Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine This is a mistake. Your brakes may not
have time to cool between hard stops.
Your brakes will wear out much faster if
you do a lot
of heavy braking. If you keep
pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a
lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re
driving, brake normally but don’t pump
your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get
harder to push down. If your engine stops,
you will still have some power brake
assist. But you will use it
when you brake.
Once the power assist is used up, it may
take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
SERVICE
I
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your Corvette has an advanced electronic
braking system that will help prevent
skidding.
This light on the instrument panel will go
on when you start your vehicle.
When you start your vehicle and begin to
drive away, you may hear a momentary
motor or clicking noise. And you may
even notice that your brake pedal moves
,
little while this is going on. This is the
ABS system testing itself. If there’s a
problem with the anti-lock brake system,
the anti-lock brake system warning light
will stay on.
See “Anti-lock Brake System Warning
Light” in the Index. Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s, say
the road
is wet. You’re driving safely.
Suddenly an animal jumps out in front
You slam on the brakes. Here’s &at
happens with
ABS. ..
A computer senses that wheels &g,
slowing down. If one of the wheels is
about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front
wheel and at the rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change
the
brake pressure faster than any driver
could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions. of
you.
125..,
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
You can steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed and
controls braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the
time you need to get your foot up to the
brake pedal.
If you get too close to the
vehicle
in front of you, you won’t have
time to apply your brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down and let anti-lock work
for you. You may hear a motor or clicking
. . .I26
noise and feel the brake pedal move a
little during a hard stop, but this is
normal. When your anti-lock system is
adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a
braking skid, the “ABS ACTIVE” light
will come on. See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Active Light” in the Index.
ASR (Accelerated Slip Regulation)
System
Your vehicle has an ASR system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially
useful in slippery road conditions. The
system operates only if it senses that the
rear wheels are spinning too much or
are beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system works
the rear brakes
and reduces engine power (by closing the
throttle and managing spark) to limit
wheel spin.
The “ASR ACTIVE” light will come on
when the ASR system is limiting wheel
spin. See “ASR Active Light”
in the
Index. You may feel the system working,
or you may notice some noise, but this is
normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when
the ASR system begins to limit wheel
spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. When road conditions allow
you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage cruise control. (See “Cruise
Control” in the Index.)
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path
when you
turn the front wheels. If there’s
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going in the same direction. If you’ve
ever tried to steer a vehicle
on wet ice,
you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve
depends on the condition of your tires and
the road surface, the angle at which
the
curve is banked, and,your speed. While
you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor
you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp
curve. Then you suddenly accelerate.
Both control systems
- steering and
acceleration
- have to do their work
where the tires meet the road. Unless
your
ASR system is on, adding the
sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose
control.
What should you do if this ever happens?
Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the
vehicle the way you want it to go, and
slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of course,
the posted speeds are based on good
weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions
you’ll want to go
slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as
you
approach a curve, do it before you enter
the curve, while your front wheels are
straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can
“drive”. through the curve. Maintain
a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of
the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more
effective than braking. For example, you
come over a hill and find a truck stopped
in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out
from nowhere, or a child darts out from
between parked cars and stops right in
front of you. You can avoid these problems
by braking
- if you can stop in time. But
sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room.
That’s the time for evasive action
-
steering around the problem.
Your Corvette can perform very well in
emergencies like these. First apply your
brakes. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision.
Then steer around the problem, to the left
or right depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close
attention and a quick decision. If you are
holding the steering wheel at the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions,
you can turn it a full
180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations
are always possible is
a good reason to
practice defensive driving at all times and
wear safety belts properly.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
0
0
..
If other cars are lined up to pass a
slow vehicle, wait your turn. But take
care that someone isn’t trying to pass
you as you pull out to pass the slow
vehicle. Remember to glance over
your shoulder and check the blind
spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and start your left lane
change signal before moving out of
the right lane to pass. When you are
far enough ahead
of the passed vehicle
to see its front
in your inside mirror,
activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane.
(Remember that your right outside
mirror is convex. The vehicle you just
passed may seem to be farther away
from you than it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle
at a time on two-lane roads.
Reconsider before passing the next vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving
vehicle too rapidly. Even though the
brake lights are not flashing, it may be
slowing down or starting
to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy
for the following driver to get ahead
of you. Perhaps you can ease a little
to the right.
,130
Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say
about what happens when the three
control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep
trying to steer and constantly seek an
escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the
vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most
skids by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to
your Corvette’s three control systems.
In the braking skid your wheels aren’t
rolling. In the steering or cornering skid,
too much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose cornering
force. And in the acceleration skid too
much throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
A cornering skid
is best handled by
easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal. Remember: Any
ASR system helps avoid
only the acceleration skid. If your ASR
system is
off, then an acceleration skid is
also best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your
foot
off the accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way you want the vehicle to go.
If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be
ready for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on
the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow
down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down
on slippery surfaces because stopping
distance will be longer and vehicle
control more limited.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine While driving on a surface with reduced
traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking
(including engine braking by shifting to
a lower gear). Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide.
You may not
realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize
warning clues
- such as enough water,
ice or packed snow on the road to make a
“mirrored surface”
- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.
I
1 Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day
driving. One reason is that some drivers
are likely to be impaired
- by alcohol or
drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
0 Drive defensively.
0 Don’t drink and drive.
0 Adjust your inside rearview mirror to
reduce the glare from headlights
behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may
need to slow down and keep more
space between you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher
speed roads. Your headlights can light
up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a
safe place and rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in
the daytime. But as we get older these
differences increase.
A 50-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a
20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also
affect your night vision. For example, if
you spend the day in bright sunshine you
are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes
will have less trouble adjusting to night.
But if you’re driving, don’t wear
sunglasses at night. They may cut down
on glare from headlights, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by
approaching lights. It can take
a second
or two, or even several seconds, for your
eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are
faced with severe glare (as from a driver
who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a
131 ..
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 8. Shut the engine off and replace the
pressure cap. At any time during this
procedure if coolant begins
to flow
out
of the filler neck, reinstall the
pressure cap. Be sure the arrows on
the cap line up like this.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while
you’re driving, especially if you maintain
your tires properly. If air goes out of a
tire, it’s much more likely
to’ leak out
slowly. But
if you should ever have a
”blowout,” here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create
a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that
side. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer
to maintain lane position, then
gently brake to a stop well out of the
traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a skid and may require the
same correction you’d use in a skid. In
any rear blowout, remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering the way you
want the vehicle to go.
It may be very
bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer.
Gently brake to a stop, well qff the road
if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next section shows
how to use your jacking equipment to
change a flat tire safely. If your vehicle
has Extended Mobility Tires (tires with
“EMT” molded on the sidewalls), see
“Extended Mobility Tires” in the Index.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
damage by driving slowly to a level place.
Turn on your hazard warning flashers.
159 ...
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Substitute Oil (LT1 Only): When adding
oil to maintain engine oil level, if an oil
meeting GM Standard GM4718M is not
available, you can use oil designated
either
SAE 5W-30 API Service SH or SG
at all temperatures, or
SAE 1OW-30 API
Service
SH or SG at temperatures above
0°F (-18°C). This oil should not be used
for an oil change.
Substitute Oil (LT5 Only): When adding
oil to maintain engine oil level, if an oil
meeting
GM Standard GM4718M is not
available, you can use oil designated SAE
1OW-30 API Service SH or
SG at all
temperatures. This oil should not be used
for an oil change.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. Your
Chevrolet dealer is ready to advise if you
think something should be added.
When to Change Engine Oil
See if any one of these is true for you:
Most trips are less than 4 miles
It’s below freezing outside and most
trips are less than
10 miles (16 km).
(6 km).
The engine is at low speed most of
the time (as
in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty places.
If any one of these is true for your
vehicle, you need to change your oil and
filter every 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) or
3 months
- whichever comes first.
(See “Engine Oil Life Monitor” in the
Index.)
If none of them is true, change the oil
every 7,500 miles
( 12 500 km) or 12
months
- whichever comes first. Change
the filter at the first oil change and at
every other oil change after that. (See
“Engine Oil Life Monitor” in the Index.)
Engine Coolant Heater (Engine Block
Heater)
An engine coolant heater can be a big
help if you have to park outside in very
cold weather,
0 “F (- 18 “C) or colder. If
your vehicle has this feature, see “Engine
Coolant Heater” in the Index.
What to Do with Used Oil
Did you know that used engine oil
contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even
cause cancer? Don’t let used oil stay on your
skin for very long. Clean your skin
and nails with soap and water, or a good
hand cleaner. Wash or throw away
clothing or rags containing used engine
oil. (See the manufacturer’s warnings
about the use and disposal of oil
products.)
Used oil can be a real threat to the
environment. If you change your own oil,
be sure to drain all free-flowing oil from
the filter before disposal. Don’t ever
dispose of oil by putting it in the trash,
pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or
into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle
it by taking it to a place that
collects used oil. If you have a problem
properly disposing of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or
a local
recycling center for help. L 1
181 ...
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service and Appearance Care
5.
0
0
Reverse the steps.
Align the tabs
to the slots in the
bottom of the assembly before you
replace it.
Install the short knob into the middle
hole first. Then install the longer
knobs into the outer holes.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
4 good time to check your automatic
:ransmission fluid level is when the
mgine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when
co change your fluid. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little
iifficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Chevrolet dealership Service
Department.
[f you do it yourself, be sure to follow all
the instructions here, or you could get a
false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can dam-
age your transmission.
Too much can
mean that some of the fluid could
come out and fall
on hot engine parts
or exhaust system, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission fluid. Wait
at least 30 minutes before checking
the transmission fluid level if you have
been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic - especially in hot
To get the right reading, the fluid should
be at normal operating temperature, which is
180°F to 200°F (82°C to 93°C).
To check transmission fluid hot: Get
the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside
temperatures are above
50°F (10°C). If
it’s colder than
50°F (10°C)’ drive the
vehicle in
“D’ (Third Gear) until the
engine temperature gage moves and then
remains steady for ten minutes. Then follow the hot check procedures.
To check transmission fluid cold: A cold
check is made after the vehicle has been sitting for eight hours or more with the
engine
off and is used only as a reference.
Let the engine run at idle for five minutes
if outside temperatures are 50” F ( 1 OOC)
or more. If it’s colder than 50°F ( 10°C)’
you may have to idle the engine longer.
Should the fluid level be low during a
90°F (32°C).
weather.
. . .184