C5 transmission question
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
C5 transmission question
1997 c5 corvette automatic. Under 100k miles. Closer to 80-90k. Car sat for a few months at my neighbors shop. Trusted guy. Car was not driven. Battery is shot. Need to replace for for sure. When I turned the headlights on it really dimmed the display. They replaced the harmonic balancer and put a new seal in. Car has no 3rd gear now. Just slips in 3rd gear when I test rode it. They made sure trans fluid was not low. Trans was perfectly fine when I dropped it off. Is it possible because of the battery being shot it’s causing the issue? I believe there is a solenoid? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,026
Likes: 1,438
From: New Jersey
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '25
I would also drop the trans pan, drain fluid, replace filter, re-fill. Good rule of thumb, maintenance-wise.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,319
Likes: 24,777
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Moved to C5 Tech for more discussion.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,450
Likes: 1,155
From: Dyer, IN
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Yup! I was kinda surprised when I saw 2018 on there. ( I always put the date on battery when I get it) It was a AC delco. Got another one from the Chevy dealer. They messed up and gave me the one with the top post. So they got me the correct one for the same price $194. I’m pretty sure it was a more expensive battery so I kind of made out. For the old battery I just kept it on a tender in the winter and it served me well. Hoping to get the same amount of years out of this one but first things first transmission issue. Hopefully find out in a week what they see
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
3rd/4th clutch pack is shot. Rebuild is needed. Looking at around 6k all said and done to do it right. Total bummer. Not sure what to do just yet. Trying to digest this. Love the car but definitely a big hit
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
You should at least look at buying a transmission from RPM. I think you can still get a level V transmission for around $3500 and if the shop is charging you $3000 for installation I would look for another shop.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,450
Likes: 1,155
From: Dyer, IN
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,450
Likes: 1,155
From: Dyer, IN
Did they provide an itemized estimate? That is way to much for a drop the drivetrain and have the trans rebuilt.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I agree with Lucky. Beef up the transmission is not very definitive in what they will do to “ beef up” the transmission. I would want an itemized list of specific HD components plus any thing else they may do to improve reliability. Also does that include rebuilding the torque tube while everything is out?
I would get at least one other estimate before letting them work on the car.
I would get at least one other estimate before letting them work on the car.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I agree with Lucky. Beef up the transmission is not very definitive in what they will do to “ beef up” the transmission. I would want an itemized list of specific HD components plus any thing else they may do to improve reliability. Also does that include rebuilding the torque tube while everything is out?
I would get at least one other estimate before letting them work on the car.
I would get at least one other estimate before letting them work on the car.
ic
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I think the labor costs are in the ballpark. It is cost of rebuilding the transmission that seems high without details on actual components that will be used in the rebuild. Also changing the torque converter may be needed if debris from the clutch pack got into it but if that is needed I would want to know the brand and rated stall. I would want to know approximately what increased horsepower he is anticipating the transmission to be able to hold since he mentioned beefing it up during rebuild. Also with 80K miles with everything out I would take care of rebuilding the torque tube since everything is out already.
However he is giving you a three year unlimited mileage warranty which is acceptable.
Two years ago I had a transmission build done on my 95 anticipating putting a supercharger on it and specifically mentioned needing it to be able to hold 500+ hp. Still a 4L60E and it was $2859 for the rebuild with the same warranty as you are getting.
However he is giving you a three year unlimited mileage warranty which is acceptable.
Two years ago I had a transmission build done on my 95 anticipating putting a supercharger on it and specifically mentioned needing it to be able to hold 500+ hp. Still a 4L60E and it was $2859 for the rebuild with the same warranty as you are getting.