97-2000 worthless ???
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
97-2000 worthless ???
Are the 1997-2000 Corvettes worthless now "IF" the e.b.c.m. dies?
I have been in the market for another c-5 or early c-6 to replace my C-5 I sold last summer. [I miss a Corvette]. My wife found a "99" for sale at her work place. The guy wants only $10,000 cash for it because the ebcm unit went "belly up" and he can't afford to fix it.
The car is super nice and low miles [69,000 miles]. I know it's nice because it's my old Car. I looked on E Bay and they want $2500 for a good "USED" one!
I'm beginning to wonder if these early c-5's are worth fixing? Thoughts please, Can you just turn the dang thing off and will it drive all right then? I wish they had a by pass for this annoying crap!
I have been in the market for another c-5 or early c-6 to replace my C-5 I sold last summer. [I miss a Corvette]. My wife found a "99" for sale at her work place. The guy wants only $10,000 cash for it because the ebcm unit went "belly up" and he can't afford to fix it.
The car is super nice and low miles [69,000 miles]. I know it's nice because it's my old Car. I looked on E Bay and they want $2500 for a good "USED" one!
I'm beginning to wonder if these early c-5's are worth fixing? Thoughts please, Can you just turn the dang thing off and will it drive all right then? I wish they had a by pass for this annoying crap!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
I know this will not be a popular response... but for me, myself, personally, after being on the forum for a few months and doing lots of research... would NOT touch a 99 with a 10 foot pole... just my humble opinion.
I do respect the guys that own one ... they have their hands full.
I do respect the guys that own one ... they have their hands full.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 400
Likes: 28
From: St. Paul (smokey!) MN
I'm no expert, but I think 10000 is high for 69k miles and a non functional ebcm. I checked edmunds on the value of my 98 vert, 16400 miles, they appraise it at 11260 for private party sale. Seems to me that 53k fewer miles and a working ebcm is worth more than 1260.
My ebcm works, so I have no experience of what happens when it goes, but from what I've read you just lose ABS and traction control, the car will still work fine. It would be nice if there was a work around to turn off the warning lights.
My ebcm works, so I have no experience of what happens when it goes, but from what I've read you just lose ABS and traction control, the car will still work fine. It would be nice if there was a work around to turn off the warning lights.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 1,097
From: Pittsburgh PA
Boy, i wish there was an easy answerer to this. If it happened to my car i don't know if i could trust a used one. Mine does not have AH so all it would affect is the abs. Us old cats have driven a long time with out that. I would hold off and hope for some kind of fix. In your case you know that car, And with a working unit it is worth more then 10000. I really don't know how it would affect your car with out it. Good luck obx with this one, Wish I could offer more.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 58
From: God's Country The Old Dominion
Are the 1997-2000 Corvettes worthless now "IF" the e.b.c.m. dies?
I have been in the market for another c-5 or early c-6 to replace my C-5 I sold last summer. [I miss a Corvette]. My wife found a "99" for sale at her work place. The guy wants only $10,000 cash for it because the ebcm unit went "belly up" and he can't afford to fix it.
The car is super nice and low miles [69,000 miles]. I know it's nice because it's my old Car. I looked on E Bay and they want $2500 for a good "USED" one! I'm beginning to wonder if these early c-5's are worth fixing? Thoughts please, Can you just turn the dang thing off and will it drive all right then? I wish they had a by pass for this annoying crap!
I have been in the market for another c-5 or early c-6 to replace my C-5 I sold last summer. [I miss a Corvette]. My wife found a "99" for sale at her work place. The guy wants only $10,000 cash for it because the ebcm unit went "belly up" and he can't afford to fix it.
The car is super nice and low miles [69,000 miles]. I know it's nice because it's my old Car. I looked on E Bay and they want $2500 for a good "USED" one!
I'm beginning to wonder if these early c-5's are worth fixing? Thoughts please, Can you just turn the dang thing off and will it drive all right then? I wish they had a by pass for this annoying crap!If you owned the car and it went out that would be one thing but if you are currently considering an early C6 (in your budget) then I would not even consider an early C5. Especially one with the known problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
Absolutely worthless except for spare parts. They should all be parked and cannibalized. Never pay more than salvage value. All that said I had a helluva good time driving mine today and after 15 years on the road the ecbm still works, go figure
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 858
Likes: 75
From: Medford, Oregon
Me too, I don't want to jinx myself, knock on wood !! 
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,893
Likes: 17
From: Fort Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16, '25
Are the 1997-2000 Corvettes worthless now "IF" the e.b.c.m. dies?
I have been in the market for another c-5 or early c-6 to replace my C-5 I sold last summer. [I miss a Corvette]. My wife found a "99" for sale at her work place. The guy wants only $10,000 cash for it because the ebcm unit went "belly up" and he can't afford to fix it.
The car is super nice and low miles [69,000 miles]. I know it's nice because it's my old Car. I looked on E Bay and they want $2500 for a good "USED" one! I'm beginning to wonder if these early c-5's are worth fixing? Thoughts please, Can you just turn the dang thing off and will it drive all right then? I wish they had a by pass for this annoying crap!
I have been in the market for another c-5 or early c-6 to replace my C-5 I sold last summer. [I miss a Corvette]. My wife found a "99" for sale at her work place. The guy wants only $10,000 cash for it because the ebcm unit went "belly up" and he can't afford to fix it.
The car is super nice and low miles [69,000 miles]. I know it's nice because it's my old Car. I looked on E Bay and they want $2500 for a good "USED" one!
I'm beginning to wonder if these early c-5's are worth fixing? Thoughts please, Can you just turn the dang thing off and will it drive all right then? I wish they had a by pass for this annoying crap!
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 41
Likes: 3
From: Cicero NY
Not that I'm looking for one but I have never seen a used ebcm for more than $1500. They're more like $1200. How much is a transmission rebuild or interior, exhaust upgrades, etc? If anyone thinks their 97-2000 is worthless, PM me and I'll take it off your hands. Lol
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 46
From: Springfield IL.
Oldtimer
Well I also have a 99, love the car but if I bought one with EBCM problems, I'd take $4000.00 right off the top. If the car was nice enough I'd probably try and fix it though. My car had some electrical gremlins when I bought it, and got it all fixed up. If I would have taken it to the dealer, no telling what it would have cost to fix it.
I wouldn't discount my car just because it's a 99, but I don't know if I'd buy another either, knowing what I know now.
Keep checking Ebay they're on their cheaper than that. Might have to wait a while to get one. The price has when through the roof for them now. Does the car have active handling? If it does, they're more money, sometimes double.
I wouldn't discount my car just because it's a 99, but I don't know if I'd buy another either, knowing what I know now.
Keep checking Ebay they're on their cheaper than that. Might have to wait a while to get one. The price has when through the roof for them now. Does the car have active handling? If it does, they're more money, sometimes double.
Last edited by 92GA; Apr 4, 2015 at 10:51 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 29,252
Likes: 176
From: Blessed are the cracked. For they are the ones who let in the light.
St. Jude Donor '08 thru '26
My Lord..I love mine as much as my 03..Bad chit can happen to any car at any time. I fear not driving my 99 anywhere. 
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: texas
Using the TC button "turns off" TC. You could pull fuses 52 and 53 in the engine compartment fuse box to insure that the TC doesn't start working unexpectedly. You will still get a TC message in the DIC but I suspect that using the reset button (each time you start the car) will get rid of the message.. Removing those 2 fuses insures that the anti lock brakes ( and hence TC) are not operable but most people have driven cars for many years without anti lock brakes so I would not be overly concerned with that .
I have to agree with the post just before yours that 10K seems high for a 99 with no EBCM. Offer $8K if you really want the car back.
Plus the cause of the TC messages MAY not be a bad EBCM. You need to pull the codes to see what is really going on. There are many different codes that are repairable that can cause the TC message.
Here is how to pull codes:
OR
http://www.c5forum.com/ayc/dtcdic.php
Post ALL the codes including the H or C or HC that follow each 5 character code..... The problem MAY be something that is easily repairable (or not). Codes will help determine that.........
I have to agree with the post just before yours that 10K seems high for a 99 with no EBCM. Offer $8K if you really want the car back.
Plus the cause of the TC messages MAY not be a bad EBCM. You need to pull the codes to see what is really going on. There are many different codes that are repairable that can cause the TC message.
Here is how to pull codes:
OR
http://www.c5forum.com/ayc/dtcdic.php
Post ALL the codes including the H or C or HC that follow each 5 character code..... The problem MAY be something that is easily repairable (or not). Codes will help determine that.........
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 399
Likes: 11
From: Southern NH
He should pay you to take it. They are less than worthless. I've been trying to give mine away but even the salvage yard looked at it and said "we don't buy pre 2001's but bring it down to the docks and see if a ship owner needs a new anchor". I brought it there and they didn't want it either....somethin about the composite body being too light and buoyant. So I drove it back and parked it in the garage. Someday I will find a place that will take it.
My 67 didn't have operable traction control or ABS and I yet someone was willing to drive that safety nightmare home after shelling out over $30k
The Vett is worth market value less $2k and if my EBCM ever wen't that's what I'd be asking for it when the time came to sell. Oh and last week there was a working 13,000 mile V code on Ebay for $1000.
My 67 didn't have operable traction control or ABS and I yet someone was willing to drive that safety nightmare home after shelling out over $30k
The Vett is worth market value less $2k and if my EBCM ever wen't that's what I'd be asking for it when the time came to sell. Oh and last week there was a working 13,000 mile V code on Ebay for $1000.
Last edited by tcrote5516; Apr 5, 2015 at 07:22 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 1,097
From: Pittsburgh PA
I know the ebcm is a problem in the early cars , well i guess its a problem in all the car. But it sounds like its not a death sentence from what i hear from some that have the problem, with the early cars.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn