1997 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ABS

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ABS ACTIVE (Anti-Lock Brake System Active):
When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid, the ABS ACTIVE message
will be displayed.
Slippery road conditions may exist
if this message is
displayed,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The
message will stay on for a few seconds after the system
stops adjusting brake pressure.
SERVICE ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System): If the
SERVICE ABS message is displayed when you are
driving, stop as soon as possible and turn the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to reset the system. If
the message stays on, or comes back on again while you
are driving, your vehicle is in need of service.
If the
regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still
have brakes, but don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the
regular brake system light is also on, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there is a problem with your
brakes. See “Brake System Warning Light” earlier in
this section.
SERVICE COLUMN LOCK: The system that
controls the locking and unlocking of the steering
column may
not work properly. Have the vehicle
towed to a dealer for service.
LOW OIL PRESSURE: You will hear four chimes
and the CHECK GAGES telltale will come
on when
this message is displayed. To acknowledge the warning,
press the RESET button. After you press the RESET
button, a message will be displayed and you will hear a
chime every minute until the vehicle
is serviced. If you
do not press RESET, the message will remain on the
digital display until the vehicle
is serviced.
Low oil pressure may be the result of a combination
of low oil level and abrupt changes in the vehicle’s
direction. When this warning
is displayed, you should
not operate
the engine at high RPM or make fast abrupt
moves. When convenient, you should check the oil
level. See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
LOW OIL LEVEL: Press RESET to acknowledge that
you have read the message and to remove it from the
display. The message will reappear every
10 minutes
until this condition changes.
You will hear two chimes when this message is
displayed.
If this message appears after starting your
engine, your engine oil level may be too low. You may
need to add oil. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TRACTION SYSTEM-ON: This message is displayed
when you decide to turn on the TCS by pressing the
switch
on the console. This message will shut off
automatically on its own.
TRACTION SYSTEM-OFF: You will hear a single
quick tone when this message is displayed. This
message comes on and stays on when the TCS button on
the console is pressed to turn the system
off. To
acknowledge this message, press RESET.
SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM: If the SERVICE
TRACTION SYSTEM message is displayed when you
are driving, there is a problem with your Traction
Control System and your vehicle is in need of service.
When this message is displayed
, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
SERVICE RIDE CONTROL: This message is used to
indicate to the driver that the Selective Real Time
Damping (SRTD) system has detected a malfunction and
that the system must be serviced. The SERVICE
RIDE
CONTROL message will always come on when a failure
is detected by the Selective Real Time Damping system.
If
a fault is present in the SRTD which causes the shocks
to be in their full soft condition, the SERVICE RIDE
CONTROL, SHOCKS INOPERATIVE and MAXIMUM
80 MPH (129 km/h) will display together. You will never
get a
SHOCKS INOPERATIVE and MAXIMUM
SPEED 80 MPH (129 km/h) message without a
SERVICE RIDE CONTROL message.
SHOCKS INOPERATIVE: You will hear four chimes
when this message is displayed. To acknowledge that
you have read the message and to remove it from the
display, press RESET. The message will reappear every
10 minutes until this condition changes.
This message indicates that a malfunction is present in
the Selective Real Time Damping system which is
causing the shocks
to be in their full soft mode. This is a
warning to the driver that the vehicle handling may be
affected. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
MAXIMUM SPEED 80 MPH (129 km/h): You will
hear four chimes when this message is displayed.
To
acknowledge the warning, press RESET. After you press
RESET, a message will reappear every
10 minutes until
this condition changes.
This message indicates that the vehicle speed will be
limited to
80 mph (129 km/h) when the shock absorber
system has failed and the shocks are in their full soft
mode. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A Typical Cold Weather Example:
Your vehicle has been parked outside ~ver~~ight in
cold weather (below 32 OF/ 0" C) and you have set
the driver temperature at 73 OF (23
"C) and have selected
the AUTO mode. The system will automatically adjust
the temperature output to maximum heating. The fan
will start at a low speed. This
is to avoid blowing cold
air into the vehicle. The length of the delay depends
on the amount of time since the engine was last started,
the outside temperature and the engine coolant
temperature. As the coolant warms up, the fan speed
will gradually increase. Air will flow to the floor with
some air to the windshield to prevent fogging under
most normal conditions.
As the interior
of the vehicle warms up to your comfort
set temperature, the fan speed will decrease and the
temperature output may become cooler. If the interior
temperature continues to warm up due to heating from
the sun or outside temperature increases, the system
may switch to other air delivery modes (typically
DEFOG or BI-LEVEL).
A vpical Hot Weather Example:
Your vehicle has Seen parked outside all day in hot
weather (above
70 OF/ 2 1 O C) and you have set the
driver temperature at
73 "F (23 O C) and have selected
the AUTO mode. The system will automatically adjust
the temperature output to maximum cooling. The blower
will start at a low speed momentarily to push the hot
air to the floor of the vehicle and then
go to a higher
blower speed with cold airflow out of the instrument
panel outlets. A small amount of airflow will continue
through the lower ducts to cool the floor area.
The air intake may start in the recirculated mode for
maximum cooling performance. As the interior of the
vehicle cools down to your comfort set temperature,
the fan speed will decrease and the temperature output
may become warmer. The air intake may shift from
recirculation to fresh air mode.
If the interior continues
to cool due to a decrease in the amount
of heat the
vehicle is absorbing from the sun or a decrease in the
outside temperature, the system could switch to other air
delivery modes (typically BI-LEVEL or DEFOG).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine a RECIRCULATE: Press this button to limit the
amount of fresh air entering the vehicle. The light on
this air intake button will come on to show when it is
operating. RECIRCULATE is helpful when you
are
trying to cool the air quickly or trying to limit odors
and dust from entering the vehicle. When in the AUTO
mode, the system automatically selects RECIRCULATE
to
cool the vehicle’s temperature. By pressing this
button, the system will lock into the recirculated air
mode. Any adjustment to the air intake must then be
made manually. The recirculated air mode is not
allowed in the front defrost or defog modes as fresh air
helps reduce moisture inside the vehicle.
Lfttr REAR WINDOW DEFOG: This button turns the
rear defogger and heated outside mirrors on. The light
on
the button will come on when operating. The system
automatically shuts off after approximately
10 minutes.
If further defogging is desired, press the button again.
The rear window defogger operates only when the
engine
is running.
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
Do not attach
anything like a temporary vehicle license or a decal
across the defogger grid on the rear window.
NOTICE:
Don’t use a razor blade or something sharp on
the inside
of the rear window. If you do, you
could cut or damage the warming grid, and
repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Sensors
The Dual Zone Electronic Climate Control System
uses several sensors to control operation and
display information.
Solar Load Sensor
This sensor is located on the top right side of the
defroster grille. The defroster grille is on the top
of
the instrument panel.
The sensor monitors the sun’s solar radiation and uses
this information as part of the automatic climate control
system when operating in the AUTO mode.
Be careful not to put anything over the sensor. It cannot
compensate for changes in the amount of heat the
vehicle
is absorbing from the sun when it is covered.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. 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.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on, and you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves a little. This
is normal.
If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on.
See “Anti-Lock Brake
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road
is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with
ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are 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. 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.
4-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. 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.
Using 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 noise and feel the brake pedal move a little
during a stop, but this is normal.
When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid, the
ABS ACTIVE message
will come on. See “ABS ACTIVE Message” in
the Index.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system called TCS
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 engine spark) to
limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION SYSTEM ACTIVE message will
come on when the TCS system is limiting wheel spin.
See “TRACTION SYSTEM ACTIVE Message” in the
Index. You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS 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 the cruise
control. (See “Cruise Control”
in the Index.)
4-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 TCS system helps avoid only the
acceleration shd.
If your TCS 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.
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 brake system
(ABS) helps
avoid only the bralung skid.
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