I am beginning to think that it is time for me to get rid of my C5 and go back to an earlier year without all of the electronics.

The latest foray into the world of Corvette electronics has been with my DIC. This week it just started to rotate through the different DIC displays on its own. Sometimes faster than others. Now, I cannot get it to go into display mode to read any fault codes.

Could this just be the keypad on the gauge console or is this a symptom of something much worse?

Oh, yea.....My transmission just went out, too. It will not shift into third or fourth gear (It's an automatic). It worked fine when my son took it to work in the morning and out to lunch in the afternoon. It stopped shifting above 2nd gear on his way home.

I wouldn't feel so bad, but we have meticulously maintained this vehicle since we got it. It's a 1998 C5.

Any ideas on the DIC problem would be greatly appreciated.

 

Sounds like your battery is low. Try a new one and let us know.

 

 

I know how son s drive their dad s cars! That could ve been the reason for the tranny failure. I read somewhere that if your ground connections that r behind your headlights have corrosion or any issues, all kinds of dic problems can occur! Good Luck!!

 

The voltage in the old battery (after sitting overnight) was about 11.6, so I put in a new battery. The old one was just about 2 years old and that's about the life expectancy here in the desert. However, the DIC was still acting up. I tried it several times and it finally straightened out and worked. There were no problem codes except for a couple of pesky HVAC historicals that always seem to be there. I cleared those with no problem. Since I cannot drive the car (because of the tranny), I will have to wait and see how this DIC thing works out. I'm still weighing my options on the transmission. I don't drive the car hard or race it. So, I'm not really sure that I need to invest the extra bucks for a special build. This tranny lasted well over 100,000 miles with normal maintenance. I doubt that I'll be driving this for another 10 years. In any case, thanks for the help on the DIC.

 

I know how you feel! I also had the 98 from hell but I fixed it. I bet you can too. First, how are you reading the DTCs. If your tranny wont shift, it could be mechanical or electrical. Are you using the C5 built in DTC reading software?? If not, I suggest that you do. Most common hand held scanners will NOT read body or tranny DTCs

All of the very expensive scanner do but, your best off using the internal DTC reading software.

As for the weird IPC operation, sometimes the connections from the control panels are not properly connected to the IPC and it causes issues like his. The control panel could also have a problem in the push button switches. Difficult to diagnos from the keyboard.

BC

 

I am using the built-in reader. I've checked the connections to the panel and they are clean and tight. I suspect that I am having a problem with the buttons. To be honest, I haven't had enough courage to take the car into the dealer or a transmission shop for a look-see. I'm just afraid that they will tear it down and give it back to me in a box if I can't afford to fix it. With the economy going down the tubes, I'm hesitant to make any large expenditures right now. It still moves quite well under its own power in 1st, 2nd, and reverse. That lets me move it in and out of the garage and gives me the ability to load it on my car trailer if I need to. It also lets me keep the engine lubed and running. For now, I'll just keep driving my Durango and pickup and put the 'Vette in storage. Thanks for the reply.

 

I finally got the courage (and the money) to take the C5 in for the transmission. I checked with all of the locals and settled on a little transmission shop in Old Phoenix. This place looks like hell, but they've been there for 35 years and the BBB gave them VERY high ratings.
Anyway.....he quoted me $1,450 if all it needed was soft parts. That included a 12/12 warranty. I told him that I wasn't banking on the tranny just needing soft parts and gave him the OK. Of course, he called the next morning and said that the clutch housing had "grenaded" and wiped out a bunch of hard parts. The price went up about $1,000. Then I asked him if he could put in an upgrade package. He said he could, but that would add about another $275 to the total. Since the dealer quoted me $4,000 to $4,500, I still felt good and told him to proceed. He told me he would save the parts for me. I picked up the car the next morning and was VERY pleased. Total bill (with new torque converter, upgrade kit, tax, shop supplies, etc.) $2,848 and change. Almost $2,000 less than the dealer. The trans runs perfectly!! It shifts better than it ever did. No leaks, no rattles, no problems. The clutch cage had come apart and it WAS a mess. I'm surprised the case didn't get torn up.
Now, the only problem I'm having is that darned DIC. It keeps coming on and rotating through the gauges on its own. When that happens, none of the switches will work. It doesn't seem to be causing any other problems. As soon as I get a chance, I'm going to pull the cluster and have a look.