C4 CORVETTE QUIRKS: Top 5 Secrets They Don’t Tell You (Until You Own One!)
The Chevrolet Corvette C4 has some of the weirdest quirks and features of any car I've owned.
Here are my top 5 "secrets" that I was completely surprised by, that I didn't hear about ANYWHERE else!
These are things that I notice every single day. Some things I love, some I hate!
CHAPTERS
0:00 Secret Quirks
1:17 Wide Turning Circle
1:44 Coolant Temperature Running "Hot" (LT1/LT4)
3:03 Seatbelt Tensioners (Cinch Button)
5:15 Pedal Spacing (Heel Toe Downshifts)
6:42 Traction Control (Pedal Pushes Back)
MY CAR
1996 Chevy Corvette Collector Edition LT4 Z51 6-speed
OTHER CORVETTE VIDEOS I'VE MADE
Playlist: • CORVETTES Forever
SPECIAL THANKS
To Ethan Tufts from Hello Road for shooting footage just for this episode. Check out his awesome channel here-
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CORRECTION- "ASR" (the traction control system in the Corvette) stands for "Acceleration Slip Regulation," not the more typical "Anti Slip Regulation" as I mentioned in the video. I checked my 1996 owner's VHS to verify...Jeff Gordon says it, so can't argue!
The biggest surprise for me was, how effective the ASR in the C4 is (i own a '95). Its almost an ESP.
Any chance your friend could make another throttle pedal extender?? I'd love to buy one for my 1996 Grandsport so I can heel and toe!
@@jakeweisman5517 Message me your email and I'll you to the list!
@@RetroCarsForever thank you, pm'ed you on IG!
Are they good for long drives since they run hot?
On my 85 I am the traction control
🤣 Hahaha!
Bwahaha! Honestly, I hate traction control. I always turn it off first thing whenever I start my car. Like...I know when my wheels are spinning, thank you very much! I'd MUCH rather be the traction control!
Same in my 85 vette😂😂
@@RetroCarsForever That is because idiots like you like to spin the tires and make smoke. Which is basically the opposite of a true performance car. Even on track the ideal tire slip is between 4 an 5 percent. The maximum potentiial for trip and speed. Not 100% spin. You are a moron. You bought a car to drive 50 feet at a time and wear out tires.
@@randypecker6995 where I'm from people would say "First of all: pull the stick out of Your anus!" Dude relax! It's not about perfect lap times... in a 25 yo car... It's about fun and a driving experience, that You don't get in modern cars.
Finally somebody who’s making awesome C4 videos. Thank you bro 💪🏾
Thank YOU! Another corvette video coming out next, it’s turning out great.
Yes
Some things that many people don't know about without reading the Owner's Manual 1: There's a cargo cover that pulls out to cover whatever you have in the trunk 2: There's a trunk release switch on the edge of the driver's door (the part that closes into the door jam) 3. There's a hidden manual trunk release cable under the hatch that you can use in case the battery dies 4: There is a map light on the bottom of the rear view mirror (very useful because this car doesn't have a dome light) 5. There's a tiny lever on the back of each seat that you can press in order to fold the seats down for extra storage space/easier trunk access (very uncommon in coupes) 6. The armrests on the doors actually lift open to reveal storage pockets 7: The side view mirrors do not fold in :( 8. The AC Delco Bose sound system sounds better than any stock sound system I've ever heard. No joke.
Good ones! I’m working on a follow up video of all the little quirks, most of these are already on the list. Been hearing from many owners who didn’t know many of these!
AC Cobra thankfully there’s a tool you can buy to snag the cable!
I agree on that Bose. It sounds amazing!
Corvette Mode agreed, especially for the time period, it sounds great. Even if you play cassette!
"The armrests on the doors actually lift open to reveal storage pockets " I think that is 1994 onward... my 1993 definitely does not have them.
I follow a lot of C4 videos. I must compliment you on yours. Lots of normally not mentioned info with an interesting angle. The temp info was gold. I have a nice 96 LT4 base car .
Thank you, glad to hear that as this was the goal of the video (to highlight the things I didnt see anyone else talk about, at least in video form).
The temp gauge would be unnerving for sure! My favorite feature about your reviews is the little handheld arrow that you use to point things out, haha.
LOL thanks! I haaaate "asking" for people to subscribe, but you sorta have to do it, so I was trying to think of ways to have it done visually without it being too annoying... And then when I had to replace my Corvette's plastic radiator overflow cap, I realized I had a perfect little pointer!
It takes a bit to get used to but still unnerving for sure. Especially when you hit unexpected traffic.
Another one I recently learned was 'Flood Clear'. Pressing the gas pedal all the way down while starting disables the ignition system. Allows you to clear a flooded engine OR allows you to sling some oil before starting the engine.
Yes! C and S Corvettes (a great KZhead resource) covered this.
It doesn't disable the ignition system, it significantly reduces the pulse width of the fuel injectors creating an excessively lean mixture. This allows the flood to clear until the mixture can be ignited at which point you'll lift off the gas pedal. If it shut off the ignition, the engine would never start. Reducing the injector pulse width accomplishes the exact same thing when flooring the gas pedal on a carbureted engine. The choke plate opens as well as all of the throttle blades which decreases the signal at the idle ports resulting in a lean mixture. All GM fuel injected engines have this feature, my 1983 Cavalier with the 2.0L throttle body injected engine had it. An interesting benefit is the engine won't start if you floor the gas pedal and it's not flooded, the mixture is too lean. I taught my daughter that trick in case someone was trying to kidnap/carjack her. You never want to go to where they want, it ends very badly every single time.
Oh yeah, another benefit is when the coolant temperature sensor fails to the cold side telling the ECM to provide a rich cold start mixture. That's ok if it's 10*F outside and the engine is actually cold. But the resulting rich mixture in a warm engine when it's warmer weather guarantees the engine will never start. However, push the pedal to the floor to get the lean mixture and it'll start so you can get home and replace the CTS.
The gas pedal is offset substantially because there was a time when people were hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal because they were so close together. Or their foot was wide and they would end up pushing the gas pedal along with the brake pedal. GM solved the problem by offsetting the pedals so that when you pressed the brake pedal down as far as you could, it was just level with the gas pedal. 👍
That explains it! But still a shame that they couldnt get the Corvette's pedals right.
I just bought a 1991 Quasar Blue C4, definitely glad I watched this video as I was concerned about the temperature! Also I found out all those other things in the first week of owning it except the ASR. Great vid!
Thanks! However, keep in mind your car has a different engine (the L98) that has a conventional cooling system. If it’s overheating to the extent you see here with the later LT1 or LT4 engines, there might actually be an issue.
@@RetroCarsForever L98 engine normally run around 210-220 mark also I have a LT1 6 speed my temp never goes over 180 I did just buy the car back in august so my guess is it has a different thermostat in it
@@chainsawmanny A LOT of guys with LT1 engines freak out about the temp thing (or aren't aware that it's okay for them to run hot) so they'll put in a different thermostat, make the fans turn on sooner, or replace the radiator. Also note that I only notice temps climbing in my LT4 (pretty much an LT1) during hard stop and go traffic. Otherwise its stays around 180.
Bulshit
My 95 Camaro Z28 with the LT1 engine, runs hot like you described, and has AC delete. So when it gets too hot in stop and go traffic, I am having to turn on the heater in order to divert some heat from the engine. I try to avoid having the temperature to anywhere near 3/4 on the gauge (allegedly that's when the fans turn on), while it may be designed this way, it still bugs me when it runs that hot.
I can't believe this lol - I have a '89 C4 and I complained out loud to myself just today about being STUCK to my seat because of the seat belt. I had no idea this was a thing for all C4 owners.
Glad I could help! We're all in this together...
Will soon be buying my first Corvette, a nice yellow ‘96, and until I watched your video today, never realized the gas filler was in the middle of the ‘trunk’! Thanks for all the points in your various videos, they will certainly come in handy (especially the one about getting in & out correctly!).
Happy to help, best of luck picking up the 1996 (it's my favorite year and the one I own). You might've seen it already, but here's another Quirks video I did that covers even more of the C4 weirdness...kzhead.info/sun/i5ZmYJp-mXeHq3k/bejne.html
@@RetroCarsForever Hey from the South Carolina Coast. Love your channel bro. I have a 64 StingRay L76 motor 327 365hp Muncie close ratio 4 speed all matching numbers 40,100 miles documented. Mint. I also have a 2007 3LT Z51 and just picked up yesterday a mint 96 LT1 White with red interior. 30k miles Been watching all your vids on the C4s. 96 the best year for the C4s. Thanks and keep the vids coming...
@@keepamerica2astrong280 Thank you! That's an amazing Corvette collection you have.
Having owned over 75 vehicles in my lifetime (2 of them C3 Corvettes) I am starting to appreciate the look of the C4 more and more. Thanks for the video.
Thanks! I've owned about 1/3rd of what you have, that's a LOT of cars that you've owned! C4s are some of my all time favorite designs. Clean and uncluttered yet sporty and purposeful.
Great video as always! I watch allot of C4 videos and I always find myself kinda "stuck in the middle of a void" due to owning a 90 auto. It is cool having a little old and a little new in the C4 realm. The L98 is a great motor, built like a tank and no optispark. :)
Thanks! And yeah, to me the 1989 to 1991 models are like funky "crossover years" where major elements slowly got switched over from the early C4s to the later C4s. Neat how every year is so different.
@@RetroCarsForever , truly. I bought my 90 the middle of last year and it needed a bunch of work. Luckily, I am good with a wrench and have done my fair share of hotrods. I did my research and knew what to bring to the table when I test drove it and I got it for a great price. I have a vision of what it will look like and it will definitely be hard to miss after the widebody and other customs are done. Keep up the great videos! :)
I do like the fact that your temperature gauge isn’t “dumbed down”. Many new cars have a temp window of something like 30 degrees where the gauge will stay dead center. It keeps people from panic but I’d prefer accuracy.
Yep know exactly what you mean. Kinda makes sense as most non enthusiasts only ever look at the speedo and the fuel gauge and that’s it! But a proper enthusiasts car needs proper gauges.
My BMW stays from 70-100 °C in the middle. Didn't notice for a long time that the thermostat was broken and the car doesnt reach even 70 °C (170F) while driving. Total shit, i don't need a needle instrument for that unprecise information.
@@RetroCarsForever so why does the cooling make one think 185F is normal with that longer line at that value?
@@cowlumbus No clue. Like I said, the coolant gauge is a baffling design. Best guess is 185 is the minimum "normal" operating temp (like when you start the car cold, that's how hot it should be before you start really revving it).
Cool thing I found out about the c4 Corvettes from working on them. The targa tool can be converted into a normal snap on 1/4 drive ratchet
Heh, cool!
The lines on those first C4s are perfect, so clean. Your 96 Collectors is the nicest of the later models.
Thanks! I think all c4 are gorgeous but I am partial to the smoother look of the later models (more for nostalgia than anything else). I love how c4s are so clean and uncluttered, they instead rely on their stance and proportions to show their sportiness instead of angry swoops and streaks and spoilers.
I bought a 1993 6 speed. I wish I had known about the CCM module they tried to implement that makes it hard to upgrade to an LS1 for the 93/94 years. And I wish I had known about the dual mass flywheel and the pain in the ass it is to switch to single mass flywheel.. other than that I love the car. Bought it with 60k and no problems til 90k. Now it’s plagued by expensive weekly repairs but I still love it. It is 27 years old after all.
Fair enough...But the way I see it, if you gotta have an LS1, just buy a C5!
I also have a 96 with the LT4. If you haven't experienced an issue with the power brake boost, you might want to invest in a spare. I lost this entire season, I live in upstate NY, to the inability to acquire a replacement/rebuilt unit. I've been lead to believe that they can be hard to find.
Hmm haven't heard of that. A quick search shows a ton of those available online. How many miles did your car have when it went?
I have a '96 Collector Edition convertible with Lingenfelter tuned motor (done before John Lingenfelter died) and 28,000 miles. It's basically a show car, but super fast and super fun to drive. The C4 is a great car and is starting to really look like a classic.
Awesome car! And agreed about the great looks of these C4s, a big reason I bought one. They REALLY stand out in modern traffic, a design from a completely different era.
The quality you put into your videos is amazing!
Thanks so much!
2005 pontiac gto (yeh I know. It's an import. ) Also does that push back with traction control.
Good to know, thanks!
As do my 98 and 02 Z28s. Must be a GM thing.
Love these type of videos! Super awesome stuff and super weird quirks too about the C4! Never knew any of those, but than, I’ve never been in a C4 either. Can’t wait to see whatcha got in store for next weeks vid! Keep in coming!
Thanks! And spoiler...Both my Corvette, and Ethan, AND his Porsche should be appearing in the next video too! If you ever come out here would love to treat you to a C4 drive. It's such a weird (but fun) experience!
I restored a 93 and found lots of "quirks and features" (as Doug would say). The most annoying one was the failure of the heater core which forced the car off the road because the previous owner didn't understand why the windows kept fogging up. He drove the car with the finely misted coolant being fog getting to 100% of the interior (and his lungs! YIKES!) ruining the carpet even in the hatch area, and adding a sticky layer of antifreeze to everything inside. I tore out the whole interior to clean and replace the carpet and seat coverings. While it turned out beautifully, changing that heater core took me all of 11 hours, not counting the interior restoration! I heard that it is said that the C4 begins life as a heater core and the rest of the car gets built around it!
Of all the manual cars I have owned my 93 Sonoma was the best for heel/toe downshifting. The other option to get your pedals right is to install an adjustable brake pushrod. People also take the brake pedal out and bend it to the left or right to get it just how they like it.
Wow, a 93 Sonoma was the best for heel and toe? I'm surprised! I've found my old Mazda Miata or BMW Z3 were the best for that.
Well done, great editing and content... THANKS! (I hit "like" the first time 'round but came back to comment and, of course, SUBSCRIBE! lol) OH, and one more thing, beautiful CE C4!
Thank you so much! Hugely appreciate the kind words about the car and the support of the video.
Man the video is very useful!! I have a 94 ZF6 and was worried about the temp. Thank you!
You have real life practical info - now my fav Vette channel - thx!
Thanks so much! Stay tuned/subscribe for more coming next week.
In my '86, turning the pull-knob for the headlights changes the dash brightness. But turning it past the click makes the interior cabin lights come on. Maybe this is normal for all 80's GM but I didn't know. So that was a 'huh' moment. About the big turning radius: 180's are but a turn of the wheel and a mash of the throttle away ;)
That's how many American cars had their light switch knobs back in the day, Ive had several cars that were like that (completely different design in later years like mine). And can attest to the effectiveness of your 180 tactic!
@@RetroCarsForever glad to know about the temp gage I got worried when my temp gauge went over to 200 I thought my car was over heating but it wasn't
It's a 96 c4 with 83 thousand miles
@@ednaslayton4723 Yep, happened to me too, thats why I put it in the Secrets Quirks video!
Always loved this gen Corvette and wasn't aware of a single one of these quirks. The seat belt and temp gauge items in particular are real head scratchers. But... this is GM after-all. Keep up the awesome work my friend. Love it!
Thanks man. Someone else had the theory with the temp gauge that the design of the gauge was a holdover from an earlier car with a different engine...DEFINITELY sounds like something a cash-strapped early 90s GM would do, doesnt it? Seeya soon!
@@RetroCarsForever lol yeah I was thinking that gauge was probably a leftover as well. I do love that gen in silver. Congrats on finding such a clean example. Cya soon!
@@TofersCarTales Thanks...Truth be told I wasn't dead set on the silver Collector Edition (I was looking at a few other colors too), it just happened to be the right Corvette for sale at the right time from the right seller, with the right options and price! As time has gone on I appreciate the "stealth" look of it, plus SO EASY to keep clean!
Best C4 videos on KZhead period !! Love it man
Thank ya, I try! More coming soon!
I love my 1996 LT4! Great video and content!!
Thanks love mine too! More coming soon!
I am glad I watched this about the temperature, I thought my 95 had something wrong with it and was about to install an electric water pump and dual core radiator.
Feel free to make those mods if it makes you feel better. But as long as it’s just getting a bit hot like this in stop and go traffic, and you’re using fresh coolant and you’ve checked that the bottom air intake is gummed up...you’re probably fine!
I have a '94 6 speed convertable and after watching your video, I may have the answer to a quirk the car has. When accererating out of a turn such as exiting a traffic circle, I feel a strange motion in the gas pedal. I used to have a transmission shop and a symptom like this usually ment the engine was shifting due to a broken motor or transmission mount. I went to a great deal of trouble pulling the engine mounts and checked all the suspension bushings to find nothing wrong. It reminds me of when I bought the car and knew nothong about "skip shift". I swore it was a bad second gear syncro ring. I'll turn off the ASR and see if the symptom disappears. -Thanks
Yes that definitely sounds like ASR! And I confirmed that’s how it should work from an owners vhs. Thrilled if I helped you here, that was my biggest aim with this video!
Loving these vids! Planning on getting a 91 C4 for my first car, appreciate all the info
Awesome! Happy to help, what an epic first car.
Thanks, I needed that. Great video..!
Thank you, glad to help. Good luck!
_Well spirited driving in your LT4 Corvette! Although somewhat antiquated by today's standards, the ASR was designed for those who may have never driven a Corvette briskly, (yet it's a great safety system on the '92 to '96 C4s). All cool points in your video for sure (and spot on). Two fourth gens ago, I also drove a coupe with the ZF - 6 Speed LT4(super fun to drive). Today I have the same car(same color) but in an automatic transmission in convertible guise. Always on the look out for another 1996 with the LT4._
Thank you! Dont get me a wrong, I'm a fan of ASR and appreciate how advanced it was for the time. I REALLY appreciate it when I hand over the keys to someone else who maybe isnt used to the power. Good luck finding an LT4! They are quickly becoming collectors items.
Asr, is the only thing that makes this car safe ,with a 6 speed, i will tell you. Do not. Turn it. Off...
@@pilotwhale I feel like that's true for most people. But decades of driving with "spirit" have given me good enough "butt sensors" to know when the car is slipping and when to back off of the gas myself.
I was surprised about the turning radius. I have 1991E 30 BMW and an 88 Mustang that both turn surprisingly small circles. Even smaller than my old 1988 Honda Civic. And my Mustang seatbelt is damn annoying for the exact opposite reason where it keeps getting loose and won’t tighten up until I pull it to let snapback. I just bought a 96 vette convertible Long distance and still waiting for transport to arrange pick up to bring it to me. Can’t wait :-)
Seems every old Mustang I've driven had that weird floppy seat belt issue. Congrats on the new Vette!
@@RetroCarsForever thank you :)
VERY good to learn these things, as my 1996 LT4 is being shipped to me this week. Thanks for the public service announcements!
Happy to help! Make sure to check out the other helpful videos on this channel. And ENJOY your LT4!
Awesome video with great info! Beautiful car 💖
Thank you!
Thanks for this video! I especially appreciate covering the coolant temp thing since I can confirm it freaked me out on my first C4 as well. ASR is “acceleration slip regulation,” though. ;) Still jealous of your LT4!
You're very welcome! I FOR SURE freaked out a bit on the coolant temperature thing when I first drove my car through traffic. As for ASR's meaning...OMG you're totally right!! (Slaps face) I'll make a pinned post to correct that one LOL
Pinned post with your credit!
Practical Car Guy As a side bit, the gauge on the ZR-1 does work as you would expect; it uses standard cooling, operates at temperatures people expect, and the analog gauge sits in the middle under normal operation. My guess as to why the LT1 gauge doesn’t is because the gauges themselves were already in use by the L98 and LT5 so GM got lazy and reused them rather than redesigning.
@@nomakewan Interesting, was curious how the ZR1 dealt with that...Do you own one? I like your theory on the LT1s gauge...Def sounds like something GM would do!
Practical Car Guy Nah, no ZR-1 here. But watched plenty of driving and racing footage here on KZhead, as well as the VHS owner’s manual videos. Noticed their gauges are nice and centered. I can’t say for sure but I bet the 90-91 L98 gauges are too.
Great content - you got the sub. I'd love to see an analysis of the ZF 6 speed. I just bought a base LT4 and it really does whine - especially in 6th going down the highway on cruise. The forums say it is common/normal. I'd love to know if anyone has found a way to quiet it down.
I’d say there’s a very light whine in mine but not too bad. Apparently they can get worse in high mileage cars. The real trick is when it comes time to replace the flywheel...sourcing the weird dual mass flywheels is very tricky, and single mass can be noisier. How many miles does your car have? In any case, appreciate the sub! New C4 video coming soon.
@@RetroCarsForever So mine is around 92k miles. Sounds like I need a ZF expert to look at it.
Great content. My third video of the night! My 95 purchased new is a driver for sure with over a quarter million miles. The ASR feedback used to scare the heck out of me. The turning radius is huge, The Corvette finally got to pasture when I purchased a manual shift 2014 Chevy Spark. That little car can do a Uturn on a two lane road! One other feature that is now common place today is passive keyless entry/exit. My 95 has it, I think it began in 93. It was many years later before other cars had it.
Thanks for watching! That little spark does sound fun in it’s own way.
Nice video, thank you. Beautiful car.
Many thanks!
Got a C5, I don't have any of these "quirks" but I enjoyed the video.
Thanks! Yeah c5s are a lot less weird than the c4s. They’re much more logical, straight forward machines!
I also have a c5 zo6 supercharged with meth injection n coil overs on all 4 corners. 10.1 et 140mph!
Dude, I love your C4 videos. I’ve had a ‘95 convertible for about a year and I’m totally obsessed with it. I bought it not knowing that there’s no glovebox or [real] trunk. Still, so rad. It’s 100% the most underrated sports car value.
Thanks so much! (Got another C4 vid coming out Wednesday that I bet you'll appreciate...) Yeah Convertibles dont have much in the way of space to put things, but they are drop dead gorgeous with the top down. And you're right...C4s are insane performance bargains right now, despite their negatives.
Don't forget the tiny light bulb near the spare tire compartment under the car. It also serves as a courtesy light when the hatch or doors are open and looks cool as feck at night. You can upgrade it to LED for increased illumination. 😎
Such a weird little quirk! Don't know of too many other cars that have that.
Love your videos and the channel. Beautiful CE 96!
Thanks so much. Stay tuned for Wednesday...New video with more of it!
03:51 - this is to help the Corvette “take your breath away”! 😉
LOL. That explains it! Engineers saw Top Gun and wanted to get those extra little "fighter jet" details inside...
My 95’ Firebird has the seatbelt problem too. I launched it in first and my belt tightened like a ratchet strap
Interesting! I test drove a 95 Camaro before going with my Corvette last year, dont recall that issue. Then again, I wasnt driving very fast (owner was in the car with me).
The "cinch" button is designed to work that way to hold you in the seat for people that know how to drive a sports car...l used mine all the time...read your manual...
Terry Duncan 95’ bird doesn’t have a cinch button
Great review👍👍😎
Thank you! More coming soon.
Great video, i have owned 2 C4's and found out about these quirks from being in a Corvette club. Also watch out for spark plug wiring looms that detach. Mine cost me 2K in repairs to the distributor shorting out.
Great tips, thanks!
I also daily my 96 collector's edition! I would say something that surprised me after I bought it was the "secret compartment" behind the passenger seat. I found a bag of tools in there from two owners back!
Nice bonus! That little area is super useful, esp as our later cars dont have gloveboxes. It even has a little "prop" to keep it open. I did have to figure out what the other little trapdoor next to it was, as its an extra cubby in earlier C4s...Turns out thats where they put the ABS system components (you can unscrew it for easier servicing there). Tell me about your CE! LT1? Z51? Coupe or Convertible? Interior color? Love these things!
It's an LT-1, coupe, Gray interior, 110k on the clock, salvaged title. I wasn't looking for a c4, but this popped up at a price I couldn't refuse. Decided to upgrade from my 2003 Camry. So glad I did. I'm not worries about damaging it too much, because it's already been totaled. You couldn't tell though.
@@ryanphaup5932 Quite a bit more fun than a Camry! It sounds like you have a really fun driver...maybe not a collectible but who cares? You can drive it hard and pile on the miles without any guilt.
Exactly! These cars were made to be driven. I'm not saving anything for the next guy. Still, I don't beat her up too much. It's my wallet and time that will be used to fix her 😂
@@ryanphaup5932 Mine's actually sorta worth something (only 33k miles), so I try to straddle that line between driving it "with spirit" but never outright abusing it. But I do love dailying it...Makes any commute so much more fun.
Both of my 4th gen Camaro z28 ('01 and '02 SS) would push back when wheel spin is detected
Ive been hearing that! Wonder how long the Corvette kept that feature.
I think that's the only way you can do traction control on a throttle cable set up. The cruise control worked the same way, it relied on a motor to modulate the pedal back and forth under your feet. Once cars became throttle by wire all that stuff was handled by the computer.
blackrat1228 that’s not the case. I’ve owned and driven a number of other cars that had cable operated throttles with traction control that didn’t “push” on the pedal like the Corvette does.
@@RetroCarsForever interesting. Did the cruise control work the same way? Throttle modulated to maintain set speed while the pedal stayed motionless? I've only had one throttle cable car with cruise control, all others have been throttle by wire. Maybe the direct connection to the pedal was a GM thing while other companies had a type of clutch so the pedal didn't react.
blackrat1228 I believe cruise control would physically move the gas pedal on every car I’ve had with a throttle cable, including my Corvette.
Enjoyed the vid and learned some stuff 👍🏼
Great, mission accomplished!
I’m looking into getting a C4. Your 96 is clean as hell sir! Motivational 🏁
Thank you, and best of luck with your search!
Have 1996 LT4 Z51 Vortech kompressor.1500km 1 oner.This car are like New...500whp. (Gear box 6 speed ZF)
Wow, that's one fast C4!
I had 2 C4s, an 86 and a 95. I think the weirdest quirk for me was the parking brake set down on the floor at the left side of the driver's seat. Who came up with that debacle? Functionality of that thing was terrible.
Super weird quirk for sure...Less weird if you're familiar with vintage English cars, that also have the same design. I've gotten used to it over time, and THANK GOD it can go down when it's engaged, otherwise getting in and out would be even MORE of a pain! But it's definitely something I have to explain to anyone driving it for the first time.
That throws off the state inspection people here in Massachusetts every year.... they never know how to release it
@@C4Gixxer LOL!
I have an 1989 and one day I had trouble pulling it up and like an idiot I pulled too hard and broke the assembly. The cable broke off this plastic groove holding it in place, had to reinstall it but now the cable seems wound too tight :( Making the parking brake still unusable, no clue what caused it.
The Fiero has it there as well. Weird for sure, but wouldn't trade either car for the world. Have an 85 Fiero and an 86 Vette.
Great production, this channel is going places
Thank you, appreciate it!
Just viewed your video what great help, just purchased a used 1964 and noticed the temp running hot. I was getting ready to change out thermostat but now I do not have to. Thanks Rick Nelson
Do you mean 1964 or 1994? Because you might have an issue with a 1964 running that hot!
@@RetroCarsForever My Bad 1994. I am in the process of replacing all bushings as a starting point. I trying to find a good way to determine if my ball joints also need to be replaced. Given the mileage 128000 I am sure it will be a good investment. Thanks for responding.
In love with my 95 c4 zr1, cool video 👌
Thanks! Rare c4 you got there.
Had my Vette little over a year now and took a while to figure all these points out. Good video
Thanks!
Amazing video man. You deserve more subscribers
Thank you, much appreciated! Working on another fun one now, be out next week.
Cool video, very informative. Don't own a 'Vette, but I enjoyed this, thank you.
Thanks!
Got some good info. I'm considering buying a C4 Corvette and this helps my decision making.
Awesome, glad I could help! Good luck with your search.
Great video this just came up in my recommended list. I've had my 92 for 16 years and never had any idea what the Cinch button was for. Though I gotta admit I have not had the cinching problem so obviously I don't drive it hard enough! Also I did two years of getting inside the car to release the hatch before realizing there were trunk release buttons on both inside doors. Very unique!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! I'll be doing a rapid-fire "all the quirks" video of things like the trunk release button (that some people might or might not know) in the future, THIS video was all about the "secret" quirks that are super confusing to new owners.
After reading this comment I went outside to look at the doors lol I have had my 94 for 5 years and never knew about hatch release buttons on the doors, always used the one in the console. My door button doesn't work but I found it. Thanks
I’m currently looking at grabbing a 92 C4 with only 105k miles garage kept beauty Have you had any drastic issues with yours? Has it been reliable also in this market is finding one for 6k in great condition considered a “steal”
I used to own a 1990 Ford Thunderbird which had the same traction control system. Except in the Ford when driving around tight corners it would either accelerate for me which meant the pedal actually came out from under my foot or decelerate depending on road conditions and push the pedal back into my foot. I was amazed at that when it first started happening cuz I never knew anything about it. But I have to admit the system worked amazingly well. In any case love the video thanks for showing
Thank you! I owned a 1991 Mercury Cougar (did a review of it here)- kzhead.info/sun/mtebfMZ6cIJsoHA/bejne.html BUT mine didn't have any traction control. Did you have an SC?
Very interesting stuff! Even though they're known to not be reliable/cheap to maintain, I'd love to find an earlier 4+3 manual C4, since I actually drove one back in the day haha. Good video!
Thank you! Those 4 plus 3s are one of the weirdest transmissions I've ever driven. I personally disliked it and found it confusing and clunky, MUCH prefer the ZF 6 speed in 1989 and later cars. The 4 plus 3 was actually SLOWER than the auto of the time in just about every test too! But, Doug Nash is great if you want something funky or nostalgic!
I have one 85
Great video dude. I've had my black 94 lt1 6 speed for 5 years. Knew about the useless cup holders instantly when shifting to reverse lol also terrible turning radius. Found the cinch button months ago. Had to google it. What I didn't know was the coolant temp. Mine has an aftermarket fan system with a toggle switch I always would turn on when the gauge neared the max. A co-worker who has a c5 vette says the same thing about his overheating like say waiting in line at a fast food joint. They definitely need more clear gauges.
Thanks! Yeah the coolant temp guages and just how hot these are designed to run really confuse people. IMO they should've designed the gauges themselves to make it clear that running 225 is okay!
Just picked up an 85 a few weeks ago, I absolutely adore it, especially since it’s staying cool now that I rewired the fan.
Congrats! Those L98 engines are totally different than the LT1/LT4 that I talk about in the video, but they're still strong, torquey motors. Auto or manual?
Practical Car Guy it’s an auto, and it is super torquey. I just uploaded a video the other day about the cooling issue and my fix for it actually.
Your videos make me want to drive my Black 95 C4 LT1 more. I’ve had it since ‘99 when I was 29. Currently It only has 51k miles on it. My most recent fix was replacing gas tank. Bladder broke and I think my spare tire rubbed a hole. Bought aftermarket one, red coated the inside, and had dealer install it.
Glad I can inspire anyone to get out and drive these wonderful cars!
Temp information was good. I bought a hypertech tuner and programmed it to come on at 185°
Glad I found this video, I to this day thought something was wrong with my 1994 Corvette because of the Temps getting to High. I didn’t know that’s how they were built, interesting concept. Really glad I know about this now though!
Glad to help!
Awesome video, I have the same car but a convertible. Was my dream car when I was 18 so nice to find one as I got older.
Thanks! And same here...C4 was always a dream car of mine, felt great to finally get one.
Thanks for the video... We're driving to San Diego to pick up a 1988 vette convertible that I bought on Bring a Trailer... a survivor with only 925 miles on it as it was stored by a collector. Have a 100+ mile drive back and probably would have freaked over the temp gauge thing! Thanks for saving a bunch of angst!
Congrats, BUT keep in mind you have a COMPLETELY different engine than the ones I'm talking about here. You have an L98, which has a normal cooling system, so if its getting this hot, it might actually be a problem. Also PLEASE do not drive far or fast if the car is on old tires! By old I mean AGE not mileage. It is dangerous and when they blow they can take out the fiberglass.
Thanks for the info on the temperature thing. I was freaking out all the time til the fans kicked in and it cooled off. THought something was wrong.
Happy to help!
An another awesome video of C4's. !!!!!!
Thanks Gary! More coming soon.
I had a 96 "Sebring Silver" Collectors Edition LT4 w/ black leather and the 6 speed. Spot on information.. my '93 "pushed back" too. Great video. :)
Thanks so much!
Great video! I have a 1984 Corvette Z51 and you're not kidding about the temperature although it's a "different engine ". The first time I see it get to 220 was nervous
Crossfires are supposed to run hot too?
Also there is a nice write up on it www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c4-tech-performance/2943804-what-is-normal-operating-temp.html
I've got a 74 Corvette and one of the things that surprised me the most is the lack of engine bay space. How they ever put a 454 in one is beyond me.
Ive seen that engine bay at a car show before...And agreed, stunning they stuffed it in there!
Good video. Heel and toe apart, all are present on my C6.
Wider footwells and better spaced pedals were some of things they improved upon with the C5 and obviously the C6...And I'm glad they did! If I ever replace this car, it'll be with either a C5 or C6 Corvette. Not quite as charming but so many great improvements over the C4.
This is some good quality content right here.
Thank you! Stay tuned and subscribe if you haven't already, have a follow up to this video coming out very soon.
@@RetroCarsForever hell yeah man! I’ll def keep an eye out for that one. Keep up that A1 content!
Clean 96! especially under the hood. Nice video
Thank you! I searched far and wide to find the perfect C4, glad I did.
I’ve been lucky to have had two Vettes, a red ‘88 and a pewter ‘99. The C4 was my favorite but it had a lot of miles on it when I bought it and more problems than I needed. Even after I changed the stock L98 into a bored-out 383 with a new cam I still had lots to fix. When the electrical system starting giving me problems I sold it and bought a low mileage C5. I drove that car nearly every day for eight years. I’d like to buy a new 2021 Corvette but I consider myself lucky to have had two.
I could def see myself owning another Corvette (likely C5 or C6) someday. I'd REALLY LOVE to have a C8, but I'll wait about twenty years once it's depreciated enough to garner my interest!
i questioned all of these things after buying my c4. fantastic video
Thank you. And glad I wasn’t the only one!
There was a concept car called the CERV III (I think that is Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) that I read about in 1990. It had this active system that would increase the stiffness of the gas pedal the closer you got to breaking traction. This was a feedback mechanism to help the driver stay just at the limit of maximum acceleration without spinning the wheels. I wonder if the ASR pushes back on the gas pedal because it is related to this system.
Great memory! I’m sure you’re right, the timing fits perfectly for a simpler system to be installed in 1992. I actually saw that concept car in person back in the day, gorgeous car.
@@RetroCarsForever And it was a mid-engine car intended to pioneer the way for future corvettes. I wish I could have seen this car in person like you did.
Love your C4 its gorgeous. I have a 86 C4corvette and 2005 C6 plus the 2 camaros 97 & 99 Z28's. i cannot let go of my C4 i still love it.
Thanks so much! Quite an awesome fleet of Chevy's you have there.
Very entertaining thx
Anytime, more coming soon!
Awesome video, you should do a quirk video on the early model c4. A lot of things are different from 84-89
Thanks! Stay tuned/subscribe for something even better that I have planned, a direct comparison between a 1984 (first year Corvette) and my 1996.
This video is why I subscribed to your channel
New to corvette. Just purchased a 92. Much to learn.
Congrats! You’ve come to right place to learn more about these weird but wonderful machines. A follow up quirks video for ya- kzhead.info/sun/i5ZmYJp-mXeHq3k/bejne.html
Pretty accurate list. The most annoying thing on my old ‘93 when I had it was that pain in the ass OptiSpark distributor. That was cause the car to buck like bull at various times.
Gorgeous C4 , well maintained 👍, I am crazy bout C4 since 90s I was teenage student.
Thanks Ahmed! I've been crazy about these cars ever since they were new and I was a kid. To my eye one of most beautiful car designs of all time.
5:06 "At the first sneeze of g's" hahaha
I had fun writing that one.
I went to look at a 1996 Ann. Edn. w/LT4. I really enjoyed this video. I currently have 2004 C5, and yes...I am 58 years old.... I really liked the way you spoke to me, in your video. Excellent presentation, a little humor mixed in with some Great information. Have you posted any C5 videos?
Thanks so much...Great info, expertly presented, with a dash of humor is exactly the target I aim for with my videos. I havent posted any C5 videos yet, but be sure to subscribe...Future planned vids include a back-to-back comparison between my C4 and a C5. I've driven many C5s and think they are EXCELLENT cars (huge improvement on the C4 in most ways). Wouldn't be surprised if I own one someday!
I just bought this year....edition car with torch red interior. Helpful stuff, Thanks
Congrats! Rare car with the red interior. Stay tuned for a new C4 video that covers that option!
I have a c6 c5 and c4 I bought in that order. Probably going to get a c7 next though because I only have room for 1 more. Neat video.
Thanks! And sounds like you have an epic garage.
Cool car. I bought the exact same car last Friday. Loving mine so far too.
Congrats! Obviously I think it’s a great spec to get.
Good video. New to corvette and c4. I’m hesitant to push her, stories of spinouts etc in classic cars getting destroyed. So I gave into my throttle passion and got some pushback the other day. Didn’t believe my senses, mentioned it to the wife sitting right seat then assumed it was imaginary. Thanks for the revealing info
Ha, happy to help! It's a weird sensation, isn't it? If you're new to the C4, feel free to check out all the other Corvette videos on my channel, I made them to specifically help people new to them!
I can definitely agree on the turning radius, though mine is exasperated due to 29 inch mud tires haha.
Not everyday you see a c4 with mud tires!
You don't need mud tires if you got a C4 in europe :D ...many parking houses in the cities were built for VW Beetles. With a C4, plan 10 mins to get to a parking space :D
The seatbelt tensioner thing is something I’ve noticed happens in almost every GM vehicle I’ve rode in, but it doesn’t normally happen often in the ones I’ve been in
It only really tightens if you're driving quickly, so if other GM vehicles did that that werent' sports cars, its probably not as noticeable.
@@RetroCarsForever yeah it only normally happens if I try to move a little bit forward in the seat and it’s driving but I had noticed it in 2 different Chevy Silverado’s and a Buick Enclave but I also have trouble holding still so idk but maybe that’s why