What to look for/avoid...

Hi all, I'm not a vette owner, but i wanna be. I'm asking for info. In my search for a C5, what do I need to know about the C5? What do I need to avoid? What's troublesome? What do I look for in a used C5? Any and all info will be appreciated. Thanks...

You might to review this thread:

http://www.corvetteforums.com/m_4838/tm.htm

Good luck!

Thanks, DAVE01...

anybody else have any info/opinions????

upon a cursory glance, i didn't see the leaking battery acid issue mentioned in that link....

to me, that is the single biggest deciding factor on a car that, overall, looks pretty good... you'll have to pull the battery and check under/behind it for acid corrosion. if it's there, it will lead to bigger and better problems, especially electrical. if it's not there, go ahead and buy the car, but switch to a gel-type battery soon (optima red top seems a popular choice).

beyond that, these cars aren't OLD yet, but the earlier ones are getting up in age... pay a little more and get a newer one with low mileage, and it should save you maintenance costs in the short term.

edit: or get an older one and overhaul the engine so it's essentially new.... ahh, decisions.

Make sure you get one with the column lock replaced. That is the only thing that has ever went wrong with my C5. You will love the car!!

The leaking battery thing is not particularly common to or special on 'vettes: it's rare but happens on any car, sometimes due to a ba aalternator controller. Regardless, on an M6 check the 2nd and 3rd gear synchros, and the rack and pinion for leaks.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Team 4R

upon a cursory glance, i didn't see the leaking battery acid issue mentioned in that link....

to me, that is the single biggest deciding factor on a car that, overall, looks pretty good... you'll have to pull the battery and check under/behind it for acid corrosion. if it's there, it will lead to bigger and better problems, especially electrical. if it's not there, go ahead and buy the car, but switch to a gel-type battery soon (optima red top seems a popular choice).

beyond that, these cars aren't OLD yet, but the earlier ones are getting up in age... pay a little more and get a newer one with low mileage, and it should save you maintenance costs in the short term.

edit: or get an older one and overhaul the engine so it's essentially new.... ahh, decisions.

I guess I didn't mention it because

a) 2001-2004s came with leakproof AGM batteries and
b) Most pre-2001 C5s have replacement batteries in them already

I plan on getting an Exide Orbital battery when my OEM battery bites the dust.

A lot of times a "leaky battery" can be caused by alternator overcharging. Check your voltage and amperage readings (charging).