price right for the issues I'm facing? 2002, 61k miles, $24k?

 

Of all those issues you have, most of them are perhaps related to its mileage. Wear and tear...)
However, the only issue that worries me is the oil pressure gauge readings. That's the heart of the motor, and you want to be certain there's not risk for any damage that may occur during a 5-hour drive. Have that checked-out thoroughly.
-Goose

 

Well you said you bought a warranty. It's time to use it. Those things should be covered. Hope it works out.

 

Mileage might be a little high for a 2002, but then again, for $24k it may be reasonable.
The oil pressure problem is more than likely the sending unit rather than the gauge itself. It's a pretty common problem, although I haven't yet experienced it on my 2001. Shop around for best pricing on the sending unit....other GM divisions' parts depts. may have it for less than a Chev. dealer. If you don't already know, there's a phenomenon known as the "Corvette Tax"..........take the same identical GM part, buy it for a Buick, it's $10. Buy it for a Corvette, it suddenly is now a $75 part.

 

wouldn't the mechanic have advised me to do something about the oil pressure gauge if it was a big problem? if for no other reason, just to squeeze more money out of me? he said it would be about a $500 repair and should get done in the future, but not a pressing issue right now.

 

and do you think this stuff would be covered under warranty?

 

I would take his word on that if I knew he at least hooked a mechanical oil pressure gauge to rule out an oil pump issue, or a low-pressure problem. Having done that, then you're fine, but you still need to fix the problem, which in this case may likely be the oil pressure sending unit.
-Goose

 

What about the "service active handling" message? should i worry? I just started it and revved it a few good times and the warning hasn't come up

 

First thing is to run the codes by holding down the option button and pushing fuel button four times on the DIC controls. Write the codes down that show up, the entire string, and post them here. That will be the first place to start looking. As far as the oil pressure sending unit, it is common to fail. You can run a long time with it bad. Mine went bad on a 98, and 2 weeks later, it bugged me so much I changed it.