UGH…Why did I buy a Corvette??
07-02-2018, 11:20 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
UGH…Why did I buy a Corvette??
After 58 years of life I decided to buy my first Corvette (2005, 22M miles) last month. I’ve owned many high performance machines including a 500 HP Boss Hoss motorcycle which I still have. My thought process is to own a low mileage Vette and see if the wife and I like it. If so, we would seriously look into buying a C7 after selling the current C6. As for mentioning the Boss Hoss, anyone who owns one knows you better have a large tool box, plenty of money and mechanical knowledge to own it.. Mine has been in the stable for over 7 years damn near without issue.
So… here’s my current irritation after 1500 miles of ownership with the C6:
On the way home from the seller, I encountered some very rough freeway pavement that shook my teeth loose. I’m positive the vehicle wheel hopped on all fours and literately moved sideways a foot or more at 60 mph. I received an audible sound in the cockpit along with the message “Service Traction Control” and a check engine light. It went away 10 seconds later and back to normal.
Today, about 1000 miles since the last episode, I was approaching an intersection with some nasty bumps that again shook the car, although it did not seem nearly a violent as the freeway encounter. Just after I pulled away, I received the audible alarm along with the message “Service Traction Control”, “Engine Operating Under Reduced Power” and the check engine light. I drove for several miles, pulled into a parking lot, shut the car down for a couple of minutes, re-started without fixing the problem. Now the wife was saying things like “lemon” and “should have bought the Mustang GT.” Please feel my pain!!!
I drove a little farther into a town, parked,, found a watering hole and listened to the wife drill me about the car and….well you get it. When we got back to the car and started it up….no messages except the check engine light was still on. Drove home without any reduced power to the car although I was drained!
So here’s what I’m thinking….The moderate to severe wheel hop could have thrown the traction control into a fault, or there is a harness with a loose connection that had a lapse in signal to the EMC which caused the fault. Either way it needs to be corrected.
I’m sure the experts here can help point me in the right direction. My tool box is getting dusty, the wife is singing the song “Mustang Sally” and the seller never had that problem before. UGH!!!!
So… here’s my current irritation after 1500 miles of ownership with the C6:
On the way home from the seller, I encountered some very rough freeway pavement that shook my teeth loose. I’m positive the vehicle wheel hopped on all fours and literately moved sideways a foot or more at 60 mph. I received an audible sound in the cockpit along with the message “Service Traction Control” and a check engine light. It went away 10 seconds later and back to normal.
Today, about 1000 miles since the last episode, I was approaching an intersection with some nasty bumps that again shook the car, although it did not seem nearly a violent as the freeway encounter. Just after I pulled away, I received the audible alarm along with the message “Service Traction Control”, “Engine Operating Under Reduced Power” and the check engine light. I drove for several miles, pulled into a parking lot, shut the car down for a couple of minutes, re-started without fixing the problem. Now the wife was saying things like “lemon” and “should have bought the Mustang GT.” Please feel my pain!!!
I drove a little farther into a town, parked,, found a watering hole and listened to the wife drill me about the car and….well you get it. When we got back to the car and started it up….no messages except the check engine light was still on. Drove home without any reduced power to the car although I was drained!
So here’s what I’m thinking….The moderate to severe wheel hop could have thrown the traction control into a fault, or there is a harness with a loose connection that had a lapse in signal to the EMC which caused the fault. Either way it needs to be corrected.
I’m sure the experts here can help point me in the right direction. My tool box is getting dusty, the wife is singing the song “Mustang Sally” and the seller never had that problem before. UGH!!!!
07-03-2018, 01:29 AM
#3
Le Mans Master
i bought my first vette not too long after i got out of the marine corps in 1971 and have owned at least one-five since then. now they may have their own quirks and issues, but the smiles a vette puts on my face will never be hampered by the problems. oh, and by the way...mustang sally never got out of 2nd gear around this household.
07-03-2018, 01:42 AM
#4
Le Mans Master
The "Reduced engine power" on my 2007 was caused by a loose connection at the throttle body connector. I bought a new connector harness for about $15 fixed it myself and haven't had a problem since.
I hate to say it but even though it's a "Corvette", it's still a Chevy. That said, no car is perfect and if your wife thinks a Ford is better - you need to educate her
I hate to say it but even though it's a "Corvette", it's still a Chevy. That said, no car is perfect and if your wife thinks a Ford is better - you need to educate her
07-03-2018, 10:27 AM
#5
Safety Car
Agreed... the 1st year of any car can sometimes be plagued with more issues that get worked out as time goes on. Also as with anything mechanical, that severe low mileage (avg 1500 miles per year)... just sitting hardly used for many years does not help things like suspension components, tires, electrical connections, etc. Many times you are much better off with a well maintained newer model with low to moderate mileage.
To save my sanity, I always research year specific issues on the model of any used car I buy to try and eliminate as many "surprises" as possible.There were several common issues in the 2005s... most of which were free fixes by the original owner - Mechanical (weak rear end, crank bolt), electrical (DBS, steering column/active handling recall on 3LT), and design (delaminating roofs, shut down sequence) issues all exist, which were fixed by the mid 2007 production.
Find a good local shop, have them go through the car for issues... adjust... lube... tweak etc.....and remember everything can be fixed.
Once it is all the way you want it, I guarantee you'll be smiling much more than you would in a Mustang.... this is coming from a previous owner of a few Mustangs that is on his 5th C6.
To save my sanity, I always research year specific issues on the model of any used car I buy to try and eliminate as many "surprises" as possible.There were several common issues in the 2005s... most of which were free fixes by the original owner - Mechanical (weak rear end, crank bolt), electrical (DBS, steering column/active handling recall on 3LT), and design (delaminating roofs, shut down sequence) issues all exist, which were fixed by the mid 2007 production.
Find a good local shop, have them go through the car for issues... adjust... lube... tweak etc.....and remember everything can be fixed.
Once it is all the way you want it, I guarantee you'll be smiling much more than you would in a Mustang.... this is coming from a previous owner of a few Mustangs that is on his 5th C6.
07-03-2018, 08:45 PM
#7
Racer
Keep the Vette. Buy her the mustang. Happy wife, happy life!
I bought my first vette in 2000, and shortly after bought the wife that Saleen Mustang that she just had to have.
I bought my first vette in 2000, and shortly after bought the wife that Saleen Mustang that she just had to have.
07-03-2018, 11:29 PM
#8
Race Director
Driving a performance car with little to no ground clearance and basically zero suspension travel 60 mph over extremely rough surfaces is going to produce serious issues.
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ledesordre (07-05-2018)
07-04-2018, 12:03 AM
#9
After 58 years of life I decided to buy my first Corvette (2005, 22M miles) last month. I’ve owned many high performance machines including a 500 HP Boss Hoss motorcycle which I still have. My thought process is to own a low mileage Vette and see if the wife and I like it. If so, we would seriously look into buying a C7 after selling the current C6. As for mentioning the Boss Hoss, anyone who owns one knows you better have a large tool box, plenty of money and mechanical knowledge to own it.. Mine has been in the stable for over 7 years damn near without issue.
So… here’s my current irritation after 1500 miles of ownership with the C6:
On the way home from the seller, I encountered some very rough freeway pavement that shook my teeth loose. I’m positive the vehicle wheel hopped on all fours and literately moved sideways a foot or more at 60 mph. I received an audible sound in the cockpit along with the message “Service Traction Control” and a check engine light. It went away 10 seconds later and back to normal.
Today, about 1000 miles since the last episode, I was approaching an intersection with some nasty bumps that again shook the car, although it did not seem nearly a violent as the freeway encounter. Just after I pulled away, I received the audible alarm along with the message “Service Traction Control”, “Engine Operating Under Reduced Power” and the check engine light. I drove for several miles, pulled into a parking lot, shut the car down for a couple of minutes, re-started without fixing the problem. Now the wife was saying things like “lemon” and “should have bought the Mustang GT.” Please feel my pain!!!
I drove a little farther into a town, parked,, found a watering hole and listened to the wife drill me about the car and….well you get it. When we got back to the car and started it up….no messages except the check engine light was still on. Drove home without any reduced power to the car although I was drained!
So here’s what I’m thinking….The moderate to severe wheel hop could have thrown the traction control into a fault, or there is a harness with a loose connection that had a lapse in signal to the EMC which caused the fault. Either way it needs to be corrected.
I’m sure the experts here can help point me in the right direction. My tool box is getting dusty, the wife is singing the song “Mustang Sally” and the seller never had that problem before. UGH!!!!
So… here’s my current irritation after 1500 miles of ownership with the C6:
On the way home from the seller, I encountered some very rough freeway pavement that shook my teeth loose. I’m positive the vehicle wheel hopped on all fours and literately moved sideways a foot or more at 60 mph. I received an audible sound in the cockpit along with the message “Service Traction Control” and a check engine light. It went away 10 seconds later and back to normal.
Today, about 1000 miles since the last episode, I was approaching an intersection with some nasty bumps that again shook the car, although it did not seem nearly a violent as the freeway encounter. Just after I pulled away, I received the audible alarm along with the message “Service Traction Control”, “Engine Operating Under Reduced Power” and the check engine light. I drove for several miles, pulled into a parking lot, shut the car down for a couple of minutes, re-started without fixing the problem. Now the wife was saying things like “lemon” and “should have bought the Mustang GT.” Please feel my pain!!!
I drove a little farther into a town, parked,, found a watering hole and listened to the wife drill me about the car and….well you get it. When we got back to the car and started it up….no messages except the check engine light was still on. Drove home without any reduced power to the car although I was drained!
So here’s what I’m thinking….The moderate to severe wheel hop could have thrown the traction control into a fault, or there is a harness with a loose connection that had a lapse in signal to the EMC which caused the fault. Either way it needs to be corrected.
I’m sure the experts here can help point me in the right direction. My tool box is getting dusty, the wife is singing the song “Mustang Sally” and the seller never had that problem before. UGH!!!!
Dave,
If you are looking for a local mechanic that can help resolve these issues and do a good once over of the car for you, give Charlie at Crazed Performance Repair a call.
https://www.facebook.com/crazedtech85/
He's a bit of a hike from Woodbury, however it'll be worth the trip.
With regards to the Service active handling issue on bumpy roads, the link provided by S.C. Vette may do the trick, however unless your a just about off roading down a dirt road, the car shouldn't be ratting your teeth out, especially a stock 05, so there maybe other things to correct.
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Daverm (07-06-2018)
07-04-2018, 11:12 AM
#10
Racer
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Daverm (07-06-2018)
07-04-2018, 12:18 PM
#12
Advanced
Same boat
After 58 years of life I decided to buy my first Corvette (2005, 22M miles) last month. I’ve owned many high performance machines including a 500 HP Boss Hoss motorcycle which I still have. My thought process is to own a low mileage Vette and see if the wife and I like it. If so, we would seriously look into buying a C7 after selling the current C6. As for mentioning the Boss Hoss, anyone who owns one knows you better have a large tool box, plenty of money and mechanical knowledge to own it.. Mine has been in the stable for over 7 years damn near without issue.
So… here’s my current irritation after 1500 miles of ownership with the C6:
On the way home from the seller, I encountered some very rough freeway pavement that shook my teeth loose. I’m positive the vehicle wheel hopped on all fours and literately moved sideways a foot or more at 60 mph. I received an audible sound in the cockpit along with the message “Service Traction Control” and a check engine light. It went away 10 seconds later and back to normal.
Today, about 1000 miles since the last episode, I was approaching an intersection with some nasty bumps that again shook the car, although it did not seem nearly a violent as the freeway encounter. Just after I pulled away, I received the audible alarm along with the message “Service Traction Control”, “Engine Operating Under Reduced Power” and the check engine light. I drove for several miles, pulled into a parking lot, shut the car down for a couple of minutes, re-started without fixing the problem. Now the wife was saying things like “lemon” and “should have bought the Mustang GT.” Please feel my pain!!!
I drove a little farther into a town, parked,, found a watering hole and listened to the wife drill me about the car and….well you get it. When we got back to the car and started it up….no messages except the check engine light was still on. Drove home without any reduced power to the car although I was drained!
So here’s what I’m thinking….The moderate to severe wheel hop could have thrown the traction control into a fault, or there is a harness with a loose connection that had a lapse in signal to the EMC which caused the fault. Either way it needs to be corrected.
I’m sure the experts here can help point me in the right direction. My tool box is getting dusty, the wife is singing the song “Mustang Sally” and the seller never had that problem before. UGH!!!!
So… here’s my current irritation after 1500 miles of ownership with the C6:
On the way home from the seller, I encountered some very rough freeway pavement that shook my teeth loose. I’m positive the vehicle wheel hopped on all fours and literately moved sideways a foot or more at 60 mph. I received an audible sound in the cockpit along with the message “Service Traction Control” and a check engine light. It went away 10 seconds later and back to normal.
Today, about 1000 miles since the last episode, I was approaching an intersection with some nasty bumps that again shook the car, although it did not seem nearly a violent as the freeway encounter. Just after I pulled away, I received the audible alarm along with the message “Service Traction Control”, “Engine Operating Under Reduced Power” and the check engine light. I drove for several miles, pulled into a parking lot, shut the car down for a couple of minutes, re-started without fixing the problem. Now the wife was saying things like “lemon” and “should have bought the Mustang GT.” Please feel my pain!!!
I drove a little farther into a town, parked,, found a watering hole and listened to the wife drill me about the car and….well you get it. When we got back to the car and started it up….no messages except the check engine light was still on. Drove home without any reduced power to the car although I was drained!
So here’s what I’m thinking….The moderate to severe wheel hop could have thrown the traction control into a fault, or there is a harness with a loose connection that had a lapse in signal to the EMC which caused the fault. Either way it needs to be corrected.
I’m sure the experts here can help point me in the right direction. My tool box is getting dusty, the wife is singing the song “Mustang Sally” and the seller never had that problem before. UGH!!!!
07-04-2018, 02:33 PM
#13
Drifting
LOL! would you like to see the broken connecting rod from my 17,000 mile mustang gt? all cars have problems especially used ones. 
get the car sorted and it will treat you right. be glad its not a 5.7L hemi Challenger... those things popped timing chains like a bag of Orville Redinbacher....
get the car sorted and it will treat you right. be glad its not a 5.7L hemi Challenger... those things popped timing chains like a bag of Orville Redinbacher....
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rrmdeuce (07-04-2018)
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bruno06 (07-04-2018)
07-05-2018, 09:50 AM
#15
Safety Car
After 58 years of life I decided to buy my first Corvette (2005, 22M miles) last month. ... My thought process is to own a low mileage Vette and see if the wife and I like it. If so, we would seriously look into buying a C7 after selling the current C6.
So… here’s my current irritation after 1500 miles of ownership with the C6:
On the way home from the seller, I encountered some very rough freeway pavement that shook my teeth loose. I’m positive the vehicle wheel hopped on all fours and literately moved sideways a foot or more at 60 mph. I received an audible sound in the cockpit along with the message “Service Traction Control” and a check engine light. It went away 10 seconds later and back to normal.
So… here’s my current irritation after 1500 miles of ownership with the C6:
On the way home from the seller, I encountered some very rough freeway pavement that shook my teeth loose. I’m positive the vehicle wheel hopped on all fours and literately moved sideways a foot or more at 60 mph. I received an audible sound in the cockpit along with the message “Service Traction Control” and a check engine light. It went away 10 seconds later and back to normal.
Each generation of vette improves upon the previous generation. The C7 may solve many of your issues. If you are comfortable with the vette's ride height, go test drive one. Try one with the magnetic ride and see if you like touring setting. Find one with an extended warranty so you're not potentially buying someone else's gremlins.
07-06-2018, 08:49 PM
#17
Intermediate
Thread Starter
UPDATE>>>>> UPDATE>>>>
I did take the car into a Chevy dealer yesterday in St. Paul and here's what they found:
Replaced throttle body connector pig tail. Reason: Performed pin fit and found terminal E and F have poor fit pin tension. Just like some had already mentioned. For the noise in the rear end on tight turns: There is a service bulletin #07-04-20-002B for rear axle noise during turns or hard acceleration. Fluid should be changed to Dextron LS fluid. Changed and noise now absent.
Thanks for all the reply's!!! @#$% the Mustang if all goes well...I love Vette's and only want one in my stable.
I did take the car into a Chevy dealer yesterday in St. Paul and here's what they found:
Replaced throttle body connector pig tail. Reason: Performed pin fit and found terminal E and F have poor fit pin tension. Just like some had already mentioned. For the noise in the rear end on tight turns: There is a service bulletin #07-04-20-002B for rear axle noise during turns or hard acceleration. Fluid should be changed to Dextron LS fluid. Changed and noise now absent.
Thanks for all the reply's!!! @#$% the Mustang if all goes well...I love Vette's and only want one in my stable.
07-06-2018, 08:53 PM
#18
Intermediate
Thread Starter
As far as the ride goes, what tires are on the car? The stock tires could survive 22,000 miles. Even if the stock tires were changed, how many years old are they and are they runflats? The factory runflats were punishing even when they were new. New, touring, non-runflats, may be the answer to the ride quality problem. Despite low miles, the shocks and rubber items on the car are 13 years old and may also contribute to ride complaints.
Each generation of vette improves upon the previous generation. The C7 may solve many of your issues. If you are comfortable with the vette's ride height, go test drive one. Try one with the magnetic ride and see if you like touring setting. Find one with an extended warranty so you're not potentially buying someone else's gremlins.
Each generation of vette improves upon the previous generation. The C7 may solve many of your issues. If you are comfortable with the vette's ride height, go test drive one. Try one with the magnetic ride and see if you like touring setting. Find one with an extended warranty so you're not potentially buying someone else's gremlins.
07-07-2018, 10:30 AM
#20
Le Mans Master
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Daverm (07-07-2018)