Hello, I'm a new Corvette owner as of a few days ago! I just bought a 2006 with 55k miles for a pretty good deal. The seller that I bought from was a dealer, so they didn't know what mods this car had or what the previous owner did to it. So far, it seems to be pretty much stock other than the cats were removed. It had a check engine light on, but I didn't think much of it assuming it was the lack of cats throwing a code. (I've heard that this can happen) After the first day I noticed that the car was stalling out on start and I had to give it some gas to keep it running. It also has a hard time staying above 600 rpm at idle and bounces all over the place. (drops to 400 rpm every few seconds then shoots up to 900, then back to the 600 idle) I noticed that once the car warms up though, those issues mostly disappear. This is most likely why I didn't notice this during the test drive. (It was already running and warmed up beforehand). I also noticed that very occasionally while driving, when I put my foot down, the car just won't go.

I decided to run an OBD II reader on it to see what codes the car was throwing exactly. I got 2 codes related to the MAF sensor and also "System Too Lean Bank" 1 and 2. I figured I should check out the MAF/Intake first, and when I took a closer look under the hood, I noticed that the intake air lid area just looks "off" to me. Like an entire piece is missing? I'm not super familiar with Corvette's, as I have only owned Trans Ams and Camaros previously. But the intake just looks strange. I'll post a pic under this thread, so please let me know if you see anything weird. I can see that the 4 clamps for the air lid are missing, but I feel like there's something else too. Is the air lid supposed to just be hanging there like that?

 

Your car is missing a lot of pieces. For starters, the air boxes below the filters are AWOL.



The "air intake shield," which is supposed to snap over the top, appears to be jammed down in front of the condenser.

Speaking of the condenser, you're not supposed to be able to see it. Nor should you be able to see the asphalt.



That's because the big radiator duct (7) is usually in the way. It's missing from your car.

That duct never needs to come out for normal maintenance, and is difficult to remove. Why is it missing, and what else is screwed up?

The absence of these parts alone won't cause your symptoms, but they will likely result in overheating and poor air filtration.

Check underneath to see what else is going on.

 

Thank you for the detailed reply. I couldn't find those diagrams from google for the life of me! That really sucks though.. I just called the dealer this morning and he said he would pay to replace the missing parts.

 

On reflection, the lower air boxes must be there or else there would be nothing holding up the filters and everything would just fall on the ground. The big radiator duct is definitely missing, though.

 

You are missing some pieces. My guess is the previous owner kind of put the car back to stock before trading it in. Probably had a Vararam CAI, which would explain the missing radiator shroud. In addition, if the cats are in fact removed, and no CEL for cat efficiency, that means the rear O2s have been tuned out, which leads me to believe it has a custom tune that doesn't work well with the hacked up stock pieces.

 

Nope. Hard to see but if you look close, there are zip ties holding the filters in.

 

I see the zip ties, I think they are holding the lower boxes in place and the lower boxes connect to the center piece via hose clamps. Otherwise, what is supporting the upper boxes?

The OP can easily confirm if the lower boxes are in place and just missing the clamps.

 

You may be right.

Regardless, can we put out an APB on the previous owner; your Corvette authorization for ownership is permanently revoked.

 

If your car was purchased from an independent "non Chevrolet" dealership, I wouldn't put it passed them if they warmed up the Vette, saw the CEL and codes, then cleared them just before you test drove it...

 

This, and to make it right, car needs to have the stock parts put back on/replaced, to make the oem air intake system correct,
by law the dealer has to install the cats,
and then the OEM tuned needs to be flashed back in.

From there, if still throwing codes, and not running correctly, then need to go down that rabbit hole.
Hence someone may have swapped the cam in the car to after market, which will never run correctly on the stock tune, and then back down the rabbit hole of correct tune for the aftermarket cam and needed mods as well.

 

Subbing to see how this plays out. Missing cats? seems like more exhaust work has been done. There may be other mods as well. Most likely there was a tune done and when the aftermarket parts were removed, the stock parts dont "work" with the tune. Best bet is to look on the for sale side of the forums and buy the intake parts you need then take it to a performance shop and see if you can have a retune done. At least the shop may be able to tell you what the current tune supports based on the specs.

 

Screw that, and since the car was bought from a dealer, they have to install the cats by law (even if sold as is, but put temp plates on it). That will get the expensive items out of the way, and since no way in hell that is can pass any smog test with intake plates missing (which again, then own as well to meet federal standards), then own that too.

As for re-flashing in the stock tune once that is done, find someone with TIS2000 and they can do that in a few mins for free.

This will get the car back to base line, and if you want to have the car tuned from that point with all the correct parts, going to be the same amount of money if the car had a tune in it or not. Hence for anyone to even pull the tune in the car, still looking at the cost of the credits to use the software in the first place on the car.
Note: the problems I have with most tuning software, since the car is only registered with the laptop used to tune the car in the first place that has the software loaded on it, not the car's vin to the software isntead. So if a different tuner goes to tune the car, has to pay the credits again to use his laptops software on the car.

So bottom line, dealer sold you a can of snakes, and they need to get it right by law so it meets federal emission standards. Once they do this, than you can play the mod game, and tune to the mods in play that you have done to the car.

 

I have 05 with the same Airbox, and when tried to replace it, not made anymore.

I replaced with Air Raid air filter system, easy installations.

All States require you have cat's in your car, and emissions even if your state don't test it's up you to have them working properly.

By law he isn't allowed to sell a car with is not safe to drive and yours just that sounds unsafe.

 

Yup, the OP got sold a real can of worms.

And, the OP really has no idea if the stock cam is still in the engine .. If not, the car will run like **** with the stock tune.

Bottom line ... the OP really needs to give that car back to whoever he bought it from and get his money back.

All he has done is buy himself a big headache.

 

Thanks for all of the replies and information everyone. Looks like I've really gotten myself into a mess here. I have it at a tuner at the moment who specializes in LS vehicles and they're giving it a thorough inspection. Will report back when I have an update.

 

Even if the tuner can get it close, your still going to have surging problems until the cut/removed stock parts are back on the car with the stock air filter system.