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the vette with the most problems

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Old Sep 11, 2006 | 10:15 PM
  #1  
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Default the vette with the most problems

i have a 97 corvette- i have 148,000 miles on it. i have not driven it in one year this october. why???

-reduced engine power (the big one)
-parking brake dont work
-a/c dont work
-tire sensors dont work
-right rear makes clanking sound.
-wind shield wipers dont work
-front end beat up from a mild wreck
-rear tires will not stay pumped up
-radio does not work but changer does
-right turn signal does not work 80% of time
-key fob does not work

im tellin ya'll boys.... this thing has been a major major pain in my ***... i drive my car responsibly and only get on it rarely... all my friends beat the living HELL out of their F-bodies and they break normal stuff... like trannies, rearends, engines.... but oh hell no... i get to break **** that i cant fix. i would rather the tranny take a major **** then this crazy crap that is going on now....

but im taking it to my mechanic on thursday to fix everything, i cant wait to have the vette back...

mike
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 12:04 PM
  #2  
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Have you considered getting rid of it and getting a later year model with lower miles?
It might cost less in the long run.
I really don't know what you're complaining about. The car is 10 years old and almost 150,000 miles.
Letting it sit for a year hasn't helped any.
Cars do wear out eventually.
If it's been such a pain in the a$$, maybe you should get an F-body.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 12:10 PM
  #3  
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Originally Posted by ROCKnROLL
Have you considered getting rid of it and getting a later year model with lower miles?
It might cost less in the long run.
I really don't know what you're complaining about. The car is 10 years old and almost 150,000 miles.
Letting it sit for a year hasn't helped any.
Cars do wear out eventually.
If it's been such a pain in the a$$, maybe you should get an F-body.
110%
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 12:13 PM
  #4  
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Did all these things happen at once? If you'd been fixing every small problem when it came along, it would have been no big deal. Let the small problems linger, and it becomes one big pain in the ***.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 12:20 PM
  #5  
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my '89 C4 has 150k on it and less trouble than your '97.

I would get a new/different one.......
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 01:03 PM
  #6  
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you either get a lemon or it lasts 200K without a problem... just the way of the vette.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 01:07 PM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by dazman

-reduced engine power (the big one)
-parking brake dont work
-a/c dont work
-tire sensors dont work
-right rear makes clanking sound.
-wind shield wipers dont work
-front end beat up from a mild wreck
-rear tires will not stay pumped up
-radio does not work but changer does
-right turn signal does not work 80% of time
-key fob does not work
Based on the long list, it would appear that you have not been terribly diligent at keeping up with the small stuff, that turns into big stuff.

i.e.

parking brake doesn't work - how many time have you lubricated or maintained that assembly?

right rear clanking sound - probably whats left of your parking brake...see above

right turn signal doesn't work - so what have you done 80% of the time to find the problem?

tire sensors don't work - have you ever changed the batteries? They don't last forever.

Key FOB doesn't work - have you changed the battery on that? If you have, did you re-sync?

Front end beat up - not sure why you listed that one, can't blame that on anyone else.


Anyway you slice it, you've got a car with 148K on it that is now in need of attention.
I don't see what the problem is, comes with the mileage and the territory.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 02:23 PM
  #8  
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Several of those things have nothing to do with the quality of the car such as the front end damage from a wreck, the tires that don't hold air and most of the rest are minor fixes. Sounds more like it needs a little care
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 02:37 PM
  #9  
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Most of the things you listed should be DIY fixes also.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 03:42 PM
  #10  
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Default Time to sell it

You already wrote your ebay ad:

For Sale- 97 corvette- 148,000 miles not driven it in one year this october

-reduced engine power
-parking brake dont work
-a/c dont work
-tire sensors dont work
-right rear makes clanking sound.
-wind shield wipers dont work
-front end beat up from a mild wreck
-rear tires will not stay pumped up
-radio does not work but changer does
-right turn signal does not work 80% of time
-key fob does not work

im tellin ya'll boys.... this thing has been a major major pain in my ***...
Make offer
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 03:57 PM
  #11  
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Throw some insurance on it for theft, wait 6 months and I shouldnt have to tell you the rest of it...
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 07:01 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by briann510
Throw some insurance on it for theft, wait 6 months and I shouldnt have to tell you the rest of it...
great suggestion......
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 08:30 PM
  #13  
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most of these things are minor diy fixes. turn signals most likely can be fixed in less than an hour. get a new hazard switch $35 to $50 and look up the diy on it. get a used radio for $100 and do it at the same time you fix the hazard switch. parking brake most likely just needs to be adjusted. there are a few threads about how to do this on here as well. i did mine two days ago. it did not take very long at all. pull the brakes (two bolts) and adjust the star wheel about 20 to 40 turns and you are good to go. take the car to a tire store and get two new rears and fix the tire sensors at the same time. replace the battery in the fob and see if that helps. pull the codes off the dic and look them up to see what might be causing the problem. most of the people on here can help you out with most of the problems you have. i have had some of these problems on my car and the forum members talked me through all the fixes and they were very easy to do at home. once you fix them you will be happy with the car again. these cars are really not that hard to work on. i would rather have every problem you listed then have the same problems your friends have had on their f bodies.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 08:36 PM
  #14  
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When I first bought my vette two months ago, I thought I had a lemon. Within one week I found two cracked wheels, a bad TPS, the side view mirror fell off, got the column lock, and had to replace the clutch. I was like oh my heavens what have I gotten into

Lucky for me I can fix my stuff myself. Knock on wood she's been reliable ever since.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 10:03 PM
  #15  
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i had a 2000 z28 and a 99 ws6, and did heads and cam on both.... i know my way around an ls1, but this vette is just overwhelming me. those 148,000 miles are highway only miles... and should have held up better in my opinion.... i guess im just venting. i am taking the time and money to get it fixed, but im not touching this thing. i have pulled 2 ls1 engines out of my previous cars, done MULTIPLE and i do mean multiple clutch, tranny rebuilds, and put a 9 in rearend in the camaro, but this vette has me bent all out of shape...

michael
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 11:37 PM
  #16  
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Strange as it sounds your key fob and tire pressure sensors are linked if you key fob battery is dead or is broken your tire pressure sensors will not work properly.

Honestly, all this stuff can be easily fixed, all you have to do is ask and many many people on here can stear you in the right direction.
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 12:25 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by msghuff
Strange as it sounds your key fob and tire pressure sensors are linked if you key fob battery is dead or is broken your tire pressure sensors will not work properly.

Honestly, all this stuff can be easily fixed, all you have to do is ask and many many people on here can stear you in the right direction.
yeah, ive done it all... i bought the 6$ battery from the General, and ive re-synced it, but it just dont work...

i checked the grounds, i checked the fuses, ive spent countless hours messing with this thing, and i just know nothing about computer parts ( all my knowledge is on mechanical stuff. Stuff that you can actually see working.) but im planning an extensive rebuild after i get it fixed

parts that i have already purchased and sitting in the garage:
-ls6 intake
-ported oil pump
-underdrive pulley
-ripper shifter

parts to get soon
-patriot heads
-t-rex
-lg pros
-loudmouth
-dyno tune

mike
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To the vette with the most problems

Old Sep 13, 2006 | 12:58 AM
  #18  
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Dude ........ I wish I had you LITTLE problems

I have had rear end leak twice. On my second tranny. Second engine. Second steering rack.

Now my O2 sensors need replacing and I think I may have a power steering pump issue.

Theres more ..... but its LITTLE crap !!!!

BTW: my car will be 3 years old in December and I have 74K miles


DH
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 01:14 AM
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Originally Posted by dazman
yeah, ive done it all... i bought the 6$ battery from the General, and ive re-synced it, but it just dont work...


mike
Are you close to Fayetteville, NC?
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Old Sep 13, 2006 | 08:53 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by msghuff
Are you close to Fayetteville, NC?

i live in lincolnton, NC... about 25 miles north of charlotte.


mike
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