ebcm failure rates
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Valparaiso in
ebcm failure rates
I am concerned about the failure of a pre 2001 EBCM. can anyone comment on the failure rate of the module. is it common or is it getting attention only because they are no longer available and limited repair success ?
Mine is fine , but I am worried of an instant negative vehicle value if it was to fail.
Also are there any exercising of the unit to prevent failure, example triggering ABS or traction control on a regular basis ?
Thanks for any replys
Mine is fine , but I am worried of an instant negative vehicle value if it was to fail.
Also are there any exercising of the unit to prevent failure, example triggering ABS or traction control on a regular basis ?
Thanks for any replys
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
depending on what dies, some might be fixable. one of the forum vendors if i remember right was able to repair some of them.
you can't stress too much about this. your car aging subtracts value, driving it subtracts value etc
as for the work around. think about what you're asking. working around the abs is exactly what happens when it fails. you have no abs/TC. you can still drive the car, that just won't be functioning until you source another unit from a donor car
you can't stress too much about this. your car aging subtracts value, driving it subtracts value etc
as for the work around. think about what you're asking. working around the abs is exactly what happens when it fails. you have no abs/TC. you can still drive the car, that just won't be functioning until you source another unit from a donor car
Last edited by racebum; Jan 4, 2013 at 11:42 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
FWIW, statistically you probably have a higher chance of being in an accident than having your EBCM fail...So I would worry more about driving safely and less about what is going to break on your car......
let that sink in for a moment.
let that sink in for a moment.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 29
From: Chilliwack B.C.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
30+ pages of CF members with cars that had an EBCM failure is not
what one would call "pretty low".
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...bcm-issue.html
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
30+ pages of CF members with cars that had an EBCM failure is not
what one would call "pretty low".
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...bcm-issue.html
what one would call "pretty low".
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...bcm-issue.html
Stop worrying and just drive the car
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 5
From: Mount Vernon Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
30+ pages of CF members with cars that had an EBCM failure is not
what one would call "pretty low".
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...bcm-issue.html
what one would call "pretty low".
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...bcm-issue.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 46
From: Springfield IL.
Oldtimer
Of all the ebcm s that failed are pre 2000 model cars? I have to admit after reading a lot of post on here, I started to be really concerned also. Even thought about trading up to a later model because of it. I love my car and wouuld buy the same car again. I started looking and to buy a newer car with all the options my car has, it'd cost me at least $10,000 difference. Just going to ride it out and NOT worry about what if's.
Last edited by 92GA; Jan 5, 2013 at 06:14 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
Likes: 83
From: . New York
I've been looking for years and I've never seen specific numbers on how may cars actually have an EBCM part failure. I had one (well two) myself. The place I bought the car ( an A4 01 with 43k when I got it) at replaced one that was never right from purchase and when that one went out a year later I had ABS Fixer redo it and no problems since then.
But I think the take away point is that we tend to see only the negative posts on the internet in general. We don't see the thousands of people who do not experience a certain problem.
I'd love to see empirical, accurate numbers but I just don't think we ever will.
For what its worth, I think I can say that it is not a common problem at all on the C5.
And anyone with a 97 - 00 should bookmark that link above to COW as apparently he is able to repair some of them and I haven't seen that before.
But I think the take away point is that we tend to see only the negative posts on the internet in general. We don't see the thousands of people who do not experience a certain problem.
I'd love to see empirical, accurate numbers but I just don't think we ever will.
For what its worth, I think I can say that it is not a common problem at all on the C5.
And anyone with a 97 - 00 should bookmark that link above to COW as apparently he is able to repair some of them and I haven't seen that before.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 357
Likes: 1
From: Dallas TX
My 99 vert has the dreaded abs/tc failure and have replaced the wheel hubs as readr this sometimes can help. It is one of those things that is not everyday and sometimes i can drive the car for a week without seeing it.
I can say on a 700 road trip over the holidays the abs/tc lights were on and had a lady in a POS explorer swerve into my lane at 65 mph. No choice but to slam on the brakes and har right front lock up immediately but was able to steer to the left just narrowly, i mean narrowly, missing her rear bumper. Witht he abs it would have been no problem at all.
i drove a viper for years which has no TC so that isnt much of an issue but damn i do miss the ABS!!
I can say on a 700 road trip over the holidays the abs/tc lights were on and had a lady in a POS explorer swerve into my lane at 65 mph. No choice but to slam on the brakes and har right front lock up immediately but was able to steer to the left just narrowly, i mean narrowly, missing her rear bumper. Witht he abs it would have been no problem at all.
i drove a viper for years which has no TC so that isnt much of an issue but damn i do miss the ABS!!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Valparaiso in
Thanks for the replies, It does not make sense to worry about something I can not control.
I'm thinking that if the failure rate was that high GM would not have discontinued the unit.
I'm thinking that if the failure rate was that high GM would not have discontinued the unit.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,671
Likes: 1,245
From: Southern Ca
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Really, like the column lock issue, it's not a question of "if"; rather, it is a question of "when" your EBCM will fail. Are there any C5s out there that NEVER had a column lock failure or leaky differential gasket? ...quite possibly. but those C5s are getting more and more rare.
It's kinda like an 80s Chrysler minivan that never had a transmission failure.
It's kinda like an 80s Chrysler minivan that never had a transmission failure.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
Really, like the column lock issue, it's not a question of "if"; rather, it is a question of "when" your EBCM will fail. Are there any C5s out there that NEVER had a column lock failure or leaky differential gasket? ...quite possibly. but those C5s are getting more and more rare.
It's kinda like an 80s Chrysler minivan that never had a transmission failure.
It's kinda like an 80s Chrysler minivan that never had a transmission failure.
If you want to talk about something that REALLY fails often....Oil pressure sender
If everyone worried about "what ifs" all the time, nobody would want to leave their bed everyday.
Last edited by dblerman; Jan 7, 2013 at 11:25 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
Likes: 83
From: . New York
Almost 250,000 C5s were produced and I'd be willing to bet that more than 240,000 have not had an EBCM failure. Will someone's EBCM fail someday? Maybe....Will their engine or transmission break someday? Maybe. Will they crash into a moose while a clown is making balloon animals in the passenger seat on the 3rd Friday in a month that starts with a J? Maybe.
If you want to talk about something that REALLY fails often....Oil pressure sender
If everyone worried about "what ifs" all the time, nobody would want to leave their bed everyday.
If you want to talk about something that REALLY fails often....Oil pressure sender
If everyone worried about "what ifs" all the time, nobody would want to leave their bed everyday.
how did you know this happened to me 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
If you do have a 2000 C5 that has not had this issue, prepare! Your options are limited.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
That's where you'd be wrong. I know at least 6 past and present C5 owners (2000 and newer) and every last one has had the EBCM fail. The same is true of the column lock feature. What are the odds, then that the majority of C5 owners who have 2000 and newer C5s have NOT had their EBCM fail? I'm not talking about C5s with 5000 miles on them. Let's say 30,000 miles or more. Pretending that it's not a problem won't make it go away.
If you do have a 2000 C5 that has not had this issue, prepare! Your options are limited.
If you do have a 2000 C5 that has not had this issue, prepare! Your options are limited.
And why should mileage matter? It's not a moving part that fails with the EBCM.
what are the odds? Make a thread with a poll and find out
Last edited by dblerman; Jan 8, 2013 at 03:48 PM.