CORRECTION- "ASR" (the traction control system in the Corvette) stands for "Acceleration Slip Regulation," not the more typical "Anti Slip Regulation" as I mentioned in the video. I checked my 1996 owner's VHS to verify...Jeff Gordon says it, so can't argue!
Bwahaha! Honestly, I hate traction control. I always turn it off first thing whenever I start my car. Like...I know when my wheels are spinning, thank you very much! I'd MUCH rather be the traction control!
@@RetroCarsForever That is because idiots like you like to spin the tires and make smoke. Which is basically the opposite of a true performance car. Even on track the ideal tire slip is between 4 an 5 percent. The maximum potentiial for trip and speed. Not 100% spin. You are a moron. You bought a car to drive 50 feet at a time and wear out tires.
@@randypecker6995 where I'm from people would say "First of all: pull the stick out of Your anus!" Dude relax! It's not about perfect lap times... in a 25 yo car... It's about fun and a driving experience, that You don't get in modern cars.
Some things that many people don't know about without reading the Owner's Manual 1: There's a cargo cover that pulls out to cover whatever you have in the trunk 2: There's a trunk release switch on the edge of the driver's door (the part that closes into the door jam) 3. There's a hidden manual trunk release cable under the hatch that you can use in case the battery dies 4: There is a map light on the bottom of the rear view mirror (very useful because this car doesn't have a dome light) 5. There's a tiny lever on the back of each seat that you can press in order to fold the seats down for extra storage space/easier trunk access (very uncommon in coupes) 6. The armrests on the doors actually lift open to reveal storage pockets 7: The side view mirrors do not fold in :( 8. The AC Delco Bose sound system sounds better than any stock sound system I've ever heard. No joke.
Good ones! I’m working on a follow up video of all the little quirks, most of these are already on the list. Been hearing from many owners who didn’t know many of these!
I follow a lot of C4 videos. I must compliment you on yours. Lots of normally not mentioned info with an interesting angle. The temp info was gold. I have a nice 96 LT4 base car .
Another one I recently learned was 'Flood Clear'. Pressing the gas pedal all the way down while starting disables the ignition system. Allows you to clear a flooded engine OR allows you to sling some oil before starting the engine.
It doesn't disable the ignition system, it significantly reduces the pulse width of the fuel injectors creating an excessively lean mixture. This allows the flood to clear until the mixture can be ignited at which point you'll lift off the gas pedal. If it shut off the ignition, the engine would never start. Reducing the injector pulse width accomplishes the exact same thing when flooring the gas pedal on a carbureted engine. The choke plate opens as well as all of the throttle blades which decreases the signal at the idle ports resulting in a lean mixture. All GM fuel injected engines have this feature, my 1983 Cavalier with the 2.0L throttle body injected engine had it. An interesting benefit is the engine won't start if you floor the gas pedal and it's not flooded, the mixture is too lean. I taught my daughter that trick in case someone was trying to kidnap/carjack her. You never want to go to where they want, it ends very badly every single time.
Oh yeah, another benefit is when the coolant temperature sensor fails to the cold side telling the ECM to provide a rich cold start mixture. That's ok if it's 10*F outside and the engine is actually cold. But the resulting rich mixture in a warm engine when it's warmer weather guarantees the engine will never start. However, push the pedal to the floor to get the lean mixture and it'll start so you can get home and replace the CTS.
The temp gauge would be unnerving for sure! My favorite feature about your reviews is the little handheld arrow that you use to point things out, haha.
LOL thanks! I haaaate "asking" for people to subscribe, but you sorta have to do it, so I was trying to think of ways to have it done visually without it being too annoying... And then when I had to replace my Corvette's plastic radiator overflow cap, I realized I had a perfect little pointer!
I just bought a 1991 Quasar Blue C4, definitely glad I watched this video as I was concerned about the temperature! Also I found out all those other things in the first week of owning it except the ASR. Great vid!
Thanks! However, keep in mind your car has a different engine (the L98) that has a conventional cooling system. If it’s overheating to the extent you see here with the later LT1 or LT4 engines, there might actually be an issue.
@@RetroCarsForever L98 engine normally run around 210-220 mark also I have a LT1 6 speed my temp never goes over 180 I did just buy the car back in august so my guess is it has a different thermostat in it
@@chainsawmanny A LOT of guys with LT1 engines freak out about the temp thing (or aren't aware that it's okay for them to run hot) so they'll put in a different thermostat, make the fans turn on sooner, or replace the radiator. Also note that I only notice temps climbing in my LT4 (pretty much an LT1) during hard stop and go traffic. Otherwise its stays around 180.
The gas pedal is offset substantially because there was a time when people were hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal because they were so close together. Or their foot was wide and they would end up pushing the gas pedal along with the brake pedal. GM solved the problem by offsetting the pedals so that when you pressed the brake pedal down as far as you could, it was just level with the gas pedal. 👍
I can't believe this lol - I have a '89 C4 and I complained out loud to myself just today about being STUCK to my seat because of the seat belt. I had no idea this was a thing for all C4 owners.
Will soon be buying my first Corvette, a nice yellow ‘96, and until I watched your video today, never realized the gas filler was in the middle of the ‘trunk’! Thanks for all the points in your various videos, they will certainly come in handy (especially the one about getting in & out correctly!).
Happy to help, best of luck picking up the 1996 (it's my favorite year and the one I own). You might've seen it already, but here's another Quirks video I did that covers even more of the C4 weirdness...th-cam.com/video/X2-06FbEQxA/w-d-xo.html
@@RetroCarsForever Hey from the South Carolina Coast. Love your channel bro. I have a 64 StingRay L76 motor 327 365hp Muncie close ratio 4 speed all matching numbers 40,100 miles documented. Mint. I also have a 2007 3LT Z51 and just picked up yesterday a mint 96 LT1 White with red interior. 30k miles Been watching all your vids on the C4s. 96 the best year for the C4s. Thanks and keep the vids coming...
Great video as always! I watch allot of C4 videos and I always find myself kinda "stuck in the middle of a void" due to owning a 90 auto. It is cool having a little old and a little new in the C4 realm. The L98 is a great motor, built like a tank and no optispark. :)
Thanks! And yeah, to me the 1989 to 1991 models are like funky "crossover years" where major elements slowly got switched over from the early C4s to the later C4s. Neat how every year is so different.
@@RetroCarsForever , truly. I bought my 90 the middle of last year and it needed a bunch of work. Luckily, I am good with a wrench and have done my fair share of hotrods. I did my research and knew what to bring to the table when I test drove it and I got it for a great price. I have a vision of what it will look like and it will definitely be hard to miss after the widebody and other customs are done. Keep up the great videos! :)
I do like the fact that your temperature gauge isn’t “dumbed down”. Many new cars have a temp window of something like 30 degrees where the gauge will stay dead center. It keeps people from panic but I’d prefer accuracy.
Yep know exactly what you mean. Kinda makes sense as most non enthusiasts only ever look at the speedo and the fuel gauge and that’s it! But a proper enthusiasts car needs proper gauges.
My BMW stays from 70-100 °C in the middle. Didn't notice for a long time that the thermostat was broken and the car doesnt reach even 70 °C (170F) while driving. Total shit, i don't need a needle instrument for that unprecise information.
@@cowlumbus No clue. Like I said, the coolant gauge is a baffling design. Best guess is 185 is the minimum "normal" operating temp (like when you start the car cold, that's how hot it should be before you start really revving it).
Having owned over 75 vehicles in my lifetime (2 of them C3 Corvettes) I am starting to appreciate the look of the C4 more and more. Thanks for the video.
Thanks! I've owned about 1/3rd of what you have, that's a LOT of cars that you've owned! C4s are some of my all time favorite designs. Clean and uncluttered yet sporty and purposeful.
My 95 Camaro Z28 with the LT1 engine, runs hot like you described, and has AC delete. So when it gets too hot in stop and go traffic, I am having to turn on the heater in order to divert some heat from the engine. I try to avoid having the temperature to anywhere near 3/4 on the gauge (allegedly that's when the fans turn on), while it may be designed this way, it still bugs me when it runs that hot.
I also have a 96 with the LT4. If you haven't experienced an issue with the power brake boost, you might want to invest in a spare. I lost this entire season, I live in upstate NY, to the inability to acquire a replacement/rebuilt unit. I've been lead to believe that they can be hard to find.
Thanks! I think all c4 are gorgeous but I am partial to the smoother look of the later models (more for nostalgia than anything else). I love how c4s are so clean and uncluttered, they instead rely on their stance and proportions to show their sportiness instead of angry swoops and streaks and spoilers.
Always loved this gen Corvette and wasn't aware of a single one of these quirks. The seat belt and temp gauge items in particular are real head scratchers. But... this is GM after-all. Keep up the awesome work my friend. Love it!
Thanks man. Someone else had the theory with the temp gauge that the design of the gauge was a holdover from an earlier car with a different engine...DEFINITELY sounds like something a cash-strapped early 90s GM would do, doesnt it? Seeya soon!
@@RetroCarsForever lol yeah I was thinking that gauge was probably a leftover as well. I do love that gen in silver. Congrats on finding such a clean example. Cya soon!
@@TofersCarTales Thanks...Truth be told I wasn't dead set on the silver Collector Edition (I was looking at a few other colors too), it just happened to be the right Corvette for sale at the right time from the right seller, with the right options and price! As time has gone on I appreciate the "stealth" look of it, plus SO EASY to keep clean!
I restored a 93 and found lots of "quirks and features" (as Doug would say). The most annoying one was the failure of the heater core which forced the car off the road because the previous owner didn't understand why the windows kept fogging up. He drove the car with the finely misted coolant being fog getting to 100% of the interior (and his lungs! YIKES!) ruining the carpet even in the hatch area, and adding a sticky layer of antifreeze to everything inside. I tore out the whole interior to clean and replace the carpet and seat coverings. While it turned out beautifully, changing that heater core took me all of 11 hours, not counting the interior restoration! I heard that it is said that the C4 begins life as a heater core and the rest of the car gets built around it!
Of all the manual cars I have owned my 93 Sonoma was the best for heel/toe downshifting. The other option to get your pedals right is to install an adjustable brake pushrod. People also take the brake pedal out and bend it to the left or right to get it just how they like it.
I have a '96 Collector Edition convertible with Lingenfelter tuned motor (done before John Lingenfelter died) and 28,000 miles. It's basically a show car, but super fast and super fun to drive. The C4 is a great car and is starting to really look like a classic.
Awesome car! And agreed about the great looks of these C4s, a big reason I bought one. They REALLY stand out in modern traffic, a design from a completely different era.
Great content. My third video of the night! My 95 purchased new is a driver for sure with over a quarter million miles. The ASR feedback used to scare the heck out of me. The turning radius is huge, The Corvette finally got to pasture when I purchased a manual shift 2014 Chevy Spark. That little car can do a Uturn on a two lane road! One other feature that is now common place today is passive keyless entry/exit. My 95 has it, I think it began in 93. It was many years later before other cars had it.
In my '86, turning the pull-knob for the headlights changes the dash brightness. But turning it past the click makes the interior cabin lights come on. Maybe this is normal for all 80's GM but I didn't know. So that was a 'huh' moment. About the big turning radius: 180's are but a turn of the wheel and a mash of the throttle away ;)
That's how many American cars had their light switch knobs back in the day, Ive had several cars that were like that (completely different design in later years like mine). And can attest to the effectiveness of your 180 tactic!
As I don't drive my 86 pace car in the winter, I have deleted the thermostat, my vette runs at 170 to 190 during the hottest summer day. Temp outside is 106, car is running at 180. I do hate the cinch feature, and see no use in it. Mine doesn't have the traction control. Other then that, I love my little ragtop vette.
I bought a 1993 6 speed. I wish I had known about the CCM module they tried to implement that makes it hard to upgrade to an LS1 for the 93/94 years. And I wish I had known about the dual mass flywheel and the pain in the ass it is to switch to single mass flywheel.. other than that I love the car. Bought it with 60k and no problems til 90k. Now it’s plagued by expensive weekly repairs but I still love it. It is 27 years old after all.
Dude, I love your C4 videos. I’ve had a ‘95 convertible for about a year and I’m totally obsessed with it. I bought it not knowing that there’s no glovebox or [real] trunk. Still, so rad. It’s 100% the most underrated sports car value.
Thanks so much! (Got another C4 vid coming out Wednesday that I bet you'll appreciate...) Yeah Convertibles dont have much in the way of space to put things, but they are drop dead gorgeous with the top down. And you're right...C4s are insane performance bargains right now, despite their negatives.
I'm aware of a lot of the "quirks" you mentioned, but not on how hot they run due to the reverse flow cooling. Also, great detail explaining how the seat belts works. Well done on all accounts RCF! 👍👍 Save the Wave 🙋♂
The Wave is only item that all the Corvette generations carry with them and hopefully it will be maintained for generations yet to come. Stay safe and enjoy your ride.
_Well spirited driving in your LT4 Corvette! Although somewhat antiquated by today's standards, the ASR was designed for those who may have never driven a Corvette briskly, (yet it's a great safety system on the '92 to '96 C4s). All cool points in your video for sure (and spot on). Two fourth gens ago, I also drove a coupe with the ZF - 6 Speed LT4(super fun to drive). Today I have the same car(same color) but in an automatic transmission in convertible guise. Always on the look out for another 1996 with the LT4._
Thank you! Dont get me a wrong, I'm a fan of ASR and appreciate how advanced it was for the time. I REALLY appreciate it when I hand over the keys to someone else who maybe isnt used to the power. Good luck finding an LT4! They are quickly becoming collectors items.
@@pilotwhale I feel like that's true for most people. But decades of driving with "spirit" have given me good enough "butt sensors" to know when the car is slipping and when to back off of the gas myself.
I used to own a 1990 Ford Thunderbird which had the same traction control system. Except in the Ford when driving around tight corners it would either accelerate for me which meant the pedal actually came out from under my foot or decelerate depending on road conditions and push the pedal back into my foot. I was amazed at that when it first started happening cuz I never knew anything about it. But I have to admit the system worked amazingly well. In any case love the video thanks for showing
Thank you! I owned a 1991 Mercury Cougar (did a review of it here)- th-cam.com/video/gsbLbB9P6m8/w-d-xo.html BUT mine didn't have any traction control. Did you have an SC?
I am glad I watched this about the temperature, I thought my 95 had something wrong with it and was about to install an electric water pump and dual core radiator.
Feel free to make those mods if it makes you feel better. But as long as it’s just getting a bit hot like this in stop and go traffic, and you’re using fresh coolant and you’ve checked that the bottom air intake is gummed up...you’re probably fine!
Your videos make me want to drive my Black 95 C4 LT1 more. I’ve had it since ‘99 when I was 29. Currently It only has 51k miles on it. My most recent fix was replacing gas tank. Bladder broke and I think my spare tire rubbed a hole. Bought aftermarket one, red coated the inside, and had dealer install it.
Well done, great editing and content... THANKS! (I hit "like" the first time 'round but came back to comment and, of course, SUBSCRIBE! lol) OH, and one more thing, beautiful CE C4!
This video review is awesome! It’s about freaking time someone gave a decent review of the C4! It doesn’t garner the attention it deserves. Disclosure: I am a former professional test driver for General Motors and I test drove the C4 ZR1, Saturn cars and the Cadillac Allante in 1990-1991. I worked at the hot weather proving grounds in Arizona during that time. One of my biggest complaints was the ABS and traction control. I got fired because at quitting time, I was so amped up from driving pre-production and prototype cars that I would jump on my FZR600RR and ride like a man possessed. After scaring a few employees in route to the freeway, my boss called me in and said, “we’ve had several complaints about your driving and we’ve decided to let you go.“ I was like “what, why?“ His comment was, “if you drive your personal vehicle like a bat leaving a burning stump, I can only imagine how you drive our cars.” Because it is a right to work state, they could let me go for any reason but his reason was lame because everything during a test is recorded, ie the braking, the acceleration, the G force during cornering etc. Every aspect and every axis of the car was recorded but the real reason was, I rode my bike like an asshole and scared a few employees. I had one woman in tears but that’s a story for another day!
Hi Pete. WOW, what a story! And what an exciting time to be test driving for GM, they were waking up and pushing out some world class products (or at least, attempting to). I'll be making more videos about the C4 in the future, I find there's not too much out there on TH-cam that's scripted or edited, and I think more should be out there because they're fascinating cars. I've already posted a few more on my channel that you'd find interesting, check them out when you have a chance! You might like this one as it delves into the history of the Vette- th-cam.com/video/TyTKB_Hdy08/w-d-xo.html
Retro Cars Forever I have a crazy story about what I believe is how the Cyclone and Typhoon came to be, if you ever want to hear it. I was also one of the few that test drove the EV1 which we called the “Impact” but as you know, Honda claimed the name and the EV1 eventually went bye-bye. We had four on the test grounds and when it was decided to nix the idea, we buried all of them in the desert late at night. I watched it happen.
I have a '94 6 speed convertable and after watching your video, I may have the answer to a quirk the car has. When accererating out of a turn such as exiting a traffic circle, I feel a strange motion in the gas pedal. I used to have a transmission shop and a symptom like this usually ment the engine was shifting due to a broken motor or transmission mount. I went to a great deal of trouble pulling the engine mounts and checked all the suspension bushings to find nothing wrong. It reminds me of when I bought the car and knew nothong about "skip shift". I swore it was a bad second gear syncro ring. I'll turn off the ASR and see if the symptom disappears. -Thanks
Yes that definitely sounds like ASR! And I confirmed that’s how it should work from an owners vhs. Thrilled if I helped you here, that was my biggest aim with this video!
I have a 93 6-speed. One quirk of the LT1/4 is that if the water pump goes out, or leaks coolant it takes the opti-spark distributor out with it. If you go through a deep puddle, it'll go out, too. Another quirk is that the dual mass flywheel/clutch is a pain. The passenger side interior door panel tabs will eventually bread and separate from the door frame.
@@RetroCarsForever Let me relate some experiences in my C4 ownership: I drove my C4 like you drive yours in the vid, I had to put a clutch in @ around 85,000 miles. Parts aren't too bad considering, it's the labor. I bought my C4 with 40,000 miles. The other thing, if you row through the gears, up and down the RPM range, aka "speed shifting", with the AC on, you'll eventually fry the AC clutch - I went through three clutches! Expensive!!!! The other issue is the weather striping especially where the windshield frame, the door glass and the top meet - that's where they leak and have wind noise. Also, the outside rubber door glass molding eventually gets hard and brittle and will scratch the glass. Expensive factory OEM moldings is the only to properly address the issue - especially the spongy windshield molding. The most cost effective mod to make these C4s quicker is to put 3.73 gears in that Dana 44 rear end. It makes a huge difference! With the 6 speed. double overdrive, it won't kill the gas mileage around town, either. Don't get me wrong, I love my C4, but it eventually nickel and dimed me to death. I've had it for 20 years, still have it, but I don't drive it as much. Have fun and good luck with yours!
I was surprised about the turning radius. I have 1991E 30 BMW and an 88 Mustang that both turn surprisingly small circles. Even smaller than my old 1988 Honda Civic. And my Mustang seatbelt is damn annoying for the exact opposite reason where it keeps getting loose and won’t tighten up until I pull it to let snapback. I just bought a 96 vette convertible Long distance and still waiting for transport to arrange pick up to bring it to me. Can’t wait :-)
I’ve been lucky to have had two Vettes, a red ‘88 and a pewter ‘99. The C4 was my favorite but it had a lot of miles on it when I bought it and more problems than I needed. Even after I changed the stock L98 into a bored-out 383 with a new cam I still had lots to fix. When the electrical system starting giving me problems I sold it and bought a low mileage C5. I drove that car nearly every day for eight years. I’d like to buy a new 2021 Corvette but I consider myself lucky to have had two.
I could def see myself owning another Corvette (likely C5 or C6) someday. I'd REALLY LOVE to have a C8, but I'll wait about twenty years once it's depreciated enough to garner my interest!
Great content - you got the sub. I'd love to see an analysis of the ZF 6 speed. I just bought a base LT4 and it really does whine - especially in 6th going down the highway on cruise. The forums say it is common/normal. I'd love to know if anyone has found a way to quiet it down.
I’d say there’s a very light whine in mine but not too bad. Apparently they can get worse in high mileage cars. The real trick is when it comes time to replace the flywheel...sourcing the weird dual mass flywheels is very tricky, and single mass can be noisier. How many miles does your car have? In any case, appreciate the sub! New C4 video coming soon.
I had 2 C4s, an 86 and a 95. I think the weirdest quirk for me was the parking brake set down on the floor at the left side of the driver's seat. Who came up with that debacle? Functionality of that thing was terrible.
Super weird quirk for sure...Less weird if you're familiar with vintage English cars, that also have the same design. I've gotten used to it over time, and THANK GOD it can go down when it's engaged, otherwise getting in and out would be even MORE of a pain! But it's definitely something I have to explain to anyone driving it for the first time.
I have an 1989 and one day I had trouble pulling it up and like an idiot I pulled too hard and broke the assembly. The cable broke off this plastic groove holding it in place, had to reinstall it but now the cable seems wound too tight :( Making the parking brake still unusable, no clue what caused it.
I had a clean, low mileage '94 LT1 Corvette which ticked a box that dated back to 1996. I babysat my friend's '94 for two months in 1997 and that experience made an impression. I'm throwing a lot of dates and numbers around so while I'm at it here's another one. In December of 2010 I found my clean, low mileage Corvette in Virginia which was some distance from where I lived in Princeton New Jersey at the time. I was prepared to tow it back the next morning but I contracted with a delivery service at a reasonable price. So, I did the round trip to Virginia in the same, _long_ day. My '94 LT1 was all of that. My bad back, unfortunately, wasn't up to the task. While I had the Corvette I enjoyed getting gas and flipping that front clip forward. What a conversation starter that procedure was when I checked the oil. I had the 6 speed and shifting gears was a blast. That much I recall fondly. When I went to sell the vehicle I first pitched the idea to my fiancée's oldest son who didn't have the scratch to buy it even when I offered it at a substantisl discount. I ended up getting a fair price as a trade on a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ. The C4 remains my favorite body-style.
Thanks for sharing! I LOVE how the entire front end of the car lifts forward...Only Corvette to have that design. Not only for "curb appeal" but also makes reaching for mechanical bits so much easier. I'm sure they stopped making it like that because those giant hood pieces were costly!
@@RetroCarsForever They were expensive. I'm a retired GM employee and one of my assignments was working in three of their SPOs (Service and Parts Operations). Those boxes for the unfinished front clips were enormous and unwieldy; somewhat difficult for one person to maneuver onto a flat bed picking cart. Notable too is that the Ram Air hood for the WS6 Trans Am felt like it weighed a ton. The carbon fiber hood for the C5 ZO6 felt almost weightless. I used to sit on the tire of my Corvette when I had the hood tilted forward while detailing the engine.
TralfazConstruction makes sense. I’m sure those c4 hoods were super cumbersome to deal with at the factory. And that’s exactly how I sit when I’m detailing or working on my car...right on the front tire! Or my leg in between the tire and the suspension bits because I’m skinny enough.
Thanks for this video! I especially appreciate covering the coolant temp thing since I can confirm it freaked me out on my first C4 as well. ASR is “acceleration slip regulation,” though. ;) Still jealous of your LT4!
You're very welcome! I FOR SURE freaked out a bit on the coolant temperature thing when I first drove my car through traffic. As for ASR's meaning...OMG you're totally right!! (Slaps face) I'll make a pinned post to correct that one LOL
Practical Car Guy As a side bit, the gauge on the ZR-1 does work as you would expect; it uses standard cooling, operates at temperatures people expect, and the analog gauge sits in the middle under normal operation. My guess as to why the LT1 gauge doesn’t is because the gauges themselves were already in use by the L98 and LT5 so GM got lazy and reused them rather than redesigning.
@@nomakewan Interesting, was curious how the ZR1 dealt with that...Do you own one? I like your theory on the LT1s gauge...Def sounds like something GM would do!
Practical Car Guy Nah, no ZR-1 here. But watched plenty of driving and racing footage here on TH-cam, as well as the VHS owner’s manual videos. Noticed their gauges are nice and centered. I can’t say for sure but I bet the 90-91 L98 gauges are too.
Great video dude. I've had my black 94 lt1 6 speed for 5 years. Knew about the useless cup holders instantly when shifting to reverse lol also terrible turning radius. Found the cinch button months ago. Had to google it. What I didn't know was the coolant temp. Mine has an aftermarket fan system with a toggle switch I always would turn on when the gauge neared the max. A co-worker who has a c5 vette says the same thing about his overheating like say waiting in line at a fast food joint. They definitely need more clear gauges.
Thanks! Yeah the coolant temp guages and just how hot these are designed to run really confuse people. IMO they should've designed the gauges themselves to make it clear that running 225 is okay!
I think that's the only way you can do traction control on a throttle cable set up. The cruise control worked the same way, it relied on a motor to modulate the pedal back and forth under your feet. Once cars became throttle by wire all that stuff was handled by the computer.
blackrat1228 that’s not the case. I’ve owned and driven a number of other cars that had cable operated throttles with traction control that didn’t “push” on the pedal like the Corvette does.
@@RetroCarsForever interesting. Did the cruise control work the same way? Throttle modulated to maintain set speed while the pedal stayed motionless? I've only had one throttle cable car with cruise control, all others have been throttle by wire. Maybe the direct connection to the pedal was a GM thing while other companies had a type of clutch so the pedal didn't react.
Love these type of videos! Super awesome stuff and super weird quirks too about the C4! Never knew any of those, but than, I’ve never been in a C4 either. Can’t wait to see whatcha got in store for next weeks vid! Keep in coming!
Thanks! And spoiler...Both my Corvette, and Ethan, AND his Porsche should be appearing in the next video too! If you ever come out here would love to treat you to a C4 drive. It's such a weird (but fun) experience!
Interesting! I test drove a 95 Camaro before going with my Corvette last year, dont recall that issue. Then again, I wasnt driving very fast (owner was in the car with me).
The "cinch" button is designed to work that way to hold you in the seat for people that know how to drive a sports car...l used mine all the time...read your manual...
I also daily my 96 collector's edition! I would say something that surprised me after I bought it was the "secret compartment" behind the passenger seat. I found a bag of tools in there from two owners back!
Nice bonus! That little area is super useful, esp as our later cars dont have gloveboxes. It even has a little "prop" to keep it open. I did have to figure out what the other little trapdoor next to it was, as its an extra cubby in earlier C4s...Turns out thats where they put the ABS system components (you can unscrew it for easier servicing there). Tell me about your CE! LT1? Z51? Coupe or Convertible? Interior color? Love these things!
It's an LT-1, coupe, Gray interior, 110k on the clock, salvaged title. I wasn't looking for a c4, but this popped up at a price I couldn't refuse. Decided to upgrade from my 2003 Camry. So glad I did. I'm not worries about damaging it too much, because it's already been totaled. You couldn't tell though.
@@ryanphaup5932 Quite a bit more fun than a Camry! It sounds like you have a really fun driver...maybe not a collectible but who cares? You can drive it hard and pile on the miles without any guilt.
Exactly! These cars were made to be driven. I'm not saving anything for the next guy. Still, I don't beat her up too much. It's my wallet and time that will be used to fix her 😂
@@ryanphaup5932 Mine's actually sorta worth something (only 33k miles), so I try to straddle that line between driving it "with spirit" but never outright abusing it. But I do love dailying it...Makes any commute so much more fun.
Great video this just came up in my recommended list. I've had my 92 for 16 years and never had any idea what the Cinch button was for. Though I gotta admit I have not had the cinching problem so obviously I don't drive it hard enough! Also I did two years of getting inside the car to release the hatch before realizing there were trunk release buttons on both inside doors. Very unique!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! I'll be doing a rapid-fire "all the quirks" video of things like the trunk release button (that some people might or might not know) in the future, THIS video was all about the "secret" quirks that are super confusing to new owners.
After reading this comment I went outside to look at the doors lol I have had my 94 for 5 years and never knew about hatch release buttons on the doors, always used the one in the console. My door button doesn't work but I found it. Thanks
I’m currently looking at grabbing a 92 C4 with only 105k miles garage kept beauty Have you had any drastic issues with yours? Has it been reliable also in this market is finding one for 6k in great condition considered a “steal”
Congrats! Those L98 engines are totally different than the LT1/LT4 that I talk about in the video, but they're still strong, torquey motors. Auto or manual?
Thanks for the video... We're driving to San Diego to pick up a 1988 vette convertible that I bought on Bring a Trailer... a survivor with only 925 miles on it as it was stored by a collector. Have a 100+ mile drive back and probably would have freaked over the temp gauge thing! Thanks for saving a bunch of angst!
Congrats, BUT keep in mind you have a COMPLETELY different engine than the ones I'm talking about here. You have an L98, which has a normal cooling system, so if its getting this hot, it might actually be a problem. Also PLEASE do not drive far or fast if the car is on old tires! By old I mean AGE not mileage. It is dangerous and when they blow they can take out the fiberglass.
Don't forget the tiny light bulb near the spare tire compartment under the car. It also serves as a courtesy light when the hatch or doors are open and looks cool as feck at night. You can upgrade it to LED for increased illumination. 😎
Good video. New to corvette and c4. I’m hesitant to push her, stories of spinouts etc in classic cars getting destroyed. So I gave into my throttle passion and got some pushback the other day. Didn’t believe my senses, mentioned it to the wife sitting right seat then assumed it was imaginary. Thanks for the revealing info
Ha, happy to help! It's a weird sensation, isn't it? If you're new to the C4, feel free to check out all the other Corvette videos on my channel, I made them to specifically help people new to them!
Pretty accurate list. The most annoying thing on my old ‘93 when I had it was that pain in the ass OptiSpark distributor. That was cause the car to buck like bull at various times.
One of the love it or hate it quirks has to be the 4+3 transmission in the 84-88 Corvettes. I'm in the "love it" camp because it's the transmission that's "smarter than the driver". The kickdown in 4th (from the 0.67 OD to a 1:1) makes 70-90 mph passes REALLY easy! Also, an easy shift from first to 2nd with the OD on makes for a nice looooooong pull down an entrance ramp. Plus, a simple flick of the switch shuts it off for 3rd and 4th gear canyon carving.
Those 4+3s are one of the quirkiest transmissions I've ever seen. Only driven one once, and I have to admit as a noob it was a frustrating experience...I imagine it would take some time to really understand it. Didn't love the plastic gate feeling that it had, either. Have you read "Inside Corvette?" Some great insight as to why they went that route.
There was a concept car called the CERV III (I think that is Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) that I read about in 1990. It had this active system that would increase the stiffness of the gas pedal the closer you got to breaking traction. This was a feedback mechanism to help the driver stay just at the limit of maximum acceleration without spinning the wheels. I wonder if the ASR pushes back on the gas pedal because it is related to this system.
Great memory! I’m sure you’re right, the timing fits perfectly for a simpler system to be installed in 1992. I actually saw that concept car in person back in the day, gorgeous car.
@@RetroCarsForever And it was a mid-engine car intended to pioneer the way for future corvettes. I wish I could have seen this car in person like you did.
1: I want one of those pedal extenders! 2: yup that all sounds about right. The one thing I really want to get working on my car is the hatch glass release button on the door card or if I am lucky enough, find one of the remotes for not a bazillion $$. There was a guy making a switch reverser that took the ASR off button and reversed the internals so when you start the car it is always off and then you have to push the button to turn it on, but that does not change the light on situation as far as I am aware.
Stuart made me the pedal extender as a friendly favor, he doesnt want to make more but I have been curious to start a little "Side business" if there was enough interest. So I'll keep that in mind! (You're the second person who's asked about it already) That hatch release door card is SUPER useful, I use it all the time. As for trac control button...Honestly it's "muscle memory" at this point for me to just turn it off whenever I start the car, so I'll probably just leave it! Plus its nice to have in case my wife or anyone else decides to drive it who might not be used to 330 hp.
@@RetroCarsForever Well if you could get the file I could have one printed for myself. That or I suppose I could design it too. Just easier if there is already a file.
Great video, i have owned 2 C4's and found out about these quirks from being in a Corvette club. Also watch out for spark plug wiring looms that detach. Mine cost me 2K in repairs to the distributor shorting out.
Hello! I'm a professional racing car driver and also Corvette fan, and owner of a C4 1988 here in Switzerland. I liked your video very much and pleased to follow the channel! I never driven your year C4 but it seems to me the car looks more understeering than mine. In my car for me the only downside is the automatic transmission, but the plus side is that you can keep it sequential with hand activation and this allows me to brake with the left foot like in a modern racing car, giving a really nice feeling into the corners thanks to the sharp front end!
Hi, thanks for watching! C4s have to be SUPER rare over there in Switzerland. Went there last year and dont remember seeing ANY American cars. Also those gas prices...WOW!
Yeah gas prices don't help ahah, luckily from 31 years and older you get the plates for a vintage car and it costs way less, otherwise the big engine would be expensive to run here. In Switzerland American car culture is getting bigger and bigger! We already have a ton of harley davidsons and cars are increasing too😁 Anyway keep up the good work!
The seatbelt tensioner thing is something I’ve noticed happens in almost every GM vehicle I’ve rode in, but it doesn’t normally happen often in the ones I’ve been in
@@RetroCarsForever yeah it only normally happens if I try to move a little bit forward in the seat and it’s driving but I had noticed it in 2 different Chevy Silverado’s and a Buick Enclave but I also have trouble holding still so idk but maybe that’s why
Very interesting stuff! Even though they're known to not be reliable/cheap to maintain, I'd love to find an earlier 4+3 manual C4, since I actually drove one back in the day haha. Good video!
Thank you! Those 4 plus 3s are one of the weirdest transmissions I've ever driven. I personally disliked it and found it confusing and clunky, MUCH prefer the ZF 6 speed in 1989 and later cars. The 4 plus 3 was actually SLOWER than the auto of the time in just about every test too! But, Doug Nash is great if you want something funky or nostalgic!
Great video, and honesty all stuff I like showing new owners! I’ve owned three C4’s; ‘86 Pace Car, ‘91 Vert and my current LT4 Coupe (All manuals). The ASR defeat can be made normally-off with a performance tune, this is when you can also turn of the skip-shift permanently. Water temps come down dramatically when you add an external oil cooler - a feature ALL C4’s need IMHO. On the heel-toe issue, as an HPDE Instructor for 20+ years, I’ve never seen the need for it in high-HP cars, Corvette included. If you know the car well enough, you know exactly when to let the clutch out when downshifting 😏 That being said I DEFINITELY want the file on that 3D brick you made, super cool!! BTW, you found one the baddest C4’s out there, well done!!
I owned a '96 GS convertible for 7 years, here are a few more tips. 1. Always close the hood by holding it from the middle and dropping it from about two feet. 2. Never push down on the rear-corners of the hood to close them, you will crack them. If the hood does not close properly after a two foot drop, try it again, and possibly lube or adjust the latches. 3. Never leave the doors open when you close the hood, or the back edge of the hood could take a nice chunk out to the top of the leading edge of the door. 4. There is no underhood insulation mat to protect the hood from excessive engine heat when parked, and the hot engine will cause the underhood paint to crack and check if there is no airflow. After each drive, I always opened my hood to let the engine cool. 5. For the 6-speeds, get a CAGS ( 1 - 4 skip shift) eliminator harness, this will save your life. 6. The owners manual says to leave the gear shift parked in reverse, but doing so will eventually cause the reverse lamp switch to fail. I always parked and left the gear in 1st. 7. Get a dash protection mat, the heat of the sun under the curved windshield will cause the dash to warp and buckle. 8. If you notice any loose panels, check for missing bolts or fasteners. For example the lower rear quarter panels are supported by a thin metal strut, my car was missing the bolt ( at 12k miles) that attached the strut to the panel when i bought it. 9. The injectors on various C4's are cooled by fuel. They would often burnout and fail after prolonged periods of off-season or winter storage. If you can, always use fuel stabilizer, and try to run the engine every couple months if you have to store the car over the winter. Two more quirks: 1. The convertibles had an underfloor external bracing system that was a pair of U-shaped channel steel beams bolted in an "X" to stiffen the chassis. They looked like an afterthought to me, and they hung down low in the middle of the car, and are prone to getting caught on bumps and ramps. 2. The spare tire in the rear undercar storage compartment is an integral part of the vehicle rear-end collision crash protection. C-4's with run-flat tires could be ordered with "Spare Tire Delete" option, but to maintain the rear crash protection, GM installed an "H" shaped brace made out of aluminum into the spare tire carrier to give the rigidity the spare wheel would. I have never heard of any car with such a system.
Great tips, especially for those who want to be extra careful with their C4. I've heard a lot of guys with C4 coupes like mine installing the convertible "X brace" to stiffen up the chassis a bit, but then having clearance issues because of how low it hangs.
@@SC-yx6wr Thank you! I LOVE Gs's, but nowadays they go for 10 to 15 grand more than similar LT4s...Too much for a daily! My CE even has the Z51 suspension, and the same engine, so I looked it at like getting a Grand Sport without the snazzy paint or bigger rear tires, but with a HUGE discount!
If you have wide feet you can heel toe in name only but just have the ball of your foot on the brake and use your pinky toe. The 3D spacer is a good idea but I’d be worried it would slip under the brake pedal. If you want to turn the traction control and anti lock brakes off for a track day but don’t want the light on and the sensitive antilock brakes, just unplug the module behind the divers seat.
I should also note that the L98 had an external oil cooler and one reason for the reverse flow cooling system was to do away with the external oil cooling. So now the heads act like a heat sink for the oil and takes forever to warm up in the winter.
@@jeffersongraves5295 Great info, didn't know that about the oil cooler/reverse flow reasoning, or the unplugging idea. Does that trip the light still? Before getting the gas pedal spacer on, I tried that (using pinky toe)...It CAN be done, but difficult when you're really hustling, especially if your steering wheel is set low. I've had the spacer on for months, and even under hard driving, hasnt once come loose. Our backup plan was to drill some holes through the sides and zip tie it to the pedal for extra security, but it just hasn't been needed. Also, seems to make even daily driving easier!
Practical Car Guy light stays off, mines unplugged because I need to replace the control module (servo) and it’s being a pain. So I’m driving like it’s 1985 in a 1993
@@jeffersongraves5295 Awesome. I'm a fan of ABS (tho I dont drive off road or on a track), but I've never really needed traction control wasn't needed. My "butt accelerometer" is decent enough to feel when I've floored it too long!
Practical Car Guy definitely a fan of antilock brakes but got my first taste of winter driving in the snow in an 89 probe. No assists and to top it off I had very bald tires, like ripples where you could see where tread might be bald. So when people tell me my corvette isn’t a winter car I laugh because everything is a winter car. Top tip if anyone reading has never driven in snow or learning and hasn’t got stuck in the rain. It doesn’t matter how fast you can get moving, but how fast can you stop.
I own a 91 so no ASR and an L98 with no opti. Also an Auto so not pedal issues. I do however own a 97 Z28 which has that "push back" ASR system. I'm in the UK so love the "no nonsense" approach of shoving the gas pedal back up when you are being silly. When you've got the back kicking out just what you need is the pedal pushing back up and the car coming brutually off power :) :) :) Love these cars :)
GMs Aussie division Holden used the ASR type traction control in the early LS1 equipped. They called it a "throttle relaxer". I first felt it's wrath in the 2001 Holden Caprice, where I sank in my steel capped work boot onto the pedal, whilst going around a corner. Where I got into trouble, was that my boot somehow became wedged between the throttle pedal and the under dash trim, meaning I couldn't lift off the pedal. Scary thing for an 18 year old just starting his mechanical apprenticeship.
Yes, my '96 C4 freaks me out with the temp issue. Then to top it off, the analog gauge reads differently than the LCD temp gauge..... and they both show different temps that are higher than I like. As Homer would say ...... D'oooh !!! Another good video.
Just viewed your video what great help, just purchased a used 1964 and noticed the temp running hot. I was getting ready to change out thermostat but now I do not have to. Thanks Rick Nelson
@@RetroCarsForever My Bad 1994. I am in the process of replacing all bushings as a starting point. I trying to find a good way to determine if my ball joints also need to be replaced. Given the mileage 128000 I am sure it will be a good investment. Thanks for responding.
I have a 1988 with ABS; the thing that freaks people out is that just after driving off the ABS unit does a selftest which you can feel in the brake pedal (and can hear as the unit is just behind the drivers seat). It's not unique to Corvette's but rather a feature of this specific generation of ABS. Since it is quite rare however people don't know it. More modern generations still do the self test but you can't feel or hear it. Other things; the parking brake ratchet mechanism or the fact (I'm in Europe) that is has front fog lights but no rear fog light, cornering lights and seatbelts only cinch when exposed to G-forces... all of them have been issues during technical inspection. But mostly as inspectors aren't used to US cars.
Excellent quirk, might have to include that in a future video. I also wondered what the thrumming sound was behind my head not long after startup, until I researched it and figured it out.
Great video! I have a 1984 Corvette Z51 and you're not kidding about the temperature although it's a "different engine ". The first time I see it get to 220 was nervous
My '96 Z28 had ASR and the 1st to 4th skip shift. I got a plug-in eliminator device for the skip shift (best mod ever!) and a heavier foot for the ASR.
That CAGS eliminator is a super popular mod for Camaros and Vettes. But personally I just got used to it (and turning off the ASR whenever I start up the car!)
My cousin and I are both LT4 CE owners as well... His car runs about the same temp as you're showing in the video. Mine has a 160° thermostat and I had a custom tune done when i had my headers and 4.10 gears installed. The fans were programed to come on sooner- my car runs no more than 200° in stop and go when it's warm out. If its cool weather, it runs 160-180. Also had the VATS disabled with the tune. A previous owner did the coolant bypass on the throttle body, installed a 1st-4th skip shift eliminator and resealed the back of the intake manifold where they commonly leak. Love your videos, keep up the good work!
My C4 needs a lot of work but I still daily it and even though it needs work it’s still super reliable and has only given my 3 major problems since owning it for a year. One was that my brakes went out on my in Miami at a car show, did a brake bleed and couldn’t find anything, let the car rest for a couple of weeks and boom hasn’t had a problem with the brakes since. Second was severe overheating leading to smoke which is my coolant boiling and leaking out of the broken top. Third is a tranny leak, she’s going to the shop soon to get that fixed thank goodness.
I had and loved a 92 6 speed. I wish I knew about the temp gauge, it created unnecessary anxiety. Quirks? What quirks? The cup holders, parking brake location, ride control actuators, Bose speakers pointed at your feet, opti spark, peeling clear on wheels, floppy door panels, headlight motors, tire pressure sensors, weird brake pump noise at start and loss of body stiffness with t top out.(only removed it once. 4 bolts what?)I would do it all again.
I have a 94....one thing that helps some on the temp is to keep the radiator clean, I blew mine out with just an airhose, gotta be careful working in tight spaces, but helped drop the temp 15 to 20 degrees
I just bought an 89 yesterday and almost had reservations because of the temps on the test drive and after some research my fears went away. Would DEFINITELY have liked to know about the weird handbrake though as I probably wore out the rear brakes on both the test drive and drive home. Still I think I got a good deal on the car and it's low miles and pretty nice. Also, my first car was a 94 Camaro Z28 6 speed which had an ASR light but the Camaro didn't actually get the system until 95 so it was just an unused warning light on the dash in 94.
Yeah handbrake is weird if you're not familiar with British cars that have that design. Hope you've figured it out! Interesting to know about the Camaro ASR system, and when that came into effect. As for the temp of you car, keep in mind 1989 had a completely different engine (L98) than the LT1/LT4s that had the reverse coolant flow system, so I can't speak to what normal with those.
@@RetroCarsForever from what research I did I found it's kinda just a C4 and C5 thing. My manual even has the information about it underlined. I'm guessing a previous owner had concerns about it too. I'm not too sure if the L98 is reverse flow or not. Also, my Camaro with the LT1 ran down around/below boiling (forget the exact temp) and always sat in the middle of the gauge when I didn't have something wrong which is interesting since it's the same engine and similar radiator exposure but the Camaro/Firebird did have a few other differences in the motor as did the Caprices and such so maybe they weren't set up to withstand the higher temperatures I'm not sure.
@@RetroCarsForever and about the handbrake I had originally thought it was broken and then after looking in the manual I didn't quite know what it meant but I realize it might not have been broken but I might've wasted some brake pad. I tried messing with it again and still couldn't figure it out. Then I happened to see somebody operate it in another TH-cam video about a C4 and that got me to realize what I was doing wrong.
@@BiBh375 Glad you got it figured out. In any case congrats on the new C4 purchase! Stay tuned...Planning on more videos to help C4 owners get to know their cars better.
My Magnum SRT8 has a similar issue with the temperature gauge. "Normal" is higher than the mid point of the gauge. It freaked me out the first time it got that hot after I purchased the car. Internet searching found that it is designed to run hotter, like your Vette.
I have a 1990 c4 l98 engine, and even just running smooth my car temp goes up to 250c and then usually it goes back down to 195, I was always paranoid to drive the car hard cause I did not wanted her to overheat, so if the cars does overheat I assume I will receive some type of signal?
The L98 doesnt have reserve cooling, so it might be an actual issue to be concerned with. I have to admit I’m not all that familiar with those engines. Check out Joshua Guillory TH-cam channel, he’s much more of an expert on L98s!
I also have a 1990 I bought new and still own, check my channel, the only time I worried about overheating is when it’s really hot and in heavy stop and go traffic. I am in Chicago and we get really hot days but if you are someplace that gets hotter you might experience overheating more often. Mine felt like the car was going to stop running but no warning lights that I can remember.
@@RetroCarsForever Thanks for watching👍👍👍Give it a shot it’s really easy and see if that works and if it does it will save you time and money. I am not sure how to replace the struts if they are gone. I subscribed and started watching your videos. I watched the commercial on or at least I started watching and will finish in a few minutes and want to watch the Inn n Out Gs 5 guys next. PS I work at a TV station and like watching commercials😇😇😇
Congrats! You’ve come to right place to learn more about these weird but wonderful machines. A follow up quirks video for ya- th-cam.com/video/X2-06FbEQxA/w-d-xo.html
CORRECTION-
"ASR" (the traction control system in the Corvette) stands for "Acceleration Slip Regulation," not the more typical "Anti Slip Regulation" as I mentioned in the video.
I checked my 1996 owner's VHS to verify...Jeff Gordon says it, so can't argue!
The biggest surprise for me was, how effective the ASR in the C4 is (i own a '95). Its almost an ESP.
Any chance your friend could make another throttle pedal extender?? I'd love to buy one for my 1996 Grandsport so I can heel and toe!
@@jakeweisman5517 Message me your email and I'll you to the list!
@@RetroCarsForever thank you, pm'ed you on IG!
Are they good for long drives since they run hot?
On my 85 I am the traction control
🤣 Hahaha!
Bwahaha!
Honestly, I hate traction control. I always turn it off first thing whenever I start my car. Like...I know when my wheels are spinning, thank you very much!
I'd MUCH rather be the traction control!
Same in my 85 vette😂😂
@@RetroCarsForever That is because idiots like you like to spin the tires and make smoke. Which is basically the opposite of a true performance car. Even on track the ideal tire slip is between 4 an 5 percent. The maximum potentiial for trip and speed. Not 100% spin. You are a moron. You bought a car to drive 50 feet at a time and wear out tires.
@@randypecker6995 where I'm from people would say "First of all: pull the stick out of Your anus!" Dude relax! It's not about perfect lap times... in a 25 yo car... It's about fun and a driving experience, that You don't get in modern cars.
Some things that many people don't know about without reading the Owner's Manual
1: There's a cargo cover that pulls out to cover whatever you have in the trunk
2: There's a trunk release switch on the edge of the driver's door (the part that closes into the door jam)
3. There's a hidden manual trunk release cable under the hatch that you can use in case the battery dies
4: There is a map light on the bottom of the rear view mirror (very useful because this car doesn't have a dome light)
5. There's a tiny lever on the back of each seat that you can press in order to fold the seats down for extra storage space/easier trunk access (very uncommon in coupes)
6. The armrests on the doors actually lift open to reveal storage pockets
7: The side view mirrors do not fold in :(
8. The AC Delco Bose sound system sounds better than any stock sound system I've ever heard. No joke.
Good ones! I’m working on a follow up video of all the little quirks, most of these are already on the list. Been hearing from many owners who didn’t know many of these!
AC Cobra thankfully there’s a tool you can buy to snag the cable!
I agree on that Bose. It sounds amazing!
Corvette Mode agreed, especially for the time period, it sounds great. Even if you play cassette!
"The armrests on the doors actually lift open to reveal storage pockets "
I think that is 1994 onward... my 1993 definitely does not have them.
Finally somebody who’s making awesome C4 videos. Thank you bro 💪🏾
Thank YOU! Another corvette video coming out next, it’s turning out great.
Yes
I follow a lot of C4 videos. I must compliment you on yours. Lots of normally not mentioned info with an interesting angle. The temp info was gold. I have a nice 96 LT4 base car .
Thank you, glad to hear that as this was the goal of the video (to highlight the things I didnt see anyone else talk about, at least in video form).
Another one I recently learned was 'Flood Clear'. Pressing the gas pedal all the way down while starting disables the ignition system. Allows you to clear a flooded engine OR allows you to sling some oil before starting the engine.
Yes! C and S Corvettes (a great TH-cam resource) covered this.
It doesn't disable the ignition system, it significantly reduces the pulse width of the fuel injectors creating an excessively lean mixture. This allows the flood to clear until the mixture can be ignited at which point you'll lift off the gas pedal. If it shut off the ignition, the engine would never start.
Reducing the injector pulse width accomplishes the exact same thing when flooring the gas pedal on a carbureted engine. The choke plate opens as well as all of the throttle blades which decreases the signal at the idle ports resulting in a lean mixture. All GM fuel injected engines have this feature, my 1983 Cavalier with the 2.0L throttle body injected engine had it.
An interesting benefit is the engine won't start if you floor the gas pedal and it's not flooded, the mixture is too lean. I taught my daughter that trick in case someone was trying to kidnap/carjack her. You never want to go to where they want, it ends very badly every single time.
Oh yeah, another benefit is when the coolant temperature sensor fails to the cold side telling the ECM to provide a rich cold start mixture. That's ok if it's 10*F outside and the engine is actually cold. But the resulting rich mixture in a warm engine when it's warmer weather guarantees the engine will never start. However, push the pedal to the floor to get the lean mixture and it'll start so you can get home and replace the CTS.
The temp gauge would be unnerving for sure! My favorite feature about your reviews is the little handheld arrow that you use to point things out, haha.
LOL thanks!
I haaaate "asking" for people to subscribe, but you sorta have to do it, so I was trying to think of ways to have it done visually without it being too annoying...
And then when I had to replace my Corvette's plastic radiator overflow cap, I realized I had a perfect little pointer!
It takes a bit to get used to but still unnerving for sure. Especially when you hit unexpected traffic.
I just bought a 1991 Quasar Blue C4, definitely glad I watched this video as I was concerned about the temperature! Also I found out all those other things in the first week of owning it except the ASR. Great vid!
Thanks! However, keep in mind your car has a different engine (the L98) that has a conventional cooling system. If it’s overheating to the extent you see here with the later LT1 or LT4 engines, there might actually be an issue.
@@RetroCarsForever L98 engine normally run around 210-220 mark also I have a LT1 6 speed my temp never goes over 180 I did just buy the car back in august so my guess is it has a different thermostat in it
@@chainsawmanny A LOT of guys with LT1 engines freak out about the temp thing (or aren't aware that it's okay for them to run hot) so they'll put in a different thermostat, make the fans turn on sooner, or replace the radiator.
Also note that I only notice temps climbing in my LT4 (pretty much an LT1) during hard
stop and go traffic. Otherwise its stays around 180.
Bulshit
The gas pedal is offset substantially because there was a time when people were hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal because they were so close together. Or their foot was wide and they would end up pushing the gas pedal along with the brake pedal. GM solved the problem by offsetting the pedals so that when you pressed the brake pedal down as far as you could, it was just level with the gas pedal. 👍
That explains it! But still a shame that they couldnt get the Corvette's pedals right.
I can't believe this lol - I have a '89 C4 and I complained out loud to myself just today about being STUCK to my seat because of the seat belt. I had no idea this was a thing for all C4 owners.
Glad I could help! We're all in this together...
Will soon be buying my first Corvette, a nice yellow ‘96, and until I watched your video today, never realized the gas filler was in the middle of the ‘trunk’! Thanks for all the points in your various videos, they will certainly come in handy (especially the one about getting in & out correctly!).
Happy to help, best of luck picking up the 1996 (it's my favorite year and the one I own).
You might've seen it already, but here's another Quirks video I did that covers even more of the C4 weirdness...th-cam.com/video/X2-06FbEQxA/w-d-xo.html
@@RetroCarsForever Hey from the South Carolina Coast. Love your channel bro. I have a 64 StingRay L76 motor 327 365hp Muncie close ratio 4 speed all matching numbers 40,100 miles documented. Mint. I also have a 2007 3LT Z51 and just picked up yesterday a mint 96 LT1 White with red interior. 30k miles Been watching all your vids on the C4s. 96 the best year for the C4s. Thanks and keep the vids coming...
@@keepamerica2astrong280 Thank you! That's an amazing Corvette collection you have.
Great video as always!
I watch allot of C4 videos and I always find myself kinda "stuck in the middle of a void" due to owning a 90 auto. It is cool having a little old and a little new in the C4 realm. The L98 is a great motor, built like a tank and no optispark. :)
Thanks! And yeah, to me the 1989 to 1991 models are like funky "crossover years" where major elements slowly got switched over from the early C4s to the later C4s. Neat how every year is so different.
@@RetroCarsForever , truly.
I bought my 90 the middle of last year and it needed a bunch of work. Luckily, I am good with a wrench and have done my fair share of hotrods. I did my research and knew what to bring to the table when I test drove it and I got it for a great price.
I have a vision of what it will look like and it will definitely be hard to miss after the widebody and other customs are done.
Keep up the great videos! :)
I do like the fact that your temperature gauge isn’t “dumbed down”. Many new cars have a temp window of something like 30 degrees where the gauge will stay dead center. It keeps people from panic but I’d prefer accuracy.
Yep know exactly what you mean.
Kinda makes sense as most non enthusiasts only ever look at the speedo and the fuel gauge and that’s it!
But a proper enthusiasts car needs proper gauges.
My BMW stays from 70-100 °C in the middle. Didn't notice for a long time that the thermostat was broken and the car doesnt reach even 70 °C (170F) while driving. Total shit, i don't need a needle instrument for that unprecise information.
@@RetroCarsForever so why does the cooling make one think 185F is normal with that longer line at that value?
@@cowlumbus No clue. Like I said, the coolant gauge is a baffling design. Best guess is 185 is the minimum "normal" operating temp (like when you start the car cold, that's how hot it should be before you start really revving it).
Having owned over 75 vehicles in my lifetime (2 of them C3 Corvettes) I am starting to appreciate the look of the C4 more and more. Thanks for the video.
Thanks! I've owned about 1/3rd of what you have, that's a LOT of cars that you've owned! C4s are some of my all time favorite designs. Clean and uncluttered yet sporty and purposeful.
My 95 Camaro Z28 with the LT1 engine, runs hot like you described, and has AC delete.
So when it gets too hot in stop and go traffic, I am having to turn on the heater in order to divert some heat from the engine.
I try to avoid having the temperature to anywhere near 3/4 on the gauge (allegedly that's when the fans turn on), while it may be designed this way, it still bugs me when it runs that hot.
I also have a 96 with the LT4. If you haven't experienced an issue with the power brake boost, you might want to invest in a spare. I lost this entire season, I live in upstate NY, to the inability to acquire a replacement/rebuilt unit. I've been lead to believe that they can be hard to find.
Hmm haven't heard of that. A quick search shows a ton of those available online.
How many miles did your car have when it went?
The lines on those first C4s are perfect, so clean.
Your 96 Collectors is the nicest of the later models.
Thanks! I think all c4 are gorgeous but I am partial to the smoother look of the later models (more for nostalgia than anything else).
I love how c4s are so clean and uncluttered, they instead rely on their stance and proportions to show their sportiness instead of angry swoops and streaks and spoilers.
The traction control system in my 93 DeVille (Option NW9) is brake only. No throttle control. It will use the ABS channels to pulse the brakes.
Makes sense. Pretty sure that's how MOST traction control systems of the era worked. Having any throttle control was pretty advanced back then.
Always loved this gen Corvette and wasn't aware of a single one of these quirks. The seat belt and temp gauge items in particular are real head scratchers. But... this is GM after-all. Keep up the awesome work my friend. Love it!
Thanks man. Someone else had the theory with the temp gauge that the design of the gauge was a holdover from an earlier car with a different engine...DEFINITELY sounds like something a cash-strapped early 90s GM would do, doesnt it?
Seeya soon!
@@RetroCarsForever lol yeah I was thinking that gauge was probably a leftover as well. I do love that gen in silver. Congrats on finding such a clean example. Cya soon!
@@TofersCarTales Thanks...Truth be told I wasn't dead set on the silver Collector Edition (I was looking at a few other colors too), it just happened to be the right Corvette for sale at the right time from the right seller, with the right options and price!
As time has gone on I appreciate the "stealth" look of it, plus SO EASY to keep clean!
The quality you put into your videos is amazing!
Thanks so much!
Cool thing I found out about the c4 Corvettes from working on them. The targa tool can be converted into a normal snap on 1/4 drive ratchet
Heh, cool!
I restored a 93 and found lots of "quirks and features" (as Doug would say). The most annoying one was the failure of the heater core which forced the car off the road because the previous owner didn't understand why the windows kept fogging up. He drove the car with the finely misted coolant being fog getting to 100% of the interior (and his lungs! YIKES!) ruining the carpet even in the hatch area, and adding a sticky layer of antifreeze to everything inside. I tore out the whole interior to clean and replace the carpet and seat coverings. While it turned out beautifully, changing that heater core took me all of 11 hours, not counting the interior restoration! I heard that it is said that the C4 begins life as a heater core and the rest of the car gets built around it!
Of all the manual cars I have owned my 93 Sonoma was the best for heel/toe downshifting.
The other option to get your pedals right is to install an adjustable brake pushrod. People also take the brake pedal out and bend it to the left or right to get it just how they like it.
Wow, a 93 Sonoma was the best for heel and toe? I'm surprised!
I've found my old Mazda Miata or BMW Z3 were the best for that.
I have a '96 Collector Edition convertible with Lingenfelter tuned motor (done before John Lingenfelter died) and 28,000 miles. It's basically a show car, but super fast and super fun to drive. The C4 is a great car and is starting to really look like a classic.
Awesome car! And agreed about the great looks of these C4s, a big reason I bought one. They REALLY stand out in modern traffic, a design from a completely different era.
2005 pontiac gto (yeh I know. It's an import. ) Also does that push back with traction control.
Good to know, thanks!
As do my 98 and 02 Z28s. Must be a GM thing.
Great content. My third video of the night! My 95 purchased new is a driver for sure with over a quarter million miles. The ASR feedback used to scare the heck out of me. The turning radius is huge, The Corvette finally got to pasture when I purchased a manual shift 2014 Chevy Spark. That little car can do a Uturn on a two lane road! One other feature that is now common place today is passive keyless entry/exit. My 95 has it, I think it began in 93. It was many years later before other cars had it.
Thanks for watching! That little spark does sound fun in it’s own way.
In my '86, turning the pull-knob for the headlights changes the dash brightness. But turning it past the click makes the interior cabin lights come on. Maybe this is normal for all 80's GM but I didn't know. So that was a 'huh' moment. About the big turning radius: 180's are but a turn of the wheel and a mash of the throttle away ;)
That's how many American cars had their light switch knobs back in the day, Ive had several cars that were like that (completely different design in later years like mine).
And can attest to the effectiveness of your 180 tactic!
@@RetroCarsForever glad to know about the temp gage I got worried when my temp gauge went over to 200 I thought my car was over heating but it wasn't
It's a 96 c4 with 83 thousand miles
@@ednaslayton4723 Yep, happened to me too, thats why I put it in the Secrets Quirks video!
As I don't drive my 86 pace car in the winter, I have deleted the thermostat, my vette runs at 170 to 190 during the hottest summer day. Temp outside is 106, car is running at 180. I do hate the cinch feature, and see no use in it. Mine doesn't have the traction control. Other then that, I love my little ragtop vette.
I bought a 1993 6 speed. I wish I had known about the CCM module they tried to implement that makes it hard to upgrade to an LS1 for the 93/94 years. And I wish I had known about the dual mass flywheel and the pain in the ass it is to switch to single mass flywheel.. other than that I love the car. Bought it with 60k and no problems til 90k. Now it’s plagued by expensive weekly repairs but I still love it. It is 27 years old after all.
Fair enough...But the way I see it, if you gotta have an LS1, just buy a C5!
VERY good to learn these things, as my 1996 LT4 is being shipped to me this week. Thanks for the public service announcements!
Happy to help! Make sure to check out the other helpful videos on this channel. And ENJOY your LT4!
Dude, I love your C4 videos. I’ve had a ‘95 convertible for about a year and I’m totally obsessed with it. I bought it not knowing that there’s no glovebox or [real] trunk. Still, so rad. It’s 100% the most underrated sports car value.
Thanks so much! (Got another C4 vid coming out Wednesday that I bet you'll appreciate...)
Yeah Convertibles dont have much in the way of space to put things, but they are drop dead gorgeous with the top down. And you're right...C4s are insane performance bargains right now, despite their negatives.
I'm aware of a lot of the "quirks" you mentioned, but not on how hot they run due to the reverse flow cooling. Also, great detail explaining how the seat belts works. Well done on all accounts RCF! 👍👍 Save the Wave 🙋♂
Thanks so much! (And I love the wave!)
The Wave is only item that all the Corvette generations carry with them and hopefully it will be maintained for generations yet to come. Stay safe and enjoy your ride.
@@petercarey6883 Thanks, you too!
_Well spirited driving in your LT4 Corvette! Although somewhat antiquated by today's standards, the ASR was designed for those who may have never driven a Corvette briskly, (yet it's a great safety system on the '92 to '96 C4s). All cool points in your video for sure (and spot on). Two fourth gens ago, I also drove a coupe with the ZF - 6 Speed LT4(super fun to drive). Today I have the same car(same color) but in an automatic transmission in convertible guise. Always on the look out for another 1996 with the LT4._
Thank you! Dont get me a wrong, I'm a fan of ASR and appreciate how advanced it was for the time.
I REALLY appreciate it when I hand over the keys to someone else who maybe isnt used to the power.
Good luck finding an LT4! They are quickly becoming collectors items.
Asr, is the only thing that makes this car safe ,with a 6 speed, i will tell you. Do not. Turn it. Off...
@@pilotwhale I feel like that's true for most people.
But decades of driving with "spirit" have given me good enough "butt sensors" to know when the car is slipping and when to back off of the gas myself.
I used to own a 1990 Ford Thunderbird which had the same traction control system. Except in the Ford when driving around tight corners it would either accelerate for me which meant the pedal actually came out from under my foot or decelerate depending on road conditions and push the pedal back into my foot. I was amazed at that when it first started happening cuz I never knew anything about it. But I have to admit the system worked amazingly well. In any case love the video thanks for showing
Thank you! I owned a 1991 Mercury Cougar (did a review of it here)- th-cam.com/video/gsbLbB9P6m8/w-d-xo.html
BUT mine didn't have any traction control. Did you have an SC?
I am glad I watched this about the temperature, I thought my 95 had something wrong with it and was about to install an electric water pump and dual core radiator.
Feel free to make those mods if it makes you feel better. But as long as it’s just getting a bit hot like this in stop and go traffic, and you’re using fresh coolant and you’ve checked that the bottom air intake is gummed up...you’re probably fine!
Your videos make me want to drive my Black 95 C4 LT1 more. I’ve had it since ‘99 when I was 29. Currently It only has 51k miles on it. My most recent fix was replacing gas tank. Bladder broke and I think my spare tire rubbed a hole. Bought aftermarket one, red coated the inside, and had dealer install it.
Glad I can inspire anyone to get out and drive these wonderful cars!
Well done, great editing and content... THANKS!
(I hit "like" the first time 'round but came back to comment and, of course, SUBSCRIBE! lol)
OH, and one more thing, beautiful CE C4!
Thank you so much! Hugely appreciate the kind words about the car and the support of the video.
This video review is awesome! It’s about freaking time someone gave a decent review of the C4! It doesn’t garner the attention it deserves. Disclosure: I am a former professional test driver for General Motors and I test drove the C4 ZR1, Saturn cars and the Cadillac Allante in 1990-1991. I worked at the hot weather proving grounds in Arizona during that time. One of my biggest complaints was the ABS and traction control. I got fired because at quitting time, I was so amped up from driving pre-production and prototype cars that I would jump on my FZR600RR and ride like a man possessed. After scaring a few employees in route to the freeway, my boss called me in and said, “we’ve had several complaints about your driving and we’ve decided to let you go.“ I was like “what, why?“ His comment was, “if you drive your personal vehicle like a bat leaving a burning stump, I can only imagine how you drive our cars.” Because it is a right to work state, they could let me go for any reason but his reason was lame because everything during a test is recorded, ie the braking, the acceleration, the G force during cornering etc. Every aspect and every axis of the car was recorded but the real reason was, I rode my bike like an asshole and scared a few employees. I had one woman in tears but that’s a story for another day!
Hi Pete. WOW, what a story! And what an exciting time to be test driving for GM, they were waking up and pushing out some world class products (or at least, attempting to).
I'll be making more videos about the C4 in the future, I find there's not too much out there on TH-cam that's scripted or edited, and I think more should be out there because they're fascinating cars.
I've already posted a few more on my channel that you'd find interesting, check them out when you have a chance!
You might like this one as it delves into the history of the Vette-
th-cam.com/video/TyTKB_Hdy08/w-d-xo.html
Retro Cars Forever I have a crazy story about what I believe is how the Cyclone and Typhoon came to be, if you ever want to hear it. I was also one of the few that test drove the EV1 which we called the “Impact” but as you know, Honda claimed the name and the EV1 eventually went bye-bye. We had four on the test grounds and when it was decided to nix the idea, we buried all of them in the desert late at night. I watched it happen.
I have a '94 6 speed convertable and after watching your video, I may have the answer to a quirk the car has. When accererating out of a turn such as exiting a traffic circle, I feel a strange motion in the gas pedal. I used to have a transmission shop and a symptom like this usually ment the engine was shifting due to a broken motor or transmission mount. I went to a great deal of trouble pulling the engine mounts and checked all the suspension bushings to find nothing wrong. It reminds me of when I bought the car and knew nothong about "skip shift". I swore it was a bad second gear syncro ring. I'll turn off the ASR and see if the symptom disappears. -Thanks
Yes that definitely sounds like ASR! And I confirmed that’s how it should work from an owners vhs.
Thrilled if I helped you here, that was my biggest aim with this video!
I have a 93 6-speed. One quirk of the LT1/4 is that if the water pump goes out, or leaks coolant it takes the opti-spark distributor out with it. If you go through a deep puddle, it'll go out, too. Another quirk is that the dual mass flywheel/clutch is a pain. The passenger side interior door panel tabs will eventually bread and separate from the door frame.
Flo BP definitely quirky cars to keep going. I’m working on a top 10 problem areas of C4s video, you can bet those will be mentioned!
@@RetroCarsForever
Let me relate some experiences in my C4 ownership:
I drove my C4 like you drive yours in the vid, I had to put a clutch in @ around 85,000 miles. Parts aren't too bad considering, it's the labor.
I bought my C4 with 40,000 miles.
The other thing, if you row through the gears, up and down the RPM range, aka "speed shifting", with the AC on, you'll eventually fry the AC clutch - I went through three clutches! Expensive!!!!
The other issue is the weather striping especially where the windshield frame, the door glass and the top meet - that's where they leak and have wind noise.
Also, the outside rubber door glass molding eventually gets hard and brittle and will scratch the glass. Expensive factory OEM moldings is the only to properly address the issue - especially the spongy windshield molding.
The most cost effective mod to make these C4s quicker is to put 3.73 gears in that Dana 44 rear end. It makes a huge difference! With the 6 speed. double overdrive, it won't kill the gas mileage around town, either.
Don't get me wrong, I love my C4, but it eventually nickel and dimed me to death. I've had it for 20 years, still have it, but I don't drive it as much. Have fun and good luck with yours!
Flo BP good to know and thanks!
I was surprised about the turning radius. I have 1991E 30 BMW and an 88 Mustang that both turn surprisingly small circles. Even smaller than my old 1988 Honda Civic. And my Mustang seatbelt is damn annoying for the exact opposite reason where it keeps getting loose and won’t tighten up until I pull it to let snapback. I just bought a 96 vette convertible Long distance and still waiting for transport to arrange pick up to bring it to me. Can’t wait :-)
Seems every old Mustang I've driven had that weird floppy seat belt issue.
Congrats on the new Vette!
@@RetroCarsForever thank you :)
You have real life practical info - now my fav Vette channel - thx!
Thanks so much! Stay tuned/subscribe for more coming next week.
03:51 - this is to help the Corvette “take your breath away”! 😉
LOL. That explains it!
Engineers saw Top Gun and wanted to get those extra little "fighter jet" details inside...
I’ve been lucky to have had two Vettes, a red ‘88 and a pewter ‘99. The C4 was my favorite but it had a lot of miles on it when I bought it and more problems than I needed. Even after I changed the stock L98 into a bored-out 383 with a new cam I still had lots to fix. When the electrical system starting giving me problems I sold it and bought a low mileage C5. I drove that car nearly every day for eight years. I’d like to buy a new 2021 Corvette but I consider myself lucky to have had two.
I could def see myself owning another Corvette (likely C5 or C6) someday.
I'd REALLY LOVE to have a C8, but I'll wait about twenty years once it's depreciated enough to garner my interest!
Got a C5, I don't have any of these "quirks" but I enjoyed the video.
Thanks! Yeah c5s are a lot less weird than the c4s. They’re much more logical, straight forward machines!
I also have a c5 zo6 supercharged with meth injection n coil overs on all 4 corners. 10.1 et 140mph!
Man the video is very useful!! I have a 94 ZF6 and was worried about the temp. Thank you!
Great content - you got the sub. I'd love to see an analysis of the ZF 6 speed. I just bought a base LT4 and it really does whine - especially in 6th going down the highway on cruise. The forums say it is common/normal. I'd love to know if anyone has found a way to quiet it down.
I’d say there’s a very light whine in mine but not too bad. Apparently they can get worse in high mileage cars.
The real trick is when it comes time to replace the flywheel...sourcing the weird dual mass flywheels is very tricky, and single mass can be noisier. How many miles does your car have?
In any case, appreciate the sub! New C4 video coming soon.
@@RetroCarsForever So mine is around 92k miles. Sounds like I need a ZF expert to look at it.
96 LT4 collector car here also. Glad to see you DRIVE your corvette and not make it a garage queen.
Thanks! Some people think I’m nuts for driving this low mileage car as much as I do. But I don’t want to drive anything else!
I had 2 C4s, an 86 and a 95. I think the weirdest quirk for me was the parking brake set down on the floor at the left side of the driver's seat. Who came up with that debacle? Functionality of that thing was terrible.
Super weird quirk for sure...Less weird if you're familiar with vintage English cars, that also have the same design.
I've gotten used to it over time, and THANK GOD it can go down when it's engaged, otherwise getting in and out would be even MORE of a pain!
But it's definitely something I have to explain to anyone driving it for the first time.
That throws off the state inspection people here in Massachusetts every year.... they never know how to release it
@@C4Gixxer LOL!
I have an 1989 and one day I had trouble pulling it up and like an idiot I pulled too hard and broke the assembly. The cable broke off this plastic groove holding it in place, had to reinstall it but now the cable seems wound too tight :( Making the parking brake still unusable, no clue what caused it.
The Fiero has it there as well. Weird for sure, but wouldn't trade either car for the world. Have an 85 Fiero and an 86 Vette.
I had a clean, low mileage '94 LT1 Corvette which ticked a box that dated back to 1996. I babysat my friend's '94 for two months in 1997 and that experience made an impression. I'm throwing a lot of dates and numbers around so while I'm at it here's another one. In December of 2010 I found my clean, low mileage Corvette in Virginia which was some distance from where I lived in Princeton New Jersey at the time. I was prepared to tow it back the next morning but I contracted with a delivery service at a reasonable price. So, I did the round trip to Virginia in the same, _long_ day.
My '94 LT1 was all of that. My bad back, unfortunately, wasn't up to the task. While I had the Corvette I enjoyed getting gas and flipping that front clip forward. What a conversation starter that procedure was when I checked the oil. I had the 6 speed and shifting gears was a blast. That much I recall fondly. When I went to sell the vehicle I first pitched the idea to my fiancée's oldest son who didn't have the scratch to buy it even when I offered it at a substantisl discount. I ended up getting a fair price as a trade on a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ. The C4 remains my favorite body-style.
Thanks for sharing! I LOVE how the entire front end of the car lifts forward...Only Corvette to have that design.
Not only for "curb appeal" but also makes reaching for mechanical bits so much easier.
I'm sure they stopped making it like that because those giant hood pieces were costly!
@@RetroCarsForever They were expensive. I'm a retired GM employee and one of my assignments was working in three of their SPOs (Service and Parts Operations). Those boxes for the unfinished front clips were enormous and unwieldy; somewhat difficult for one person to maneuver onto a flat bed picking cart. Notable too is that the Ram Air hood for the WS6 Trans Am felt like it weighed a ton. The carbon fiber hood for the C5 ZO6 felt almost weightless.
I used to sit on the tire of my Corvette when I had the hood tilted forward while detailing the engine.
TralfazConstruction makes sense. I’m sure those c4 hoods were super cumbersome to deal with at the factory.
And that’s exactly how I sit when I’m detailing or working on my car...right on the front tire! Or my leg in between the tire and the suspension bits because I’m skinny enough.
Thanks for this video! I especially appreciate covering the coolant temp thing since I can confirm it freaked me out on my first C4 as well. ASR is “acceleration slip regulation,” though. ;) Still jealous of your LT4!
You're very welcome! I FOR SURE freaked out a bit on the coolant temperature thing when I first drove my car through traffic.
As for ASR's meaning...OMG you're totally right!! (Slaps face)
I'll make a pinned post to correct that one LOL
Pinned post with your credit!
Practical Car Guy As a side bit, the gauge on the ZR-1 does work as you would expect; it uses standard cooling, operates at temperatures people expect, and the analog gauge sits in the middle under normal operation. My guess as to why the LT1 gauge doesn’t is because the gauges themselves were already in use by the L98 and LT5 so GM got lazy and reused them rather than redesigning.
@@nomakewan Interesting, was curious how the ZR1 dealt with that...Do you own one?
I like your theory on the LT1s gauge...Def sounds like something GM would do!
Practical Car Guy Nah, no ZR-1 here. But watched plenty of driving and racing footage here on TH-cam, as well as the VHS owner’s manual videos. Noticed their gauges are nice and centered. I can’t say for sure but I bet the 90-91 L98 gauges are too.
Great video dude. I've had my black 94 lt1 6 speed for 5 years. Knew about the useless cup holders instantly when shifting to reverse lol also terrible turning radius. Found the cinch button months ago. Had to google it. What I didn't know was the coolant temp. Mine has an aftermarket fan system with a toggle switch I always would turn on when the gauge neared the max. A co-worker who has a c5 vette says the same thing about his overheating like say waiting in line at a fast food joint. They definitely need more clear gauges.
Thanks! Yeah the coolant temp guages and just how hot these are designed to run really confuse people. IMO they should've designed the gauges themselves to make it clear that running 225 is okay!
Both of my 4th gen Camaro z28 ('01 and '02 SS) would push back when wheel spin is detected
Ive been hearing that! Wonder how long the Corvette kept that feature.
I think that's the only way you can do traction control on a throttle cable set up. The cruise control worked the same way, it relied on a motor to modulate the pedal back and forth under your feet. Once cars became throttle by wire all that stuff was handled by the computer.
blackrat1228 that’s not the case. I’ve owned and driven a number of other cars that had cable operated throttles with traction control that didn’t “push” on the pedal like the Corvette does.
@@RetroCarsForever interesting. Did the cruise control work the same way? Throttle modulated to maintain set speed while the pedal stayed motionless? I've only had one throttle cable car with cruise control, all others have been throttle by wire. Maybe the direct connection to the pedal was a GM thing while other companies had a type of clutch so the pedal didn't react.
blackrat1228 I believe cruise control would physically move the gas pedal on every car I’ve had with a throttle cable, including my Corvette.
Love these type of videos! Super awesome stuff and super weird quirks too about the C4! Never knew any of those, but than, I’ve never been in a C4 either. Can’t wait to see whatcha got in store for next weeks vid! Keep in coming!
Thanks! And spoiler...Both my Corvette, and Ethan, AND his Porsche should be appearing in the next video too!
If you ever come out here would love to treat you to a C4 drive. It's such a weird (but fun) experience!
My 95’ Firebird has the seatbelt problem too. I launched it in first and my belt tightened like a ratchet strap
Interesting! I test drove a 95 Camaro before going with my Corvette last year, dont recall that issue.
Then again, I wasnt driving very fast (owner was in the car with me).
The "cinch" button is designed to work that way to hold you in the seat for people that know how to drive a sports car...l used mine all the time...read your manual...
Terry Duncan 95’ bird doesn’t have a cinch button
Best C4 videos on TH-cam period !! Love it man
Thank ya, I try!
More coming soon!
I also daily my 96 collector's edition!
I would say something that surprised me after I bought it was the "secret compartment" behind the passenger seat. I found a bag of tools in there from two owners back!
Nice bonus! That little area is super useful, esp as our later cars dont have gloveboxes. It even has a little "prop" to keep it open.
I did have to figure out what the other little trapdoor next to it was, as its an extra cubby in earlier C4s...Turns out thats where they put the ABS system components (you can unscrew it for easier servicing there).
Tell me about your CE! LT1? Z51? Coupe or Convertible? Interior color? Love these things!
It's an LT-1, coupe, Gray interior, 110k on the clock, salvaged title.
I wasn't looking for a c4, but this popped up at a price I couldn't refuse. Decided to upgrade from my 2003 Camry. So glad I did.
I'm not worries about damaging it too much, because it's already been totaled. You couldn't tell though.
@@ryanphaup5932 Quite a bit more fun than a Camry!
It sounds like you have a really fun driver...maybe not a collectible but who cares? You can drive it hard and pile on the miles without any guilt.
Exactly! These cars were made to be driven. I'm not saving anything for the next guy.
Still, I don't beat her up too much. It's my wallet and time that will be used to fix her 😂
@@ryanphaup5932 Mine's actually sorta worth something (only 33k miles), so I try to straddle that line between driving it "with spirit" but never outright abusing it.
But I do love dailying it...Makes any commute so much more fun.
Great video this just came up in my recommended list. I've had my 92 for 16 years and never had any idea what the Cinch button was for. Though I gotta admit I have not had the cinching problem so obviously I don't drive it hard enough! Also I did two years of getting inside the car to release the hatch before realizing there were trunk release buttons on both inside doors. Very unique!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
I'll be doing a rapid-fire "all the quirks" video of things like the trunk release button (that some people might or might not know) in the future, THIS video was all about the "secret" quirks that are super confusing to new owners.
After reading this comment I went outside to look at the doors lol I have had my 94 for 5 years and never knew about hatch release buttons on the doors, always used the one in the console. My door button doesn't work but I found it. Thanks
I’m currently looking at grabbing a 92 C4 with only 105k miles garage kept beauty
Have you had any drastic issues with yours? Has it been reliable also in this market is finding one for 6k in great condition considered a “steal”
Have 1996 LT4 Z51 Vortech kompressor.1500km 1 oner.This car are like New...500whp.
(Gear box 6 speed ZF)
Wow, that's one fast C4!
Just picked up an 85 a few weeks ago, I absolutely adore it, especially since it’s staying cool now that I rewired the fan.
Congrats! Those L98 engines are totally different than the LT1/LT4 that I talk about in the video, but they're still strong, torquey motors. Auto or manual?
Practical Car Guy it’s an auto, and it is super torquey. I just uploaded a video the other day about the cooling issue and my fix for it actually.
Thanks for the video... We're driving to San Diego to pick up a 1988 vette convertible that I bought on Bring a Trailer... a survivor with only 925 miles on it as it was stored by a collector. Have a 100+ mile drive back and probably would have freaked over the temp gauge thing! Thanks for saving a bunch of angst!
Congrats, BUT keep in mind you have a COMPLETELY different engine than the ones I'm talking about here. You have an L98, which has a normal cooling system, so if its getting this hot, it might actually be a problem.
Also PLEASE do not drive far or fast if the car is on old tires! By old I mean AGE not mileage.
It is dangerous and when they blow they can take out the fiberglass.
Loving these vids! Planning on getting a 91 C4 for my first car, appreciate all the info
Awesome! Happy to help, what an epic first car.
Don't forget the tiny light bulb near the spare tire compartment under the car. It also serves as a courtesy light when the hatch or doors are open and looks cool as feck at night. You can upgrade it to LED for increased illumination. 😎
Such a weird little quirk! Don't know of too many other cars that have that.
I've got a 74 Corvette and one of the things that surprised me the most is the lack of engine bay space. How they ever put a 454 in one is beyond me.
Ive seen that engine bay at a car show before...And agreed, stunning they stuffed it in there!
Good video. New to corvette and c4. I’m hesitant to push her, stories of spinouts etc in classic cars getting destroyed. So I gave into my throttle passion and got some pushback the other day. Didn’t believe my senses, mentioned it to the wife sitting right seat then assumed it was imaginary. Thanks for the revealing info
Ha, happy to help! It's a weird sensation, isn't it?
If you're new to the C4, feel free to check out all the other Corvette videos on my channel, I made them to specifically help people new to them!
Pretty accurate list. The most annoying thing on my old ‘93 when I had it was that pain in the ass OptiSpark distributor. That was cause the car to buck like bull at various times.
One of the love it or hate it quirks has to be the 4+3 transmission in the 84-88 Corvettes. I'm in the "love it" camp because it's the transmission that's "smarter than the driver". The kickdown in 4th (from the 0.67 OD to a 1:1) makes 70-90 mph passes REALLY easy! Also, an easy shift from first to 2nd with the OD on makes for a nice looooooong pull down an entrance ramp. Plus, a simple flick of the switch shuts it off for 3rd and 4th gear canyon carving.
Those 4+3s are one of the quirkiest transmissions I've ever seen. Only driven one once, and I have to admit as a noob it was a frustrating experience...I imagine it would take some time to really understand it. Didn't love the plastic gate feeling that it had, either.
Have you read "Inside Corvette?" Some great insight as to why they went that route.
There was a concept car called the CERV III (I think that is Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) that I read about in 1990. It had this active system that would increase the stiffness of the gas pedal the closer you got to breaking traction. This was a feedback mechanism to help the driver stay just at the limit of maximum acceleration without spinning the wheels. I wonder if the ASR pushes back on the gas pedal because it is related to this system.
Great memory! I’m sure you’re right, the timing fits perfectly for a simpler system to be installed in 1992.
I actually saw that concept car in person back in the day, gorgeous car.
@@RetroCarsForever And it was a mid-engine car intended to pioneer the way for future corvettes.
I wish I could have seen this car in person like you did.
1: I want one of those pedal extenders!
2: yup that all sounds about right. The one thing I really want to get working on my car is the hatch glass release button on the door card or if I am lucky enough, find one of the remotes for not a bazillion $$.
There was a guy making a switch reverser that took the ASR off button and reversed the internals so when you start the car it is always off and then you have to push the button to turn it on, but that does not change the light on situation as far as I am aware.
Stuart made me the pedal extender as a friendly favor, he doesnt want to make more but I have been curious to start a little "Side business" if there was enough interest. So I'll keep that in mind! (You're the second person who's asked about it already)
That hatch release door card is SUPER useful, I use it all the time.
As for trac control button...Honestly it's "muscle memory" at this point for me to just turn it off whenever I start the car, so I'll probably just leave it! Plus its nice to have in case my wife or anyone else decides to drive it who might not be used to 330 hp.
BTW Looking forward to seeing you car in person in a few days!
@@RetroCarsForever Well if you could get the file I could have one printed for myself. That or I suppose I could design it too. Just easier if there is already a file.
@@RetroCarsForever Same!
@@CaptainLila I can look into that...Do you have a 3D printer?
Great video, i have owned 2 C4's and found out about these quirks from being in a Corvette club. Also watch out for spark plug wiring looms that detach. Mine cost me 2K in repairs to the distributor shorting out.
Great tips, thanks!
Hello! I'm a professional racing car driver and also Corvette fan, and owner of a C4 1988 here in Switzerland. I liked your video very much and pleased to follow the channel! I never driven your year C4 but it seems to me the car looks more understeering than mine. In my car for me the only downside is the automatic transmission, but the plus side is that you can keep it sequential with hand activation and this allows me to brake with the left foot like in a modern racing car, giving a really nice feeling into the corners thanks to the sharp front end!
Hi, thanks for watching! C4s have to be SUPER rare over there in Switzerland. Went there last year and dont remember seeing ANY American cars. Also those gas prices...WOW!
Yeah gas prices don't help ahah, luckily from 31 years and older you get the plates for a vintage car and it costs way less, otherwise the big engine would be expensive to run here. In Switzerland American car culture is getting bigger and bigger! We already have a ton of harley davidsons and cars are increasing too😁 Anyway keep up the good work!
The seatbelt tensioner thing is something I’ve noticed happens in almost every GM vehicle I’ve rode in, but it doesn’t normally happen often in the ones I’ve been in
It only really tightens if you're driving quickly, so if other GM vehicles did that that werent' sports cars, its probably not as noticeable.
@@RetroCarsForever yeah it only normally happens if I try to move a little bit forward in the seat and it’s driving but I had noticed it in 2 different Chevy Silverado’s and a Buick Enclave but I also have trouble holding still so idk but maybe that’s why
Very interesting stuff! Even though they're known to not be reliable/cheap to maintain, I'd love to find an earlier 4+3 manual C4, since I actually drove one back in the day haha. Good video!
Thank you!
Those 4 plus 3s are one of the weirdest transmissions I've ever driven.
I personally disliked it and found it confusing and clunky, MUCH prefer the ZF 6 speed in 1989 and later cars.
The 4 plus 3 was actually SLOWER than the auto of the time in just about every test too!
But, Doug Nash is great if you want something funky or nostalgic!
I have one 85
I had a 96 "Sebring Silver" Collectors Edition LT4 w/ black leather and the 6 speed. Spot on information.. my '93 "pushed back" too. Great video. :)
Thanks so much!
Thanks for the info on the temperature thing. I was freaking out all the time til the fans kicked in and it cooled off. THought something was wrong.
Happy to help!
Great video, and honesty all stuff I like showing new owners! I’ve owned three C4’s; ‘86 Pace Car, ‘91 Vert and my current LT4 Coupe (All manuals). The ASR defeat can be made normally-off with a performance tune, this is when you can also turn of the skip-shift permanently. Water temps come down dramatically when you add an external oil cooler - a feature ALL C4’s need IMHO. On the heel-toe issue, as an HPDE Instructor for 20+ years, I’ve never seen the need for it in high-HP cars, Corvette included. If you know the car well enough, you know exactly when to let the clutch out when downshifting 😏 That being said I DEFINITELY want the file on that 3D brick you made, super cool!! BTW, you found one the baddest C4’s out there, well done!!
Appreciate it! Love those pace cars especially.
If I get enough interest in the 3D pedal I might look into making a batch, we will see!
I owned a '96 GS convertible for 7 years, here are a few more tips.
1. Always close the hood by holding it from the middle and dropping it from about two feet.
2. Never push down on the rear-corners of the hood to close them, you will crack them. If the hood does not close properly after a two foot drop, try it again, and possibly lube or adjust the latches.
3. Never leave the doors open when you close the hood, or the back edge of the hood could take a nice chunk out to the top of the leading edge of the door.
4. There is no underhood insulation mat to protect the hood from excessive engine heat when parked, and the hot engine will cause the underhood paint to crack and check if there is no airflow. After each drive, I always opened my hood to let the engine cool.
5. For the 6-speeds, get a CAGS ( 1 - 4 skip shift) eliminator harness, this will save your life.
6. The owners manual says to leave the gear shift parked in reverse, but doing so will eventually cause the reverse lamp switch to fail. I always parked and left the gear in 1st.
7. Get a dash protection mat, the heat of the sun under the curved windshield will cause the dash to warp and buckle.
8. If you notice any loose panels, check for missing bolts or fasteners. For example the lower rear quarter panels are supported by a thin metal strut, my car was missing the bolt ( at 12k miles) that attached the strut to the panel when i bought it.
9. The injectors on various C4's are cooled by fuel. They would often burnout and fail after prolonged periods of off-season or winter storage. If you can, always use fuel stabilizer, and try to run the engine every couple months if you have to store the car over the winter.
Two more quirks:
1. The convertibles had an underfloor external bracing system that was a pair of U-shaped channel steel beams bolted in an "X" to stiffen the chassis. They looked like an afterthought to me, and they hung down low in the middle of the car, and are prone to getting caught on bumps and ramps.
2. The spare tire in the rear undercar storage compartment is an integral part of the vehicle rear-end collision crash protection. C-4's with run-flat tires could be ordered with "Spare Tire Delete" option, but to maintain the rear crash protection, GM installed an "H" shaped brace made out of aluminum into the spare tire carrier to give the rigidity the spare wheel would. I have never heard of any car with such a system.
Great tips, especially for those who want to be extra careful with their C4.
I've heard a lot of guys with C4 coupes like mine installing the convertible "X brace" to stiffen up the chassis a bit, but then having clearance issues because of how low it hangs.
@@RetroCarsForever Enjoy your CE, they are beautiful cars, that drive fantastic. I miss my GS, perhaps I will get into another C4 someday. Cheers.
@@SC-yx6wr Thank you! I LOVE Gs's, but nowadays they go for 10 to 15 grand more than similar LT4s...Too much for a daily!
My CE even has the Z51 suspension, and the same engine, so I looked it at like getting a Grand Sport without the snazzy paint or bigger rear tires, but with a HUGE discount!
If you have wide feet you can heel toe in name only but just have the ball of your foot on the brake and use your pinky toe. The 3D spacer is a good idea but I’d be worried it would slip under the brake pedal. If you want to turn the traction control and anti lock brakes off for a track day but don’t want the light on and the sensitive antilock brakes, just unplug the module behind the divers seat.
I should also note that the L98 had an external oil cooler and one reason for the reverse flow cooling system was to do away with the external oil cooling. So now the heads act like a heat sink for the oil and takes forever to warm up in the winter.
@@jeffersongraves5295 Great info, didn't know that about the oil cooler/reverse flow reasoning, or the unplugging idea. Does that trip the light still?
Before getting the gas pedal spacer on, I tried that (using pinky toe)...It CAN be done, but difficult when you're really hustling, especially if your steering wheel is set low.
I've had the spacer on for months, and even under hard driving, hasnt once come loose. Our backup plan was to drill some holes through the sides and zip tie it to the pedal for extra security, but it just hasn't been needed.
Also, seems to make even daily driving easier!
Practical Car Guy light stays off, mines unplugged because I need to replace the control module (servo) and it’s being a pain. So I’m driving like it’s 1985 in a 1993
@@jeffersongraves5295 Awesome. I'm a fan of ABS (tho I dont drive off road or on a track), but I've never really needed traction control wasn't needed.
My "butt accelerometer" is decent enough to feel when I've floored it too long!
Practical Car Guy definitely a fan of antilock brakes but got my first taste of winter driving in the snow in an 89 probe. No assists and to top it off I had very bald tires, like ripples where you could see where tread might be bald. So when people tell me my corvette isn’t a winter car I laugh because everything is a winter car. Top tip if anyone reading has never driven in snow or learning and hasn’t got stuck in the rain. It doesn’t matter how fast you can get moving, but how fast can you stop.
I own a 91 so no ASR and an L98 with no opti. Also an Auto so not pedal issues. I do however own a 97 Z28 which has that "push back" ASR system. I'm in the UK so love the "no nonsense" approach of shoving the gas pedal back up when you are being silly. When you've got the back kicking out just what you need is the pedal pushing back up and the car coming brutually off power :) :) :)
Love these cars :)
Thanks for the info...Worth noting the Corvette wasn't the only "pedal pusher" GM car!
So glad they stopped putting that feature in eventually.
Love your C4 its gorgeous. I have a 86 C4corvette and 2005 C6 plus the 2 camaros 97 & 99 Z28's. i cannot let go of my C4 i still love it.
Thanks so much! Quite an awesome fleet of Chevy's you have there.
GMs Aussie division Holden used the ASR type traction control in the early LS1 equipped. They called it a "throttle relaxer". I first felt it's wrath in the 2001 Holden Caprice, where I sank in my steel capped work boot onto the pedal, whilst going around a corner. Where I got into trouble, was that my boot somehow became wedged between the throttle pedal and the under dash trim, meaning I couldn't lift off the pedal. Scary thing for an 18 year old just starting his mechanical apprenticeship.
Woah! That would be a wild ride.
Yes, my '96 C4 freaks me out with the temp issue.
Then to top it off, the analog gauge reads differently than the LCD temp gauge..... and they both show different temps that are higher than I like.
As Homer would say ...... D'oooh !!!
Another good video.
Haha thanks! And yeah seems like there were three different design teams who never really talked to each other on that issue…
I love my 1996 LT4! Great video and content!!
Thanks love mine too!
More coming soon!
Just viewed your video what great help, just purchased a used 1964 and noticed the temp running hot. I was getting ready to change out thermostat but now I do not have to. Thanks Rick Nelson
Do you mean 1964 or 1994? Because you might have an issue with a 1964 running that hot!
@@RetroCarsForever My Bad 1994. I am in the process of replacing all bushings as a starting point. I trying to find a good way to determine if my ball joints also need to be replaced. Given the mileage 128000 I am sure it will be a good investment. Thanks for responding.
I have a 1988 with ABS; the thing that freaks people out is that just after driving off the ABS unit does a selftest which you can feel in the brake pedal (and can hear as the unit is just behind the drivers seat). It's not unique to Corvette's but rather a feature of this specific generation of ABS. Since it is quite rare however people don't know it. More modern generations still do the self test but you can't feel or hear it. Other things; the parking brake ratchet mechanism or the fact (I'm in Europe) that is has front fog lights but no rear fog light, cornering lights and seatbelts only cinch when exposed to G-forces... all of them have been issues during technical inspection. But mostly as inspectors aren't used to US cars.
Excellent quirk, might have to include that in a future video. I also wondered what the thrumming sound was behind my head not long after startup, until I researched it and figured it out.
Great video! I have a 1984 Corvette Z51 and you're not kidding about the temperature although it's a "different engine ". The first time I see it get to 220 was nervous
Crossfires are supposed to run hot too?
Also there is a nice write up on it www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c4-tech-performance/2943804-what-is-normal-operating-temp.html
My '96 Z28 had ASR and the 1st to 4th skip shift. I got a plug-in eliminator device for the skip shift (best mod ever!) and a heavier foot for the ASR.
That CAGS eliminator is a super popular mod for Camaros and Vettes. But personally I just got used to it (and turning off the ASR whenever I start up the car!)
The first time in traffic, my cooling indicator scared the hell out of me. I thought it was running hot ! Thanks for the heads up 👍👍😷
You're welcome! As long as you have a 1992-1996 Corvette with an LT1 or LT4, you should be doing fine if it doesn't go over 220 or so.
@@RetroCarsForever Not to forget; the L98 also runs hotter than your average car.
@@marcelromijn2227 How much hotter?
@@RetroCarsForever 230 to 240 F is when the fans come on
My cousin and I are both LT4 CE owners as well... His car runs about the same temp as you're showing in the video. Mine has a 160° thermostat and I had a custom tune done when i had my headers and 4.10 gears installed. The fans were programed to come on sooner- my car runs no more than 200° in stop and go when it's warm out. If its cool weather, it runs 160-180. Also had the VATS disabled with the tune. A previous owner did the coolant bypass on the throttle body, installed a 1st-4th skip shift eliminator and resealed the back of the intake manifold where they commonly leak. Love your videos, keep up the good work!
My C4 needs a lot of work but I still daily it and even though it needs work it’s still super reliable and has only given my 3 major problems since owning it for a year. One was that my brakes went out on my in Miami at a car show, did a brake bleed and couldn’t find anything, let the car rest for a couple of weeks and boom hasn’t had a problem with the brakes since. Second was severe overheating leading to smoke which is my coolant boiling and leaking out of the broken top. Third is a tranny leak, she’s going to the shop soon to get that fixed thank goodness.
I think 4th Gen F-bodies had a similar ASR system, as did the TCS on Federal Lotus Elise models if equipped.
Yes, been getting a lot of comments on the F-bodies. Though first I've heard of the Lotus Elise!
I had and loved a 92 6 speed. I wish I knew about the temp gauge, it created unnecessary anxiety. Quirks? What quirks? The cup holders, parking brake location, ride control actuators, Bose speakers pointed at your feet, opti spark, peeling clear on wheels, floppy door panels, headlight motors, tire pressure sensors, weird brake pump noise at start and loss of body stiffness with t top out.(only removed it once. 4 bolts what?)I would do it all again.
I run a 6 point racing harness in my 93 ZR-1 so I'm always "cinched" in place. That's the way I like it. Really adds to the cockpit feel. :-)
I'm guessing you don't daily your car like I do mine!
@@RetroCarsForever yes you are correct. It's a weekend/special occasion car only.
I have a 94....one thing that helps some on the temp is to keep the radiator clean, I blew mine out with just an airhose, gotta be careful working in tight spaces, but helped drop the temp 15 to 20 degrees
Great tip! The angle of the radiator definitely makes easy for crap to get clogged up in the upper portion on the front of it.
Amazing video man. You deserve more subscribers
Thank you, much appreciated!
Working on another fun one now, be out next week.
I just bought an 89 yesterday and almost had reservations because of the temps on the test drive and after some research my fears went away. Would DEFINITELY have liked to know about the weird handbrake though as I probably wore out the rear brakes on both the test drive and drive home. Still I think I got a good deal on the car and it's low miles and pretty nice. Also, my first car was a 94 Camaro Z28 6 speed which had an ASR light but the Camaro didn't actually get the system until 95 so it was just an unused warning light on the dash in 94.
Yeah handbrake is weird if you're not familiar with British cars that have that design. Hope you've figured it out!
Interesting to know about the Camaro ASR system, and when that came into effect.
As for the temp of you car, keep in mind 1989 had a completely different engine (L98) than the LT1/LT4s that had the reverse coolant flow system, so I can't speak to what normal with those.
@@RetroCarsForever from what research I did I found it's kinda just a C4 and C5 thing. My manual even has the information about it underlined. I'm guessing a previous owner had concerns about it too. I'm not too sure if the L98 is reverse flow or not. Also, my Camaro with the LT1 ran down around/below boiling (forget the exact temp) and always sat in the middle of the gauge when I didn't have something wrong which is interesting since it's the same engine and similar radiator exposure but the Camaro/Firebird did have a few other differences in the motor as did the Caprices and such so maybe they weren't set up to withstand the higher temperatures I'm not sure.
@@RetroCarsForever and about the handbrake I had originally thought it was broken and then after looking in the manual I didn't quite know what it meant but I realize it might not have been broken but I might've wasted some brake pad. I tried messing with it again and still couldn't figure it out. Then I happened to see somebody operate it in another TH-cam video about a C4 and that got me to realize what I was doing wrong.
@@BiBh375 Glad you got it figured out. In any case congrats on the new C4 purchase!
Stay tuned...Planning on more videos to help C4 owners get to know their cars better.
Great videos, my 85 just had the headlights get stuck in the open position, never heard any noises, I really think it's electrical, any thoughts?
I do! Covered in this other video I made-
th-cam.com/video/9nR3rkZd2bQ/w-d-xo.html
My Magnum SRT8 has a similar issue with the temperature gauge. "Normal" is higher than the mid point of the gauge. It freaked me out the first time it got that hot after I purchased the car. Internet searching found that it is designed to run hotter, like your Vette.
Good to know the Corvette isn’t the only American car with that weird quirk!
I have a 1990 c4 l98 engine, and even just running smooth my car temp goes up to 250c and then usually it goes back down to 195, I was always paranoid to drive the car hard cause I did not wanted her to overheat, so if the cars does overheat I assume I will receive some type of signal?
The L98 doesnt have reserve cooling, so it might be an actual issue to be concerned with. I have to admit I’m not all that familiar with those engines.
Check out Joshua Guillory TH-cam channel, he’s much more of an expert on L98s!
I also have a 1990 I bought new and still own, check my channel, the only time I worried about overheating is when it’s really hot and in heavy stop and go traffic. I am in Chicago and we get really hot days but if you are someplace that gets hotter you might experience overheating more often. Mine felt like the car was going to stop running but no warning lights that I can remember.
@@mxtv1258 Nice Vette! Saw your video on cleaning/lubing your trunk struts. Mine are getting sticky, gonna try that!
@@RetroCarsForever Thanks for watching👍👍👍Give it a shot it’s really easy and see if that works and if it does it will save you time and money. I am not sure how to replace the struts if they are gone. I subscribed and started watching your videos. I watched the commercial on or at least I started watching and will finish in a few minutes and want to watch the Inn n Out Gs 5 guys next. PS I work at a TV station and like watching commercials😇😇😇
MXTV125 thanks man, truly appreciated.
New to corvette. Just purchased a 92. Much to learn.
Congrats! You’ve come to right place to learn more about these weird but wonderful machines.
A follow up quirks video for ya- th-cam.com/video/X2-06FbEQxA/w-d-xo.html
there was a GM safety recall on c4 corvette seatbelt extractors,causing the belt to lock up then you cannot exit the vehicle.
TRUE, but it only covers certain years (I want to say a few of the early 90s model years).