Ticking time bomb
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 330
Likes: 31
Ticking time bomb
1998 Base corvette.
The whole EBCM & SPS thing really pisses me off and sort of scares me.
My car is immaculate and in perfect running order minus the fact that the cruise control doesn't work.
But if I'm reading things correctly, all it takes is for one of these things to fail to leave my gorgeous car sidelined indefinitely?
If that's the case I'm putting it up for sale tomorrow because the last thing I need or want is a $12000 paperweight.
So, honestly, what are the options for people facing these failures? It really pisses me off that GM has provided no recourse for loyal customers with these issues.
The whole EBCM & SPS thing really pisses me off and sort of scares me.
My car is immaculate and in perfect running order minus the fact that the cruise control doesn't work.
But if I'm reading things correctly, all it takes is for one of these things to fail to leave my gorgeous car sidelined indefinitely?
If that's the case I'm putting it up for sale tomorrow because the last thing I need or want is a $12000 paperweight.
So, honestly, what are the options for people facing these failures? It really pisses me off that GM has provided no recourse for loyal customers with these issues.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
6 speed car? I'll give you $3000 for that soon to be paperweight 
seriously, you can live without the tcs and abs, however annoying it may be to lose it. The car will still function and drive like normal
seriously, you can live without the tcs and abs, however annoying it may be to lose it. The car will still function and drive like normal
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You loose TC and anti lock brakes if the EBCM or SWPS fails. Car is still driveable and unless your state inspection laws require OEM anti lock brakes to be operable to pass inspection, it is still legal and safe to drive. Cars had conventional brakes for a 100 years before the advent of ABS.
It may be an inconvenience, but you can still enjoy the car.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 519
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From: South Salem NY
Brilliant!!! That is thinking forward!!!
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 154
Likes: 23
From: Golden CO
Unscientific though it may be, it would be interesting to set up a poll here for `97-`00 owners to obtain at least some idea as to what the failure rate is, percentage-wise, on the ECBM from these years.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,338
Likes: 66
From: Whittier California
You loose TC and anti lock brakes if the EBCM or SWPS fails. Car is still driveable and unless your state inspection laws require OEM anti lock brakes to be operable to pass inspection, it is still legal and safe to drive. Cars had conventional brakes for a 100 years before the advent of ABS.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
I've been driving around in a '99 that has been having EBCM issues for the past three years now. 15,000 miles later and still drives the same.
At the absolute worst other than losing full functionality of ABS and active handling I have to constantly hit reset on the DIC on start up. Otherwise I go about my business.
There's a good sticky in the tech section of a pre-2001 car being retrofitted with the post-2000 EBCM setup. This at one time was believed to be impossible or very difficult but a forum member proved it can be done. It is very involved however. I'd surmise that eventually vendors will come up with a retro-fit kit. The only major issue will be 1997 and 1998 cars are a "unique" bag because they have an entirely different ABS layout, along with other differences, than 1999-2004 cars.
At the absolute worst other than losing full functionality of ABS and active handling I have to constantly hit reset on the DIC on start up. Otherwise I go about my business.
There's a good sticky in the tech section of a pre-2001 car being retrofitted with the post-2000 EBCM setup. This at one time was believed to be impossible or very difficult but a forum member proved it can be done. It is very involved however. I'd surmise that eventually vendors will come up with a retro-fit kit. The only major issue will be 1997 and 1998 cars are a "unique" bag because they have an entirely different ABS layout, along with other differences, than 1999-2004 cars.
Last edited by Velocity_Vette; May 5, 2017 at 04:07 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
The later model ebcm's have been successfully integrated onto the early cars. I read the entire thread and while somewhat complicated, it seems a viable option.
Didn't read all of the above thread, so what VV said. 👍
Didn't read all of the above thread, so what VV said. 👍
Last edited by f6john; May 5, 2017 at 05:22 PM.