I am planning on purchasing a C5 – most likely a year 1999-2001 and am looking for some answers to a few questions. I would greatly appreciate any advice from you experts.

Questions:
1) Typically when any manufacturer introduces a new body style it takes 1-3 years for the manufacturer to work out all the kinks. What is the first year that all the kinks were worked out of the C5? What are the problems that I should look for on the first couple of years?

2) Is there a web page that I can get a list of all the recalls and notices from Corvette for the years I am considering?

3) What are the big ticket maintenance items that need to occur and at what mileage. (ie. timing belt)

4) What big ticket items have failed on your car (oil pump, water pump, alternator, etc.)? What was the model year of your car, the mileage when it occurred, and how much did it set you back?

Are there any other things that I should consider?

I am most interested in a convertible, in Red, Yellow, or Blue with a light colored interior and top (black interiors just don’t work in TX – you burn yourself when you sit in them).

Thank you for any advice you can provide!

 

no real serious issues with any years.The 2001 had oil burning issues that was kind of covered under a warranty.The early cars had noisy oil pumps and fuel pumps but no mechanical issues.They have timing chains not belts.These are the most reliable cars g.m built.Try one you will love it.JER

 

Almost any car you buy should have the bugs out of it. If you buy a vert Fla. and Ca. are usually higher priced because of the good weather. As you have little knowledge of the C5s, I would be sure to have someone who knows them look at the car before you buy it.

 

The good part, for a smart buyer, is that he can check all the trouble codes on the car.

There are 6 vertically arranged buttons to the right of the driver on the dashboard.
-turn the key to ignition on without starting the engine (on a manual transmission car, this means just turn the key all the way clockwise with your foot off the clutch --- probably on an automatic it means turn key all the way clockwise with your foot off the brake)
-If any warning messages are on the display , hit the "reset" button (bottom button) to clear any warning messages if there are any.
-press the OPTIONS button (4th from the top) and hold
-while still holding the OPTIONS button, press the FUEL button (top button) 4 times
The system will start to display all the trouble codes, (but probably too quickly for a novice to make heads or tails out of them)
-when it finishes going through the codes, it goes into manual diagnostics mode:
-Hit the OPTIONS button to go to the next system
-If it shows there is a code, hit GAGES (2nd from the top) to get more information
-write down the code, and then when you get back home you can do a search and find out what it means
-continue to hit OPTIONS to go to the next sysytm, and then GAGES to get more information if there is a code.
Keep in mind that a smart seller will clear all codes just before his appointment with a prospective buyer.
On my car, you would find a C1281H code, which means I have a bad steering position sensor ---- a rather common and expensive problem since you need to remove the steering column to replace it.
You would also find a U1016H on my car, which is a communication error between my engine computer and the radio. This one, does not produce any warning to the driver, and is nothing to worry about.
I suggest you print bthis out and take it and a pen with you when you check out a car. Probably better to do this after a test drive, in case the owner cleared all the codes.

Steve

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=984927

I would recommend reading the sticky in the general section. Lots of good info.

Good luck on the search and take your time.