2004 Rear Differential Problem - need advice ASAP
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 16
From: Cancer Sucks - please donate to Corvettes Conquer Cancer
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
2004 Rear Differential Problem - need advice ASAP
I am looking at a 2004 Commemorative Edition Coupe that has 13k miles it's an automatic transmission - it is in showroom condition . I asked Spongevette to run a GM report on the Serial # and the report shows that at 5800 miles the car had the rear differential gasket /cap replaced and then again at 9900 miles the same problem occurred.
Should i steer clear of this car ? Is it an expensive repair ?
I need some advice right away - i don't want to lose this car if this problem is no big deal
Thanks
Bob
Should i steer clear of this car ? Is it an expensive repair ?
I need some advice right away - i don't want to lose this car if this problem is no big deal
Thanks
Bob
Last edited by Bobd207s; Feb 15, 2011 at 09:37 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
It sounds like the leaky butt problem - GM has to fix it correctly! It happens to be the seals and it can be repaired!
I wouldn't steer clear of it but JUMP on it, the details sound good thus far. Gene Cully can probably help too with the warranty stuff!
Thanks,Matt
I wouldn't steer clear of it but JUMP on it, the details sound good thus far. Gene Cully can probably help too with the warranty stuff!
Thanks,Matt
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 16
From: Cancer Sucks - please donate to Corvettes Conquer Cancer
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Matt - thanks for the quick reply
I am not very knowledgeable about this stuff so please bear with me - it appears that GM has fixed this problem twice my concern is what are the chances it will happen again? Is it an expensive repair - the car is out of warranty. How can Gene Cully help on the warranty
Are you saying I should buy this car - i know others on the forum are interested in it - besides the car is 3,000 miles away ?
I appreciate your input
Thanks
Bob
I am not very knowledgeable about this stuff so please bear with me - it appears that GM has fixed this problem twice my concern is what are the chances it will happen again? Is it an expensive repair - the car is out of warranty. How can Gene Cully help on the warranty
Are you saying I should buy this car - i know others on the forum are interested in it - besides the car is 3,000 miles away ?
I appreciate your input
Thanks
Bob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,727
Likes: 7
From: Twilight zone
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Some of these diffs seem to be prone to leaking.It's possible you may have to address it again, but I wouldn't pass on a car I liked over it. It can be dealt with. Go for it if you like it!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 30,770
Likes: 41
From: Down the Shore New Jersey, Elev.3 feet
St. Jude Donor '17
I have a 6 speed and had the seals replaced under warranty ....no problem since...go for it and love the fact that it and the 2003 Aniv. are the only C5's without a black dash.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 12,331
Likes: 139
It takes all of 2 hours to do it at home if you have 2 jacks and stands.
You want to block your front tires. Next you want to jack up your rear end as high as you can. You will need to take off your TT plate cover. Yes this also means taking off your X or H pipe. You will need to remove your rear tires and rear break caliper off your rotors. You will need to disengage all your electronic connections to your transmission and rear diff. You will also want to loosen the shock in the rear.
There are 3 bolts holding your transmission to your differential those need to be removed. Your hand break connectors will also need to be removed and placed out of the way. You also want to make sure all your break lines are not in the way.
Once this is done you will place a jack with a wide base on your rear diff cradle, and one on your transmission, this is because you will begging to unscrew the 4 screws that hold the cradle to the body and the 2 in the middle. This will have to be slow because you will need to disengage some break lines and your rear shocks and drive shafts. Once the cradle is out of the way the diff/tranny and is being held up by the second jack. IF YOU DO NOT TAKE OUT YOUR TT PLATE COVER YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A BAD DAY. Now slowly lower the tranny diff assembly. One this is done and everything is disconnected you will easily be able to slide the rear diff off and. Make sure as not to hurt the rear diff plate adapter that comes for the A4’s and along with the plate the adapter plate seal. Me you buy new seals.
Once that is done slide the new diff in plate with the adapter plate and seal and jack up to correct position and work backwards. Also make sure to drain the fluid out of the diff before you start.
If I forgot something its been 2 years sine I did mine.
Good luck
You want to block your front tires. Next you want to jack up your rear end as high as you can. You will need to take off your TT plate cover. Yes this also means taking off your X or H pipe. You will need to remove your rear tires and rear break caliper off your rotors. You will need to disengage all your electronic connections to your transmission and rear diff. You will also want to loosen the shock in the rear.
There are 3 bolts holding your transmission to your differential those need to be removed. Your hand break connectors will also need to be removed and placed out of the way. You also want to make sure all your break lines are not in the way.
Once this is done you will place a jack with a wide base on your rear diff cradle, and one on your transmission, this is because you will begging to unscrew the 4 screws that hold the cradle to the body and the 2 in the middle. This will have to be slow because you will need to disengage some break lines and your rear shocks and drive shafts. Once the cradle is out of the way the diff/tranny and is being held up by the second jack. IF YOU DO NOT TAKE OUT YOUR TT PLATE COVER YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A BAD DAY. Now slowly lower the tranny diff assembly. One this is done and everything is disconnected you will easily be able to slide the rear diff off and. Make sure as not to hurt the rear diff plate adapter that comes for the A4’s and along with the plate the adapter plate seal. Me you buy new seals.
Once that is done slide the new diff in plate with the adapter plate and seal and jack up to correct position and work backwards. Also make sure to drain the fluid out of the diff before you start.
If I forgot something its been 2 years sine I did mine.
Good luck
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...post1576097881
You also want to disconnect the air bridge and not lower it too much so the engine doesn't hit the fire wall. Something I forgot to put on the first post and was reminded its been a while and am about to do it again because my diff is leaking.
Then take it to GM have them seal it correctly and put it back on. Its about 2 hours with some one helping you longer if you do it yourself.
Good luck
Last edited by 02*C5; Feb 15, 2011 at 11:06 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 349
From: Layton Utah
My 04 had the rear end leak and it took approx 4 times before the dealer got it right. That being said however, many are repaired the first time without problems. I would not eliminate the car just because of the leaking. It very well could be fixed for good now, and even if you find another one, who is to say that it would occur on that one. The leaking is a common problem that many C5s had. Do a search on that subject and you'll find lots of info.. Good luck on what you decide.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 4
From: USA
Very worse case senario...you have to buy a new differential.
Best case senario.......it doesn't leak again once you have the seals replaced.
So once again, On an item like this, I wouldn't let it pass if you really like the car
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 16
From: Cancer Sucks - please donate to Corvettes Conquer Cancer
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Thanks for all the replies - I really appreciate them
Can someone tell me what the cost is if this needs to be done again
What does a differential cost ?
I am not a wrench guy at all and i spoke with the owner and the warranty has expired on the car
Thanks
Bob
Can someone tell me what the cost is if this needs to be done again
What does a differential cost ?
I am not a wrench guy at all and i spoke with the owner and the warranty has expired on the car
Thanks
Bob
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 133
From: Conejo Valley CA
I had my leaky butt fixed once. This was about 3 years ago... It was not done by GM but by very mechanically proficient forum friends razor2430 and gairno. I have not had any problems since. I did an extensive forum write up on it,
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...on-photos.html
To address your question as to how much the dealer would charge, I believe its around $600... but this is a guesstimate. I'm sure others will chime in with a more accurate figure.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...on-photos.html
To address your question as to how much the dealer would charge, I believe its around $600... but this is a guesstimate. I'm sure others will chime in with a more accurate figure.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 16
From: Cancer Sucks - please donate to Corvettes Conquer Cancer
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Thanks everyone for all your input !!
I just got off the phone and bought the car.
Here's the car http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-c...-22-000-a.html
Bob
I just got off the phone and bought the car.
Here's the car http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-c...-22-000-a.html
Bob
Jacks996
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,667
Likes: 12
From: eagle mountain lake tx
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Thanks everyone for all your input !!
I just got off the phone and bought the car.
Here's the car http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-c...-22-000-a.html
Bob
I just got off the phone and bought the car.
Here's the car http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-c...-22-000-a.html
Bob
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 160
From: Lafayette Louisiana
I love my '04 CE 'vert. I drive it almost every day and have about 65k miles. Never any trouble with rear end. But, here's something you might check. There was a warranty extension issued for fuel leak problem. Extension was for 10yr or 100K miles. Problem only affects a certain vin range of the '04s. I had the problem a few months ago and Chevy fixed it free of charge. Here's a thread to check out on the fuel problem. Good luck! 
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...read-this.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...read-this.html
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 160
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,998
Likes: 33
From: somewhere in New Hampshire
Thanks, sorry to hijaak but tell me more about this extended warranty. I had mine fixed a couple years ago, it was already out of warranty.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 732
Likes: 2
From: Baxter MN
In my opinion you got a great deal on this car. I paid $30,000. for our CE Coupe 2 years ago with a few more miles on it (but also a few more options). Seriously, I started thinking about going for a 2010 Grand Sport, but the more I see what I have the less I feel like parting with it. The CE is a distinctive, attractive and well optioned car. The C5s in general were well engineered and well built cars. It would really be hard to find a better car for the money.
Best wishes.
Glen
Best wishes.
Glen