'98 Active Handling Anxiety!
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
'98 Active Handling Anxiety!
Hello all, I've recently purchased a 6spd '98 pace car and as I am waiting for it to arrive I was learning more about common problems the C5s have to try and get ahead of them. I plan to drive it a bunch and take it on at least one road trip this year.
In my research I've come across multiple threads on the dreaded Active Handling issue nearly causing a bunch of folks to crash. It seems the solution to this is to just disconnect the SWPS since that will disable the system and not allow a faulty SWPS or yaw sensor to jerk the car around especially on the highway. I'd also rather be used to the car without AH/TC, I think, rather than only disconnecting the SWPS if I am going on a longer trip on the highway.
There aren't too many recent threads on this issue, so I wanted to ask should I actually be this concerned? Even though the car only has 33k miles on it, it is still over 25 years old and things do just go bad over time. Just checking myself against the common consensus, thanks everyone!
In my research I've come across multiple threads on the dreaded Active Handling issue nearly causing a bunch of folks to crash. It seems the solution to this is to just disconnect the SWPS since that will disable the system and not allow a faulty SWPS or yaw sensor to jerk the car around especially on the highway. I'd also rather be used to the car without AH/TC, I think, rather than only disconnecting the SWPS if I am going on a longer trip on the highway.
There aren't too many recent threads on this issue, so I wanted to ask should I actually be this concerned? Even though the car only has 33k miles on it, it is still over 25 years old and things do just go bad over time. Just checking myself against the common consensus, thanks everyone!
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
A follow up on what I'm trying to really figure out.
Will the system give signs it is failing? Codes, slight braking, or some odd behavior but nothing necessarily dangerous.
Or will it go from working fine to suddenly pulling me into another lane when things start to go bad?
Will the system give signs it is failing? Codes, slight braking, or some odd behavior but nothing necessarily dangerous.
Or will it go from working fine to suddenly pulling me into another lane when things start to go bad?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 194
Likes: 121
I think you’re worrying about an obscure and super rare issue. It will be interesting to see if anyone chimes in with first hand experience having the Active Handling malfunction causing an accident. I have a 2000 and I’m more concerned with the fact that my harmonic balancer is original. From what I read on these forums you’re probably more likely to have the EBCM fail which does provide fault codes and does not interfere with the ability to drive the car. However I don’t have any first hand experience with that issue either despite the number of threads that talk about it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,472
Likes: 1,171
From: Dyer, IN
A follow up on what I'm trying to really figure out.
Will the system give signs it is failing? Codes, slight braking, or some odd behavior but nothing necessarily dangerous.
Or will it go from working fine to suddenly pulling me into another lane when things start to go bad?
Will the system give signs it is failing? Codes, slight braking, or some odd behavior but nothing necessarily dangerous.
Or will it go from working fine to suddenly pulling me into another lane when things start to go bad?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
I think you’re worrying about an obscure and super rare issue. It will be interesting to see if anyone chimes in with first hand experience having the Active Handling malfunction causing an accident. I have a 2000 and I’m more concerned with the fact that my harmonic balancer is original. From what I read on these forums you’re probably more likely to have the EBCM fail which does provide fault codes and does not interfere with the ability to drive the car. However I don’t have any first hand experience with that issue either despite the number of threads that talk about it.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...dangerous.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-accident.html
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 194
Likes: 121
The C5 especially with the manual transmission is a fantastic sports car. Like all cars they have their quirks and it sounds like you’ve been reading up. Change all the fluids, check your harmonic balancer and install the skip shift eliminator and LMC5 kits from Compliance Parts and you’ll be all set.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 536
Likes: 85
From: McKinney TX
I have a 2000 FRC. 70+k, owned it for 3 years now. I did get an active handling and abs code, but it had no un controlable impact on how the car drove. For me it appeared at startup. I was able to clear it. Then put the rear tires up in the air and run the car up to 10mph, this activated the abs/traction control pump and "exercises" it. No issues after that. This is not always the fix, depending on the code. So net/net not sure I would worry about an un controlable situation occurring if you do get a code
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