Broken valve spring?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
Broken valve spring?
So my car just started ticking than died, I was going about 25mph and it felt as if it were missing and there was a loud tick coming the the engine bay, there is no code coming up either, also has good oil pressure,the car has about 80k on it and is pretty much stock. Did I brake a valve spring? or do you guys think something else is wrong?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 755
Likes: 272
My first thought was a collapsed lifter, but considering the car died as a result of the knock, that may not be it. I think your assumption of a broken valve spring is a good one. That's a relatively easy problem to diagnose. Just pop off the valve covers and have a peak. It'll be obvious if you broke one.
If your car is completely stock, I believe the C5 Zs are known for not so great valve springs from the factory. So that certainly points you in that direction if they've never been upgraded.
Good luck with the fix!
If your car is completely stock, I believe the C5 Zs are known for not so great valve springs from the factory. So that certainly points you in that direction if they've never been upgraded.
Good luck with the fix!
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
happened to ours, wife turned a corner and it died, went into limp mode, all kinds of codes and a engine tick, decided to check noise first. it was a broken valve spring, replaced all along with a trunion upgrade. bought it with 107k on it and it was a dog, valve springs and hooking up the vacuum hose behind the intake and it is now a rocket !!!!! figured the valves were floating above 4 grand !!!!
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
My first thought was a collapsed lifter, but considering the car died as a result of the knock, that may not be it. I think your assumption of a broken valve spring is a good one. That's a relatively easy problem to diagnose. Just pop off the valve covers and have a peak. It'll be obvious if you broke one.
If your car is completely stock, I believe the C5 Zs are known for not so great valve springs from the factory. So that certainly points you in that direction if they've never been upgraded.
Good luck with the fix!
If your car is completely stock, I believe the C5 Zs are known for not so great valve springs from the factory. So that certainly points you in that direction if they've never been upgraded.
Good luck with the fix!
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
happened to ours, wife turned a corner and it died, went into limp mode, all kinds of codes and a engine tick, decided to check noise first. it was a broken valve spring, replaced all along with a trunion upgrade. bought it with 107k on it and it was a dog, valve springs and hooking up the vacuum hose behind the intake and it is now a rocket !!!!! figured the valves were floating above 4 grand !!!!
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
when you inject air into the cyl. to hold the valve shut to change the springs it will tell you if the valve is bent,intake you hear air coming from the intake and exhaust out the exhaust manifold !!!!
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Advanced
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles
I took a look through the oil filler cap on my 02Z and saw that my valve springs were not yellow but instead looked exactly like the pictures above. I was hoping that meant I was in the clear from having the bad valve springs, but I'm guessing that's not the case?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 315
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
The original springs where yellow. The updated ones are blue. Looks like you have neither ones. As mentioned above, just remove the valve covers to make sure you don't have any broken springs.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Just replace ALL the old springs and the valve guide seals. See if the pushrod is bent Roll it on a pane of glass or a flat metal surface. If it wobbles, the piston touched the valve. Most of the time you will be fine. Do a compression check on all the cylinders while you are there.
Good time to get new AC Delco iridium plugs, some GM Performance Red wires, and the STAUB trunion bushing kit and be HAPPY!
If the heads have to come off, get new lifters, install a new cam
, new high pressure melling oil pump, new LS2 timing chain, Powerbond/DAYCO Dampener and install ARP Head studs and ARP Dampener bolt! Then DRIVE IT like you STOLE IT!
Bill
Good time to get new AC Delco iridium plugs, some GM Performance Red wires, and the STAUB trunion bushing kit and be HAPPY!
If the heads have to come off, get new lifters, install a new cam
, new high pressure melling oil pump, new LS2 timing chain, Powerbond/DAYCO Dampener and install ARP Head studs and ARP Dampener bolt! Then DRIVE IT like you STOLE IT!Bill
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles
Only asking because I purchased my 02Z this February and have already dropped approximately $8000 in cash into it....I REALLY don't want to throw more money into it right now if I don't have to...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,013
Likes: 726
So the known bad ones are yellow and known good ones are blue...where do the non-painted/bare metal colored ones fall?
Only asking because I purchased my 02Z this February and have already dropped approximately $8000 in cash into it....I REALLY don't want to throw more money into it right now if I don't have to...
Only asking because I purchased my 02Z this February and have already dropped approximately $8000 in cash into it....I REALLY don't want to throw more money into it right now if I don't have to...
Sorry, but OMG
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 315
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
So the known bad ones are yellow and known good ones are blue...where do the non-painted/bare metal colored ones fall?
Only asking because I purchased my 02Z this February and have already dropped approximately $8000 in cash into it....I REALLY don't want to throw more money into it right now if I don't have to...
Only asking because I purchased my 02Z this February and have already dropped approximately $8000 in cash into it....I REALLY don't want to throw more money into it right now if I don't have to...
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 207
Likes: 23
From: Atlanta, Ga
A valve spring broke on my 02 z06, was running 80 mph down the interstate when 1 decided to let go. Mine had the yellow springs on it. It ended up bending that valve pretty good. The valve dropped partially down in the cylinder and piston slapped it back up. There’s a nice witness mark on the top of piston, it didn’t hurt it. Pulled both heads off, replaced 1 bent valve and all valve springs and seals, gaskets head bolts. It was a big job. She runs like a top now. Good luck with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 315
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
A valve spring broke on my 02 z06, was running 80 mph down the interstate when 1 decided to let go. Mine had the yellow springs on it. It ended up bending that valve pretty good. The valve dropped partially down in the cylinder and piston slapped it back up. There’s a nice witness mark on the top of piston, it didn’t hurt it. Pulled both heads off, replaced 1 bent valve and all valve springs and seals, gaskets head bolts. It was a big job. She runs like a top now. Good luck with it.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 1
I guess I got lucky it didn’t hit anything but mine had about 80k when it it happened, and there was no trace of any colors on any of the springs so idk if there oem or if they were changed at some point.