Ebcm 1999
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 948
Likes: 100
From: Lehigh Valley PA
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I've owned my '97 for 10 years, continue to drive it like I stole it! Do you want a classic? It's that simple.
PS Does it have the active handling feature? Allegedly if it does not have it, your changes are reduced.
PS Does it have the active handling feature? Allegedly if it does not have it, your changes are reduced.
Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,771
Likes: 1,369
From: US
I disagree with the idea that solid state components fail so rarely they will outlast you and your children.
Compared with components solid state was a big step forward but they are not infallible. Solid state components fail regularly in millions of applications. There are whole industries dedicated to maintaining and repairing them.
The dim HVAC controller is an example on our C5s. The resistors chosen are slightly undersized regarding power handling capactiy, so they dissipate less heat than larger ones would, thermal cycling the solder joints which causes them to eventually crack.
Consider too that there are many PCBs in the C5 that we rarely discuss. Those failure rates are much lower than the EBCM. Something about the EBCM system is far more failure prone than many systems on the C5 that use other PCBs.
I have literally hundreds of schematics on my PC right now for the sole purpose of troubleshooting issues with PCBs in the comparatively tiny pinball industry.
In my experience it's not at all unusual for some component in the system to fail.
Compared with components solid state was a big step forward but they are not infallible. Solid state components fail regularly in millions of applications. There are whole industries dedicated to maintaining and repairing them.
The dim HVAC controller is an example on our C5s. The resistors chosen are slightly undersized regarding power handling capactiy, so they dissipate less heat than larger ones would, thermal cycling the solder joints which causes them to eventually crack.
Consider too that there are many PCBs in the C5 that we rarely discuss. Those failure rates are much lower than the EBCM. Something about the EBCM system is far more failure prone than many systems on the C5 that use other PCBs.
I have literally hundreds of schematics on my PC right now for the sole purpose of troubleshooting issues with PCBs in the comparatively tiny pinball industry.
In my experience it's not at all unusual for some component in the system to fail.
And I'm only going on anecdotal evidence, since there is no published evidence, so not sure how you can say with confidence that " Something about the EBCM system is far more failure prone than many systems on the C5." Unless you've actually analyzed it yourself, you're going of the same anecdotal evidence we all have , which I don't think supports your theory.
The reality is that we hear about the EBCM failure because when it happens, it's usually posted in here, and the fix isn't cheap, and it's costly because the parts aren't made. For each ebcm failure people (rightfully) complain about, you don't hear from the 10, 100, 1,000 (?) or more people that have perfectly working EBCMs.
Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,771
Likes: 1,369
From: US
In other words, you'll have a perfectly working car to drive while you source a working replacement, just no abs/active handling.
Instructor
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 159
Likes: 50
Here we go, owner of a 99 here, roughly 78k on the car. Had my car for about 3.5 years. No trouble with the EBCM the first 3 years - I get the car out this year after a lot of upgrades over winter and the EBCM is completely pissed. I've got a ton of codes for it.
Going to try cleaning the grounds and see what happens. Having C6 Z51 brakes on the car with 265s out front and 305s out back I'm really not concerned about the lack of ABS or Traction Control... The car still does everything it did before, now I just get a couple lights to look at and the Service Vehicle Soon message on the DIC. I tend to let it rip and never once have had ABS activate in the past, and traction control comes from the right foot anyway....
So I don't feel like I'm out much.
Mostly sharing my story as it is different from the others shared here. I really wouldn't be surprised if cleaning the grounds gets me back to a healthy diagnosis, but Im not expecting it nor worried about it either.
Going to try cleaning the grounds and see what happens. Having C6 Z51 brakes on the car with 265s out front and 305s out back I'm really not concerned about the lack of ABS or Traction Control... The car still does everything it did before, now I just get a couple lights to look at and the Service Vehicle Soon message on the DIC. I tend to let it rip and never once have had ABS activate in the past, and traction control comes from the right foot anyway....
So I don't feel like I'm out much.Mostly sharing my story as it is different from the others shared here. I really wouldn't be surprised if cleaning the grounds gets me back to a healthy diagnosis, but Im not expecting it nor worried about it either.
