After reading several posts here on the forum, I decided that the selective ride control on my 2006 C6 with 8k miles on it has never worked. I took it down to the dealer who advises the SRC system draws more power when on then when off, and therefore is working as designed.

This is my first Vette so I do not have first hand experience on how it should feel. I feel absolutely no difference on bumpy or smooth roads. Since folks here say the difference should be like night and day, I'm inclined to believe it ain't working at all.

I'm thinking about taking it to another dealer, but I'm not sure I can trust any of them. Guess I got spoiled having BMW's the past 15 years where dealers can usually be trusted and then some.

I either need to find someone with a Vette who's system is definitely working so I can feel it for myself, or to a 3rd party performance shop where they can do a proper test.

As a pilot, I've got a pretty well developed kinesthetic sense (flying by the seat of my pants), so don't think I would easily miss a difference that can be described as "night and day".

FWIW...my dealer is the same one that wrecked that fellows Vette a couple of months ago...my level of trust in those guys is pretty low.

Any thoughts as to how I should proceed?

 

I would definitely find another dealer. I can tell immediately which mode mine is in on any road. There is an area here on a country road where the road has a big dip in it. I have taken that dip at a number of speeds switching back and forth b/w the modes and it amazes me that the car never leaves the ground. This system absolutely hugs the road without effort. It just absorbs the bumps, dips, etc. like no sports car I've been in. I will say that it's harder to tell on really smooth roads but on the rest, it is very obvious to me. Good luck finding a dealer. I feel your pain. I did not get mine from our local dealer but I was speaking with the manager a couple weeks ago and he told me to "never bring that car here for service. Our techs have no idea what to do with a Corvette. They are clueless." Isn't that great? GM produces a car that their techs have no idea how to work on. When he said that, my thought was what good is a warranty if their techs can't provide the service of it. Go figure.

 

I wouldn't describe it as 'night and day' but, espeically on a rough road, you should be able to feel the difference.

You definitely need to find someone else with F55 and give theirs a try.

 

Although the 2007 F55 system was supposedly enhanced to provide a greater differentiation between modes, with previous years models the difference may not always feel like "night and day." IMO, much depends on the various inputs the system receives....irregardless of which mode you're in....if the the inputs remain constant....the 'feel' in ride will seem somewhat constant as well.

The difference in Sport mode will likely be noticed more in the handling or steering of the car rather than in a firm versus a softer ride. In a safe place (as one person recently suggested), drive somewhat slowly and turn the steering wheel rapidly from side to side....you should feel a difference doing this in the two different modes. On most rough road surfaces, I can discern a difference in the 'ride'....not always 'night and day' but certainly a difference.

Here are two great links with information about the F55 system. The second link in particular offers a more in-depth analysis.

http://www.vehicledynamics-expo.com/...y_1/burson.pdf

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/....php?qstId=503

 

why is your inclination to not trust the dealer? That seems a bit silly. Some people can tell it works, others have stated they cannot, which is why there is always a large debate on F-55 vs Z-51 (among other reasons).

I can tell on mine. Find a moderately rough stretch of road and go down it a few times, switching it. I usually run mine on touring in the city, and if I happen to move it to sport while cleaning or after a spirited drive and forget about it, I can tell immdiately as soon as I get on the freeway. Everything is much firmer, and I can feel every bump. I look down, and sure enough it is in sport.

To me that is the difference, road feedback. In sport, I feel everything. In tour, only the large bumps are communicated.

 

I feel every little bump in the road while in sport and tour modes. I suspect it's stuck in sport mode.

I hate to feel that way about the dealer, but after the BS they put that fellow through after they wrecked his vette, it's hard to give them the benefit of the doubt on a matter they could easily try to slip by me. They seemed to be in a big rush to get the car off the lot when I bought it....had to be moved that day. Maybe I've grown too accustomed to BMW dealers who go out of their way to make doing business with them a pleasurable and unhurried experience.

 

Here's a simple electrical test of the system. Use a Hall Effect clamp amp meter (can read DC currents) to measure the current going to a shock. It should be between 0 and 4 amps with the engine running. Now jounce that corner of the car a few times. The current should change with the jounces. If that is happening, the system is working.

 

Thank you for the great links. Very informative.

The first paper suggests a possible defect mode to me that could cause my problem...partial settlement of the CIP particles.

I really need to test a car with a known working system.

I haven't yet noticed any reports here about verfied problems with the MSRC system....which is somewhat encouraging.

 

Yup, dealers are going to have a problem keeping up with high tech enhancements...and having the right tools to perform the necessasry diagnostic checks. To conclusively and quantitiatively check out the MSRC system, some kind dynamic shaker device may be required, but it's unlikely any dealer has such equipment. GM may need to develop a special test rig for this....it doesn't have to be anything very big....just big enough to put some dynamic energy into the shock system and measure it's response to varying shock input current.

 

The system may be working, but somehow be "stuck" in sport mode. Jouncing the car in both modes while monitoring the current sounds like it would be a very useful test.

The dealer mentioned a variation in current between sport and tour mode, but I do not know if he jounced the car as well. It sounded like it was a static test only.

 

It may be too late to tell you this but if you're concerned about the dealership experience, a Chevy is the wrong car to buy. I'm on my forth Corvette ('92, '95, '02 and '05 each from a different dealership) and I've never had "great" service, sometimes good, sometime poor, but never great. It's not what I expect from Chevy. Yes, I know it's a $50K car but the bulk of what Chevy does is more in the <$30k range, so that's where their mindset is. Unless necessary, I don't bother ever going back to the dealership for anything. That way I don't feel the disappointment you described. I just buy it, then they don't see me until it's time to buy the next one. BMW, MB, Infinity, etc all pride themselves on a great buying and service experience. That's not Chevy. My expectation with Corvette is to take it home from the dealership and then enjoy a trouble-free 3 -5 years with it until it's time for the next one. Maybe one day Chevy will raise its standards on how they treat their customers, although I doubt it will be anytime soon...

 

 

It may be in your mind...As far as my experience with it, its not night and day but there is a distinct difference in handling. In sport mode I find it to be more nimble especially taking curves and corners. Its also a harder ride on normal road conditions. In normal mode, I find the car a little more "floaty" if you will...Just my experience. I love it.

 

Ok, I have an extremely screwed back (one reason I went with F55). I do not sense a difference at the moment I change, however, if I run in Sport my back absolutely tells the difference. Also, in twisties on marginal roads, I can tell without question. The difference is there when called upon by the system. If they did change the 07 for better "feel", it's mostly sales directed, less tech.

 

Why does everyone get sucked into the glits and pamper of the Foriegn Fair?!! I don't really care how I'm treated if the car gets fixed properly! All cars mfgr's have problems and none are really any better or worst then the other . . . it all about perception . . . someone (ie: Consumer Reports . . . I swore they get payed off for their reports) says that it's better and the masses believe!!

I good friend of mine swaores up and down that his Lexus is far better then any GM he's ever owned yet it seems like it has been in the shop far more often then any Chevy I have ever owned! Go figure!!

 

The only reason I consider going to the dealer is for warranty related items....which the current issue seems to be. Maybe I should go somewhere else to pinpoint the problem and then take the data to another dealer to fix it under warranty.

 

If you've got a dodgy dealer who's trying to minimize warranty work, it can mean multiple trips and disruption in your life to get it fixed...which is a major PITA.

 

I remember reading somewhere on this forum about somebody having problems with the MR suspension and it turned out the something was left in from the shipping of the C6 that kept the shocks from moving properly. Once removed the suspension worked as advertised.

 

Maybe his perception is based more on the service experience than the car itself which feeds right into Lexus's pocket. The more he comes in for service (and feels pampered) the more money they're making.

 

Precisely!!!