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This is my first post on this forum although been lurking around, getting an education on Vettes on here for a while. Bought a Corvette about a year ago, one owner, milenium yellow 2003 Z06 with 7,300 miles. Ran good till about 4 months in. Had a EBCM issue throwing a code involving the ABS and traction control. After researching this in the Forum I took the EBCM out and sent it away for rebuilt. Got it back, installed it and no more codes since. My second fix, after reading about it in the forum, was installing the "skip shift" plug. So much better now without the 1st to 4th deal - was very annoying in traffic.
Living in the northeast my Vette is hibernating in my garage since last October. Over the winter I learned from this forum about the valve spring issue and the fix. I looked through the valve cover oil filler and saw mine were a metallic color, not yellow like so many are. I called the dealer where my car has been serviced all it's life and had them check their service records to see if, by chance, the valve springs had been replaced at some point. They found no records of that fix so I decided, for peace of mind, to go ahead to do it myself. I don't consider myself a real auto mechanic, but have worked on many cars since my late teens (50 years).
Bought some tools for this job as recommended by contributors on this forum: bent handle ratchet and swivel socket (for easier plug removal), plug wire pliers (a great help), Crane cam spring compressor (worked flawlessly), small magnet and so on. The only thing that worried me was dropping a valve into a cylinder when changing a spring. I have an air compressor, but was still sort of concerned as I've read about a people losing compression in the cylinder during the change and dropping a valve in the cylinder. The last thing I wanted to do was to remove a head if I didn't have to. I thought a fool-proof way find TDC, to prevent a dropped valve, would be using a borescope. Didn't want to buy one as decent ones are not cheap. So one day I went online to Autozone to see if they had borescopes on their "Lend a tool" program and was surprised to see they did. The next day went to the local Autozone, put down $140.00 and walked out with a borescope. Had the rear of my car on jack stands so I could rotate the wheel to get to TDC. After inserting the camera end in a plug opening, I laid the borescope on the fender cover, with the screen facing to the rear of the car. While I turned the rear wheel, I could clearly see the piston moving up and down on the borescope screen. It worked great. When changing the springs each valve would drop maybe a 1/4", resting on the piston. Changed the springs that day and put the rest back together a few days later (temps had dropped and my garage was like a meat locker). Returned the borescope to Autozone a few days later for a full refund. The next thing on my menu is having new tires mounted (still has the original, dated 2003, GoodYears). Bought some new, correct sized, Toyos late last year. Will remove the wheels in my garage and take them with the new tires to the tire changer who has the correct experience and equipment for wide rims and tires. Don't trust most garages to put my car on a lift (after reading some horror stories). The final item to install is a LMC5 module (already bought it) for the steering column lock issue.
If it wasn't for this forum, I wouldn't have known the proper steps for the EBCM fix, valve spring change - without a GM service manual (which isn't cheap) or about the handy "skip shift" fix. This forum is the best source for information and help on Corvettes I know of. To all the members who contribute to this forum, thank you!
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Welcome to the forum. Very nice looking Z06 (great pic) you have and good luck getting it just like you want it. You may want to post your story in the C5 General section and if so, instead of having to retype things again (or copy/paste them), I could just move this thread over for you if you like. Let me know what you would prefer.
Very nice. Congrats on a great find. The information contributed by the Corvette Forum members have helped many over the years.
I once owned an '02 Mil Yellow / Mod Red Z06. Great color and car.
03-22-2019, 03:55 PM
New Member & C5 owner
