Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech

C5 Lost it's Mind

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 22, 2014 | 12:38 PM
  #1  
Bill Tompley's Avatar
Bill Tompley
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge LA
Default C5 Lost it's Mind

You guys have been helpful with my 97'C5 so I'm hoping someone has possible solutions to these issues.
I have a suspicion these problems are related.

Early last year my tire sensors indicated I had low tire pressure but I checked and everything was OK and I replaced all sensors the year before so I had doubts these trouble codes were accurate.

Late last year my key fob stopped working, installed new battery but still had issues. Every time I completed the relearn process, shortly after it would stop working.

Early this year my window controls would sometimes work erratically.

In July my windshield wipers started working erratically. I would turn them off then they would come back on. While driving on a sunny day they would turn on. Its embarrassing driving on a sunny day with your wipers on :-(

Last night, my headlights exhibited the same problem as my wipers.

OK, it's past time to park the car and fix this issue.

From researching the Forum it seems possible I'm having issues with the grounding points on the C5.
Do you guys feel this is the first place I should address? (remove and clean all grounding points)

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill

P.S. a funny background story:
About 5 years ago my car wouldn't start exhibiting the same symptoms as a bad starter. Replaced starter, still no start. Next I replaced the battery, no start. Bypassed the clutch safety switch, no start.
After several days of chasing my butt I decided to post a 'need help' message on the Forum. I received several replies. Some some interesting, some sarcastic but one stood out. "Stop chasing your butt and clean your ignition key". I thought "No Way" but after cleaning my key with denatured alcohol the car started. There's a Diode(or something0 in the key that (if dirty) will confuse the car Security.
WOW, It's great to have a forum like this one :-)
Reply
Old Oct 23, 2014 | 12:43 AM
  #2  
cor28vettes's Avatar
cor28vettes
Race Director
15 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,175
Likes: 1,138
From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
Default

ground check
Reply
Old Oct 23, 2014 | 08:41 AM
  #3  
Phanni's Avatar
Phanni
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
Default

The early key fobs are known for going bad.
the TPMS batteries last about 10 years.

Start with cleaning the grounds for the other problems.
Reply
Old Oct 23, 2014 | 10:38 AM
  #4  
dadaroo's Avatar
dadaroo
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
Default

I have a great link that lists what every ground point serves. That way you can start by just doing the grounds related to the above issues. Not convinced grounds are related but it is not hard to inspect and clean them if needed. Not at home now but I will post later.

After you are done post what comes back here. For any issues that remain I STRONGLY suggest you create a separate Thread of each one which you can link to from here and we will help you. Just too hard to try and solve multiple issues in one Thread.

PS: The ignition key has a resistor in it that is read when you insert the key. If the key contacts or the contacts in the ignition cylinder are not clean it can cause your problem. This happens sometimes but more often it is actually the ignition switch electrical contacts behind the ignition key cylinder that cause no start issues.
Reply
Old Oct 23, 2014 | 06:33 PM
  #5  
Z_fox's Avatar
Z_fox
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 264
Likes: 7
Default

I had a problem with the wipers having a mind of there own with my '04. That was still under warranty and the dealer took care of it. They told me that water had collected and caused the problem. Never drove it in the rain so it must have been from washing it with the hose nozzle pointed where it was not supposed to be.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2014 | 07:03 AM
  #6  
dadaroo's Avatar
dadaroo
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,835
Likes: 302
From: Columbia SC
Default

Here is the ground information link:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...locations.html
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2014 | 05:34 PM
  #7  
johnson-rod's Avatar
johnson-rod
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,374
Likes: 423
Default

Probably the grounds. Especially that stinker up by the driver's headlight. Mine started to act like "Christine" until I cleaned that ground connection. Plan on doing it every few years.

Latest problem was a steering position sensor message. Cleaned the ground and it's gone.
Reply
Old Oct 25, 2014 | 05:39 PM
  #8  
Phanni's Avatar
Phanni
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
Default

FWIW, marginal batteries can cause some really weird stuff too.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To C5 Lost it's Mind

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-4

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-5

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:14 PM.

story-0
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-7
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE