Calling C5 Officiandos.

[Frank MUGFORD]

Since losing my C6 I have a very nice low mileage C5 in prospect and I'm looking for some information about C5's. I understand that some earlier C5's sometimes used massive quantities of oil, 300 miles per pint for instance and that, at some point, GM changed the LS! blocks for LS6 blocks. If and when this happened was there a specific date that this occurred? This car is 2001.
The build sheet specifies an electrically operated steering wheel positioning. I found the tilt mechanism which is a mechanical lever as on the C6. As I recall the C6 had a button for in and out positioning but I can't find any such thing on this car. Any ideas/information please?

 

[plastic orange]

My Corvette is a low mileage 2001 C5 and uses no oil, My 1998 LS1 engined Minor uses no oil (over 100,000 miles), and my 53 Bel air with a 1999 LQ4 uses no oil (i'd hope not as the engine has only done about 10k since reconditioned). I always use mobil 1 0-40. The C5 engine suffers from a bit of piston slap for about half a mile then clears, the 2 others are quiet.

Pete

 

[teamzr1]

Do not recall any TSB or GM recall as to LS1 using a lot of oil
Steering wheel, options look at the RPO codes listed under door of glove box

NK4 Steering Wheel, Sport Leather
NP7 Steering Column, EEC Approved
NT3 Emission System EEC 00
N37 Steering Column, Tilt, Telescoping

2001 Corvette Specifications Major Changes for 2001

Two new exterior colors:
Quicksilver and Speedway White
INCREASED Horsepower- 350HP
JL4 Active Handling Generation II-Standard Safety Feature. All models- Chrome Exhaust
Tips Stainless Steel and Aluminum Exhaust.
RPO - ZO6 Option
Model Availability Standard Safety Features
Coupe 1YY07JL4 Active Handling Generation II
* Convertible 1YY67Air Bags - Driver and Passenger
Hardtop 1YY37Brakes - Power Disk, 4 Wheel
Anti-Lock
Assembly Plant Daytime Running Lamps
Bowling Green, KY Remote Keyless Entry - with Active Halo Lighting
Side Guard Door Beams
Select Standard Features Starter Saver and Battery Saver
Mechanical Theft Deterrent System - PASS-Key
Engine - 5.7L V8 LS1Select Optional Features
Transmission - 4 Speed Automatic w/overdrive (Coupe & Convertible) Six Speed manual (Hardtop)Electrochromic
Mirrors*
Traction ControlAxle Ratio - Performance
Steering - Speed sensitive, power rack and pinion Compact
Disc Changer - Remote, 12 Disk
Suspension - Z51 Sport suspension (Std. On Hardtop)Electronic Dual Zone Climate Control
Interior Floor Mats
Air Conditioning Fog Lamps
Defogger - Rear Window Head-Up Display
Gauges - Analog, Ultraviolet Floodlit Luggage Shade & Parcel Net (Coupe)
Grab Handle - Passenger's side Memory Package - Exterior mirrors, radio, driver's seat, climate
Ignition - Dash Mounted control & Power Telescoping steering column (if so equipped)
Locks - PowerMoldings - Body Side
Radios - Delco cassette w/Bose speakers (coupe & Power Telescoping/Manual Tilt Steering Wheel
convertible)Radio - Delco CD w/Bose Speakers
Radios - Delco cassette (hardtop)Roof Panel - Removable,
Blue Tint (coupe)
Seats - Leather TrimmedRoof Panels - Dual Removable (coupe)
Seats - Power driver's side (coupe and convertible)Seats - Power Passenger - Sport
Exterior Selective Real Time Damping (adjustable shocks)
Removable Top - Body Color (coupe)Transmission - 6 Speed manual transmission
Tires - Extended mobility w/tire pressure sensor Twilight
Sentinel w/Automatic Headlamps
Wheels - Forged Aluminum five spoke Wheels-High Polish or Magnesium
Windows - Power, driver and passenger express down Z51
Performance Handling Package (Standard on hardtop)

2001 Technical Specifications –

Dimension (In.)
Exterior Coupe-ConvertibleEngine
Wheel Base - 104.5 Engine Code LSI
Length - 179.7 Description 5.7L (346 CID) V8
Width - 73.6 Compression Ratio 10.1:1
Height - 47.7Horsepower @ RPM - 350 @ 5600*
Track, Front - 62.0Torque (lbs. ft.) 350 @4400
Track, Rear - 62.1Exhaust System - Full Dual, Aluminum stainless Steel
Interior Tires / Wheels Passenger Volume (cu. ft.) - 51.4 Tires Std. (Front) - P245/45ZR17 Extended Mobility
Passenger Capacity - 2 Tires Std. (Rear) - P275/40ZR18
Extended Mobility
Headroom, Front (in.) - 37.9 / 37.6Wheels Std (Front) 17" x 8.5" Forged Aluminum
Leg Room, Front (in.) - 42.7Wheels Std (Rear) 18" x 9.5"
Shoulder Room, Front (in.) 55.3
Luggage Compartment Trailer Towing
Trunk Volume (cu. ft.) - 24.9 / 13.9 (top up)Towing Class - Not Recommended
Liftover Height (in.) - 36.7
2001 Corvette Colors
With Suggested Interior Combinations
Exterior Interior (Leather Trimmed)
Black Light Gray Torch RedLight Oak
11 - Lt. Pewter MT...
12 - Quicksilver MT*...
28 - Navy Blue MT..
40 Speedway White *....
41 - Black....
70 - Torch Red....
79 - Millennium Yellow.
86 - Magnetic Red II.. .
91 - Dark Bowling Green MT.. .

Brakes
Type, Front - Hydraulic Power Disc (dual Piston)
Type, Rear - Hydraulic Power Disc
ABS - 4 Wheel
Lining Material, Front - Semi-Metallic
Lining Material, Rear - Semi-Metallic
Swept Area, Front / Rear (sq. in.) - 263.0 / 158.8

Capacities
Cooling System (qts.) - 11.4
Fuel Tank (gals.) - 19.1
Base Curb Wt. (lbs.) - 3,221

Restraint Systems
Air Bag - Left Standard Right Standard
Front Belts - Left 3pt Lap/Shoulder, Right 3pt
Lap/Shoulder

Steering and Suspension
Steering Type / Ratio Magnasteer II speed sensitive,
Power-Assisted, Magnetic Variable Effort / 16.1:1
Front Suspension - Short/Long Arm Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension - Short/Long Arm Double Wishbone
Front Stabilizer Bar (mm) - B/F45 23x3.8 Z51 25.4x4
Rear Stabilizer Bar (mm) - B/F45 19.1x2 Z51
21.7x3MT - Indicates Metallic Paint

Convertible Tops are Available in White, Black and Light Oak
.Hardtop Available with Black Interior Only, Not Available with Quicksilver, Navy Blue, Magnetic Red,
Millennium Yellow, or Dark Bowling Green Exterior.
.Magnetic Red and Millennium Yellow are extra cost premium colors
.All paints use Base Coat / Clear Coat System which is formulated to minimize the effects of acid rain, water
spotting, and other environmental damage.
.Some Color/Trim/Model restrictions apply; Contact your local Chevrolet Dealer for Details.

* New or Changes for 2001
**Information from the 2001 GM Product Preview Fleet and Commercial
Vehicle Guide
*** 2001 availability will be two basic packages above the already standard 1SA package.

The 1SB option package which is the standard equipment package and adds to it, the memory system (power seats,
sports bucket seats, dual zone air), fog lamps and the rear luggage shade.

The 1SC package includes all the above plus electrochromic mirrors (new for 01), HUD, twilight sentinel and power telescoping steering column.

The Convertible packaging is slightly different in that the 1SB package includes the electrochromic mirrors

 

[teamzr1]

I believe it was 2002 that GM was winding down C5s as looking at the C6s in 2005 so
to reduce inventory, etc they used the same engine block for base and Z06
Z06 had a different CAM, larger intake manifold, larger MAF and a bit larger fuel injectors, etc

Neither LS1 nor LS6 engines had a normal high oil loose,
Only when racing and using too thin of engine oil would become blowby and vent out the PCV

I have C5 customers that have over 250,000 miles on the engine and only now use a bit of oil

Here is a 2001 Z06 that did lots of racing and hit the 200,000 miles and no internal engine work

 

[Frank MUGFORD]

My Corvette is a low mileage 2001 C5 and uses no oil, My 1998 LS1 engined Minor uses no oil (over 100,000 miles), and my 53 Bel air with a 1999 LQ4 uses no oil (i'd hope not as the engine has only done about 10k since reconditioned). I always use mobil 1 0-40. The C5 engine suffers from a bit of piston slap for about half a mile then clears, the 2 others are quiet.

Pete

Thanks Pete. And I agree, my C6 never used a drip between oil changes and I always used Mobil 1; used to carry a litre of it around with me but never had to use it.

 

[Llewelyn]

The electric telescopic steering wheel adjustment was part of the memory package. It's a square knob on the right hand side of the steering column. If you look at the big sticker in your glovebox (take a photo of it) you can decode the RPO codes online which will show you all the factory options your C5 has

 

[Frank MUGFORD]

I believe it was 2002 that GM was winding down C5s as looking at the C6s in 2005 so
to reduce inventory, etc they used the same engine block for base and Z06
Z06 had a different CAM, larger intake manifold, larger MAF and a bit larger fuel injectors, etc

Neither LS1 nor LS6 engines had a normal high oil loose,
Only when racing and using too thin of engine oil would become blowby and vent out the PCV

I have C5 customers that have over 250,000 miles on the engine and only now use a bit of oil

Here is a 2001 Z06 that did lots of racing and hit the 200,000 miles and no internal engine work

View attachment 30511

The electric telescopic steering wheel adjustment was part of the memory package. It's a square knob on the right hand side of the steering column. If you look at the big sticker in your glovebox (take a photo of it) you can decode the RPO codes online which will show you all the factory options your C5 has

Thanks Llewelyn. That's what the C6 had but I can't seem to see such a thing on this car; I'll have it checked again.
The Museum copy of the build sheet says that the additional equipment package was OneSC group 2 and shows the memory Package and lower down 'Power telescoping and manual tilt', which seems definitive enough. Further the Bowling Green build sheet shows option AAG Memory Package so it has to be there; clearly I'm not looking well enough.
Anyway, thanks for your help.

 

[Blackzed]

It's a bit hard to miss

 

[teamzr1]

As the window sticker of my 1999 C5 shows
Tilt function was standard and power telescopic steering column was an option
Which then allowed to set via driver's liking and then using the memory FOBs 1 & 2 to be set
so when entering car, memory auto resets steering column, along with seats and outside mirrors
to what driver saved in memory,

Each FOB allowed for different memory settings

 

[Frank MUGFORD]

It's a bit hard to miss

View attachment 30570

Yes, it is, exactly what I had on my C6. Anyway, I don't miss it although not having a tlting wheel would definitely be a drawback.

 

[C2 VET]

So the Twilight Sentinel was a cost option but I can't fnd an RPO for it for 1999 models.

 

[teamzr1]

I got this with my 1999 C5 and was $60 - RPO T82

T62 Light, Daytime Running - Delete
T82 Headlamp Control, Automatic on/off (Twilight Sentinel)
T84 Headlamps, RH Rule of Road
T85 Headlamps, LH Rule of Road
T89 Lamps, Tail, Stop & Turn, Export
T90 Lamps, Signaling & Marker, Front
T93 Lamps, Tail, Stop & Turn, Special
T96 Lamps, Fog
TR9 Lighting Package (Hardtop)

.

 

[C2 VET]

Thanks.

 

[Frank MUGFORD]

I now have the car which is stunning. But one thing has occurred since I took it on, the horns don't blow. Checked the fuse and relay; fuse fine and swapped relay for one which I assume is OK but still no joy. Perhaps I should start another thread for this?

 

[teamzr1]

Hi Frank

For a C5 Check at the BCM under passenger floor
As I show here is wiring to the horn and then wiring from PCM and to BCM
Check wire B10 at connector C1 and check when horn button is pushed does the BCM horn relay control circuit work

Make sure when by the BCM, Onstar network and fuse panel that no water damage of some critter liking to eat your wires

 

[C2 VET]

I got this with my 1999 C5 and was $60 - RPO T82

T62 Light, Daytime Running - Delete
T82 Headlamp Control, Automatic on/off (Twilight Sentinel)
T84 Headlamps, RH Rule of Road
T85 Headlamps, LH Rule of Road
T89 Lamps, Tail, Stop & Turn, Export
T90 Lamps, Signaling & Marker, Front
T93 Lamps, Tail, Stop & Turn, Special
T96 Lamps, Fog
TR9 Lighting Package (Hardtop)

.View attachment 31064

My RPO tag doesn't show Twilight but my DIC shows an on/off option for it. I bought a sensor to fit in the hole in the dash but I can't find the wiring. Do you know if the option is in all fitted wiring looms or just in the cars that have the option ? Would the wire be there under the dash panel do you think ?

 

[Invetterate]

Thanks Pete. And I agree, my C6 never used a drip between oil changes and I always used Mobil 1; used to carry a litre of it around with me but never had to use it.

HI Frank,

I have had my '99 for 22 years, it has coming up to 100k on it and I have only ever topped the oil up once between services. I have never heard anything about the block issue you mention.
I used to use Mobil 1 as it was the factory fill for the C5 [and all subsequent Corvettes]. The problem is that the Mobil 1 of those days is nothing like the Mobil 1 now. I have had this explained by several oil experts to the point where I did my own research and concurred. Personally, I use Driven Racing Oil's LS30 which is formulated specifically for the LS engines and is available from Anglo American Oil with a Club discount - see their ad in Vette News. It majors on wear reduction and not emissions which is now one of the main drivers in modern oil formulation. Obviously, up to you but it might be worth looking into it. I am happy to discuss all things C5 if you so wish!
Have fun and enjoy it!
Cheers
Mark

 

[teamzr1]

My RPO tag doesn't show Twilight but my DIC shows an on/off option for it. I bought a sensor to fit in the hole in the dash but I can't find the wiring. Do you know if the option is in all fitted wiring looms or just in the cars that have the option ? Would the wire be there under the dash panel do you think ?

You mean the ambient light sensor ?
If so, go to the BCM and check C1 connector and the pins I show and the colors of the 2 wires are and if A7 and A10 have wires then follow that wire loom to see where wires are capped off

 

[C2 VET]

You mean the ambient light sensor ?
If so, go to the BCM and check C1 connector and the pins I show and the colors of the 2 wires are and if A7 and A10 have wires then follow that wire loom to see where wires are capped off

View attachment 31067

Great info thanks, will check in the morning

 

[teamzr1]

You're Welcome

The question will then be
If the sensor is just added with that work or due to that being an option
if needing a Tech-II and turning Twilight Sentinel ON in the BCM ?