At least you didn't beat it like a rented mule.
Rookies view point.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 852
Likes: 3
From: Mobile Alabama
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 38
From: Colorado
Some of us just have bad luck. I bought a 40K mile car and had it pre-inspected by the top Corvette expert shop in the region. The car was purchased from a wealthy older retired Chemist who seemed to be the type of owner you'd want to buy a Z06 from. After about 4 months of ownership, I am nearing $6K in maintenance. All either random failures, or issues due to the prior owner. All of these issues were missed by the pre-purchase inspection.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 371
Likes: 0
From: Tucker Georgia
Yeah, I would think so. They never did fix the damn HVAC backlighting problem. I have never heard of these gas tank issues.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 38
From: Colorado
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...e-the-04s.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-gas-leak.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...or-smells.html
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 11
From: Lacombe Louisiana
a quick search here finds plenty of threads on it. something cracking or leaking gas/vapors.. there's a ton of people raising hell and complaining to various safety/regulatory organizations. has to do with the EPA required changes in '03 models.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...e-the-04s.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-gas-leak.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...or-smells.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...e-the-04s.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...-gas-leak.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...or-smells.html
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 38
From: Colorado
i didnt know it was "very limited" i just remember reading about it in horror. good to know it was limited and fixed though.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 16
From: SoCal
Some of us just have bad luck. I bought a 40K mile car and had it pre-inspected by the top Corvette expert shop in the region. The car was purchased from a wealthy older retired Chemist who seemed to be the type of owner you'd want to buy a Z06 from. After about 4 months of ownership, I am nearing $6K in maintenance. All either random failures, or issues due to the prior owner. All of these issues were missed by the pre-purchase inspection.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
Grim...is there a post somewhere outlining the problems you've had? I just picked up a very low mileage 2002 Z and plan to do valve springs and complete fluid change out as PM, but not really expecting anything else. I do all my own work and believe I got a solid car, so I want to learn about your ordeal.
Replaced all fluids in the car (expected this)
New set of tires (expected this)
Alignment (corner balanced and lowered it on the bolts when this was done)
Replaced all belts and tensioner due to belt whine
Water Pump
Valve Springs
Clutch
EBCM
EBMC Connector Damaged- Delphi no longer makes the pins required for the EBCM connector. So the only way to get new pins in to find these pins out of a salvage car. To do this, I had to buy a whole used harness. The seller was unwilling to just remove the pins or the connector. Then you need to actually add these pins and rebuild the connector. I think there are 32 pins or so, so that is a lot of soldering!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 38
From: Colorado
Here is a general list of what has happened to my 40K mile C5Z in a bit over 4 months of ownership:
Replaced all fluids in the car (expected this)
New set of tires (expected this)
Alignment (corner balanced and lowered it on the bolts when this was done)
Replaced all belts and tensioner due to belt whine
Water Pump
Valve Springs
Clutch
EBCM
EBMC Connector Damaged- Delphi no longer makes the pins required for the EBCM connector. So the only way to get new pins in to find these pins out of a salvage car. To do this, I had to buy a whole used harness. The seller was unwilling to just remove the pins or the connector. Then you need to actually add these pins and rebuild the connector. I think there are 32 pins or so, so that is a lot of soldering!
Replaced all fluids in the car (expected this)
New set of tires (expected this)
Alignment (corner balanced and lowered it on the bolts when this was done)
Replaced all belts and tensioner due to belt whine
Water Pump
Valve Springs
Clutch
EBCM
EBMC Connector Damaged- Delphi no longer makes the pins required for the EBCM connector. So the only way to get new pins in to find these pins out of a salvage car. To do this, I had to buy a whole used harness. The seller was unwilling to just remove the pins or the connector. Then you need to actually add these pins and rebuild the connector. I think there are 32 pins or so, so that is a lot of soldering!
sucks about the EBCM. ive heard of that giving people headaches, but i also heard there's a company online that rebuilds them for cheap? just pm'ed the person that told me about it, i'll post back here.
Last edited by sean.b; Dec 11, 2011 at 02:40 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 16
From: SoCal
Here is a general list of what has happened to my 40K mile C5Z in a bit over 4 months of ownership:
Replaced all fluids in the car (expected this)
New set of tires (expected this)
Alignment (corner balanced and lowered it on the bolts when this was done)
Replaced all belts and tensioner due to belt whine
Water Pump
Valve Springs
Clutch
EBCM
EBMC Connector Damaged- Delphi no longer makes the pins required for the EBCM connector. So the only way to get new pins in to find these pins out of a salvage car. To do this, I had to buy a whole used harness. The seller was unwilling to just remove the pins or the connector. Then you need to actually add these pins and rebuild the connector. I think there are 32 pins or so, so that is a lot of soldering!
Replaced all fluids in the car (expected this)
New set of tires (expected this)
Alignment (corner balanced and lowered it on the bolts when this was done)
Replaced all belts and tensioner due to belt whine
Water Pump
Valve Springs
Clutch
EBCM
EBMC Connector Damaged- Delphi no longer makes the pins required for the EBCM connector. So the only way to get new pins in to find these pins out of a salvage car. To do this, I had to buy a whole used harness. The seller was unwilling to just remove the pins or the connector. Then you need to actually add these pins and rebuild the connector. I think there are 32 pins or so, so that is a lot of soldering!
The other stuff would be normal, I mean you knew the car needed tires when you bought it, right? The belts, fluids, alignment and corner balance are all normal maintenance or PM.
Not trying to dispute your post, I mean you spent what you spent, just trying to divide the unexpected from the expected. Also, a lot of us here do all our own repairs, which has a profound impact on what is replaced and what you spend to keep your Z running.
Hopefully you can stop spending money and drive your car for a while. Best of luck!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
What looks unexpected here in my view would be the clutch, water pump (did it fail? leaking?), EBCM and possibly the valve springs, which we all pretty much expect should be replaced on the LS6.
The other stuff would be normal, I mean you knew the car needed tires when you bought it, right? The belts, fluids, alignment and corner balance are all normal maintenance or PM.
Not trying to dispute your post, I mean you spent what you spent, just trying to divide the unexpected from the expected. Also, a lot of us here do all our own repairs, which has a profound impact on what is replaced and what you spend to keep your Z running.
Hopefully you can stop spending money and drive your car for a while. Best of luck!
The other stuff would be normal, I mean you knew the car needed tires when you bought it, right? The belts, fluids, alignment and corner balance are all normal maintenance or PM.
Not trying to dispute your post, I mean you spent what you spent, just trying to divide the unexpected from the expected. Also, a lot of us here do all our own repairs, which has a profound impact on what is replaced and what you spend to keep your Z running.
Hopefully you can stop spending money and drive your car for a while. Best of luck!
Last edited by Grimlock; Dec 11, 2011 at 03:17 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
So yeah, this cost nearly $6K, and I am using the top shop in the area for corvettes that charges $99/hour. And I drive over 2 hours each way to just get to this shop each time I need something done.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 16
From: SoCal
The tires are a solid hit on these cars, unless you put cheapies on, that alone can chew up $1200-1500.
Last edited by ZedO6; Dec 11, 2011 at 03:21 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,425
Likes: 1,146
From: Dyer, IN
EBMC Connector Damaged- Delphi no longer makes the pins required for the EBCM connector. So the only way to get new pins in to find these pins out of a salvage car. To do this, I had to buy a whole used harness. The seller was unwilling to just remove the pins or the connector. Then you need to actually add these pins and rebuild the connector. I think there are 32 pins or so, so that is a lot of soldering!
http://www.powerandsignal.com/default.aspx
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
This truly a shame. The terminals, seals, etc...for both connectors on the EBCM, are available from Power and Signal all day long. I do admit, it does take some research to find the connector system components......you just have to be willing to do it.
http://www.powerandsignal.com/default.aspx
http://www.powerandsignal.com/default.aspx
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,425
Likes: 1,146
From: Dyer, IN
This was researched before I went through it. There are two different connectors that work with the EBCM. Depending on which connector you get, you need to use a different pin. The one type of pin is unavailable from Delphi. If you have some sort of information that says otherwise, I would love to know. I worked with forum member RichierichZ06 who is a Chevy Dealer parts manager on trying to figure this out originally. I was also told the same thing by the guys at GM Parts Warehouse.
Early production 7 way: p/n 15318099
Late production, 7 way: p/n 15401425
All production 2003, 29 way: p/n 15356700
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
As you probably know, there are two different connector systems (combined) for the EBCM. One is a 29 way (small terminals), and one is a 7 way (large terminals). Depending if you have an early or late production 2003, will dictate which 7 way connector you have, while the 29 way connector remained unchanged. From a quick search, it appears that both Mouser and Power and Signal stock the terminals, and the part numbers are active. I also noted, that even though the part number of the 7 way connector changed (early v/s late production), the terminal part numbers remained the same.
Early production 7 way: p/n 15318099
Late production, 7 way: p/n 15401425
All production 2003, 29 way: p/n 15356700
Early production 7 way: p/n 15318099
Late production, 7 way: p/n 15401425
All production 2003, 29 way: p/n 15356700
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 4
From: Palo Alto CA
I discussed this with both the guy Bill Curlee sent me to and RichieRichZ06 and both told me that there are two different versions of the large connector. Depending on which you get, determines which type of terminals. Who knows, maybe these guys were both wrong. But I know Rich does this for a living, and he said he couldn't get the parts. I can send him a link to this thread if you really want to get into it deeper I guess.