While pulling some baselines...
While pulling some baselines for an upcoming intake story, the ESP crew and I noticed the occasional wisp of smoke coming from the back of the engine. But a failed PCV wasn't the only issue.
As I mentioned a couple issues back, I recently picked up my first C5-a fully loaded '02 coupe. And as any new-to-you used-car owner knows, the good and the bad can sometimes go hand in hand.
Thankfully, even shade-tree mechanics like me can address many of these cars' common problems nearly unaided. One such issue is the oil-pressure sensor.
This classic C5 failure isn't exactly a quick-and-easy repair, but there are several ways to go about it. In this instance, we accessed the sensor (which sits at the back of the engine) by removing a good portion of the top of engine. Thankfully, the intake was coming off for a separate story anyway. Otherwise, we would have followed the suggestions of several Corvette Forum members and drilled holes to access the darn thing and then relocated it all together.
That's a pretty scary number!...
That's a pretty scary number! Thankfully, a bad sensor was causing an inaccurate reading.
The replacement sensor can...
The replacement sensor can be had at any parts store or ordered directly from Corvette Central.
Speaking of Corvette Central,...
Speaking of Corvette Central, before you get started on any serious repairs, pick up the C5 Service Manuals from the company. You'll be glad you did.
With the intake off (a disassembly...
With the intake off (a disassembly I'll cover in a future story), I found this PCV-sponsored waste-oil swamp. Aside from looking awful, it had also worked its way into the intake seals and more.
A few minutes of cleaning...
A few minutes of cleaning returned the top of the engine to factory fresh.
At the back of the block,...
At the back of the block, you'll find the oil-pressure sensor and, in my case, a busted PCV hose.
While we were at it, a small detour was prescribed for an ailing PCV system. Enhanced Street Performance Inc. (ESP) owners Dave Brady and Greg Gemme spotted the issue while baselining our yet-to-be-named '02 on their Mustang dynamometer for an upcoming story. Visible as only an occasional wisp of smoke, the Y-section in the pipe had long since given up its ghost and was now dripping evacuated oil directly under the intake. A quick call to the local dealership awarded us with a better-than-ever OEM replacement with a redesigned Y-joint.
As both repairs require access behind the intake, you're in for several hours of work. Thankfully, these two items are pretty straightforward. Just keep a copy of your C5 service manual-available from Corvette Central-nearby and chances are you won't have any issues at all.
You'll need a 11/16 socket...
You'll need a 11/16 socket for removal.
Following along with the GM...
Following along with the GM Service Manual the old parts were extracted and the new ones were installed.
Out with the old, and in with...
Out with the old, and in with the new.
The Y-joint at the rear of...
The Y-joint at the rear of the PCV system had long since decayed, leaving a gap in an otherwise sealed system.
I also discovered that this...
I also discovered that this elbow joint, found at another location of the PCV, had worn out.
A local dealer had the OEM...
A local dealer had the OEM replacement. Sadly, the unit comes as a whole and was not available on a piece-by-piece basis.
Routed around and ready to...
Routed around and ready to go, the new PCV setup promised all the things the old one couldn't-mainly a sealed, trustworthy system that won't dump crap at the back of the block.
And with the new PCV hugging...
And with the new PCV hugging the block, and a new oil-pressure sensor at the rear, our oil woes were at an end.