We have a 2005 Corvette that kept throwing weird electrical problems. After three months and two different dealers trying to fix, I found a thread in here about the same issues, and the original poster was advised to check the connections in the box under the passenger foot well. My husband and I realized after reading that post that the car only messes up when there’s a passenger. So we told the second mechanic, and he took these connectors apart and plugged them back in. The car now has no codes or issues like before, but now the mechanic says the transmission is slipping. He checked the fluid and it’s fine. Is there something else we can check or something he could have missed in those connections? We’re at a loss, and we’ve been without the car since March. It’s so frustrating. Thanks!

 

First and foremost, do you trust your mechanic? Do you have any mechanical abilities to troubleshoot?

Those answers are really going to determine the outcome of this thread.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. It certainly is frustrating to deal with random issues that appear to have no rhym or reason

 

What are you experiencing with electric problem? Is there lights coming on or DIC has messages popping up!

I have 05 for last 15 years I have learned when the battery gets weak, I have problems, if I replace the battery, problems gone till next time.

I also can say had the car checked in the beginning for electric problems since batteries don't last very long in my car and look for good warranty cause every 26 months I have to replace it.

 

 

Both mechanics came highly recommended. We do have mechanical abilities to troubleshoot some things.

 

We bought her back in February! We absolutely love her! However, we went out on March 11, and about 40 minutes or so into our trip, she started acting really weird. We started getting all of these warnings on the DIC - active handling, traction control, struts inoperable, low fuel, anti lock break system, etc. We turned it off, then tried to start it back, and it didn’t want to start back right away. It finally did, but was driving terrible. Transmission wouldn’t shift, brakes were doing weird things…we got it to Auto Zone, but for some reason they couldn’t code it. At that point, it wouldn’t start back at all, so we had it towed home. We got it home, and it started right up so we could drive it off the tow truck. The next morning, we had it towed to service at a dealership. They had it from March through May. About mid-may, they called us and said they thought they had it fixed. He had checked grounds, changed the battery and battery cables, etc. When we went to pick it up, it started right up. Then, once I got in on the passenger side, it started giving all the messages again. That's when I found the thread on this forum that indicated the connections under the passenger side feet can get lose. So, we took it from there to a second mechanic. He's had it since mid-May. Last week, we called to check, and he had actually lost our key. Today when we called to check, he indicated that he took all the connections loose under the passenger side, connected them back, and none of the electrical issues are showing up now. However, now the transmission is slipping when you really 'get on the gas' - his words.

So, we plan to go pick it up from him, and try to find a corvette specialist, unless there's something simple in those wires under the passenger feet that could be affecting the transmission. We're so bummed. It's corvette-driving and car show weather, and we're ready!

 

I did a quick reply with tons of info, but it said a moderator would have to approve. We did change the battery and battery cables. The messages show up on the DIC - active handling, traction control, struts inoperable, low fuel, anti lock break system, etc. We turned it off, then tried to start it back, and it didn’t want to start back right away. It finally did, but was driving terrible. Transmission wouldn’t shift, brakes were doing weird things…we got it to Auto Zone, but for some reason they couldn’t code it. At that point, it wouldn’t start back at all, so we had it towed home. We got it home, and it started right up so we could drive it off the tow truck. The next morning, we had it towed to service. This was around March 10-11.

 

Wow, you certainly should have codes with all those messages. All I can say good luck, and look for shop just works on Corvettes, local tech might be good, but not familiar with C6, and have the proper computer to diagnose the car.

 

Don’t bother with dealerships because they have no clue how to diagnose your car…they will just replace parts…a Corvette “Specialist” isn’t much better…C&S Corvettes down here in Southwest Florida is a VERY well respected Corvette shop but wouldn’t touch your car to diagnose it…find a diagnostic or an auto electric shop in your area…they can diagnose any car and any system and they have the specialized equipment like a labscope which is a necessity…I can say look at this or that but I like giving specific diagnostic procedures if you can do them !!!….this may be a communication issue but couldn’t say for certain without looking at it…and yes checking for DTC’s may help !!…where are you located ??

 

So your ecm is down in the passenger side cooincidentally enough.
Possible to have a short in the main harness at the ecu?
If that seems to be the source of your problems, I would certainly start there.
Bad grounds and faulty modules can be a nightmare to diagnose. I feel for you for sure on this one, but sounds like you might be able to localize to the main harness area at the ecu or the ecu itself maybe.

 

Send a PM to Dano523 on this site and ask him to review your issues. He's extremely knowledgeable on these cars and may be able to help. I'm guessing a multiple connection plug on the body control module (BCM) could be at fault, needing a good cleaning and some dielectric grease may solve your issue. Normally I'd say battery but you did that already. Agree to stay away from dealers, they typically over charge and under perform.

 

Thanks! We’re in Eastern KY

 

Thank you!

 

Thanks!

 

OP, I can appreciate your frustration and concerns. I have an '08 I picked up last year from the original owner with 20k miles AND a new battery. After a few months I figured out why he probably sold it as I started seeing odd electrical issues. I had door actuators not working or only sometimes working, car not turning off or turning on easily, not shifting out of park, FOB not recognized, stereo acting up, and battery drains while sitting (yes, I know all corvettes do this).

Well, after being stranded one day when the car wouldn't start, wouldn't see the FOB, no unlock/lock, etc ..... I found the solution to my gremlins to be removal of the battery tray and a good cleaning of the grounding connections underneath, along with electrical contact cleaner and dialectic grease on every major fuse connection in the box by the battery. Knock on wood, but I haven't seen a single issue since. Given your symptoms, I would suggest cleaning / greasing all the ECU connectors as well.

Not saying this will fix your issues, but if you search this site you will see a history of weird electrical issues due to the crazy sensitive components on a car that has limited metal contact points. Most circuits on modern cars operate on low voltage / milli-amp feeds, so anything that inhibits a minor amount of voltage / amperage will affect the car.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

Walk in the park,

Start by disconnecting the battery,

Now go into cubby hole in passager side, and disconnect the two blue connectors on the BCM, and the center red connector with bolt, to use spray contact cleaner on them to clean the connector on both the connector side and the BCM pins,


Next, before reconnecting the connectors, make sure that you have slack on the wiring loom via that comes back under the carpet back in the cubby location, that when passenger if pushing their feet down on the carpet, not putting so much tension on the wiring loom, that is causing problems back at the BCM connector. Hence if needed, you can pull the carpet up, to back pull on the loom under the carpet, to add more slack on the cables back up at the BCM connector, that when someone is pushing down on the carpet with there feet, not causing problems with the cable So tight at the BCM, to cause connection problems there.


Once these are completed, then re connector the battery, reset the time on the radio, then make sure to re-index the windows.
To do the windows, just roll the windows one at a time all the way up, and keep pressure on the button for 4 seconds after the window is all the way up. You should hear a slight click after about 3 seconds each side and its the window module resetting for the all they way up index position.

 

This is not a true statement for Corvette ownership within reason. If your battery is healthy, the car can sit for several months and not have any problems.

 

Thanks. We will check all of that.

 

Thank you! Could this be the cause of the transmission slipping? I’m worried sick the transmission may be going out. But it didn’t start having issues until all these electrical issues happened.

 

I think other than the cruise control circuit nothing going to the BCM…I’d find a good transmission shop.