1994 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service and Appearance Care
on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
iowest are:
A, B, and C. They represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on braking
(straight-ahead) traction tests and does
not include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s
resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
. . .208
indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level
of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on
the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buiidup
and possible tire failure.
These grades are molded on the sidewalls
of passenger car tires.
While the tires available as standard or
optional equipment on General Motors
vehicles may vary with respect to these
grades, all such tires meet General Motors
performance standards and have been
approved for use on General Motors
vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric)
tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to
give you the longest tire life and best
overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have
your wheels aligned again. However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling one way or
the other, the
alignment may need to be reset. If you
notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, your wheels may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel- Replacement - . -
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or
badly rusted. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts should be replaced. If the wheel
leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes
be repaired). See your Chevrolet dealer
if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel
you need.
Each new wheel should have the same
load carrying capacity, diameter, width,
offset, and be mounted
the same way as
the one it replaces.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you need to replace any of your wheels,
wheel bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them
only with new
GM original equipment
parts. This way,
you will be sure to have
the right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for your Corvette.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake
cooling, speedometer/odometer
calibration, headlight aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance, and
tire clearance to the body and chassis.
lrire Chains
FICE:
I
Don't use tire chains; they can
damage your vehicle.
Used Replacement Wheels
209 . .

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Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be
hazardous. Some are toxic. Others can
burst into flame if you strike a match
or get them on a hot part of the vehicle.
Some are dangerous if you breathe
their fumes in a closed space. When
you use anything from a container to
clean your Corvette, be sure to follow
the manufacturer’s warnings and
instructions. And always open your
doors or windows
when you’re
cleaning the inside. Never use
these to clean your vehicle:
0 Gasoline
Benzene
0 Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
0 Paint Thinner
0 Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
- some more
than others
- and they can all damage
your vehicle, too. Don’t use any
of these unless this manual
says you can. In many uses, these will
damage your vehicle:
0 Alcohol
0 Laundry Soap
0 Bleach
Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your
Corvette
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of
dust and loose dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather
with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Chevrolet dealer has two
GM
cleaners, a solvent-type spot lifter and a
foam-type powdered cleaner. They will
clean normal spots and stains very well.
Do not use them on vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips: Always read the instructions on the
cleaner label. Clean up stains as soon as you can
-
before they set.
Use a clean cloth or sponge, and
change to a clean area often. A soft
brush may be used
if stains are
stubborn.
I
. . .210

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Use solvent-type cleaners in a
well-ventilated area only. If you use
them, don’t saturate the stained area.
If a ring forms after spot cleaning,
clean the entire area immediately or it
will set.
Using Foam-Type Cleaner on Fabric
Vacuum and brush the area to remove
any loose dirt.
Always clean a whole trim panel or
section. Mask surrounding trim along
stitch or welt lines.
Mix Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner
following the directions on the
container label.
Use suds only and apply with a clean
sponge.
Don’t saturate the material.
Don’t rub it roughly.
As soon as you’ve cleaned the section,
use a sponge to remove the suds.
Rinse the section with a clean, wet
sponge.
Wipe
off what’s left with a slightly
damp paper towel or cloth.
Then dry it immediately with a blow
dryer or a heat lamp.
I NOTICE:
I
Be careful with a hair dryer or heat
lamp. You could scorch the fabric.
Wipe with a clean cloth.
Using Solvent-Type Cleaner on Fabric
First, see if you have to use solvent-type
cleaner at all. Some spots and stains will
clean
off better with just water and mild
soap.
If you need to use a solvent:
0
0 Gently scrape excess soil from the
trim material with a clean, dull knife
or scraper. Use very little cleaner, light
pressure and clean cloths (preferably
cheesecloth). Cleaning should start at
the outside of the stain, “feathering”
toward the center. Keep changing to a
clean section of the cloth.
When you clean a stain from fabric,
immediately dry the area with an air
hose, hair dryer, or heat lamp to help
prevent a cleaning ring. (See the
previous NOTICE.)
Fabric Protection
Your Corvette has upholstery and carpet
that has been treated with Scotchgard”
Fabric Protector, a 3M product.
Scotchgard
” protects fabrics by repelling
oil and water, which are the carriers of
most stains. Even with this protection,
you still need to clean your upholstery
often to keep it looking new.
Further information on cleaning is
available by calling 1-800-433-3296
(in Minnesota, 1-800-642-6167).
Special Cleaning Problems
Greasy or oily stains:
Such as grease,
oil, butter, margarine, shoe polish, coffee
with cream, chewing gum, cosmetic
creams, vegetable oils, wax crayon, tar
and asphalt.
Carefully scrape
off excess stain.
Follow the solvent-type instructions
described earlier.
Shoe polish, wax crayon, tar and
asphalt will stain if left on a vehicle
seat fabric. They should be removed
as soon as possible. Be careful,
because the cleaner will dissolve them
and may cause them to spread.
211 ...

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service and Appearance Care
Non-greasy stains: Such as catsup,
coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk,
soft drinks, wine, vomit, urine and blood.
Carefully scrape off excess stain, then
sponge the soiled area with cool water.
0 If a stain remains, follow the
foam-type instructions described
earlier.
0 If an odor lingers after cleaning
vomit or urine, treat the area
with
a waterbaking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to
1 cup (250 ml) of lukewarm water.
solvent-type cleaner.
0 If needed, clean lightly with
Combination stains: Such as candy,
ice cream, mayonnaise, chili sauce and
unknown stains.
0 Carefully scrape off excess stain, then
clean with cool water and allow to dry.
0 If a stain remains, clean it with
solvent-type cleaner.
Cleaning Vinyl
Use warm water and a clean cloth.
0 Rub with a clean, damp cloth to
remove dirt.
You may have to do it
more than once.
. . .212
0 Things like tar, asphalt and shoe
polish will stain if you don’t get them
off quickly. Use a clean cloth and
solvent-type vinyl cleaner.
Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and
a mild soap or saddle soap.
For stubborn stains, use a mild
solution of
10% isopropyl alcohol
(rubbing alchohol) and
90% water.
Never use oils, varnishes,
solvent-based or abrasive cleaners,
furniture polish or shoe polish on
leather.
Soiled leather should be cleaned
immediately. If dirt is allowed to work
into finish, it can harm the leather.
Cleaning Soft-Touch Surfaces
Use only mild soap and water to clean the
Soft-Touch paint surfaces in your
Corvette. For protection, use ArmorAll8
or equivalent.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument
Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the
top surfaces of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or waxes
may
cause annoying reflections in the
windshield and even make it difficult to
see through the windshield under certain conditions.
Cleaning Speaker Covers
Vacuum around a speaker cover gently,
so that the speaker won’t be damaged. If
something gets on one of them, follow the
steps under “Using Solvent-Type Cleaner
on Fabric.” Use as little solvent as you
can.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass
Cleaner (GM Part
No. 1050427) or a
liquid household glass cleaner will
remove normal tobacco smoke and dust
films.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass,
because they may cause scratches. Avoid
placing decals on the inside rear window,
since they may have to be scraped
off
later. If abrasive cleaners are used on the
inside of the rear window, an electric
defogger element may be damaged. Any
temporary license should not be attached
across the defogger grid.
Cleaning Dulso-Coated Moldings
These moldings are around the hatch
opening in your Corvette’s rear area.
When lightly soiled, wipe with a
sponge or
soft lint-free cloth
dampened with water.
water.
When heavily soiled, use warm soapy
You can remove scratches from a
Dulso-coated molding by wiping briskly
with the solvent-type cleaner described
earlier. If a ring forms, repeat the procedure
over a larger area, feathering
toward the center of the ring. If the ring
still remains, wipe the whole molding.
Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield
and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using
the windshield washer, or if the wiper
blade chatters when running, wax or other
material may be on the blade or
windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with
GM Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami
Powder@
(GM Part No. 1050011). The
windshield is clean
if beads do not form
when you rinse it with water.
If you use a glass treatment or conditioner
containing ethyl alcohol or ethyl sulfate
on your glass, be sure to remove the
acrylic roof panel, if
so equipped. These
products may damage the panel.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously
with a cloth soaked in full strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the
blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked on a
regular basis and replaced when worn.
Cleaning a Removable Roof Panel
Special care is necessary when cleaning,
removing and/or storing the roof panel.
Flush with water to remove dust and
dirt, then dry the panel.
Cleaner (GM Part
No. 1050427) or
a liquid household glass cleaner.
Leave the cleaner on the panel for
one minute, then wipe the panel with
a
soft, lint-free cloth.
Clean the panel with GM Glass
Don’t use abrasive cleaning materials.
If water drops are frequently allowed to
dry on the roof panel, impurities in the
water will adhere to the top, These
impurities may destroy the finish. When
the panel gets wet, you should dry it
off.
Do not use a glass treatment or
conditioner containing ethyl alcohol
or ethyl sulfate on the roof panel.
These products may damage the
panel.
213..

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service and Appearance Care
Cleaning the Outside of Your
Corvette
The paint finish on your vehicle provides
beauty, depth of color, gloss retention and
durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s
finish is to keep it clean by washing it
often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays
of the
sun. Don’t use strong soaps or
chemical detergents. Use liquid hand,
dish or car washing (mild detergent)
soaps. Don’t use cleaning agents that
are petroleum-based, or contain acid or
abrasives. All cleaning agents should be
flushed promptly and not allowed to dry
on
the surface, or they could stain. Dry
the finish with a soft, clean chamois or a
100% cotton towel to avoid surface
scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause
water to enter your vehicle.
. . .214
NOTICE:
Conveyor systems on some
automatic car washes may damage a
Corvette. They may not have enough
clearance for the undercarriage or for
the extra wide rear tires on ZR-1
models. Check with the manager
before using a car wash.
Finish Care
3ccasional waxing or mild polishing of
your Corvette may be necessary to
-emove residue from the paint finish.
You
:an get GM approved cleaning products
?ram your dealer. (See “Appearance Care
ind Materials” in the Index.)
Your Corvette has a “basecoat/clearcoat”
Jaint finish. The clearcoat gives more
lepth and gloss to
the colored basecoat.
4lways use waxes and polishes that are
lon-abrasive and made for a
>asecoat/clearcoat paint finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish may dull the finish or
leave swirl
marks,
Cleaning Your Convertible Top
Your convertible top should be cleaned
often. If you use an automatic car wash,
use one with water jets and hanging
cloths.
When you hand wash the top, do it in
partial shade. Vacuum away any dust and
other material. Use a mild soap,
lukewarm water and a soft sponge.
A
chamois or cloth may leave lint on the
top, and a brush can chafe the threads in
the top fabric. Don’t use detergents, harsh
cleaners, solvents or bleaching agents.
When you clean
the top, put one hand
under it to support
it. Wet the entire
vehicle and wash the top evenly to avoid
spots or rings. Let the soap remain on the
fabric for a few minutes. When the top is
really dirty, use a mild foam-type cleaner.
Thoroughly rinse the entire vehicle,
then
let the top dry in direct sunlight.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To protect the convertible top:
0 After you wash the vehicle, make sure
the top is completely dry before you
lower it.
0 Don’t get any cleaner on the vehicle’s
painted finish; it could leave streaks.
0 If you decide to go through an
automatic car wash, ask the manager
if the equipment could damage your
top.
Cleaning and Storage of Your Hardtop
The optional hardtop has the same
durable finish as the painted surfaces
of
your Corvette. You can wash, polish and
wax it.
If you store the hardtop for a long time,
keep it covered in a dry place. Apply
silicone grease to all the weatherstrips.
Sngine Cleaning
Jse care when cleaning the LT5 engine.
10 not direct water into the “V” area on
he engine between the cylinder heads.
NOTICE:
I
Don’t use a cleaner with a strong
alkaline base. It will discolor the
aluminum.
4luminum Wheels
Your aluminum wheels have a protective
zoating similar to the painted surface of
your vehicle. Don’t use strong soaps,
shemicals, chrome polish,
or other
abrasive cleaners on them because you
could damage this coating. After rinsing
thoroughly, a wax may be applied.
I NOTICE:
I
Don’t use an automatic car wash that
has hard silicon carbide cleaning
brushes. These brushes can take
off
the protective coating.
rires
Your Chevrolet dealer has a GM White
Sidewall Tire Cleaner. You can
use a stiff
)rush with the cleaner.
When applying a tire dressing always take
;are to wipe
off any overspray or splash
from painted surfaces. Petroleum-based
products may damage the paint finish.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will
make them last longer, seal better, and not
stick or squeak. Apply silicone grease
with a clean cloth at least every
six
months. During very eold, damp weather
more frequent application may be
required. (See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants’’ in the Index.)
Foreign Material
Calcium chloride and other salts, ice
melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap,
bird droppings, chemicals from industrial
chimneys, and other foreign matter can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they
remain on painted surfaces. Use cleaners
that are marked safe for painted surfaces
to remove foreign matter.
215 ...