Do brand new electronic devices such as starters lose their capacity if not installed right away? As Corvette parts become rarer and more expensive I might buy some but may not need them for a few years. Thanks.

 

If you plan to keep the car for awhile I'd snap up a few parts known to have issues when you see them on sale.

 

Be sure to check the expiration date. For example, blinker fluid is a perishable substance, and should be kept in the refrigerator after opening. You may want to freeze some for later if you find it on sale.

 

lol

 

Muffler bearings have a limited shelf life

 

Is this kind OK ?
Or should I stick with OEM ?

 

 

Never hurts to plan ahead a lot of parts aren't made anymore.

 

Some parts are just plain unobtainable. Even for the later models. No one's seen a C5 johnson-rod for decades.

 

At the very least I'd buy a flux capacitor, maybe even two... Last one I saw was in 1985...

 

I doubt that things like starters are going to stop being made for the C5. I would be more worried about electronic components like the EBCM, steering wheel position sensor, etc.

 

I thought OP’s question was solid. Don’t get the cheeky answers in response.

I’m new to forum and recently bought my first vette, a 2000 with 65k miles. I really enjoy it. It’s appears well maintained and runs wonderfully. I’m aware of the EBCM and position sensor but every for-sale replacement seems used. And not cheap! How can one hedge against possible future need, secure a decent unit today and protect against inflation as supplies thin? To be more succinct; where would a seasoned forum member suggest I look to reliably source EBCM, position sensor electronic parts today? Or is a “If you don’t need it, stop worrying,” approach as prudent?

 

Thanks for your concern. I bought a ten gallon supply when it was on sale at the dollar store.

For all the comedians on here, thanks for the laughs but be sure to keep your day job.

Now for those who don't have attention deficit disorder, I will repeat my original question:

Do electronic components go "bad" if not installed and used in a timely manner? I can make a drawing if some still have a problem with this question.

 

Did you get the synthetic or conventional blinker fluid?

You have a completely legit question. A starter in particular is not something you need to buy spares of now. They won't stop making them, they have a nearly infinite shelf life if stored properly, and aftermarket solutions are often better and lighter. A used (installed) starter will almost certainly fail before one you pull new of the shelf. So why store it? Make that RockAuto's problem.

Electronic components don't usually go bad when stored properly, so use the antistatic bags for ESD protection*. They are more likely to be damaged during installation or use, especially if the original cause of the failure is not addressed during the repair (frayed wire shorts, for example). The EBCM issue looks to be a manufacturing defect that you can repair yourself:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...r-fleabay.html

With twice as many years to age out as a C5, the replacement parts that plague a C3 are seemingly simple things like the headlight switch. It is often better to rebuild 40 year old parts than buy new replacements. Reproductions are available, but are often garbage quality. If you want to stock up on spare parts (ensuring that you'll never need to use them), pick up some OEM NOS wear items, such as switches, turn signal switches and stalks, the aforementioned throttle position sensor, etc.

*Batteries, of course, do go bad. And during the late 90s, many electronics manufacturers were affected by the Capacitor Plague.

 

I have the same usual concerns, but without a way to predict the future, how will you know what parts you will need.

A parts car is the only way to go as a reliable source of parts, and few would want to go that deep, borderline hoarder with a scrap car on display, for a car that will never be rare. I plan on storing my unknown future needed parts down at the junk yard, like most folks, when new is not possible.

It might be that the amount of these cars on the road, and the interest in them, will help keep them a viable market for parts . Witness the new horn sensor that just was announced for sale in the c5 section here. . It used to be strictly do it yourself, built out of blood pressure cuff parts, or something like that, and personally, I wasn't looking forward to building a reliable part out of stuff designed for other tasks, and not for cars with high interior temps, when the need struck.

Electronic parts are probably never going to be available, as GM printed all the electrical circuits out on paper, and copyrighted them to prevent any aftermarket copyright infringement. Gm is primarily interested in selling new cars, not customer support beyond warrantee limits. the company would rather spend on lawsuits from a few dead customers than spend sixty cents on a better ignition switch, if one remembers the not so long ago headlines, so don't expect a lot fo concern for your low profit needs. if you want parts support forever, that is why people will always buy an old Mercedes over a cheaper ford.

I plan on rolling the dice as I go along, and hope junk yards will have tons of unwanted parts as the cars age out of common use. I might age out of common use myself by then, so , no worries. Besides, the group mind on corvettes is pretty strong, they can build horn buttons out of scrounged parts when needed, for one example.

 

Drive your car and enjoy it...Lifes too short to be worried about keeping spare parts for your car. ...Its just a car.. You could die tomorrow ., and all those parts will end up in a landfill.

 

steering wheel position sensor

 

Roof reveal moldings....

 

I would focus on the alternator, which seems to be a C5 issue of note. And the EBCM. Clean all your grounds. I sent out my 02 ECBM and cleaned all the ground points the first 6 months of purchase. NO more check engine lights.

 

This is a similar question I brought up on a post not to long ago. The $ you spend for a new vette is wasted unless you want to be the first kid on the block to have one. They will never hold a resale value like that of an older (C3,2, or 1) since the electronic parts will be obsolete and unavailable down the road. Their value will continue to decrease as years pass for parts availability issues. That's why it's best to find the one you want that's been cared for and buy it at a much cheaper price a year or two latter. The first buyer will always take the biggest hit on any car. Enjoy it until the parts you need are non existent and move on. Don't let anyone tell you that you will always get the parts, because in time, you won't. Engines can be worked with, but not chassis electronics and accessories. Even the junk yards will run out sooner or later and those parts will always be a crap shoot for reliability. Buy their parts to get your car running and then sell it.The high tech stuff is great but they are always a time bomb waiting to go bang. If manufacturers made replacements then it would be a moot issue. But they won't. They want to sell cars not parts. It sucks, but that's the way it is. I love my car and she needs nothing. But one day it will and I'll decide then what to do. I'd give up the high tech today for a new vette with good old mechanical parts that can be fixed or made. Don't need the gizmos, just want to enjoy the car.