My "99" has the active handleing and it hasn't screwed up yet [knock on wood] but I have been reading a lot more often about problems with them and the unavailability of new EBCMs for early C-5s. My question is did all c-5s have A/H and If some models or years did not then does that mean they didn't have ECBMs? One of my "97s" did not have A/H If my memory is correct. Also, can you remove the ECBM or just get it programed out? I'm getting some fairly serious dollars tied up in the car but If there is a real danger of ECBM trouble causing the car to become worthless because It couldn't be fixed I may just sell it and buy another one that is not equiped with A/H If that is possable.

 

Not all have the AH. But they do all have the TC and ABS. I don't know if it can programmed out but I wish/hope it can be because I'm tired of looking at lights and having to rest the DIC.

Not really worth buying a used one because it may go out as well. GM should be forced to be held accountable over this.

 

I sent a PM to the author of this thread with some information I received asking some of the same questions. I hope it helps.

 

Think you could share it with everyone else, or would you have to kill us?

 

I pm'd it to you.......so now I only need to kill you.........

 

So If i just unpluged the ebcm the car will perform fine except for the annoying warnings and codes? Hell, If thats the case i'd just put a piece of black tape over the stupid dic readout! I'm about ready to just sell It and build me another streetrod, At least I can fix old hotrods when they break!

 

Yup, you can just unplug the EBCM (cover the plug and the exposed side of the brake valve with plastic, wire tie the plug to keep it out of the fan) and drive the car fine. You will get messages on the DIC and a light on the dash.

You wont have AH, bit more importantly you wont have ABS (and that may make it a bit tricky to pass a vehicle inspection if you have those where you live as the ABS brake light will be on).

The EBCM also assists Magnasteer, decreasing effort in turning the sttering wheel at low speeds.

http://www.pc-surgeon.net/images/cfo...alfunction.pdf

Its not a given that yours is gonna go, hope it works out

 

I have a 2000 vert and am concerned about this problem also. Thanks to this forum I became aware of this problem. One forum member claimed that this item "may fail because of lack of use". He suggested to find an open stretch of road and say at about 40 mph slam on the breaks. This should/will activate the ECMB and you should see a message that says "abs active". I have now do this a couple of times and will continue to do so. I don't have active handling but that shouldn't matter.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.



There are a couple of electronic specialty shops that claim they can fix this vintage of ECBM (1998 to 2000) but it's expensive.

Here is a link to one of them.

www.autoecu.com

 

 

(1) My question is did all c-5s have A/H and If some models or years did not then does that mean they didn't have ECBMs?
No not all came with A/H but they have EBCM's just not with A/H but they have ABS and T/C

(2) One of my "97s" did not have A/H If my memory is correct. Also, can you remove the ECBM or just get it programed out?
Most '97's did not and a lot of '98's too - but the EBCM or Module can be interchanged from 1997-2000 - "BUT" you can only use a NON-A/H on a NON-A/H Vette and the same rule goes for the ones equiped with A/H 1997-2000 the A/H module can be interchange only if it is equipped with A/H

NO! it cannot be programmed out!

(3) If there is a real danger of ECBM trouble causing the car to become worthless because It couldn't be fixed I may just sell it and buy another one that is not equiped with A/H If that is possable.

There are still a lot of Modules out there to be had and more plentiful are the A/H ones over the NON-A/H (like my 1998 and your 1997 you had - these are becoming more and more rare) - so no matter how you look at it you can't run from it -

Now you could get a later model Vette 2001-2004 that the modules can be repaired due to the fact that GM finally figured it out that it is not wise to sink the board into epoxy thus making it non-repairable! (plus all 2001-2004 are A/H and are interchangeable)

Suggestion:
Scour the For Sale section or look at Corvette Recycling, Ebay and other vendors and grab a good used one for your Vette and set it on the shelf in the event yours fails - I have done this and it saved my bacon -

Your Vette will continue to operate if the Module does indeed go bad - you will have brakes just "NOT" Abs, it will be like the old days like standard brakes, You will not have T/C (Will be just like turning it off at the button), and you will not have the use of A/H (if so equipped) - your ABS light will illuminate and you will get a message Service A/H etc. on the DIC - "BUT" again you will be able to drive it anywhere you want till it is fixed!


Thanks,Matt

 

Thanks for the answers to my questions!

 

I can't speak for all states but I know for a fact in Missouri the orange light for ABS and TC WILL NOT fail your inspection. Only the RED brake light will do that. There is no requirement in any state for AH, ABS, or TC so I don't believe any state can fail you for it.

If they did fail you it would be mandatory that GM provide replacement parts. And they do not.

Again, only the red brake light can fail you in Missouri and I would bet that's the case in all states. I did read a member here state he couldn't register his vette because of it, but I ain't buying it. He hadn't even tried the way it sounded.

 

Thanks for the info. And a stay of execution!

I know a guy who in fact has black tape over his ABS light. I was actually looking at some muscle cars yesterday myself. I love this thing and I doubt I will ever sell it. But these things have issues they shouldn't have, IMO.

 

Been driving mine for a year or two with it out. The biggest PIA is you need to punch your reset button about 3 times to clear your code warnings for you to be able too use your DIC. Just be aware that if you stomp the gas,,you'll probably spin your tires,,and if you stomp the bakes at speed,you can lock up the brakes,,,in other words,,it drives like all the cars that were built for about 100 years before all the electronic nannies began!!Mine pops 2 warnings as soon as I start up,,and the 3rd pops as I near 30mph. I live in south west Illinois,,close to St.Louis,where we have to go through emission testing. They just plug into the port and look for emission relevant codes. Been through twice and not a problem.

 

Nice catch! Man this is what truly makes the forum so stinkin freakin awesome - We all got eachother

Thanks,Matt
661-406-7516

 

Been seriously thinking about selling mine because of all the electrical issues with these cars. Mine had several issues when I bought it, since repaired, but to have a car that has so many issues. I've never owned any other GM car that has the issues like the vettes. I've been hopeing someone will come up with a way to install a later model ebcm in the earlier model.

 

You would have to switch out to a later PCM that has the correct peramiters as well as the ABS pump too from the later 2001+ Corvettes -

Sorry about yoour issues, I have had only one electrical issue on mine and it was "ONLY" the Module that failed and mine is a 1998!

Thanks,Matt