Questions on Potential 97 Purchase
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: McAllen, Texas
Questions on Potential 97 Purchase
Am working on a purchase of a 97 C-5...very low miles (3,500) as it sat for several years. Tires were flatspotted so they are new. Am going to look at and drive the car this weekend and had a couple of questions...
1) Can you retrofit a factory passenger side airbag cutoff switch to the 97 model? (I think they became standard in mid 200 model year?)
2) Research says the four biggest problems on the 97's were steering wheel lock solenoid, fuel gage problems, noisy fuel pump and overly eager traction control sensors. Would be the cost of these repairs be and I safe in assuming the replacement parts would be upgraded so these would be one time repairs?
3) Anything else I should look out for?
Thanks!
Alan
South Texas
1) Can you retrofit a factory passenger side airbag cutoff switch to the 97 model? (I think they became standard in mid 200 model year?)
2) Research says the four biggest problems on the 97's were steering wheel lock solenoid, fuel gage problems, noisy fuel pump and overly eager traction control sensors. Would be the cost of these repairs be and I safe in assuming the replacement parts would be upgraded so these would be one time repairs?
3) Anything else I should look out for?
Thanks!
Alan
South Texas
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
Early C5 had even more issues! 
I had an early 98 and I found that the Throttle Acuation Control Module (TAC) was improved on later years and may give you problems (read $250) If the car sat for a long time you could have fuel system issues, seal issues (look for leaks on the rearend and half shafts), engine seal issues ect.
The battery was a KNOWN leaker and if it has the original, I strongly recommend replacing it!!!! It could leak acid on your PCM and main wiring harness!!!!
If the car was kept inside COOL! It it was kept outside the lexan top (If equiped) and exposed interior parts may suffer sun damage.
The Tire Pressure Sensors may also be bad or close to their end of life!
I hope you are getting a REAL GOOD DEAL! There are tons of newer C5 out there! If the car was driven and the bugs were worked out under warrenty, it would not be such of a concern.
What is the asking price and who is selling it???
Good luck
I had an early 98 and I found that the Throttle Acuation Control Module (TAC) was improved on later years and may give you problems (read $250) If the car sat for a long time you could have fuel system issues, seal issues (look for leaks on the rearend and half shafts), engine seal issues ect.The battery was a KNOWN leaker and if it has the original, I strongly recommend replacing it!!!! It could leak acid on your PCM and main wiring harness!!!!
If the car was kept inside COOL! It it was kept outside the lexan top (If equiped) and exposed interior parts may suffer sun damage.
The Tire Pressure Sensors may also be bad or close to their end of life!
I hope you are getting a REAL GOOD DEAL! There are tons of newer C5 out there! If the car was driven and the bugs were worked out under warrenty, it would not be such of a concern.
What is the asking price and who is selling it???
Good luck
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
Here is somThis thread is located at:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...9&goto=newpost
Here is the message that has just been posted:
***************
This may help some of you
RKE and/or Low Tire Pressure Monitoring System Inop (Replace RKE Module) #99-08-52-002 - (Apr 20, 1999)
Remote Keyless Entry System (RKE) and/or Low Tire Pressure Monitoring System Inoperative (Replace RKE Module)
1997-98 Chevrolet Corvette
Condition
Some customers may comment on the following conditions:
The remote keyless entry system (RKE) is intermittently inoperative.
The Driver's Information Center is inoperative or it displays the following messages intermittently and usually at start-up of the vehicle:
Low tire pressure.
Tire pressure trouble codes may occur.
Cause
When the ambient temperature of the interior is less than 10° C (50° F), some oscillating transistors may stop working. However, when the interior warms, they begin to work with the next key cycle. The module in question is P/N 10401040.
Correction
Replace the RKE Module with P/N 10422621.
e more electrical stuff to question and check!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...9&goto=newpost
Here is the message that has just been posted:
***************
This may help some of you
RKE and/or Low Tire Pressure Monitoring System Inop (Replace RKE Module) #99-08-52-002 - (Apr 20, 1999)
Remote Keyless Entry System (RKE) and/or Low Tire Pressure Monitoring System Inoperative (Replace RKE Module)
1997-98 Chevrolet Corvette
Condition
Some customers may comment on the following conditions:
The remote keyless entry system (RKE) is intermittently inoperative.
The Driver's Information Center is inoperative or it displays the following messages intermittently and usually at start-up of the vehicle:
Low tire pressure.
Tire pressure trouble codes may occur.
Cause
When the ambient temperature of the interior is less than 10° C (50° F), some oscillating transistors may stop working. However, when the interior warms, they begin to work with the next key cycle. The module in question is P/N 10401040.
Correction
Replace the RKE Module with P/N 10422621.
e more electrical stuff to question and check!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,999
Likes: 9,764
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Alan,
I had a 97 for 6 years. It was built in April 97 and the problems I had were the drivers seat track had to be replaced twice to fix the rocking seat syndrome (an issue on most C5s), the right side mirror fell off (another problem that happens with all years), the fuel pump that originally came on the cars was too loud and had to be redesigned. If you are lucky the previous owner took the car in to get it replaced when the new part became available in 1999. In addition the ABS module had a design error in it which would allow the ABS to intermittently quit just as you really wanted to use it. Does not happen often since most drivers are not racing the car.
Overall, the 97s were probably the best quality cars of the C5 era.
You can buy the Air Bag shut off kit from Ken Fitchtner and install it yourself.
Bill
I had a 97 for 6 years. It was built in April 97 and the problems I had were the drivers seat track had to be replaced twice to fix the rocking seat syndrome (an issue on most C5s), the right side mirror fell off (another problem that happens with all years), the fuel pump that originally came on the cars was too loud and had to be redesigned. If you are lucky the previous owner took the car in to get it replaced when the new part became available in 1999. In addition the ABS module had a design error in it which would allow the ABS to intermittently quit just as you really wanted to use it. Does not happen often since most drivers are not racing the car.
Overall, the 97s were probably the best quality cars of the C5 era.
You can buy the Air Bag shut off kit from Ken Fitchtner and install it yourself.
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,247
Likes: 2
From: Parker, Colorado, USofA
Let me be the only guy on the thread to say: These are all minor and solvable problems. The fact you KNOW to look for them is a good start. Replacing the battery is just a Good Idea, based on the amount of time it's sat. The colum lock fix is a TSB and can be fixed outside of warrantee. IIRC the leaking diff is a stickshift issue (if this is an A4, no worries then.)
Perhaps I'm less of a waxer than some, but a leak here or there isn't THAT big a deal.
(You don't hear a lot of folks saying: Don't buy a 53, it's the first year and has a lot of problems!
)
These cars aren't (nor never will be) perfect. If you buy a 3500 mile 97, or a 3500 mile 2004, sooner or later, you'll have to fix it. (or go broke trading cars before they wear far enough to have problems)
The fact that you can get a 97 for a third the mileage (and half the cost) that I paid for our 98 in 98...well....
Perhaps I'm less of a waxer than some, but a leak here or there isn't THAT big a deal.
(You don't hear a lot of folks saying: Don't buy a 53, it's the first year and has a lot of problems!
) These cars aren't (nor never will be) perfect. If you buy a 3500 mile 97, or a 3500 mile 2004, sooner or later, you'll have to fix it. (or go broke trading cars before they wear far enough to have problems)
The fact that you can get a 97 for a third the mileage (and half the cost) that I paid for our 98 in 98...well....
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
Check the climate control. On older C5's the display goes dim. if the battery leaked and ruined vac lines or wirng, it shows up when you run the cc through its paces.
