Newbie question/advice
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 104
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From: LIttleton Colorado
Newbie question/advice
Originally posted in tech section by mistake...we are picking up our first Corvette today and saying goodbye to the Boxster...onward and upward. It's a 01 black convertible with 20,000 miles. What should we be concerned with/watching/looking to change with this car? It appears to be in good shape and will get an oil change and general once over before pickup. Any advice will be helpful as we are brand new to these cars.
Thanks,
Jan55
Thanks,
Jan55
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,332
Likes: 7
From: Dayton, Ohio
Senior Member
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
For an '01 you need to watch the oil very carefully for a while to see if it is consuming more oil than it should.
'01's are infamous for having bad rings and burning way too much oil. If you see a problem, it will need a re-ring job so hopefully you are maybe getting an extended warranty with it.
Good luck.
'01's are infamous for having bad rings and burning way too much oil. If you see a problem, it will need a re-ring job so hopefully you are maybe getting an extended warranty with it.
Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
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From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
may want to consider other preventative maint too - brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid tranny/diff fluids - that type of stuff.
Most of all, enjoy!!
Most of all, enjoy!!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 0
From: Streamwood IL
Originally Posted by ptdrummer54
may want to consider other preventative maint too - brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid tranny/diff fluids - that type of stuff.
Most of all, enjoy!!
Most of all, enjoy!!
This should be step one anytime you get a car that's "new to you." At least you know the last time it was done, and that it's been done right.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock TX
What to watch for?
I have recently purchased an 02 coupe about three months ago and I was warned about the problem with using too much oil, but so far, have not had the problem. The car has 30,000 mile on it and the only problem I have encountered is some erroneous displays across the screen which managed to shut down my door locks and my windows for a short period of time. The warnings were about the suspension system and the tire maintenance system with the lights coming on saying to service engine soon and the bells were going off like the door was open. I took the car home and garaged it over night and started it the next day, and things were back to normal with no warnings and everything working ok. However the same problem occured the next day and I went to a Garage owner here in town who specializes in Vettes, and he thought it was a grounding issue, so he traced all 9 grounds on the frame and found that two were partially loose. Hopefully this problem won't happen to you, but if so, you might try looking at the grounds. Other than this, I am perfectly happy with the car and hope to enjoy it for many years.
Hope you have good luck with yours, and I know you will enjoy driving it.
Hope you have good luck with yours, and I know you will enjoy driving it.
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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Welcome and hope you enjoy the car. Check the hoses and belts while you are giving the car a look over. Also, check for any leaking on the rear differential seals - many C5's have this problem.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 431
Likes: 1
From: Northern NJ nj
Jan55,
I read everyone's response and I bet you're going 'oh st*t what did I do?' It burns oils, leaks in the rear, change this, change that.
I also recently bought my first vette in spring. It's also a '01 black vert (22,000 miles)! The dealer looked it over and changed th oil. That's about it. Just follow the maint guide in the manual. I personally think it's much too early to change out fluids (other than oil).
Good Luck. Excellent choice in color! (Beware...black is a bitch..every little scratch shows...but...when it's clean, it can't be beat!)
Drive it, drive it, drive it
I read everyone's response and I bet you're going 'oh st*t what did I do?' It burns oils, leaks in the rear, change this, change that.
I also recently bought my first vette in spring. It's also a '01 black vert (22,000 miles)! The dealer looked it over and changed th oil. That's about it. Just follow the maint guide in the manual. I personally think it's much too early to change out fluids (other than oil).
Good Luck. Excellent choice in color! (Beware...black is a bitch..every little scratch shows...but...when it's clean, it can't be beat!)
Drive it, drive it, drive it
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 204
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From: Delray Beach FL
Originally Posted by vettenovice
Jan55,
Good Luck. Excellent choice in color! (Beware...black is a bitch..every little scratch shows...but...when it's clean, it can't be beat!)
Drive it, drive it, drive it
Good Luck. Excellent choice in color! (Beware...black is a bitch..every little scratch shows...but...when it's clean, it can't be beat!)
Drive it, drive it, drive it
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
I have a MN6 01 and I have the oil consumption problem (sounds like I am at AA). I burn a little more than 1 quart every 700 miles (tested by GM - thanks).
The problem is with the early makes of 2001 and mostly affected MN6 not A4s (mine is a MN6 built in March 01 - double whammy). The problem was fixed in the later months of production in 2001. The 2002 should not see any oil consumption problems because the problem was already corrected.
Besides the Oil Consumption you might see a problem with the rear end leaking and the seats moving.
I would suggest trying to get some sort of extended warranty just because the car is expensive to fix and for the cost of the warranty many people have saved tons more than they paid out.
good luck - and nice color (though MY is better!!!)
The problem is with the early makes of 2001 and mostly affected MN6 not A4s (mine is a MN6 built in March 01 - double whammy). The problem was fixed in the later months of production in 2001. The 2002 should not see any oil consumption problems because the problem was already corrected.
Besides the Oil Consumption you might see a problem with the rear end leaking and the seats moving.
I would suggest trying to get some sort of extended warranty just because the car is expensive to fix and for the cost of the warranty many people have saved tons more than they paid out.
good luck - and nice color (though MY is better!!!)
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '05
I suggest your install the Column Lock Bypass (CLB). Its cheap and you can get it from most forum vendors. The column lock issue applies to all years of C5s. Here's a link to one of many posts about column lock.
Column Lock
Also, if your vette is a 6-speed then I'd recommend getting a CAGS eliminator. It is also cheap and disables the computer from forcing you to shift from 1st to 4th in lower rpms.
One last thing...not an issue but a recommendation. Check out the Window Valet made by Top Down. You can find a link to their website on the left in the Accessories section. It allows you to control the windows with your key fob. Its nice to be able to roll down the windows as you walk up to your car...makes it easier to quickly put the vert top down.
Welcome and enjoy the Vette!
Column Lock
Also, if your vette is a 6-speed then I'd recommend getting a CAGS eliminator. It is also cheap and disables the computer from forcing you to shift from 1st to 4th in lower rpms.
One last thing...not an issue but a recommendation. Check out the Window Valet made by Top Down. You can find a link to their website on the left in the Accessories section. It allows you to control the windows with your key fob. Its nice to be able to roll down the windows as you walk up to your car...makes it easier to quickly put the vert top down.
Welcome and enjoy the Vette!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,678
Likes: 34
From: Fayetteville GA
Originally Posted by ptdrummer54
may want to consider other preventative maint too - brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid tranny/diff fluids - that type of stuff.
Most of all, enjoy!!
Most of all, enjoy!!
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock TX
Weasel,
I have an 01 Coupe, A-4, and I had my car up on the rack last week. While looking around I discovered some oil at the rear end, but it looked dried and lots of dirt around it. I could not determine if there was a leak or if someone had overfilled it and there was dirt on the area around the differential due to that.
Do you know what the fix is for this? Would it be leaking around the gasket on the differential?
Any advice would be appreciated.
I have an 01 Coupe, A-4, and I had my car up on the rack last week. While looking around I discovered some oil at the rear end, but it looked dried and lots of dirt around it. I could not determine if there was a leak or if someone had overfilled it and there was dirt on the area around the differential due to that.
Do you know what the fix is for this? Would it be leaking around the gasket on the differential?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,338
Likes: 66
From: Whittier California
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
Welcome and hope you enjoy the car. Check the hoses and belts while you are giving the car a look over. Also, check for any leaking on the rear differential seals - many C5's have this problem.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
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Let's see....
Ya' got oil consumption issues, leaky rear differential, column lock problems, faulty fuel sending units, and a couple of other things I forgot I'm sure. Bottom line is these cars aren't perfect, but then other than you and me....what is?
I have never owned a car that gave more smiles per gallon than the one I have!
I don't want to scare you off or give you a bad taste....Vettes are fantastic cars that accelerate like a 60's muscle car, turn like the most exotic "funny furrin cars", stop on a dime & give you change, and return gas mileage figures better than most of the supposed economy cars!
I didn't see anyone above me mention anything about the wave - it's Corvette LAW that you must wave at all other Vettes, even if they don't see you!
Enjoy the ride - both in the car and here online!
Ya' got oil consumption issues, leaky rear differential, column lock problems, faulty fuel sending units, and a couple of other things I forgot I'm sure. Bottom line is these cars aren't perfect, but then other than you and me....what is?
I have never owned a car that gave more smiles per gallon than the one I have!
I don't want to scare you off or give you a bad taste....Vettes are fantastic cars that accelerate like a 60's muscle car, turn like the most exotic "funny furrin cars", stop on a dime & give you change, and return gas mileage figures better than most of the supposed economy cars!
I didn't see anyone above me mention anything about the wave - it's Corvette LAW that you must wave at all other Vettes, even if they don't see you!
Enjoy the ride - both in the car and here online!
Last edited by blacksedan87; Nov 15, 2004 at 03:14 PM.