1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE check engine

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine In Canada, some gasolines contain an octane enhancing
additive called MMT.
If you use such fuels, your
emission control system performance may deteriorate
and the malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may also turn on. If this happens, return to your
authorized Corvette dealer for service.
To pfovide cleaner air, all gasolines are now required to
contain additives that will help prevent deposits from
forming
in your engine and fuel system, ailowing your
emission control system to function properly. Therefore,
you should not have to add anything to the fuel.
In
addition, gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be
available in your area to help clean the air. General
Motors recommends that you use these gasolines
if they
comply with the specifications described earlier.
I NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in
the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation,
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
LA

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Things Under the Hood
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the handle inside the vehicle. Then
go
to the side of the vehicle and pull up on the rear
edge
of the hood, near the windshield.
6-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Engine Oil
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil level every time
you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick is
next to the coolant high fill
reservoir. The dipstick
handle is a round, yellow
loop.
Turn
off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or a
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down.
6-10

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
15,000 miles
(25 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change the fluid and filter at
100,000 miles
(166 000 km).
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at your Corvette
dealership Service Department.
regularly
reaches 90
OF (32 O C) or higher.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get
a false reading on the dipstick.
I NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, 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 90°F (32°C).
0 At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
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).

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking lkansmission Fluid Hot
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24
km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). You may have to drive longer to bring the fluid
to 180°F to 200°F (82°C to 93°C) in colder outside
temperatures. See “Automatic Transmission Fluid
Temperature Reading” in the Index.
Checking 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 (10°C) or
more. If it’s colder than 50°F (lO”C), you may have to
idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low
during a cold.check, you
must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you a more accurate
reading of the fluid level.
Checking the Fluid Hot or Cold
0 Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
0 With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
running.
in
PARK (P).
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift lever in, PARK
(P) .
Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
6-19

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these
steps:
1. The automatic
transmission fluid dipstick is behind the
engine oil dipstick,
ne&- the windshield.
The dipstick handle is a round, red loop.
Pull
out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean
rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again. 3.
Check both sides
of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level should be in the area marked
“80°F” for a cold check and will move into the
“WARM” area as the temperature increases. When
the fluid
is at normal operating temperature (180°F
to 200”F, 82°C to 93”C), the level must be in the
crosshatched area marked
“ 190°F.’’ See “Automatic
Transmission Fluid Temperature Reading” in the
Index.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
6-20

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
HOT.
(A COLD check is used only as a reference.) If
the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level up to the
HOT area for a hot
check. It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a
pint
(0.5 L). Don’t overfill. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that
label is made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11 is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to Check.”
When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
changed. However, the fluid in your manual
transmission doesn’t require changing.
How to Check
Because this operation can be difficult, you may
choose to have
this done at your Corvette dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading
if you check your
transmission fluid.
Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on a level place and the transmission
is
cool enough for you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
6-21

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
3. If the fluid level is good, install the plug and be sure
it is fully seated. If the fluid level is low, add. more
fluid as described in the next steps.
How to Add Fluid
Here’s how to add fluid. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what kind of fluid to use. See
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants’’ in the Index.
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add only enough
fluid to bring the fluid level up to the bottom
of the
filler plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug is fully seated.
Hydraulic Clutch
The clutch linkage in your vehicle is self-adjusting. The
clutch master cylinder reservoir is filled with hydraulic
clutch fluid.
It isn’t a good idea to “top
off’ your clutch fluid. Adding
fluid won’t correct a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate
a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.