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My Vette swerves under throttle

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Old Dec 20, 2011 | 11:39 AM
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Default My Vette swerves under throttle

This has happened a few times in the past month. while taking off and getting up to the speed limit (quickly i might add) my car swerves and the active handling light comes on. The tires never break traction though. Before this happened the first time I did get a warning on the transmission coolant temp (257). its only gotten up that high one time and that was after a little hell raising. Do you think the transmission is causing this or something else?
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Old Dec 20, 2011 | 12:06 PM
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a little more info that i forgot. its an automatic 4L60E with a 2800 stall and 3.42 gears.
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Old Dec 20, 2011 | 01:04 PM
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My rear of my C5 was skittish like that when the rear was out of alignment.
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Old Dec 20, 2011 | 01:11 PM
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Yes typically a swerving feel is due to a bad rear end alignment---check your rear tire wear--It will quickly bald them too---Also--make sure all the sway bars links aren't broken ( they are made out of plastic !) front and back---
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Old Dec 20, 2011 | 01:17 PM
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it doesnt do it all of the time. I have noticed that it does it within 10 minutes of me starting up the car and taking off. So i wouldnt think it would be the suspension. Had front and rear sway bars replaced with Z06 bars. Could the tranny be causing that? or problems with the rear end? This happens when I am going straight down the highway. gets so loose that its almost scary

Last edited by Jharry pope; Dec 20, 2011 at 01:34 PM.
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Old Dec 20, 2011 | 06:06 PM
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pull the codes and see what is there.....mine was doing the same thing and the light would stay on ...i would say get a good 4 wheel alignment and then if it still does it have them check the steering wheel pos. sensor mine was bad and would cause the car to change lanes going down the hwy...
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 05:33 AM
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I will pull the codes up later this morning when I go get the car. I have to drive my pickup truck to work because I get up so early and the neighbors complain when i start up my vette in the morning ;-)
I just dont think its an alignment issue, the tires are wearing evenly and the problem only happens when the car is not up to operating temperature. The tires never lose traction but the active handling light will come on the go back off.
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 07:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Jharry pope
I will pull the codes up later this morning when I go get the car. I have to drive my pickup truck to work because I get up so early and the neighbors complain when i start up my vette in the morning.

I just dont think its an alignment issue, the tires are wearing evenly and the problem only happens when the car is not up to operating temperature. The tires never lose traction but the active handling light will come on the go back off.
Step #1...get new neighbors!!
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 07:12 AM
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I am! Moving over Christmas to a new place.
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 08:37 AM
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do a burnout and see if both tires are leaving identical marks. you might have something broke in the rearend
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 09:03 AM
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Originally Posted by printmanjackson
do a burnout and see if both tires are leaving identical marks. you might have something broke in the rearend
if it were something broke in the rear end, wouldnt it do it all of the time instead of only when the engine / tranny is cold? Like i said, it only does it when the car is not up to normal operating temperatures. Will be pulling the codes here in about an hour when i go home to pick up car
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 09:42 AM
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Check your A-arm bolts. I recently had an off throttle/ on throttle instability (movement left/right) issue. It was a rear A-arm bolt that had backed out allowing rear toe to change when power was applied or removed.

Dog
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 10:00 AM
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Originally Posted by printmanjackson
do a burnout and see if both tires are leaving identical marks. you might have something broke in the rearend
Do it cold. The posi could be weak. Maybe improves with heat. Cold tires will break traction so easy, it can be hard to tell if one is spinning.
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 11:10 AM
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the only code i have gotten is P1870.

Last edited by Jharry pope; Dec 21, 2011 at 12:19 PM.
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 12:27 PM
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That it the converter clutch slip code.
Wouldn't have anything to do with your issue.

GM fixed the TCC control valve in 2001 and the fix for earlier trans is to replace the valve body.

"The scan tool may show a DTC P1870 set as a history code.
A harsh 1-2 shift or DTC P1870, caused by wear in the control valve body, may be difficult to duplicate when the transmission temperature is below 93°C (200°F).
Cause
The condition may be due to wear in the control valve body. This wear occurs in the bore that contains the TCC isolator and regulator valves, and results in poor, or no, TCC apply."



Ron

Last edited by RonSSNova; Dec 21, 2011 at 12:45 PM.
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 12:39 PM
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i did have one issue with it shifting very hard into 2nd gear when the transmission fluid temp was above 200 so that would explain that code but I am at a loss as to why its gets a little loose when under moderate to hard throttle and why it only does it intermittently. Well i will have my mechanic give it the once over when I get a new transmission. I am pushing a little more HP than stock now and probably should get a better tranny. current tranny has over 120,000 on it
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 12:52 PM
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Mine also has the P1870 code, and also intermittantly bangs 2nd real hard.
Mine is a 2000. 80K miles.
I have a 2001 trans that I'll go through as I'm about to add a bunch more hp to mine as well.

My car is currently stock, and has no swerving problems....will barely light the tires!
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 12:58 PM
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I just hate the thought of dropping another $2500+ into my car. Hell I have over $15,000 in the engine and drivetrain. I knew I should have went ahead and put another tranny in it while i was having the new engine put in. oh well
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by RonSSNova
Mine also has the P1870 code, and also intermittantly bangs 2nd real hard.
Mine is a 2000. 80K miles.
I have a 2001 trans that I'll go through as I'm about to add a bunch more hp to mine as well.

My car is currently stock, and has no swerving problems....will barely light the tires!
barely light the tires? You have to be kidding.
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Old Dec 21, 2011 | 01:31 PM
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Check your rear tie rods.
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