tonycorvettehd

im looking at a car 97 vette ,i might buy,the owner says it wont go over 35 because a modual needs replacing,,does this sound right?would this be costly?thanks

EDenney

People much more knowledgable can chime in on this, but since nobody has yet here's my contribution.

Well definitely don't buy it until the problem is resolved. Without more information about what's limiting the speed, it sounds like it's in the reduced power mode...? If that's the case, there are a number of conditions that can trigger it. See if you can get the trouble codes from him and share them here on the forum. To retrieve the codes is very easy and requires no special equipment.

To list your codes, turn the ignition key to the ON position, but don't start the engine. Clear any present DIC messages (like Door Ajar, or Service Steering Column, etc.) by pressing the RESET button once for each message until all messages are gone. Then hold the OPTIONS button down, while pressing the FUEL button 4 times within 10 seconds. This will get you into the CODES section of the DIC.

The computer will automatically display all the codes your car currently is experiencing or has generated at some point in the recent past (I think they stay for 50 ignition cycles, though it might be more). It will cycle through each code every 3 seconds, during which time you should be writing them down if you can keep up. If you miss any of them no problem, you can scroll through them manually.

After the car is done automatically cycling through all the codes, press the Reset button once to enter "Manual" mode if it isn't already in that mode. Once in manual mode you can scroll through each of the various modules by pressing the "options" button to go forward and the "trip" button to go back. Once you've found a trouble code for a module, you can see if there are others by pressing the "gages" button to scroll forward through them, or the "fuel" button to scroll backward.

Scroll through each module and each code and write them all down, including the C or H at the end of the code. That represents a "C"urrent condition or a "H"istory code. Once you have all the codes and the corresponding module it belongs to you can clear them by holding down the reset button while viewing any individual code. This only clears that one code that you're viewing, not all of them. BTW, here's a sample of what a typical code looks like: "B0 RFA – U1096 H (Loss of Communications with PCM)"


Here's a complete list of trouble codes for the 1997 C5: http://www.c5forum.com/ayc/1997dtc.php


Here's a link to a list of DETAILED explanations of the PCM codes and what causes the code, rather than just a brief description of the code itself that you can get from the other link. It's likely that the trouble is related to a PCM code, though I'm no expert. Note that this list is for a 98, that site only has the detailed PCM explanations for the 98-04 (no 97 for some reason). However, the list of 97 and 98 codes is nearly identical so you should be fine. As long as you can find your PCM codes on that site, the explanation for the code should still be valid.

Don't forget to share the list of codes here if you're able to get them from the guy!

Good luck!
Eric

DeeGee

Without knowing a lot more about the problem I'd run a mile on that one. Did the seller say which module? Also with Edenney, is it throwing codes. If so post them up and some experts here will comment.

Could it have been flood damaged? Electrical problems can be hard to trace and expensive to fix. JMHO.

tonycorvettehd

There is nothing wrong the engine. The TAC module reduces the engines output to 35MPH. The car runs fine for about 10 or so miles, then the TAC mod does its' thing, then it's 35mph max.

sbadd99

why dosn't he have it fixed before he sells it, I wouldn't touch it till he does

BlackZ06

Why don't you see what DTC are set .... there has to be at least one if he's getting the "REDUCED SPEED" warnings. That will give you a better idea of what the problem is. It might be something fairly easy to fix .... like a throttle position sensor.