Early year C5 owners
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: not far enough from Chicago
Early year C5 owners
Has anybody that owns one been unable to repair a bad EBCM?
If so, what did you do to make the car functional? I read a guy here say
that it renders the car a DOORSTOP.
but
I wonder why there aren’t
any aftermarket companies making them?
If so, what did you do to make the car functional? I read a guy here say
that it renders the car a DOORSTOP.
butI wonder why there aren’t
any aftermarket companies making them?
Popular Reply
Apr 26, 2026, 10:16 AM
Race Director
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NO!! It does NOT become a door stop!! For us older guys, we've driven most of our lives without ABS, AH, or TC. Which means you develop better driving skills. If this happens to my car, and a guaranteed one isn't available, the light in the dash is coming out, the codes will be cleared each time I start it, and I'll drive it like most everything else I have ever driven. A good driver without these nannies will run circles around a so-so driver with them. End of that story.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
I hope by the lack of replies that Indicates nobody has had the dreaded problem.
From what I have researched here, it looks like there are quite a few people
that have had the issue. I saw one guy that was running his C5 on the track when it malfunctioned
and he went into a spin but fortunately was able to get the car under control and not crash.
I have a few things that I want to do to my 98 but don’t want to dump $ into a car
that won’t work within a relatively short period of time. I've owned it since 2002 and kept it meticulously
maintained with 21K miles.
From what I have researched here, it looks like there are quite a few people
that have had the issue. I saw one guy that was running his C5 on the track when it malfunctioned
and he went into a spin but fortunately was able to get the car under control and not crash.
I have a few things that I want to do to my 98 but don’t want to dump $ into a car
that won’t work within a relatively short period of time. I've owned it since 2002 and kept it meticulously
maintained with 21K miles.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Ideals are peaceful...History is violent...St.Charles, MO.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12 thru'22
I understand your frustration, and it's certainly a subject that has been flogged to death over the years, and frankly given the early C5's a bad rep not to purchase, which is grossly unfair....
Sure, there's been plenty of people that have posted with the dreaded EBCM V code module failure over the years....I think by now, if there was someone that could fix them, that it would be a sticky, unless I have missed it....
I'm OCD about my 2000, and push comes to shove, if I hypothetically run into a failure like that, I'd either buy a good used functioning one, or doing extensive phone calls and research to find someone that can fix the early ones...\
\
I found this business a couple months ago...It might be worth giving them a call or shooting them an email....
G7 Computers
Sure, there's been plenty of people that have posted with the dreaded EBCM V code module failure over the years....I think by now, if there was someone that could fix them, that it would be a sticky, unless I have missed it....
I'm OCD about my 2000, and push comes to shove, if I hypothetically run into a failure like that, I'd either buy a good used functioning one, or doing extensive phone calls and research to find someone that can fix the early ones...\
\
I found this business a couple months ago...It might be worth giving them a call or shooting them an email....
G7 Computers
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
I understand your frustration, and it's certainly a subject that has been flogged to death over the years, and frankly given the early C5's a bad rep not to purchase, which is grossly unfair....
Sure, there's been plenty of people that have posted with the dreaded EBCM V code module failure over the years....I think by now, if there was someone that could fix them, that it would be a sticky, unless I have missed it....
I'm OCD about my 2000, and push comes to shove, if I hypothetically run into a failure like that, I'd either buy a good used functioning one, or doing extensive phone calls and research to find someone that can fix the early ones...\
\
I found this business a couple months ago...It might be worth giving them a call or shooting them an email....
G7 Computers
Sure, there's been plenty of people that have posted with the dreaded EBCM V code module failure over the years....I think by now, if there was someone that could fix them, that it would be a sticky, unless I have missed it....
I'm OCD about my 2000, and push comes to shove, if I hypothetically run into a failure like that, I'd either buy a good used functioning one, or doing extensive phone calls and research to find someone that can fix the early ones...\
\
I found this business a couple months ago...It might be worth giving them a call or shooting them an email....
G7 Computers
If you ever check out what needs to be done to just get the thing out is beyond my abilities. There are a few around that you can find on EBAY that were, for the most part, obtained at a bone yard. They are not guaranteed to work, not returnable. I’m OK for now, but it seems like a bad design to make 1 component that if it fails renders the car useless. I wish I could just jump the thing out and run it without this SAFETY CONTROL system. Just use competitive driving and only my ability to drive it, but that can’t be done.
Like I said, some aftermarket company should start making these things, but none of them do.
Last edited by StevieB; Apr 25, 2026 at 06:05 PM.
Race Director
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From: Ideals are peaceful...History is violent...St.Charles, MO.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12 thru'22
2000 EBCM still falls under the early ones....If I had the repairable one like the 2001-2004, I would have said something about it and been overjoyed knowing I had an easier solution.
Sure...In a perfect world, someone should make them, and shame on GM for not handing over the design to someone else but, we're talking such a small percentage of them that fail, and that's why someone hasn't invested the money in reproduction, because it's astronomical and most likely a money loser for the investor.
Sure...In a perfect world, someone should make them, and shame on GM for not handing over the design to someone else but, we're talking such a small percentage of them that fail, and that's why someone hasn't invested the money in reproduction, because it's astronomical and most likely a money loser for the investor.
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,725
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
2000 EBCM still falls under the early ones....If I had the repairable one like the 2001-2004, I would have said something about it and been overjoyed knowing I had an easier solution.
Sure...In a perfect world, someone should make them, and shame on GM for not handing over the design to someone else but, we're talking such a small percentage of them that fail, and that's why someone hasn't invested the money in reproduction, because it's astronomical and most likely a money loser for the investor.
Sure...In a perfect world, someone should make them, and shame on GM for not handing over the design to someone else but, we're talking such a small percentage of them that fail, and that's why someone hasn't invested the money in reproduction, because it's astronomical and most likely a money loser for the investor.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
2000 EBCM still falls under the early ones....If I had the repairable one like the 2001-2004, I would have said something about it and been overjoyed knowing I had an easier solution.
Sure...In a perfect world, someone should make them, and shame on GM for not handing over the design to someone else but, we're talking such a small percentage of them that fail, and that's why someone hasn't invested the money in reproduction, because it's astronomical and most likely a money loser for the investor.
Sure...In a perfect world, someone should make them, and shame on GM for not handing over the design to someone else but, we're talking such a small percentage of them that fail, and that's why someone hasn't invested the money in reproduction, because it's astronomical and most likely a money loser for the investor.
Based upon it being an astronomical problem I won’t concern myself. Thanks for looking into it, that information means a lot to me.
OH I forgot, if mine does go bad you will need to buy me one because I believed you.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,244
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From: not far enough from Chicago
Bosch would make them again, however the reason why they won't is at 7:53 of this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5tFnJGv-5w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5tFnJGv-5w
I really have nothing to worry about because if mine does go bad C5R USA
promised he will find one, buy it for me, and cover installation as well, he said so.
I feel really good now, no worries. Next thing I'm going to do is get a blower.
Last edited by StevieB; Apr 25, 2026 at 10:43 PM.
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From: Oregon
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
If you have a 99 this option is available to you
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...m_content=post
Or if you only have a C1242 or C1243 ABS fixer can repair those codes
https://www.absfixer.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...m_content=post
Or if you only have a C1242 or C1243 ABS fixer can repair those codes
https://www.absfixer.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,430
Likes: 4,829
From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
I've not ever had any issues with the EBCM yet. Knock on wood.... Hopefully won't. If it does fail, you won't have a car that's a brick. You can still drive it but you won't have ABS, or active handling, if you have that. Mine doesn't have active handling so mine is the M code version.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 19,721
Likes: 523
From: Ideals are peaceful...History is violent...St.Charles, MO.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12 thru'22
Bosch would make them again, however the reason why they won't is at 7:53 of this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5tFnJGv-5w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5tFnJGv-5w
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 19,721
Likes: 523
From: Ideals are peaceful...History is violent...St.Charles, MO.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12 thru'22
I watch Lyle all the time and I am mathematically challenged. I can't afford $18million to get the program rolling.
I really have nothing to worry about because if mine does go bad C5R USA
promised he will find one, buy it for me, and cover installation as well, he said so.
I feel really good now, no worries. Next thing I'm going to do is get a blower.
I really have nothing to worry about because if mine does go bad C5R USA
promised he will find one, buy it for me, and cover installation as well, he said so.
I feel really good now, no worries. Next thing I'm going to do is get a blower.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
If you have a 99 this option is available to you
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...m_content=post
Or if you only have a C1242 or C1243 ABS fixer can repair those codes
https://www.absfixer.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...m_content=post
Or if you only have a C1242 or C1243 ABS fixer can repair those codes
https://www.absfixer.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,496
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From: New Jersey
The expense to tool up for these and produce them would be astronomical. They’d never be able to break even.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 96
From: not far enough from Chicago
Any old car is going to need parts replaced eventually, but the complicated electronics on C4s and up are the problem childs in my opinion.
I bet a chrome bumper C3 would be something that could be fixed with just about any hard to find parts available or make something that works. No digital, strictly analog.
Although the last C3 I drove handled like a pickup truck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 1,097
From: Pittsburgh PA
If I was looking for a C5. I would buy the newest, lowest mileage one I could buy. As for this Early car problem. Over blown. As a door stop who ever would say that might be misinformed. Coming from the original own of a 98 that has not had the problem. Im not saying this problem does not happen, Not to the extent as some would have you believe. I for one would not pass an early car because of it.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,668
NO!! It does NOT become a door stop!! For us older guys, we've driven most of our lives without ABS, AH, or TC. Which means you develop better driving skills. If this happens to my car, and a guaranteed one isn't available, the light in the dash is coming out, the codes will be cleared each time I start it, and I'll drive it like most everything else I have ever driven. A good driver without these nannies will run circles around a so-so driver with them. End of that story.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 17
Likes: 13
I personally believe that this potential problem is just so overstated in the C5 community. Sure it can fail, but so can a lot of other much more expensive things that will leave you stranded on the side of the road in an almost 30 year old sports car.
Last edited by bluehighwayflyer; Jun 4, 2026 at 04:55 AM.
Race Director
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Yea, I get it. If it came down to it I'm sure one could be found in a bone yard. It would just be a big hassle to find somebody to retrieve it, hope it works and have it installed in my car.
Any old car is going to need parts replaced eventually, but the complicated electronics on C4s and up are the problem childs in my opinion.
I bet a chrome bumper C3 would be something that could be fixed with just about any hard to find parts available or make something that works. No digital, strictly analog.
Although the last C3 I drove handled like a pickup truck.
Any old car is going to need parts replaced eventually, but the complicated electronics on C4s and up are the problem childs in my opinion.
I bet a chrome bumper C3 would be something that could be fixed with just about any hard to find parts available or make something that works. No digital, strictly analog.
Although the last C3 I drove handled like a pickup truck.