[Stingrayfan56]

My car is a 2015 Z51 M7 with 2953 miles on it. Tonight I was testing out Launch control for the first time and I did it 1st time with no failure and things went smooth. The 2nd time a few hours later I had a friend with me and did it again but it just spun alot and finally hooked. It was about 55 degrees out at this point.

Waited about 5 minutes and tried it again because the previous attemlt wasnt impressive. When I popped the clutch heard a loud bang and the car free revd even though it was in 1st gear.

So I sit for a minute and then try to move again and it does but the alignment feels way off and theres noises and chatter in the rear occasionally. I babied the car to a driveway down the road and occasionally it would free rev then catch again.

Called onstar and they got me a tow truck I started backing up so tow truck could get to me and its making a banging and crunching sound.

Car is at the tow lot and going to dealer in the morning. No mods on car other than an AFE CAI. Not sure if an axle popped or the differential exploded. My guess the diff.

Any advice? This is definitely covered under warranty right? Even beyond that im not sure how I feel about the car now. I love it but it shouldnt break after 3 launches from a factory provided launch setting.

Thanks for all the help in advance. Im really stressed out.

 

[TNSQUIRE]

Should be covered under warranty. Using launch control does not void the warranty. When they did a demo of launch control at Spring Mountain while I was there, the same thing happened to their car.

 

[Z06 Owned]

Should be covered under warranty. Using launch control does not void the warranty. When they did a demo of launch control at Spring Mountain while I was there, the same thing happened to their car.

Yikes!

 

[mjw930]

Should be covered under warranty. Using launch control does not void the warranty. When they did a demo of launch control at Spring Mountain while I was there, the same thing happened to their car.

Do you know what broke?

 

[Stingrayfan56]

Should be covered under warranty. Using launch control does not void the warranty. When they did a demo of launch control at Spring Mountain while I was there, the same thing happened to their car.

Can you please elaborate and thank you!!

 

[Mobius]

It sounds like the diff failed.

A number of us here have had diffs that were shipped with low fluid from the factory, including myself. http://www.stingrayforums.com/forum...al-transmission-fluid-change-2.html#post78417

Here's some more info specific to the Z51 diff: http://www.stingrayforums.com/forum...ussions/1504-corvette-z-51-e-diff-thread.html

I hope you're back on the road quickly.

 

[Stingrayfan56]

It sounds like the diff failed.

A number of us here have had diffs that were shipped with low fluid from the factory, including myself. http://www.stingrayforums.com/forum...al-transmission-fluid-change-2.html#post78417

I hope you're back on the road quickly.

Will the dealer see that the diff fluid was low once they drain it to inspect the damage

 

[elegant]

Yes. Good luck in getting your car fixed as soon as possible. Please post back in this thread as to what was diagnosed, the fix, etc.

 

[53Vette]

You never did say what your non-impressive time was? I'm too afraid to do a hard launch. I'd rather enjoy high G's in a corner.

 

[TNSQUIRE]

Can you please elaborate and thank you!!

When they popped the clutch, there was a loud pop as the car broke loose and then the car completely lost all power. They said it was the first time they had experienced it and it sounded bad.

 

[Stingrayfan56]

You never did say what your non-impressive time was? I'm too afraid to do a hard launch. I'd rather enjoy high G's in a corner.

I didnt time it just by feel I knew it wasnt good. I really hope this gets resolved well. Knowing im not the only one it has happened to makes me feel a little bit better about the car.

 

[Stingrayfan56]

When they popped the clutch, there was a loud pop as the car broke loose and then the car completely lost all power. They said it was the first time they had experienced it and it sounded bad.

Sounds about exactly like my experience. Lucky I was able to limp it to a safe place rather than the middle of the road.

 

[Milliwatt Rob]

I have always been reluctant to push any of my street cars super hard on acceleration from a dead stop. Its tough on the drivetrain. I love strong acceleration once the car is moving, but the twisting torque on drive train components, multiplied by gearbox reduction gears, makes me cringe mentally. In my younger days, I had a BMW motorcycle with a flywheel and a dry clutch, similar to a car. I used to love to full throttle the bike because it had loads of mid range torque. With time, it backed out the flywheel bolts and bent them. And damaged the flywheel bolt threads in the crankshaft. I also had to replace a gearbox, abused by my long term habit of going full throttle while in a higher gear.

While GM promotes the car with bragging of impressively quick 0 to 60 times, actually driving the car that way and expecting normal reliability of drivetrain components is unrealistic, in my opinion. Go to any drag strip and you will see that drivetrain failures are a part of the experience.

 

[Fasttoys1]

I have always been reluctant to push any of my street cars super hard on acceleration from a dead stop. Its tough on the drivetrain. I love strong acceleration once the car is moving, but the twisting torque on drive train components, multiplied by gearbox reduction gears, makes me cringe mentally. In my younger days, I had a BMW motorcycle with a flywheel and a dry clutch, similar to a car. I used to love to full throttle the bike because it had loads of mid range torque. With time, it backed out the flywheel bolts and bent them. And damaged the flywheel bolt threads in the crankshaft.

While GM promotes the car with bragging of impressively quick 0 to 60 times, actually driving the car that way and expecting normal reliability of drivetrain components is unrealistic, in my opinion. Go to any drag strip and you will see that drivetrain failures are a part of the experience.

Very good points & another reason I choose not to do burn outs + tires are expensive..

 

[Bakerboys8]

I'm glad this was posted. I was ready to do some launch control runs just because the videos make it seem like it's part of the experience of owning a C7 and that it could handle the abuse. I'm sure there's plenty of people that have done it with no problem but it's not worth the risk to me anymore. We don't need to prove anything to anybody about our cars. Our cars are fast enough even when sitting still.

 

[Stingrayfan56]

I'm glad this was posted. I was ready to do some launch control runs just because the videos make it seem like it's part of the experience of owning a C7 and that it could handle the abuse. I'm sure there's plenty of people that have done it with no problem but it's not worth the risk to me anymore. We don't need to prove anything to anybody about our cars. Our cars are fast enough even when sitting still.

But for the amount of money we are all spending for the car and its supposed to be a track capable car it should be able to hold up to some factory featured launch control runs.

The fact that anyone has to feel uncomfortable doing it seems a little absurd. They teach it at the driving experience and its touted as capable. When using it the last thing I thought would happen was it to break. I had complete confidence in the car. Now I'm not quite sure how I feel but I havent even spoken to the dealer and this all just happened.

Once the repairs are done I can with a clear mind see how I feel. If its a case of fluid not being the proper level that would make me feel better so at least I know it was just a mistake and not a huge problem with the car. Still bummed out but hopeful. Wish me luck! I do love the car.

I'll post the information from the dealer as I get it.

 

[Mobius]

...the car and its supposed to be a track capable car it should be able to hold up to some factory featured launch control runs.

The fact that anyone has to feel uncomfortable doing it seems a little absurd.

Hmm, I'll bet that there are a lot of people who push their C7s hard (much harder than you), including plenty of hard off the line acceleration and ample burn-outs.

I certainly do those things everytime I go out for a drive, and I love doing it, but as you can see even mentioning using the factory launch control draws criticism from many on this forum.

The best thing to remember for anyone who really likes to push their car hard, is to have good synthetic fluids installed at the right levels, and allow the engine and tranny to fully warm before exploring the outer edge of the envelope.

 

[Stingrayfan56]

Hmm, I'll bet that there are a lot of people who push their C7s hard (much harder than you), including plenty of hard off the line acceleration and ample burn-outs.

I certainly do those things everytime I go out for a drive, and I love doing it, but as you can see even mentioning using the factory launch control draws criticism from many on this forum.

The best thing to remember for anyone who really likes to push their car hard, is to have good synthetic fluids installed at the right levels, and allow the engine and tranny to fully warm before exploring the outer edge of the envelope.

I havent even done a burnout Haha

I know they can hold up fine and people are pushing them. I just want mine to hold up stock! If its improper fluid level then now I know...

And yes I let the car warm up before I even think about doing any spirited driving.

 

[Z06 Owned]

Doesn't launch control utilize the rear brakes to some degree, for wheel spin control? If yes, that really puts an extra degree of stress on the drivetrain.

 

[rdslon01]

I havent even done a burnout Haha

I know they can hold up fine and people are pushing them. I just want mine to hold up stock! If its improper fluid level then now I know...

And yes I let the car warm up before I even think about doing any spirited driving.

I am curious what you meant when you replied to Mobius as wanting your StingRay to hold up stock. When Mobius said he changed the fluids too better, fully synthetic ones, if I recall correctly, the fully synthetic ones he chose were Pennzoil, which are on the list of GM-approved oils.

So, what Mobius has done may not be "stock" since it is not as it has come from the factory (he changed to better fluids/oils), but what he has done is still 100% warranty-compliant.