Yes - my 92 z-R1 has short in the power seats and auto door lock at same time , Where should we start to look at .

Just to let you know a company called Torqhead makes an optispark delete kit.

Great tips, absolutely agree. Thanks for the comment!

great advice thank you

I purchased my 1995 new, and within 3 years the dealership replaced it under warranty. 25 years later, it needs replacing again.

A noble cause. Good luck!

Do it!

Do it man! Probably will give it to you if you do, and can work on it with him.

Make sure he can still get in and out of it. Not a car for old men.

What do you mean exactly? On the weatherstripping? On the outside or inside when you're installing them?

@@RetroCarsForever oh yeah I wasn’t very clear there. Sorry about that. The dielectric grease goes on the outside of the weatherstrip. On the inside you’d use weatherstrip adhesive to hold it in place (again, used sparingly). I put on a surgical type glove, put a dab on my finger, rub on the weatherstrip, level it out, then come back with a paper towel to wipe off the excess. That’s how I’ve treated all my seals for years now. Also, dielectric grease is not petroleum based so it’s rubber-friendly! 👍🏻

@@RetroCarsForever great content btw. Also worth mentioning is to remove the side panel to change the battery… C4 things lol

I've been using silicone spray. A mistake?

​@@chuckdill3567No, works well too, and stops the rubber sticking to the frames.

LOL! Seems to be the case, as we've proven with SCIENCE

@@RetroCarsForever although my wife doesn’t like the C4 for some of the same reasons the singles didn’t like it. So much for bringing new balance and Levi Strauss denim shorts back into style

@@SaleProofCarReviews Lol, don’t know about that had plenty of single ladies really like the look of my white on red ‘93.... so yeah vettes are cool

@@craigsbuyer2270 they are cool, but who am I to say? I own a Yugo and am clearly not cool

@@SaleProofCarReviews Cool is a state of mind, Lol....take care

Enjoy the ride!

So how is that vette running now? Are you able to enjoy it this summer? Did you garage it over winter?

Yep, about to do mine!

Glad I could inspire a drive!

41,000 miles better sell now before engine needs over haul LOL

Glad to help! Now keep in mind if you have a pre-1992 C4 you wont have an Opti so it should be safe. But if you do, beware! Glad I could warn you and hopefully save you some headaches.

Thanks so much! Best of luck with your C4 search. Feel free to send me a message or comment if you need any other advice, always glad to help.

@@RetroCarsForever Appreciate it!

IceLordOtis ... do it! Their awesome

My sentiments exactly! I just bought a 96 C4 - same color as yours and I'm having fun watching your feed. Hope you're doing well sir :)

@@RetroCarsForever 0

Thank you! Agreed that C4s are great bargains right now.

Lyle from C & S Corvettes has many videos. He believes the 1991 C4 is the sweet spot C4 year, because of advancements from earlier models, and year before Optispark.

l have 5. And 2 are special editions. A '93 Ruby Red 40th coupe and a '96 CE convertible. Have about 26K in the whole group.

Absolutely. Even on my 1996 the interior trim is very brittle and fragile. Had to remove a few pieces and it was stressssful!

35 year old plastic is brittle you say? Wow who could of guessed.

Congrats! Enjoy it.

Congrats! And agreed.

Happy to help! Yeah if they're from 2012 that means it's time.

Thanks, and congrats!

Thanks! And yikes. If it makes ya feel any better, it's likely a lot of the stuff you replaced would need to replaced at some point soon anyhow, and that's not an awful price for all that work, esp from a dealer.

Thank you, and agreed! It's SO often overlooked, and a safety issue, that I just had to put as Number 1 thing to watch out for.

Nice! Glad it was a cheap and easy fix.

Good points, thanks for sharing!

Thanks...I love that jacket, I wear it every week! As for the 180 degree thermostat, I get that its a popular mod but i'm not certain its needed. If the car is DESIGNED to run way hotter why not just leave it that way? Ive heard arguments that it was designed to run hot to help with emissions and that potentially that ruins longevity but I'm not sure how much of that I believe.

Thanks Adam! Couldn't help myself with the Porsche quip...Now that I'm a Corvette owner, Porsches are suddenly MORTAL enemies! Seriously, I WAS thinking of buying one of those water-cooled Porsches, then I read up on the five common things those things have that can all grenade their engines, and I was like...think I'll stick to good ol' Chevy. See you in a few days, happy to show you my C4 if you're ever curious to get one down the line. They're GREAT cars if you're into the rad era.

#IMSbearing

They’re starting to be remembered for the cool cars they were!

@@RetroCarsForever As with anything. Give it time.

Good ones. If this was a Top 10 list those would def be on the list. Interior trim is pretty brittle on these cars.

Thanks so much, and congrats! First car?

Wow! You just get it? Planning on driving it or keeping it stored?

Thanks! 1989 is a really cool "crossover" year for the C4, some of the cool old stuff like the digital dash but you had the the 6 speed (agreed it's way better than the 4 plus 3 in about every way). L98's are a bit gutsier right off the line vs the LT1s, that might be why you found them more nimble. L98s just run out of steam in the upper rev ranges.

@@RetroCarsForever I'm probably a bit late, but I respectfully disagree with the 4+3 vs ZF6. I know I'm probably in the minority here but I think most of the bad rep the 4+3 got came from people who just didn't take the time to understand their principle nor maintain them. The 4+3 is basically a Super T10 4 speed manual with a 2 speed Powerglide bolted behind it. The Super T10 is a "race/sports" oriented gearbox so pretty much bulletproof and the Powerglide is a 70 years old proven design still used for drag racing, so bulletproof as well. Let's not forget that the Sledgehammer C4 kept the original 4+3 gearbox and put a hellish twin turbo 800hp monster in front of it, it this simple gearbox managed to transfer that power all the way to 254mph as well as drive the 3000miles round trip to the test track ( a street car speed record that held for 20 years). There is something deliciously anachronistic about the C4. It's at the middle of this transition from muscle car to sports car. As such it has quirks from both era. It is an incredibly advanced car (first mass produced car to have factory ABS brakes in the world, highest skidpad score on street tires in the world humiliating the Europeans and their fancy handmade sports cars with no radio or AC) while also being the last of a past era with not a single driving aid in sight, an inefficient paperweight of an engine, basically an unpractical, not even that fast relic of another era. And thats what makes the 4+3 so desirable in mind. It's the last corvette with the historical American classic combo, a big displacement V8 bolted to a slow but decisive, linkage rods operated 4 speed. It's one of those things that became innately associated with muscle. It's what Steve McQueen bangs in his Bullit mustang. It's just one of those things you know. Since a lot of the appeal for C4 nowadays comes from the fact that they are accessible while still being old and quirky. Having more quirks ( like the 4+3) is I think good. Also once you get used to it, the 4 speed is lightning fast and strong as hell. It's the kind of tranny that rewards practice. The kind you hate at first and start to love when you realize this thing can be a race gearbox if you use it properly. There is no better feeling than making that perfect 3rd to 2nd downshift on a 4+3. I found the ZF6 to be too mundane and boring. Fine on a BMW autobahn cruiser, but I think a Vette deserves something a bit more "spicy". Hope my rant wasn't too boring

@@juliancoletti4073 Appreciate your thoughts! I'll admit I haven't driven 4 plus 3's for more than a few miles at a time, so perhaps they are another weird C4 quirk that an owner could learn to appreciate over the years.

Thanks so much! Yeah I really wanted to make this video to help with anyone interested in looking at these cars to hopefully avoid headaches. Better late than never! And yes, I wanted to SHOW visually what's up with these things, and the websites, vs just having me blabber on and not showing people the issues.

I just replaced my weatherstrips with the amazon kit and they are still leaking, did you find any better ones?

@@tduncan8118 I’m getting ready to purchase a set from Ecklers. Just need to figure out which one they recommend.

Thanks man! Although I do think it helps to OWN a vehicle, and be deeply involved in the ownership community, to REALLY get this deep of an understanding of what goes wrong with a certain car, and how to fix the issues.

@@RetroCarsForever True that, but if you have time for deep dives, it's a pretty good formula. Either way, nice piece.

Now that’s a flattering compliment!

He's already got DeMuro beat by not being an obnoxious clown.

@@GammaRay16 My thoughts exactly...

Great tips! Thanks for writing them all down here.

i just replaced my weather strips and im having the same problem, and suggestions

Thank you! I'd LOOOOOVE to review a retro Ferrari. Maybe I'll see who I know who owns one...

Testarossa comes to mind

Yep, another good tip to watch out for.

That's a common issue usually when people remove the intake and replace the valley gaskets with those prefit rubber ones. If you put a bead of silicone where the intake meets the block on the front and back then you will usually never have issues. Careful not to put too much though or you can get silicone inside the engine and clog an oil passage

True. China Wall failure is common on most, if not all SBCs. Replaced the gaskets on my 95 C4 at 62k. Needs replacement again now at 261K. My 86 Quadrajet Z28 replaced at 200k. Much harder job as the metal intake has coolant flowing thru it.

Thanks, and agreed. I was shocked at how many Corvettes had ancient tires on them when I was looking for mine...I think most owners just look at how much tread there is and dont even think about the age! Even the car I bought had 15 year old tires. First thing I did upon purchase was swap them out for new ones. And yes, tire choices are limited these days.

Glad this helped, thank you! Enjoy your 1994.

Thank you! Most people don't realize that Corvettes HAVE been mid engined for DECADES, it's a true FRONT mid engined design (for better balance). If you do get a C4 Corvette...Chances are good it WILL have the pop up issue anyways! But thankfully not a hard fix.

Yeah, it's a matter of WHEN, not IF, the digital dash is gonna have a problem or two. Im just glad there are some easy aftermarket options to help out with that. Fun fact- 1984 had a one year only gauge design!

@@RetroCarsForever Exactly. I love C4s, Whenever i think of the word "Corvette" its the C4 that stands out to me.

@@RetroCarsForever usually the older digital gauges are fine if they're not cracked. Usually the polarizing filter on the gauges just fades from being parked in the sun. If you don't feel like taking the cluster out then you can just put a polarizing film over the faded gauges just to see them if you need to, but once you take one out and put it back in you can have the whole cluster out in 5 minutes and its so simple to disassemble and fix yourself if you have the time.

Thanks, glad you’re still driving yours!

Great tip. Especially as many C4s WILL have aftermarket wiring jobs, for alarms or fans or who knows what!

I just bought my 1985 c4 3 months ago and yes its going to need a wiring upgrade very soon. Lol theres a sea of electrical tape. Great video thanka for the good info . Another common problem is the electric antenna. Mines currently stuck in the up position had to disconnect the motor till i figure out whats going on.

@@derekenlow7607 I ALMOST included the antenna mast! That seems to be a super common issue too. But I figured that's kinda grouped in with "interior electrics", in that anyone checking out a C4 should make sure that works and assume it doesnt, until they witness it working!

@@RetroCarsForever yeah, the all too common "C4 parasitic power drain" problem can also be included in that too I suppose. ;) and of course, the BOSE GOLD gremlins lol

Big go kart...Pretty apt! And love how the tall gearing gets great MPGs (on the highway at least)

Nice! Love that road, a true tight challenge. Save the Wave if I see ya up there!

No kidding, that little weep hole would've helped a lot and cost them soooo little to make! And wow...You own my most coveted Corvette...A DOUBLE special edition! I had to give it a mention in my Special Edition video (here if you havent seen it) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rL2YqrF8mrLPqZs.html

@@RetroCarsForever Believe it or not I saw that video last week. So I just subscribed. Possibly you will enjoy one of my videos at Dave Noble youtube This one is my ZR1 on the NCM track chasing a C8 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p8uBfsJil7Xdj40.html

Not too shabby for an older car that sat awhile. Stay tuned, as im making a video covering all the c4 special editions (including the 40th of course)

A lot of people have taken interest in the C4 Corvette recently,This video took a VILLAGE of people to make, you included. I really wanted to SHOW all these problems, as there arent any videos out there like this are truly edited with visuals. Thanks for helping out!

@@RetroCarsForever Of course! If you ever need pictures or footage of a 91, let me know. I’d be happy to help again.

Thanks so much! Glad to help. More coming soon!

I have a c4 with a replaced "crate" motor.a locksmith screwed my ignition up.it is for sale

You must’ve had a 1984 then!

@@RetroCarsForever yes I do absolutely 💯, runs much better now with the upgrades ! It will fishtail off the line now! Lol

Glad to help! Best of luck with those other fixes, if this was a Top 10 list of common issues those would’ve made the list too, pretty common and not too terrible to deal with from what I understand.

@Jeff Spicolli I found that I don't really care about the 'sports seat' bladders not operating..the seats are perfectly comfortable the way they are and fit me well; so just forward/backward/height adjustment is fine. Don't care that the power antenna retractor doesn't operate either as long as the radio still works, which it does. I would keep the ride control set on 'touring' anyway so the non-functioning ride control isn't an issue either. My C4 is stuck in the garage now there is an issue with the starter..suspect a sticking solenoid. It's going into the shop soon to find out what's wrong and get that fixed. For the price I paid for it I don't mind putting a little money into it..it's got less than 70,000 miles on it still looks great. I suppose if I wanted to get it back to 'showroom new' condition I'd get those little things corrected but for now providing I get the starter fixed she's good just the way she is. Mine's in the 'bright aqua metallic' color not real common in my area I've only seen one other example in that color in my area.

I'm so mad I didn't make this joke!!

Not a problem in that range, that’s how the cars were designed! Check out secret quirk number 2- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ftKgY9qfvb7Do4k.html

Great tips!

Thanks for the confirmation...Enjoy your Vettes!

Thanks! Great roads in that area. Good tip about the fluid, too.

That's awesome to hear! And for a vintage sports car, $2500 in repairs over the course of 7 years isn't bad at all.

Thank you! I've thankfully never had to replace a door panel, I'm sure most of them have seen some serious wear and tear and finding a nice one WOULD be a pain.

Thanks for the compliment! Yes I like to reply to as many comments as I can. I had the same goal looking for my own low mileage 96 LT4, hard to find and it took patience and I flew to go buy it and drive it home. But I don’t regret it! And yeah some dealers love to charge wayyy over what these cars are worth. But that’s why I make pricing guides to help people get a better idea. Best of luck!

Thank you! Do you have a 1990 L98 or a 1990 ZR-1?

Thanks! Never noticed that in the owner's manual, just seems like a good thing to do. I've also heard that the Opti fail is due to one team not talking to the other, but couldn't find a verifiable source (otherwise would've mentioned that in the video). Seems strange that they updated the Opti and didnt fix it, if that really was the case. In general its impressive how many little fixes the Corvette team made on the C4 every year. Steering wheel movement is def NOT supposed to be there tho!

You’re welcome and congrats!

Agreed on all points (tho I almost never get that great of fuel economy!)

Thanks, quite a compliment! (I've got quite a few)

Nice! Sounds like a very loved first year C4.

Thanks, and congrats on getting your Vette! Stay tuned, next episode of "Women React To Cars" coming up in a few weeks.

@@RetroCarsForever thank you! I can’t wait to see the next one!

Nice! Thanks for the kind words. Honestly all of this issues are peanuts when compared to a lot of other top tier sports cars of the era. And not too expensive to fix. Great cars to drive and own!

Not really a mechanical issue, but I did mention the tricky handling in my “Corvette As First Car Video” here- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mt92aMh5tcyZo6s.html I don’t think these cars are horribly prone to oversteer, they’re just not for beginners. Once I figured out the handling I’ve found it really enjoyable to drive fast.

I agree. Just something to be aware of for 1st time buyers. I only had that happen twice on the street. 1st time in a customers car(oops) when I worked for Chevy. second time I passed someone just where the road narrowed down then went into a sharp turn. Did it several times Auto crossing it(that shouldn't count). Had the front end wash out 1 time. Quick flick of the wheel brought it back under control.

Oh yeah, the handling can catch you off guard if you're not used to it!

DEFINITELY helps to have preemptive maintenance, and later models years do seem to be more reliable (Optispark notwithstanding)

Great info, thanks!

Ive seen people do both options to reroute water from the Opti, both seem to work just fine. I was actually considering Porsches when I ended up with my C4. Even WITH the Opti issues, a $15k- $20k C4 is gonna have WAY fewer headaches than an equivalent water-cooled Porsche (which had about five common issues to the drivetrain alone, all that can easily kill the engine without warning).

Appreciate the insight, great details to know.

Just enjoy the car, and make sure you have money saved up in case anything does go wrong. The good news is you've hedged your bets and gotten what sounds like a good example, with records and a Carfax. And you wont have to worry about the Optispark as your car doesnt have one! Enjoy the ride. These are pretty reliable cars for 1990's.

Great tips, thank you!

Glad to help, best of luck! FYI a 1990 won’t have an Optispark to worry about (that came a few years later) Also check out this video, and check for the steering column issue- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oqeRpJWYsNrPoIk.html

Hi Craig! I’ve only driven those years around town at reasonable speeds…I know the early cars were low revving and seemed fine around town but I can imagine the high end would leave something lacking. Especially compared to the later LT1/LT4 cars.

Thank you! Hope you consider subscribing if you haven’t already, more on the way.

@@RetroCarsForever just subscribed... keep up the good work!

The only thing on this list that an early car doesn’t have is the Optispark. Everything else on this list covers all c4s.

Thank you. And you've had the cream of the crop when it comes to C4s, wow!

You’re very welcome, happy to help!

Great to hear! Would love a ZR1 someday.

Awesome, sounds like a great reliable car!

@@RetroCarsForever it for sure is. took it to many road trips and never missed a beat. Also own a DeLorean which needs a little more attention 😂

Congrats! Easy fix thankfully.

@@RetroCarsForever Yes! Very thankful

Sharp eye! I used to own an Oldsmobile, and kept the jacket.

Agreed. But what do you mean by routine maintenance to the Optispark?

Thanks man! Appreciate it.

Glad to help, best of luck to ya!

Cool! You didn't like the 1984...Sounds like you're not alone in that opinion.

Heck yeah you got a great deal! Especially as Black Rose is a hard color to find. If you’re curious about exact market values they’re at the end of my Buyers Guide here- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hJZyisKFq-Cvnps.html Congrats in any case, that’s a super cool thing to do for your dad.

@@RetroCarsForever Thank you .. he's 75 years old and I though he was going to have another heart attack when I gave it to him!

It came with all the service records and the original window sticker. Tons of stuff has already been done like the power window motors, flip up light motors, new shocks on the rear window, optispark and water pump just 6 months ago on that ... pretty much anything that can go wrong has already been replaced.

I really like the Black Rose (i.e. purple) color. The Polo green is nice as well. Nineties cars had some cool colors!

Hadnt heard too much about that one...You mean the door INTERIOR trim? Thanks!

@@RetroCarsForever the whole panel gets separated from door because the ribs that hug the door break on the inside because its poorly made plastic

Happy to help!

@@RetroCarsForever thank u

Cool, have fun!

In my experience, Carfax is great for learning the HISTORY of the car, but isnt a good gauge on the mechanical condition of the car. You'd need a PPI to cover those sorts of things. Have you been able to get everything sorted in any case?

Everything is repaired and the car runs great. Interestingly the car feels solid with no squeaks or rattles. My 87, however, was very uncomfortable with squeaks and rattles on anything but a very smooth highway. That car only had 92k on it. As far as the dealership goes concerning the 96, they felt that they sold me the car way under value and therefore I was on my own.