Mechanically Challenged
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I agree. CLEAR ALL the codes and monitor and see if any come back. If there are any new DTCs after you clear them, please post them. That will help us figure out whats going on.BC
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
If he's a gear head and coming back from deployment, working on his car may be just the ticket to help him transition back to normal life again. He deserves lots of R&R time. 
He'd be proud of you for trying to resolve it by yourself.
He'd be proud of you for trying to resolve it by yourself.
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St. Jude Donor '11
They had him back at work within two days of landing back in the states, so he's a little stressed out right now. And his car and mine are both giving us problems. Which is funny, because they both gave me problems at the very beginning of the deployment, I got everything handled, and now as soon as he gets home they're acting up again. They're like children acting out to changes!
I'll be calling Tom when I get off work today, and maybe we can figure the mystery out together. Delilah drove just fine last night and this morning. Here's hoping!
Thanks, again guys! You're all awesome!
I'll be calling Tom when I get off work today, and maybe we can figure the mystery out together. Delilah drove just fine last night and this morning. Here's hoping!
Thanks, again guys! You're all awesome!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Pasco WA
That one time pop sound could have been the clutch assist spring letting go. Mine made a loud pop when it broke. Check your floor under the pedal area, and look for a small piece of metal. BTW, you dont need this spring, so don't worry about replacing it.
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St. Jude Donor '11
I spoke with Tom last night and he mentioned that it could have been the sway bar end link breaking, since they're made of plastic and it tends to be a common problem for my car. I told the husband who didn't have time last night to check before it got dark, so I will be looking at them as soon as it gets light enough here.
Oh, and the tranny is fine. It's the clutch that needs to be replaced. Apparently my 13 years of driving a stick shift have been all wrong. At least according to the husband. You know, women drivers and all...
But I'm hoping it's an end link. That seems to be a much easier fix than anything I was fearing was happening in that mysterious compartment in the front of my car.
Oh, and the tranny is fine. It's the clutch that needs to be replaced. Apparently my 13 years of driving a stick shift have been all wrong. At least according to the husband. You know, women drivers and all...
But I'm hoping it's an end link. That seems to be a much easier fix than anything I was fearing was happening in that mysterious compartment in the front of my car.
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St. Jude Donor '11
So, almost a month later... We installed the new sway bars and end links yesterday. (and by "we" I mean he! I was the tool fetcher/passer and part holder.) The husband found a set of C6 Z51 sway bars brand new and we were told they'd fit Delilah. They are the only pretty new thing under the car! I learned a couple of things...
1. I have a small leak in the transmission.
2. She is beat all to hell on the underside. Which could explain us having to replace one of the wheels six months ago because it was cracked in five places.
The last one I know is because of our steep driveway. She scrapes every morning, it makes me cringe every time. I cannot wait to move so we don't have that issue anymore. But can anyone tell me how awful the first two of these photos are? How big a deal is it that they look that bad (and what are THEY?)
The old Sway bars
The pretty new ones! (Metal end links too, which makes me feel better!)
And just cuz I think he's cute, the husband working on getting the back sway bar off.
1. I have a small leak in the transmission.
2. She is beat all to hell on the underside. Which could explain us having to replace one of the wheels six months ago because it was cracked in five places.
The last one I know is because of our steep driveway. She scrapes every morning, it makes me cringe every time. I cannot wait to move so we don't have that issue anymore. But can anyone tell me how awful the first two of these photos are? How big a deal is it that they look that bad (and what are THEY?)
The old Sway bars
The pretty new ones! (Metal end links too, which makes me feel better!)
And just cuz I think he's cute, the husband working on getting the back sway bar off.
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
The underside of that 'Vette is probably the worst I've seen! 
wow.
The cradle that's crushed in front can be replaced but the front bumper has to come off. Not hard to do. Then you can get some rollers (they look like skateboard wheels) from one of the vendors here that stradle the skids so it will give the car a fighting chance.
Also, the transmission isn't leaking. It's coming from the side seals of the differential which is bolted to the rear of transmission. Its a common failure, but yours has been dripping for quite some time it appears. Make sure the diff fluid is topped off every few months until the o-rings are replaced. If the car was in the air, and you looked where the axles go into the differential, there are two big o-ring seals that leak under the diff's side plates. There's a how-to write up with pictures if you search the DIY thread at the top of this tech forum. Hubby can fix that for you in a few hours and the seals aren't expensive.
wow. The cradle that's crushed in front can be replaced but the front bumper has to come off. Not hard to do. Then you can get some rollers (they look like skateboard wheels) from one of the vendors here that stradle the skids so it will give the car a fighting chance.
Also, the transmission isn't leaking. It's coming from the side seals of the differential which is bolted to the rear of transmission. Its a common failure, but yours has been dripping for quite some time it appears. Make sure the diff fluid is topped off every few months until the o-rings are replaced. If the car was in the air, and you looked where the axles go into the differential, there are two big o-ring seals that leak under the diff's side plates. There's a how-to write up with pictures if you search the DIY thread at the top of this tech forum. Hubby can fix that for you in a few hours and the seals aren't expensive.
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Also FYI makes sure you never put synthetic transmission fluid in a '97-'00 manual transmission; it can only be used in a 2001-2004. It will damage the paper blocker rings inside the tranny, but won't hurt the upgraded carbon blockers used '01+.
When changing the diff fluid be sure to add a bottle of GM limited-slip additive ($14 at a dealership) along with what diff oil you choose.
When changing the diff fluid be sure to add a bottle of GM limited-slip additive ($14 at a dealership) along with what diff oil you choose.
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St. Jude Donor '11
Thanks, Joshua!
I knew she was a bit beat up but, I was a bit surprised at the extent of it too. The bumper is mostly us so I can't be too upset about that, our driveway is absolutely horrible and we can't park out on the street every day. Only one more month until the new place with a FLAT driveway! But the rest, ugh. I'll pass on the info to the Husband. We're having to focus on getting her in good running shape before we worry too much about the cosmetics. But it makes me sad to drive a wounded vette!
I knew she was a bit beat up but, I was a bit surprised at the extent of it too. The bumper is mostly us so I can't be too upset about that, our driveway is absolutely horrible and we can't park out on the street every day. Only one more month until the new place with a FLAT driveway! But the rest, ugh. I'll pass on the info to the Husband. We're having to focus on getting her in good running shape before we worry too much about the cosmetics. But it makes me sad to drive a wounded vette!
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Assachusetts
Wow, those front skid bars (the lower radiator support) have to be the most smashed I've ever seen. But, **** happens. Mine were 12 years old and didn't even have a scratch on them, and then I spun the car into a curb one day and totally destroyed them. Replacing them right now in fact...
Underside of the nose....what can you do. You can't really see it, I wouldn't sweat it. Could always get it resprayed once you get a better driveway situation going on. Same for the underside of the rocker panels. All scratched up but don't look too busted. Can get some rocker rail savers that will protect those from high-centering in the future.
Dope
Underside of the nose....what can you do. You can't really see it, I wouldn't sweat it. Could always get it resprayed once you get a better driveway situation going on. Same for the underside of the rocker panels. All scratched up but don't look too busted. Can get some rocker rail savers that will protect those from high-centering in the future.
Dope
