1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Cleaning the Outside of Your Corvette
The paint finish on your vehicle providqs 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 that 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.
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 Grand Sport Coupe
models.
Check with the manager before using a car wash,
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Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your Corvette
by hand may be necessary to remove residue from the
paint finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning
products from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and
Materials” in the Index.)

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Corvette has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that
are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoatklearcoat
paint finish.
I NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoatklearcoat paint finish may dull the
finish
or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar,
tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc. can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible.
If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces
are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your Corvette garaged or covered
whenever possible.
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.
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.
To protect the convertible top:
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After you wash the vehicle, make sure the top is
completely dry before
you lower it.
Don’t get any cleaner on the vehicle’s painted finish;
it could leave streaks.
If you decide to go through an automatic car wash,
ask the manager if the equipment could damage
your top.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Aluminum Wheels
Your aluminum wheels have a protective coating similar
to the painted surface of your vehicle. Don’t use strong
soaps, chemicals, chrome polish, abrasive cleaners or
abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could
damage this coating. After rinsing thoroughly, a wax
may be applied.
NOTICE:
,
Don’t use an automatic car wash that has hard
silicon carbide cleaning brushes. These brushes
can take the protective coating
off your
aluminum wheels.
Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
NOTICE:
When applying a tire dressing always take care to
wipe
off any overspray or splash from all painted
surfaces on the body
or wheels of the vehicle.
Petroleum-based products may damage the paint
finish.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas
of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer’s body and paint shop.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and, dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these
are not
removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the
underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan,
and exhaust system even though they have corrosion
protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody vehicle washing system
can do this for you.
Fiberglass Springs
NOTICE:
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Don’t use corrosive or acidic cleaning agents,
engine degreasers, aluminum cleaning agents or
other harsh solvents to clean fiberglass springs;
they’ll damage the springs.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage
can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched
into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Corvette
will repair, at no charge
to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20
000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Appearance Care Materials Chart

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
This is the legal identifier for your Corvette. It appears
on a plate
in the front corner of the instrument panel, on
the driver’s side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The
VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code.
This code will help you identify your engine,
specifications, and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label on the inside of your rear storage
compartment. It’s very helpful
if you ever need to order
parts. On this label
is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
0 paint information, and
0 a list of all production options and special
equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
6-63

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Electrical System
Add-on Electrical Equipment
NOTICE:
Don’t add anything electrical to your Corvette
unless you check with your dealer first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from working as they
should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your Corvette, see “Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Corvette” in the Index.
Headlamps
The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker.
An electrical overload will cause the lamps
to go on and
off,
or in some cases to remain off. If this happens, have
your headlamp wiring checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a fuse and
an internal circuit breaker.
If the motor overheats due to
heavy snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor
cools. If the overload is caused by some electrical
problem and not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and other
power accessories. When the current load is too heavy,
the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the
circuit until the problem is fixed or goes away.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of maxi-fuses,
mini-fuses and circuit breakers. This greatly reduces
the chance
of fires caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse.
Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical size
and rating.
If you ever have a problem
on the road and don’t have
a spare fuse,
you can borrow one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature of your vehicle that
you can get along without
-- like the radio or cigarette
lighter
-- and use its fuse, if it is the correct amperage.
Replace it as soon as you can.
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
The interior fuse center is on the right side of your
instrument panel. Turn the knob and pull the door
to
access the fuses.
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