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New to me vette, and some problems.

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Old Jan 17, 2009 | 08:10 PM
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Default New to me vette, and some problems.

Ok I just purchased this morning, a 99 c5 coupe with 55k on the clock. I took it out for a 20 min test drive before buying it, got it up on the highway and ran around a bit, nothing. I drove it home about 20-30 miles and nothing no problems. Now on the way to my girlfriends house I throw an SES light, as well as have the car flickering between kilometers and mph. As well as all of the buttons for the the gauges etc stopped working. I am going to call the dealer Monday when they open, as well as read the codes when I get home, but anything in particular anyone recommends looking at besides the fuses?

Thanks in advance,
Rob
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Old Jan 17, 2009 | 11:11 PM
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Sounds like the Bill Curlee found problem. Check inside the door accordian tubes for a wire than can short to the frame. Do a search in here for Bill's pictures of the offending wire. Tape up that wire!
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by dgrant3830
Sounds like the Bill Curlee found problem. Check inside the door accordian tubes for a wire than can short to the frame. Do a search in here for Bill's pictures of the offending wire. Tape up that wire!
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 09:48 AM
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Congrats on the new ride. I have a 99 coupe and it is a fantastic machine just has funny habits. I agree with the above but would recommend charging the battery if the car has been sitting awhile the battery starts to draw down and all kinds of goofy things happen. I have owned mine nearly 9 years and still love it. Longest I have ever owned a car Best of Luck take your time do not throw parts at problems it can get pricey and most issues are maintenance
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 10:18 AM
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Here is a nice link to have, It shows you how to pull your codes using the DIC and also has a list of codes.
Bill K

http://www.stengel.net/diccodes.htm
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 11:56 AM
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'99 was the best year!
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 02:30 PM
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Thanks a ton guys, when I get home today I will get after it and check this out. I need to get some pics up too, I am gonna need some help identifying what brand some of the aftermarket parts are.
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 02:59 PM
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Check your battery connection real good. Also by the fuse box there is a nut that holds down to power wires make sure that is nice a tight.

One of my C5's did the same thing and it was just a loose battery connection.
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 04:41 PM
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Ok here are some pics, I found two different wires that were tucked away that are either unplugged or not bolted down. I am also assuming since the ses codes were O2 related that the smog crap is yanked off of this car? Help me out here, can I get sims that will eliminate this problem?
P0160 Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S) Circuit Insufficient Activity Bank 2 Sensor 2
P1153 Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S) Insufficient Switching Bank 2 Sensor 1

On to the pics of the loose crap....




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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 04:45 PM
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Of the 1st pic is the hood light not really sure why that is unplugged.
The 2nd just looks like a custom ground for a stereo.

Make sure your battery connections are tight.

It also looks like you have headers. I could be wrong. If you do the codes are from the 2nd bank of 02's that are elminated when you have headers. You either need 02 sims or have a tuner take those codes out.

Good luck
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 05:28 PM
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So can I take that extra wire out completely? Here is a pic of where it leads and grounds too.


As for the headers, what do I do about the O2 sims where do I plug them into?

Once I get the boots off, did everyone just run some electrical tape around the connectors an a bit of the wire?
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 07:33 PM
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After getting in there and looking around, I have have a ton of questions. Several of the hoses are steel braided and there is a notch in the top right of the radiator for something.

I also pulled out the wires in in the accordion vents and the driver side was showing about a 1/4" so I wrapped it up and did the other side even though it was fine. Still have the flicker from mph to kilo though and when it does flicker over it usually wont let me use any of the buttons on the right to change anything until it switches back, typically on large bumps. I guess I will just have to go thru all the grounds and find it that way I hope. I looked at the two grounds under the hood near the hood hinges, and one was missing the backing to it, so that got taped as well and all tightened down along with the battery.
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 07:55 PM
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Was there nothing unusual about this car the stuck out to you? Did you have it inspected by anyone? Curious at all why someone would drill 4 inch holes in the fenders on both sides?
Did you notice the radiator hold down cover is missing?

Your spark plug wires are cooking....get the factory shields back on them...

Looks like a former FI car to me. You may have your hands full.

Last edited by lucky131969; Jan 18, 2009 at 08:00 PM.
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 08:07 PM
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What is an FI car? Can I buy the heat shields? I just bought this car sat morning from a dealer and none of the flickering or engine lights came on at all until I got the car home. I got this car under blue book so maybe I am buying someones problems huh? I am for sure calling the dealer monday.

here is the cut out on radiator and the fan shroud


I haven't had it inspected, it went to a sticker station to get the new inspection on it, but other than that nada. I was going to do all that this week.

Last edited by rev35; Jan 18, 2009 at 08:14 PM. Reason: needs pic
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 08:40 PM
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That car had a supercharger on it! It is missing the radiator shroud so your cooling is also going to lack. You can buy a shroud for about $60.00. I would try and take it back and see if they will do anything for you. That car looks like it had a rough life. All those non factory wires sure could be the problem that you are having.

The 02 sims have connectors down below and you can only get to them from the bottom.

Good luck.
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 08:43 PM
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Originally Posted by rev35
What is an FI car? Can I buy the heat shields? I just bought this car sat morning from a dealer and none of the flickering or engine lights came on at all until I got the car home. I got this car under blue book so maybe I am buying someones problems huh? I am for sure calling the dealer monday.

here is the cut out on radiator and the fan shroud


I haven't had it inspected, it went to a sticker station to get the new inspection on it, but other than that nada. I was going to do all that this week.
What is an FI car...

Forced Induction....in other words...it looks like your car had a supercharger on it. My guess is, someone de-modded the car, and traded it in. The dealer probably just flashed the pcm with a factory download (I doubt they had it tuned for the headers).

Who knows what condition the motor and driveline are in. Get it checked out....
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by lucky131969
Curious at all why someone would drill 4 inch holes in the fenders on both sides?
what the hell is that for?
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To New to me vette, and some problems.

Old Jan 18, 2009 | 08:50 PM
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Not trying to be a killjoy here rev35, but the condition of this car would have been a red flag for anyone who knows C5's. Based on your lack of knowledge, you might consider giving the car back. Some states have a minimum time when you can return a vehicle (not sure how that applies to used).
You just might be in over your head here......

Just seeing those big holes drilled in the engine bay is disturbing........

Sorry no sugar coat here.....just being honest....
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 08:55 PM
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Rob,

Ok I got to thinking about your mph/klm problem. I am willing to bet to bet the gauge cluster was swapped and its not put back together very well.

On these cars all you have to do is swap the cluster and it will change the miles. I would be VERY concerned that this car doesn't have true miles on it.

It would be easy to check if you pulled the cluster. There should be a sticker with a date on the back of the cluster. I should be close to the manufacture date on the door.

If anything I would pull the cluster and check the connections.
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Old Jan 18, 2009 | 09:02 PM
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Great, I am a complete vette virgin in all regards, so yes this is disturbing, I am calling the dealer on tommorrow. This is going back.
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