The stock harmonic balancer is a big one as well. The one on mine hasn’t let go yet, but replacing it anyway is high on my priorities list for the car.
I suspect this very old street car part gets a bad rap on the internet from people extensively running the car outside of the original street car design. for some people it is a lifetime part. I'm over 120,000 miles on my balancer and when it finally dies I will replace it with a more expensive part, only because of the high labor cost of replacing the part, which won't be cheaper when the more sophisticated, hopefully more durable , part fails down the road.
This was probably one of the best c5 maintenaince/common problem vids I've seen discussing some of the less noted issues and really hammering home those that shine through with heavy driving. Great to have all this info in one place
my 1999 Hardtop has the loose drivers side window issue. it wiggles when it’s all the way up and kinda jumps down when i lower it. thanks for the tip on tightening the bolt inside the door behind the red plastic reflector
Lots of good info, I never heard of the steam port thing, good to know. Other C5 Issues: -The backlights on the HVAC and radio come soldered and go out. -The stock seat brackets are weak and can break fairly easily. -Driver side mirror glass has problems. -When replacing the clutch, also put in a remote bleeder kit, otherwise you cant get to it.
i always appreciate a sincere effort to help other owners. I would add that the perspective here might not be biased towards street use, as evidenced by the guys car. My street car needs fit the original OEM street use design well. I don't need a skip shift bypass because I don't short shift, to illustrate one place where my thoughts, at times, differ from this presentation. Buy race car parts, get race car problems, is a good thing to keep in mind when deciding on whether to buy parts outside of the OEM design . although not a perfect design, it is hard to out engineer a team of GM engineers who designed with the benefits of extensive testing , multi million dollar budgets and super computer time. not to mention GM doesn't hire scrubs, it's a very good engineering job. for instance, the smooth red air intake coupler seen in the video is sold all over the place as a performance improvement part. and logic would confirm that smooth flows better than corrugated hose. however , the accordion folds in the original design serve to tumble the air flow, to enable the mass airflow sensor, a critical part of the ignition event, to get a better reading. So it's a nice dress up part, only. efficiency is power, and these engines were very carefully designed to be as efficient as possible. which is done with each engine system integrated and dependent upon every other system. so it is best to really know what the problem is you are trying to fix, if modifying the original design. because chances are good you will only be degrading the OEM design with a design modification from an after market part, despite what the hype stickers on the box says. this guy has a good honest presentation, but always double check internet advice. Some TH-cam guys seem like they bought a camera and decided to give corvette advice because anything corvette will get clicks, not because of any special knowledge , and will sometimes just repeat bad internet information that is circulating, devoid of facts, like mindless gossip I replaced my clutch master cylinder with an OEM C6 part, because the improved cap seals out moisture better. I didn't want to change the piston diameter because I was looking for a soft OEM pedal effort in my street car, and my clutch releases perfectly well with a nice aftermarket flywheel and clutch . my street car also needs no catch can because I haven't run long duration high rpm's. I might also mention the presenter mis-spoke about catch cans, they do nothing to effect oil consumption, they merely catch oil blow by. fortunately my high milage used car shows no oil blow by, and oil consumption is exemplarily.
I totally agree! Thanks for the additional information here. I agree these cars are used for a mix of track and street and some of these issues will never happen on a 100% street car
I double clutch my ‘07 C6 Z50 Rag-Top and @ 150K KM don’t have any Synchro/Clutch issues. Car runs great on repeated “Banzai “ runs at Balls out speeds , Autobahn long distance bouts.’ Not a Race-Car but a quaint little fun Car.
You shouldn't have to double clutch a modern sports car. I think the concept is just silly. The car should be able to handle general driving like every other car
Well done! I had a Z51 C6 and I would add harmonic dampener failure, stuck in park issue with the AT and outer door window seals shrinking. But awesome vehicle nonetheless 👍🏽
What is the fattest wheel and tire combo for stock and wide body kits you would suggest? I like my wheels and tires extra fatty.😊😊😊😊 I can't really find any definitive correct answers from these shops I've talked to.
@@CanyonTuned I just bought a black on black 03 Z06 with 241 miles. It's a complete creampuff. I bought it to carve it up in the corners. And I want as fat a tire as possible with as deep a wheel as possible. I intend to get all 4 widebody fenders put on. Any suggestions on wheel and tire sizes???? Nobody seems to have a definitive answer??And a fatty spoiler like yours MUST go on for that GTP down force and look. And rear diffuser. Like your steering wheel as well. What kind is it??? Thanks and excellent video!!! Love what you did to your car.
@@chrispery9002i don’t know if you’ve already done it since it’s been 6 months, but if your want thick tires like for drag i wouldn’t go for more than 315, ideally maybe 305s on the rear and 260 in the fronts
In 1997 - 2000 C5’s the EBCM (Electronic brake control module) is not reparable or available unless used at expensive costs. If it fails one loses ABS, traction control, and active handling. Still drivable like older Corvettes.
Very important on LS engines. Most abused ls1/ls6 engines will crack cylinder 7/8 eventually like mine did. An air pocket develops in the back and overheats that area
Nothing wrong with rear steam ports, but the engine sits at an angle, so the trapped air goes to the front of the block. That's why factory does not have front and rear already plummed.
hello, my problem is that my c5 stick shift isn't going into any gear when key in ignition turned on and the clutch pedal is stuck to the floor. after doing more investigating, in my surmise, the clutch doesn't feel like it's attaching to anything because i when push down, there's no springy feeling resisting the force. do you think my issue could be serious or could i get it to a destination without a tow? there's two things i looked up that i can DIY, check the pedal's spring and put in clean brake fluid. i will do that when i get home but i'm still not so confident. thanks
@@CanyonTuned it made the pedal exactly 10x as heavy with exactly 0.25" of takeup with my Monster clutch. I changed to a new oem setup and it's basically a new car. I cannot describe just how horrible the tick was.
@@CanyonTuned I've been thinking of buying a used C5 that has a wing too, but I read you got rid of your corvette because it had too many problems, so maybe I should pass on the car I'm thinking of buying.
@@natekitzinger9160nah mine is an 05 and it’s a C5 brother now as to what you mentioned idk honestly I haven’t had my vette long enough to know anything about them other than lots of weird issues with mine like shutting off while driving, not to mention melting the shifter cable off the side of the trans that crap made me mad man. Lots of little issues in these c5 cars it’s trash
@@thatoutlawed_7.3l89would you mind sending the vin or smth to your car as the c5 only went to 2004 and the c6 was 2005-2013 but the 2005 c6 was a shitbox it’s the first year of new generation and it’s just an overall shit corvette
Every issue I mentioned in the video? I'm guessing at least $10-15k, the labor is going to kill you. The transmission synchro upgrade alone with labor is like $5k
@@CanyonTuned Thank you. When looking at some of these to buy, a lot of the issues are able to be checked for, so the ones that either can’t be checked for or come up later shouldnt be too crazy expensive on C5’s right?
@@CanyonTuned in later years the paper was replaced with carbon fiber, of course, correct lubrication is still essential , for those unaware of critical lubrication. .
It's built buy nine lives racing. The know a thing or two about aerodynamic and downforce. You probably drive too slow to understand the purpose of proper racing equipment 🙃
One man’s RICE is another man’s gold. First, it is functional (even if the Corvette isn’t driven fast enough, often enough, to get use out of it). It’s not my cup of tea, either - I removed a slightly smaller, but similar, wing from my base ‘04 Corvette when I bought it in January 2023 - it’s not to my taste - but c’est la vie, right? Second, I applaud enthusiasm for car mods among younger drivers (I’m 59 years old). It’s nice to see, given the current addiction to social media and computer gaming these days. Third, there are other C5 issues to look out for: a) Failed electronic brake control module (EBCM). When this fails, there is no active handling. I bought a replacement on eBay (expensive!); and, I re-moved and replaced it myself. It was several hours of frustration in my garage at 100+ degrees Fahrenheit in July; but, very satisfying when completed. b) Failing harmonic balancer. Mine has started wobbling - it’s not rubbing anything yet; but, left untouched, it will damage the front engine cover, the oil pan, or the serpentine belt might come off - all bad, of course. A replacement is in the works. c) The crossover pipe between the two fuel tanks can start to leak where they plug into either fuel tank. I had to replace my crossover pipe. d) One of the fuel tanks (mine was the driver’s side ) suffered a cracked weld along it’s top seam - so, it had to be replaced, too. e) My HVAC head unit suffers from burnt-out light bulbs; so, that has to get repaired. f) My headlights are misaligned. Difficult to adjust - 19 year old, brittle, plastic - proceed carefully! g) Leaking differential seals. When getting my fuel tank issues fixed, my mechanic replaced these seals (left and right). No more leaky butt. Thanks for the video; and, enjoy driving your Corvette!
so many other failures on the c5..........ac blend door, leaking rear end, leaking resivoir, wobbling harmonic balancer, battery drain issues, steering wheel lock........c5 is a cool car but terrible build quality.......you will go poor if you cannot do the repairs yourself!
@@CanyonTuned that's because the car has so many fan bios who are queer for anything corvette. most old cars are not reliable, but once you get it sorted out, it's a regular yank tank, although close to antique status in my state. on the positive side, the large amount of fans enables a group mind of skilled information helpful in keeping an old car on the road.
The stock harmonic balancer is a big one as well. The one on mine hasn’t let go yet, but replacing it anyway is high on my priorities list for the car.
Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I swapped mine out for a summit racing one. Also the lifters are kinda shit on the ls1
Dude same. That things gotta go.
I just picked up a high mileage c5 and that and the ac compressor are on the top of my list
I suspect this very old street car part gets a bad rap on the internet from people extensively running the car outside of the original street car design. for some people it is a lifetime part. I'm over 120,000 miles on my balancer and when it finally dies I will replace it with a more expensive part, only because of the high labor cost of replacing the part, which won't be cheaper when the more sophisticated, hopefully more durable , part fails down the road.
This was probably one of the best c5 maintenaince/common problem vids I've seen discussing some of the less noted issues and really hammering home those that shine through with heavy driving. Great to have all this info in one place
This is the best c5 video I’ve ever watched and I’ve damn near seen em all. Everything he says should 100% be replaced with better or OEM replacement
Glad it was helpful!
my 1999 Hardtop has the loose drivers side window issue. it wiggles when it’s all the way up and kinda jumps down when i lower it. thanks for the tip on tightening the bolt inside the door behind the red plastic reflector
Yup! It's a nice shortcut. If you can get some blue loctite on there that would be even better
Windshield wiper motor 🎉
abs track control module 🎉
steering wheel horn 🎉
Harmony balancer 🎉
fuel filter 🎉
O1 C5 😊
Lots of good info, I never heard of the steam port thing, good to know.
Other C5 Issues:
-The backlights on the HVAC and radio come soldered and go out.
-The stock seat brackets are weak and can break fairly easily.
-Driver side mirror glass has problems.
-When replacing the clutch, also put in a remote bleeder kit, otherwise you cant get to it.
I totally forgot about the hvac and radio back light. I had to solder mine but it was pretty simple actually, I put a remote bleeder in as well
i always appreciate a sincere effort to help other owners. I would add that the perspective here might not be biased towards street use, as evidenced by the guys car. My street car needs fit the original OEM street use design well. I don't need a skip shift bypass because I don't short shift, to illustrate one place where my thoughts, at times, differ from this presentation.
Buy race car parts, get race car problems, is a good thing to keep in mind when deciding on whether to buy parts outside of the OEM design . although not a perfect design, it is hard to out engineer a team of GM engineers who designed with the benefits of extensive testing , multi million dollar budgets and super computer time. not to mention GM doesn't hire scrubs, it's a very good engineering job.
for instance, the smooth red air intake coupler seen in the video is sold all over the place as a performance improvement part. and logic would confirm that smooth flows better than corrugated hose.
however , the accordion folds in the original design serve to tumble the air flow, to enable the mass airflow sensor, a critical part of the ignition event, to get a better reading. So it's a nice dress up part, only.
efficiency is power, and these engines were very carefully designed to be as efficient as possible. which is done with each engine system integrated and dependent upon every other system. so it is best to really know what the problem is you are trying to fix, if modifying the original design.
because chances are good you will only be degrading the OEM design with a design modification from an after market part, despite what the hype stickers on the box says.
this guy has a good honest presentation, but always double check internet advice. Some TH-cam guys seem like they bought a camera and decided to give corvette advice because anything corvette will get clicks, not because of any special knowledge , and will sometimes just repeat bad internet information that is circulating, devoid of facts, like mindless gossip
I replaced my clutch master cylinder with an OEM C6 part, because the improved cap seals out moisture better. I didn't want to change the piston diameter because I was looking for a soft OEM pedal effort in my street car, and my clutch releases perfectly well with a nice aftermarket flywheel and clutch .
my street car also needs no catch can because I haven't run long duration high rpm's. I might also mention the presenter mis-spoke about catch cans, they do nothing to effect oil consumption, they merely catch oil blow by. fortunately my high milage used car shows no oil blow by, and oil consumption is exemplarily.
I totally agree! Thanks for the additional information here. I agree these cars are used for a mix of track and street and some of these issues will never happen on a 100% street car
I double clutch my ‘07 C6 Z50 Rag-Top and @ 150K KM don’t have any Synchro/Clutch issues.
Car runs great on repeated “Banzai “ runs at Balls out speeds , Autobahn long distance bouts.’
Not a Race-Car but a quaint little fun Car.
You shouldn't have to double clutch a modern sports car. I think the concept is just silly. The car should be able to handle general driving like every other car
Well done!
I had a Z51 C6 and I would add harmonic dampener failure, stuck in park issue with the AT and outer door window seals shrinking. But awesome vehicle nonetheless 👍🏽
I've seen that the automatic c5 has problems with the transmission. Do you recommend buying one and what could I do to prevent it?
Not too sure about the automatics honestly
What is the fattest wheel and tire combo for stock and wide body kits you would suggest? I like my wheels and tires extra fatty.😊😊😊😊 I can't really find any definitive correct answers from these shops I've talked to.
On a stock body car, c5 z06 rear wheels in the front is the move.
@@CanyonTuned I just bought a black on black 03 Z06 with 241 miles. It's a complete creampuff. I bought it to carve it up in the corners. And I want as fat a tire as possible with as deep a wheel as possible. I intend to get all 4 widebody fenders put on. Any suggestions on wheel and tire sizes???? Nobody seems to have a definitive answer??And a fatty spoiler like yours MUST go on for that GTP down force and look. And rear diffuser. Like your steering wheel as well. What kind is it??? Thanks and excellent video!!! Love what you did to your car.
@@chrispery9002i don’t know if you’ve already done it since it’s been 6 months, but if your want thick tires like for drag i wouldn’t go for more than 315, ideally maybe 305s on the rear and 260 in the fronts
Any videos on fixing those electrical gremlins outside of the grounds and passenger door harness?! 🙏🏻
I don't have any, but there is a diagram online of where all the ground points in the car are
What about the common issues of inner door button switches failing and automatic transmission shifter cable/ bushing failures?
Sure add it to the list!
In 1997 - 2000 C5’s the EBCM (Electronic brake control module) is not reparable or available unless used at expensive costs. If it fails one loses ABS, traction control, and active handling. Still drivable like older Corvettes.
Yikes!
I haven't heard of the steam port thing before, that's good to know!
Very important on LS engines. Most abused ls1/ls6 engines will crack cylinder 7/8 eventually like mine did. An air pocket develops in the back and overheats that area
Nothing wrong with rear steam ports, but the engine sits at an angle, so the trapped air goes to the front of the block. That's why factory does not have front and rear already plummed.
Great stuff we need more
the stock battery terminals are the side posts which kinda suck
Stock terminals also fall off, mine did
hello, my problem is that my c5 stick shift isn't going into any gear when key in ignition turned on and the clutch pedal is stuck to the floor. after doing more investigating, in my surmise, the clutch doesn't feel like it's attaching to anything because i when push down, there's no springy feeling resisting the force. do you think my issue could be serious or could i get it to a destination without a tow? there's two things i looked up that i can DIY, check the pedal's spring and put in clean brake fluid. i will do that when i get home but i'm still not so confident. thanks
Slave or master cylinder is bad.
Skip shift? How does the car make you skip a gear?
There's a blocking gate
Which catch can did you use?
Not sure, it was already installed on my car
@Canyon Tuned What hood do you have on your corvette?
Stock hood with the track spec hood vents, I have another video on installing them
Tracking system problems, I need information please
Tracking system?
Link for the oil catch can please 🙏🏻
Not sure honestly it came with the car
The tick master is only for factory c5 clutches as a bandaid. DO NOT use it on an aftermarket clutch.
It's adjustable, why couldn't you use it with an aftermarket clutch? Sure you risk over extending but that's any clutch
@@CanyonTuned it made the pedal exactly 10x as heavy with exactly 0.25" of takeup with my Monster clutch. I changed to a new oem setup and it's basically a new car. I cannot describe just how horrible the tick was.
@@CanyonTuned monster and every shop I talked to told me to ditch it and they could not have been more corrext
Very detailed & simplistic. TY
Very informative video. I like the spoiler. It makes the car look unique and different than other C5s.
I think this is the first nice comment about my wing 😂
@@CanyonTuned I've been thinking of buying a used C5 that has a wing too, but I read you got rid of your corvette because it had too many problems, so maybe I should pass on the car I'm thinking of buying.
@@wizofozzie Personally I'd go with a C6, a lot of the stilly problems with the c6s were mostly fixed in those
@@CanyonTuned thanks for your feedback.
Great vid man.
Damn, that spoiler is hideous
Yeah, but it's better then spinning out at the track 🙃
Thanks for the content very important thanks 🙏
That is a good video thank you for the information.
What year was your C5 ??
2005
@@CanyonTuned2005 was c6 tho?
@@natekitzinger9160nah mine is an 05 and it’s a C5 brother now as to what you mentioned idk honestly I haven’t had my vette long enough to know anything about them other than lots of weird issues with mine like shutting off while driving, not to mention melting the shifter cable off the side of the trans that crap made me mad man. Lots of little issues in these c5 cars it’s trash
@@thatoutlawed_7.3l89would you mind sending the vin or smth to your car as the c5 only went to 2004 and the c6 was 2005-2013 but the 2005 c6 was a shitbox it’s the first year of new generation and it’s just an overall shit corvette
lets say every issue possible happens, what do you think is the max I would spend on repairs including labor? ROUGHLY.
Every issue I mentioned in the video? I'm guessing at least $10-15k, the labor is going to kill you. The transmission synchro upgrade alone with labor is like $5k
@@CanyonTuned Thank you. When looking at some of these to buy, a lot of the issues are able to be checked for, so the ones that either can’t be checked for or come up later shouldnt be too crazy expensive on C5’s right?
@@CanyonTuned in later years the paper was replaced with carbon fiber, of course, correct lubrication is still essential , for those unaware of critical lubrication. .
Im glad i replaced my harmonic balancer
It's pretty common on these cars, especially if you don't daily drive it. The rubber dryrottes
Oh my goodness, how do you put such a thing on the back of a corvette like that!
It's called aerodynamics 😎
It's driven hard. It's frame mounted and functional.
good points
You have to be F ing kidding me with that rice looking spoiler
It's built buy nine lives racing. The know a thing or two about aerodynamic and downforce. You probably drive too slow to understand the purpose of proper racing equipment 🙃
@@CanyonTuned Big Wang Energy
@@DirtDude117 some just don't understand 😂
One man’s RICE is another man’s gold. First, it is functional (even if the Corvette isn’t driven fast enough, often enough, to get use out of it). It’s not my cup of tea, either - I removed a slightly smaller, but similar, wing from my base ‘04 Corvette when I bought it in January 2023 - it’s not to my taste - but c’est la vie, right? Second, I applaud enthusiasm for car mods among younger drivers (I’m 59 years old). It’s nice to see, given the current addiction to social media and computer gaming these days. Third, there are other C5 issues to look out for:
a) Failed electronic brake control module (EBCM). When this fails, there is no active handling. I bought a replacement on eBay (expensive!); and, I re-moved and replaced it myself. It was several hours of frustration in my garage at 100+ degrees Fahrenheit in July; but, very satisfying when completed.
b) Failing harmonic balancer. Mine has started wobbling - it’s not rubbing anything yet; but, left untouched, it will damage the front engine cover, the oil pan, or the serpentine belt might come off - all bad, of course. A replacement is in the works.
c) The crossover pipe between the two fuel tanks can start to leak where they plug into either fuel tank. I had to replace my crossover pipe.
d) One of the fuel tanks (mine was the driver’s side ) suffered a cracked weld along it’s top seam - so, it had to be replaced, too.
e) My HVAC head unit suffers from burnt-out light bulbs; so, that has to get repaired.
f) My headlights are misaligned. Difficult to adjust - 19 year old, brittle, plastic - proceed carefully!
g) Leaking differential seals. When getting my fuel tank issues fixed, my mechanic replaced these seals (left and right). No more leaky butt.
Thanks for the video; and, enjoy driving your Corvette!
Another is the transmission if you have the 4l60E auto. Pretty weak sauce
Yeah...4l60s are terrible
OMG THAT SPIOLER, :(
If I had a nickel for every boomer that told me that 😂
so many other failures on the c5..........ac blend door, leaking rear end, leaking resivoir, wobbling harmonic balancer, battery drain issues, steering wheel lock........c5 is a cool car but terrible build quality.......you will go poor if you cannot do the repairs yourself!
Yeah...really not the "reliable" car everyone praises them to be
@@CanyonTuned that's because the car has so many fan bios who are queer for anything corvette. most old cars are not reliable, but once you get it sorted out, it's a regular yank tank, although close to antique status in my state. on the positive side, the large amount of fans enables a group mind of skilled information helpful in keeping an old car on the road.
I can’t stand that spoiler man it’s hideous as heck 😂 but I know what’s it on there for so I understand it’s not for looks.
Don't care about your opinion, it's functional
That wing on your Vette is hideous. If you only knew what people are saying about it.
If only you knew the purpose of it.
Whhyyyyyyy did you ruin this vette that spoiler is ridiculous
Ever hear of downforce? It's a track car.
jesus christ that spoiler is gross if it was lower maybe but dam and you can’t even say anything about age im 21 bro. that shit does not look good
It's not supposed to look good. It's supposed to function. This is a track car, it's not meant to please people sitting at a car show.
**MEDIA OFFLINE**
Sometimes the blackmagic ecosystem does weird things lol
Get rid of all the garbage you have on your car. Its a classic…. Come on,save that crap for the imports!!
All the modifications are for track use. Something you don't know anything about apparently. Not everyone uses their corvettes for Sunday drives
Omg man please remove that giant wing, it just doesn’t look right at all..I hate to say this but looks very ricey….
It's a track car and the wing is used for downforce. I don't care how you think it looks, it's functional
@@CanyonTuned if it’s for track and it’s functional..but if that was for street🤢
The biggest problem is it's a GM.
Agreed
at least it's not a ford
All c5 ,c6,c7, corvettes are bottom feeders
Incorrect. Only the c5 is. C6 and c7 feed through the front facing grill
Dam seems like a lot of issues for these cars
Yup! Exactly why I got rid of mine, the c6 and newer have far less issues. These are mainly c5 things