Looking at a 98 C5
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: St-Eustache Quebec
Looking at a 98 C5
Hi all.
I found a 98 Vette at the low price of 15K. 15K might not sound cheap for you guys but up here the prices for Vettes are crazy high.
So anyways, its a 98 auto. What are the possible problems to look for typical on early C5's? I guess that it being the second year of the generation there are probably some bugs. How reliable are early C5's? Do they breakdown often and what are frequent repairs on these vehicles? Any advice is appreciated.
Ive owned 3 Vettes in the past and right now own a 93 Z28 and I do work in the auto industry but I dont know too much about C5's.
I found a 98 Vette at the low price of 15K. 15K might not sound cheap for you guys but up here the prices for Vettes are crazy high.
So anyways, its a 98 auto. What are the possible problems to look for typical on early C5's? I guess that it being the second year of the generation there are probably some bugs. How reliable are early C5's? Do they breakdown often and what are frequent repairs on these vehicles? Any advice is appreciated.
Ive owned 3 Vettes in the past and right now own a 93 Z28 and I do work in the auto industry but I dont know too much about C5's.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 9
From: Northwest CT
My 99 coupe is very reliable & is a blast to drive!
You can look at the "sticky" at the top of the home page....Weights, measurements, ratios, strengths, etc. Explains all the possible probs.
Don't let that scare you off.
Nobody has all those probs. on one car! 
You can look at the "sticky" at the top of the home page....Weights, measurements, ratios, strengths, etc. Explains all the possible probs.
Don't let that scare you off.
Nobody has all those probs. on one car!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: St-Eustache Quebec
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
My 98 is my year round daily driver and has been very reliable! I'm just a few km away from hitting the 180,000km mark and it still runs like new. I haven't even done any repairs to it in 4 years now, it just keeps plugging along and never lets me down.
Is the one you found $15,000 Canadian? If so that's an amazing price!! How many km on it? What color and options does it have on it? Did you find it in Quebec?
Is the one you found $15,000 Canadian? If so that's an amazing price!! How many km on it? What color and options does it have on it? Did you find it in Quebec?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 798
Likes: 2
From: Notorious Miami sunny south florida
I drive my 98 daily No problems here. I love it 75 k the only problem I had was the crank pully had to be replaced it with a fluidamner self balancing
but thats a coman thing on the C5 run and gun after that
but thats a coman thing on the C5 run and gun after that
Last edited by road dog; Jan 11, 2010 at 02:39 PM. Reason: added
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: St-Eustache Quebec
My 98 is my year round daily driver and has been very reliable! I'm just a few km away from hitting the 180,000km mark and it still runs like new. I haven't even done any repairs to it in 4 years now, it just keeps plugging along and never lets me down.
Is the one you found $15,000 Canadian? If so that's an amazing price!! How many km on it? What color and options does it have on it? Did you find it in Quebec?
Is the one you found $15,000 Canadian? If so that's an amazing price!! How many km on it? What color and options does it have on it? Did you find it in Quebec?
I waiting for a response and will post more details if seller answers me.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 32
From: cruising between USA and Canada... SAVE THE WAVE!
...
Bonjour!
I have a '98 that has had the following things done to it during the first 80,000 miles...it has been trouble free since. ( I bought the car with 85,000 miles and it was totally bone stock..it now has 100k miles):
Battery leaked...zero damage to wires/components
however req'd vacuum hose/vent valve thingy replacement
Fuel tank senders (was done under warranty)
Dim dual zone display (was done under warranty)
Column Lock (recall done under warranty, I've added CLB)
Rear Wheel Bearing
harmonic Balancer
plastic end links replaced
spark plugs
clutch/pp (I've heard most auto vette trannies get tired at 100k)
A/C required a charge
Oil Pressure sender
and that would be it.
From what I understand, these are very common issues...
In every other regard, the car has been good to me, runs very strong and shows no signs of mechanical issues- even at 160,000kms.
HTH,
TG
I have a '98 that has had the following things done to it during the first 80,000 miles...it has been trouble free since. ( I bought the car with 85,000 miles and it was totally bone stock..it now has 100k miles):
Battery leaked...zero damage to wires/components
however req'd vacuum hose/vent valve thingy replacement
Fuel tank senders (was done under warranty)
Dim dual zone display (was done under warranty)
Column Lock (recall done under warranty, I've added CLB)
Rear Wheel Bearing
harmonic Balancer
plastic end links replaced
spark plugs
clutch/pp (I've heard most auto vette trannies get tired at 100k)
A/C required a charge
Oil Pressure sender
and that would be it.
From what I understand, these are very common issues...
In every other regard, the car has been good to me, runs very strong and shows no signs of mechanical issues- even at 160,000kms.
HTH,
TG
Last edited by TGstring; Jan 12, 2010 at 12:34 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I have two 98's currently...
My black car has 73K miles on it. I have replaced the following:
1. Front wheel bearing
2. All four tire pressure sensors
3. All three sets of hydraulic struts (hood, tonneau cover and trunk)
4. Oil pressure sending unit
5. Coolant recovery tank
6. Brake Master cylinder reservoir
7. Power antenna
8. headlight gears
My other '98 is a low mileage pace car and has needed nothing other than routine maintenance.
My black car has 73K miles on it. I have replaced the following:
1. Front wheel bearing
2. All four tire pressure sensors
3. All three sets of hydraulic struts (hood, tonneau cover and trunk)
4. Oil pressure sending unit
5. Coolant recovery tank
6. Brake Master cylinder reservoir
7. Power antenna
8. headlight gears
My other '98 is a low mileage pace car and has needed nothing other than routine maintenance.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 24,921
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville, TN
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03 thru '26
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,612
Likes: 4,619
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
My current '99 Coupe has been flawless with zero problems.
The only problems that we have had with any of our C5's in the past 8 years were:
Wife's '00 Vert:
Replaced headlight module.
Replaced one headlight gear.
'98 Coupe:
Broken H-pipe flange welds- cat back side, both sides.
'98 Vert:
Column locked, got it free and installed a CLB.
Bad headlight switch, replaced the stalk.
The only problems that we have had with any of our C5's in the past 8 years were:
Wife's '00 Vert:
Replaced headlight module.
Replaced one headlight gear.
'98 Coupe:
Broken H-pipe flange welds- cat back side, both sides.
'98 Vert:
Column locked, got it free and installed a CLB.
Bad headlight switch, replaced the stalk.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
Ive had 2 97s and now have a 99 coupe. I have never had a serious problem with any c-5. I think that If you drive them regularly you will find that they have fewer problems overall. C-5 Vettes don't like to sit around, they like to go out and run the highway!
My street rod coupe was the same way, If I let it sit it would start having problemsbut when i took it out an ran it hard It loved me
soft hearted Dave
My street rod coupe was the same way, If I let it sit it would start having problemsbut when i took it out an ran it hard It loved me
soft hearted Dave
