Still looking for my first Vette.Found an 06, approx. 30,000miles-$24,000 found this info on Carfax.
-Differential fluid flushed/changed
Oil and filter changed
Battery replaced @ 20,250miles
-Two tires mounted and balanced
Alignment performed
Crankshaft pulley/balancer replaced @ 20,820miles
-Stabilizer bar links replaced
Differential fluid flushed/changed @21,675miles
Whats up with the diff. fluid being flushed/changed all the time??
Crankshaft pulley/balancer replaced @ 20,820miles???
Thanks

 

Sounds like previous owner did the required upgrades and repairs. All fairly common in that year. Great that it was done.

 

Looks like a good buy.

 

All known items that should be addressed on a C6. Looks like the previous owner was on top of maintenance. Diff fluid was a TSB and needed to be replaced once. It is easy to do so he probably did it again as part of regular maintenance. Harmonic balancer wobble is an expensive repair and as long as it was not replaced with another GM balancer, you will not have to worry about that again. Mine went out at 25,000 miles and many have gone bad way earlier. End links had been improved by GM and while they do not really cause any problems other than noise, they are easy to replace with the new part. Four required at about $35 each for the improved GM part. Sounds like a well maintained car to me.

 

Sorry forgot to mention their were 3 owners- 1st-21,675 2nd-27,255,and 3rd owner 29,661 - And according to the carfax the Harmonic balancer was replaced at a GM dealership,so wouldn't it be a GM OEM part? thanks again all

 

Looks like a good find (at least from what you posted)

The C5/C6 are know for some diff fluid additive issues. It is very common for a new owner to change the Diff fluid (and other fluids). If the balancer was replaced at the dealer then yes they would have more than likely used OEM parts (balancer and bolt).
C5/C6 harmonic balancers are know to wobble (the elastic ring that bonds the two parts of the balancer together wears out and begins to separate). When this happens the balancer will slip/move on the balancer hub and start to wobble. Extremely common.

 

Indeed!

 

my first c6 (which i bought last month) was a 2007 with z51 package, 8400 miles, one owner and was 29,500.. I feel it was a great deal..

 

I replaced all the fluids in mine after I bought it. Without a true assessment (only to be had by the previous owner that you knew) I would assume it was common to do some things regardless of whether they were said to have been just done or not. And once you change them you'll want to take a close look the second time so now that you know the condition you started with so you have an apples to apples comparison.

 

The new balancer is probably a GM unit but I wouldn't let that sway me. They all have that same balancer and most cars are fine. It is a marginal design and many fail but the majority do not. I bought my car knowing the balancer was wobbling. The original owner had no idea. I just took the $1200 replacement cost (I used an ATI balancer) off of the price and bought the car. Sounds like this car is a great deal and you should have plenty of miles left on the new balancer even if it does go out some day. At least yours is new and you get a fresh start. They give you plenty of warning anyway. A little wobbling is fine. When the belts start yelling at you and the tensioner pulley is bouncing around, then it is time to have it checked out.

 

Wow! You guys have me a little worried now. I recently purchased a 2013 Grand Sport. Are these problems something I need to be concerned about?

I feel like I remember some differential issues when the C6 first came out, but was not aware of any harmonic balancer issues. Were these issues fixed in later models?

 

Diff was fixed, harmonic balancer was not. Not every C6 will have a problem in fact I bet the actual % is quite low. My 07 has 135,000 miles and no problems.

 

The early C6 models had problems with differential chatter on slow speed, tight turns as one might encounter in city driving. The GM fix was to try differential fluid changes and additives on those vehicles exhibiting the chatter. I have an early 2005 C6 and experienced the chatter. GM changed the fluid a couple of times. The last change got it right, and the chatter disappeared, never to return. I wouldn't worry at all about the fluid changes. The history indicates that the owner was on top of the situation and handled it in accordance with GM procedures.

I never experienced the balancer problems, but as I remember, GM put out a short run of C6 vehicles in which there was either a defect in the bolt that holds the balancer on, or the way in which it was torqued. In any event - just like the differential fluid - GM acknowledged the problem and went through a series of fixes. Again, it would seem that the owner was going through the proper steps to correct a problem with an early design.

GM also, for example, had a problem with the rear hatch drain tube routing. After a rain, or a wash, the rear hatch storage compartment on the left side of my C6 accumulated water. I had it back to the dealer three or four times for different fixes. Awfully aggravating at the time as I remember. GM finally rerouted the drain tube to fix the problem. No recurrences since, and the storage compartments have been completely dry.

Pay attention to oil change history for proper timing, and for other indications of appropriate routine maintenance, and you may have found a good buy.

Best of luck with your potential new purchase!

 

I am pretty sure that the same balancer was used for all C6's. Wobble is common but failure is not. Just take a look at yours and see if it is moving. From what I have read, some movement is ok. I had mine changed for peace of mind but I may have been fine leaving it. Mine was moving so much that the idler pulley was really shaking a lot as well and it just seemed too much for my liking. Belt was chirping like crazy. One mechanic said it was fine, another said he would replace it. I replaced it.
Don't worry about it though. If your belts are quiet You are probably fine. Note: I am just a backyard mechanic and was probably being overly cautious.

 

Sounds like all the expensive repairs have been made! That's a great buy, get it! How is the condition? Pics?

 

Sounds like a well maintained car at a decent price to me. I say get 'er if you want 'er.

 

Guess people really don't understand this balancer issue. too many people acting like its no big deal and not that many fail. I respectfully remind all that there is probably an average of 1 - 2% of pre mature balancer failures in the entire automotive world. But these C-6 balancers seem to be running more into the 30 - 40% range, which is completely unacceptable for such a simple piece. Wouldn't be as bad if it was a $200 - $300 fix....but this is a $1,200 fix at a dealer and if you get another GM part, you may get the same results. I love my Vette and have owned them for my entire adult life, but this balancer issue is one of the biggest Corvette bust ever. GM should have first and foremost re-designed the balancer and then put a re-call out and replaced them all.

 

I understand it completely. That is why I replaced mine with an ATI. My point is that if you want a C6, this is something that you have to deal with. Everything I stated was true even if 40% fail (your percentage). The majority (60%) are still fine. Should I have told him to run for hills or buy a C4?