Diamond State Corvette Club - Technical Notes
Have you ever run in to an issue while working on your Corvette that you knew you could handle, but just could not seem to get your hands around it? How about, you want to tackle a seemingly difficult task, that many of your fellow Corvette owners have said they finished with ease. How do you go about it? Have that squeek or annoying noise you just cannot seem to get rid of?
Well, hopefully our Technical Notes Page will help you enjoy not only owning your Corvette, but finding more enjoyment by being able to take on repairs that you are comfortable with. We will be providing periodic updates here, based on our own experiences and what we have learned, as well as providing links to other Corvette Web Sites and Forums that can help you enjoy that Great American Sports Car!!
Well, hopefully our Technical Notes Page will help you enjoy not only owning your Corvette, but finding more enjoyment by being able to take on repairs that you are comfortable with. We will be providing periodic updates here, based on our own experiences and what we have learned, as well as providing links to other Corvette Web Sites and Forums that can help you enjoy that Great American Sports Car!!
C5 Squeeking Under the Hood -
For those of us that have or know a C5 owner ( 1997 - 2004), if they do not have those squirels under the hood squeeking, they soon will. Or, maybe I should say it will happen to them sooner or later.
I had the good fortune to purchase a 1998 Torch Red Coupe two years ago. The car was in pretty good shape, and was screaming to be a daily driver. On the test drive I took it to my local dealer, who went over it and agreed that things were in good shape. A few walnuts to be removed due to the nesting squirrels that really did live under the hood for a while, and a noisey idler pulley, which was making the real squeeks.
We replaced the idler pulley, however the squeeking soon returned. Driving down the road with a hood full of screaching birds is not attractive, at least not in a Corvette way.
Ultimately after changing out all of the pulleys and some other belt driven accessories (well the air conditioning compressor gave out), the squeeks persisted.
Here is the punchline - if you have this issue, or if it develops, save a lot of time and money - try a Goodyear Gatorback replacement Fan Belt first!! (You may have to do a bit of internet research to find a dealer and the correct size for your model year, but well worth the effort.) Turns out that even after changing pulleys, the new replacement belt was slipping and creating the squeeks. A 15 minute effort using a 1/2 inch breaker bar and a 15mm socket on the tensioner pulley to losen the old belt, and allowing the reinstallation of the new one fixed the issue.
For those of us that have or know a C5 owner ( 1997 - 2004), if they do not have those squirels under the hood squeeking, they soon will. Or, maybe I should say it will happen to them sooner or later.
I had the good fortune to purchase a 1998 Torch Red Coupe two years ago. The car was in pretty good shape, and was screaming to be a daily driver. On the test drive I took it to my local dealer, who went over it and agreed that things were in good shape. A few walnuts to be removed due to the nesting squirrels that really did live under the hood for a while, and a noisey idler pulley, which was making the real squeeks.
We replaced the idler pulley, however the squeeking soon returned. Driving down the road with a hood full of screaching birds is not attractive, at least not in a Corvette way.
Ultimately after changing out all of the pulleys and some other belt driven accessories (well the air conditioning compressor gave out), the squeeks persisted.
Here is the punchline - if you have this issue, or if it develops, save a lot of time and money - try a Goodyear Gatorback replacement Fan Belt first!! (You may have to do a bit of internet research to find a dealer and the correct size for your model year, but well worth the effort.) Turns out that even after changing pulleys, the new replacement belt was slipping and creating the squeeks. A 15 minute effort using a 1/2 inch breaker bar and a 15mm socket on the tensioner pulley to losen the old belt, and allowing the reinstallation of the new one fixed the issue.
To see an index of articles and various reference material - Click HERE to see a list of links and articles that may help you.
