First and most important is engine temp. I have had my vette for only 2 weeks so have little experience with it. Over the weekend I noticed it would get hot as I sat at a light. Normal seems to be around 200 or just under but sitting would go up to 230ish. Adding a little rpm & it would cool down and once you start driving it goes right back to 200. My question is this normal? 230 isn't bad I guess but then it’s not all that hot outside now ether.
Next I was looking on line at a device to trick the (shift to 4th) thing. Is it harmful in anyway to put one of those on the car? Seems like an inexpensive way to get around that problem. Thanks

 

It is normal. Do look up into front of radiator (really air conditioner condenser) to make sure leaves or bags are not blocking, these cars are street vacuum cleaners, being "bottom feeders". I always watch in the rear view mirror, when I run over a bag, to make sure it did not get sucked up.


I was concerned about temperatures when I first got my C5, here is info:

Corvette Cooling Fans Operation

The low speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 108°C (226°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 104°C (219°F). The high speed cooling fan is commanded on when the coolant temperature reaches 113°C (235°F). It is turned off if the coolant temperature lowers to 108°C (226°F). When the A/C is on and the coolant temperature reaches 85°C (185°F), the low speed cooling fan will be turned on at vehicle speeds less than 56 kPh (35 mph).
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A trick to use, if the high temperatures bother you when sitting still, you can turn on the Air Conditioner, it will turn on low speed fans and usually will keep temperature 190-205 F.

The CAGS (Computer Aided Gear Shift) defeat was my first mod, no damage to anything. Your light will still come on, but you will not have to shift into 4th. I bought a $20 kit, it included OEM caps for electronic plugs, so if I ever want to change back, I can. This was probably my best mod, I almost got hit from behind after some stop lights, when it made me shift into 4th !

Oh, and congratulations on your "new to you" C5, you WILL have miles of similes !

 

your engine temps are normal. If you wish to run colder you will need to change when the fans come on and maybe consider a lower degree thermostat. If you do go with a lower thermostat you will definitely have to alter the fan settings in order to take advantage.

The price of the skip shift elimination mod is a small price to pay for the benefit.

In my opinion HAVING the skip shift is way more dangerous then not. When I first had my Vette, before the skip shift was eliminated, I had a couple of close calls when the car shifted into 4th at the precise time I needed second in order to get out of the way of oncoming traffic.

You can buy a low cost piece that plugs into the trans and fools the computer or I think you can have this option tuned out via a tech II.

Either way I am all for getting rid of the skip shift. But thats just how I feel. Others may have different experiences and may know of worthwhile benefits for keeping it in place.

 

The reason GM Powertrain put CAGS on the car is because it improved fuel mileage as calculated by the EPA. By doing this, original buyers of a C5 did not have to pay an additional (approx) $1,000.00 for the "gas guzzler" tax.

Because CAGS does not affect the vehicles actual emissions, it is legal to remove the feature from the car.

I'm surprised there are ANY C5's with CAGS still working on them ... I thought every new owner installed CAGS defeat the first week they owned the car !!!

 

BlackZ06 - Ok its going to take me more than a week but I can see its kind of a no brainer. Thanks everyone

 

WoW it was a couple pieces of styrofoam and a bunch of weeds,grass etc. Thanks I'll have to keep an eye on this now that I know.

 

It's the computer trying to tell you that you're driving like an old lady.

I've been driving C5's for 9 years and I could probably count on one hand how many times it kicks in per year. Not worth the effort to remove it in my opinion.

 

The reason I got rid of it is here in Bay Area traffic, pulling away from a light and you are stuck behind some DWO ... and CAGS will bite ... took longer to get the car on the ramps than it did to install the defeat ...

 

I think it has happened to me once. Get those rpm's up!

 

Sorry, but I'm in agreement here. Stay in first and step on the right hand pedal!

In 2 years with my M6, it's activated once.....and that's when I was trying to see if it works.

 

Well I ordered the skip shift eliminator today. It hasn't really been a problem, only happening a few times. But I figure it only would take one time with someone pushing up my rear and it causes me to hesitate & crunch. $25 is cheep way to avoid the chance of that.

 

Thats EXACTLY what I was thinking. I could see the skip shift light on the dash IPC and just mash the gas a little harder and BINGO,,,no skipshift! I had mine surgicall removed by EFI Live!!

The ONLY time I really had to deal with mine was on the NAVY Base where the speed limits are 10 15 & 20 MPH