[Z06] Not very happy
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Not very happy
Recently purchased 2003 Z06 with 8100 miles. Since purchase (about 6 weeks ago) I have had both window regulators fail & now the driver side door lock actuator. Total cost for repairs about $1500.00. Can't say I am favorably impressed at this point. This is my 3rd Vette, 1st one was a new 65. Cool car but like this one, always something needed repair. 2nd Vette was a 93. Best yet, absolutely flawless performance the entire time I owned it. Am I to believe the problems I have had with this car are normal or am I just having a run of bad luck? If this is normal, the car will be gone ASAP.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
Recently purchased 2003 Z06 with 8100 miles. Since purchase (about 6 weeks ago) I have had both window regulators fail & now the driver side door lock actuator. Total cost for repairs about $1500.00. Can't say I am favorably impressed at this point. This is my 3rd Vette, 1st one was a new 65. Cool car but like this one, always something needed repair. 2nd Vette was a 93. Best yet, absolutely flawless performance the entire time I owned it. Am I to believe the problems I have had with this car are normal or am I just having a run of bad luck? If this is normal, the car will be gone ASAP.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,685
Likes: 1,330
From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
This website will save you a ton of money if you research here before taking your 'Vette for repairs. The C5 will also let you read any trouble codes right from your odometer readout.
In the end, your C5z will be remembered as a must-have chapter.
In the end, your C5z will be remembered as a must-have chapter.
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: Springfield VA
Just stick with it for now man. The guy who owned my car before me hardly ever drove it. In the first 2 months I got column-locked.....twice! After everything though, I feel I've grown closer to my car, and thanks to this forum, I think I will be able to prevent some of the common problems, or at the very least, be prepared when they hit.
It's been 6 months and almost 10K miles of daily driving with no further problems since the column lock fiasco. Stay the course!!!!!!!
It's been 6 months and almost 10K miles of daily driving with no further problems since the column lock fiasco. Stay the course!!!!!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 27,818
Likes: 8
From: CT
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 15,449
Likes: 1,716
From: Everywhere and Nowhere at all
Hey **** happens..you chose to shell out $1500 for the regulators, accuator(crazy)? Yes, you should probably go back to the C4... I'm sure you had no issues with it...Opti, weather stripping, creaks,rattles... gotta pay to play... just my .02
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Thx to all of you for your kindly remarks.
What is the BFH trick?
As to the cost of the repairs...absolutely a rip off ...done by the local
Chev dealership.
Go back to the C4? I don't think so. It was a very reliable car with absolutely no issues & I expect this car to perform equally as well.
The driver window had a "stretched cable" (dealer description). The pax window operation was very intermittent. Door lock actuator would unlock with FOB or lock switch but would not lock with either one.
What is the BFH trick?
As to the cost of the repairs...absolutely a rip off ...done by the local
Chev dealership.
Go back to the C4? I don't think so. It was a very reliable car with absolutely no issues & I expect this car to perform equally as well.
The driver window had a "stretched cable" (dealer description). The pax window operation was very intermittent. Door lock actuator would unlock with FOB or lock switch but would not lock with either one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 9
From: Springhill FL
I have the same issue with my passenger side window. Just havent had a chance to open it up and check it out yet. I wasnt suprised though its an 8 year old car with 25k miles, I dont imagine that window was used alot.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 488
Likes: 8
From: Datil NM
The c5's have some weak points, and they are electronic related. They are inexpensive to fix if you seek the solutions posted on this forum. $1500 was spent at the dealer?
Problematic issues:
column lock- get a bypass modue asap- $50
abs computer- absfixer.com
window and door lock relays - you can buy the relays for a couple bucks and replace the bad ones on the door logic boards
The main thing that will screw you up and happens to EVERYONE sooner or later is the column lock. Order a bypass module tonight and put it in right away. This can save you being stuck and spending a couple grand getting towed and having the dealer do a fix that still won't fix the problem. The fix involves putting in a module that tricks the computer into thinking the column locks and unlocks. The column actually is never locked again, and the steering wheel can be turned with the car off.
The other issues may or may not happen, and this website will make the fixes inexpensive and easy- and better than when the car was new. Most of us have had our cars for years and lived through these problems and fixed them for very little money.
Enjoy!
Problematic issues:
column lock- get a bypass modue asap- $50
abs computer- absfixer.com
window and door lock relays - you can buy the relays for a couple bucks and replace the bad ones on the door logic boards
The main thing that will screw you up and happens to EVERYONE sooner or later is the column lock. Order a bypass module tonight and put it in right away. This can save you being stuck and spending a couple grand getting towed and having the dealer do a fix that still won't fix the problem. The fix involves putting in a module that tricks the computer into thinking the column locks and unlocks. The column actually is never locked again, and the steering wheel can be turned with the car off.
The other issues may or may not happen, and this website will make the fixes inexpensive and easy- and better than when the car was new. Most of us have had our cars for years and lived through these problems and fixed them for very little money.
Enjoy!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,533
Likes: 3
From: New fairfield Connecticut
The c5's have some weak points, and they are electronic related. They are inexpensive to fix if you seek the solutions posted on this forum. $1500 was spent at the dealer?
Problematic issues:
column lock- get a bypass modue asap- $50
abs computer- absfixer.com
window and door lock relays - you can buy the relays for a couple bucks and replace the bad ones on the door logic boards
The main thing that will screw you up and happens to EVERYONE sooner or later is the column lock. Order a bypass module tonight and put it in right away. This can save you being stuck and spending a couple grand getting towed and having the dealer do a fix that still won't fix the problem. The fix involves putting in a module that tricks the computer into thinking the column locks and unlocks. The column actually is never locked again, and the steering wheel can be turned with the car off.
The other issues may or may not happen, and this website will make the fixes inexpensive and easy- and better than when the car was new. Most of us have had our cars for years and lived through these problems and fixed them for very little money.
Enjoy!
Problematic issues:
column lock- get a bypass modue asap- $50
abs computer- absfixer.com
window and door lock relays - you can buy the relays for a couple bucks and replace the bad ones on the door logic boards
The main thing that will screw you up and happens to EVERYONE sooner or later is the column lock. Order a bypass module tonight and put it in right away. This can save you being stuck and spending a couple grand getting towed and having the dealer do a fix that still won't fix the problem. The fix involves putting in a module that tricks the computer into thinking the column locks and unlocks. The column actually is never locked again, and the steering wheel can be turned with the car off.
The other issues may or may not happen, and this website will make the fixes inexpensive and easy- and better than when the car was new. Most of us have had our cars for years and lived through these problems and fixed them for very little money.
Enjoy!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
The column lock issue has already been addressed. (Previous owner)
As for the door lock problem, it is the actuator that has failed, not the relay.
Had I known about the BFH fix before taking it to the dealership, I would have given it a try. The dealership parts dept. told me they keep a large inventory of "door lock actuators" & "window regulators". Hmmmm I wonder why? Maybe the BFH principle should be applied to the individual in charge of parts acquisition. Maybe then he/she would get the msg. that the parts have a design defect & perhaps they should seek a new supplier.
As for the door lock problem, it is the actuator that has failed, not the relay.
Had I known about the BFH fix before taking it to the dealership, I would have given it a try. The dealership parts dept. told me they keep a large inventory of "door lock actuators" & "window regulators". Hmmmm I wonder why? Maybe the BFH principle should be applied to the individual in charge of parts acquisition. Maybe then he/she would get the msg. that the parts have a design defect & perhaps they should seek a new supplier.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
Last edited by KCvetteowner; Oct 4, 2010 at 01:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
The drivers window made a loud grinding noise. I was told the cable had stretched & was the source of the noise. The passenger window operation was intermittent. No unusual noise, just would not work sometimes. You could hear the relay but no movement of the window.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 31
From: Allentown PA & Elk Twp NJ HPDE Addict
04 Z with 28,000 miles and no maintainence issues. Just changed the original brakes out for a HPDE event and they were still at 50% or so. Sounds like bad luck to me.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
The only time my car's ever been to a dealer was for the column lock recall. I've never had a lock problem in my 8 years of ownership, but after all the histrionics regarding CLB, I bought one. I've yet to install it, but maybe this weekend..... Is it really that common of a problem? Or is it internet hype?