
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CORVETTE:  THE  AMERICAN 
DREAM  MACHINE 
In the early  ’50s, it was only  a designer’s dream. Today 
the  Corvette  stands  alone 
as America’s dream  car -- a 
testament 
to its unmistakable charisma and the 
excitement 
it inspires. Unique styling, powerful 
performance and an undeniable panache  have  made 
Corvette  one 
of the most celebrated  sports  cars  in 
the world. 
In 1953, Corvette  produced 300  new lightweight 
fiberglass  roadsters. 
A handful went  to project 
engineers,  General Motors managers, and  a  select  group 
of  movie stars and  celebrities. With a two-speed 
Powerglide  automatic transmission,  Blue Flame 
six-cylinder  engine, and gleaming Polo White  exterior, 
the  Corvette  began its  drive into the heart of America. 
Designers freshened  up the  ’Vette  in 
1956 by adding a 
removable hardtop and  the famous  Corvette  “coves.” 
The  sculptured body enhanced its sporty 
look, and a 
standard 210-horsepower  Chevy  V8 engine  solidified 
Corvette’s  reputation  as  a  production race car. 
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Vehicle Symbols 
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. 
For example, 
these symbols 
are used on  an 
original battery: 
POSSIBLE A 
CAUTION 
INJURY 
PROTECT  EYES  BY 
SHIELDING 
CAUSTIC 
ACID  COULD  BATTERY 
CAUSE 
BURNS 
AVOID 
SPARKS 
OR 
FLAMES 
SPARK 
OR ,\I/, 
COULD  FLAME 
EXPLODE  BATTERY 
L 
These symbols are important 
for  you  and 
your  passengers 
whenever  your 
vehicle is 
driven: 
n 
UNLOCK w 
FASTEN 
SEAT 
BELTS 
These symbols 
have to  do with 
your  lamps: 
SIGNALS e 
TURN 
RUNNING 
* . 0 
DAYTIME -0 
LAMPS *** 
FOG  LAMPS $0 
These symbols  are on some 
of 
your  controls: 
WINDSHIELD 
WIPER 
WINDSHIELD  DEFROSTER 
WINDOW 
DEFOGGER 
VENTILATING  FAN 
These symbols 
are used  on 
warning  and 
indicator  lights: 
COOLANT 
TEMP 
- 
CHARGING I-1 
BATTERY 
SYSTEM 
BRAKE 
(0) 
ENGINE  OIL w, 
PRESSURE 
ANTI-LOCK 
(a) 
BRAKES 
Here  are  some 
other  symbols  you  may  see: 
FUSE -%- 
LIGHTER m 
HORN )a( 
SPEAKER 
b 
FUEL B   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your vehicle has a light that 
comes on as a reminder  to 
buckle  up. (See “Safety 
Belt Reminder Light”  in 
the Index.) 
In most  states and Canadian provinces, the law says to 
wear  safety belts.  Here’s why: 
They work. 
You never  know  if you’ll  be in a  crash.  If you  do have a 
crash,  you don’t  know  if  it will be a  bad one. 
A  few crashes are mild, and some crashes can  be so 
serious  that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive. 
But  most  crashes are  in between.  In many  of them, 
people who buckle  up can  survive  and sometimes walk 
away.  Without  belts they could  have been badly hurt 
or  killed. 
After  more than 
30 years of safety belts  in vehicles, 
the  facts  are  clear. 
In most  crashes  buckling  up does 
matter 
... a lot! 
Why  Safety  Belts  Work 
When you ride in  or  on anything,  you go as fast as 
it goes. 
Take  the  simplest  vehicle. Suppose it’s  just a seat 
on wheels. 
1-7   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION: 
Air bags inflate with great  force,  faster  than  the 
blink 
of an  eye. If you’re too close  to an  inflating 
air bag, it could  seriously  injure you. Safety  belts 
help keep  you in  position  before  and  during 
a 
crash. Always  wear your  safety  belt,  even  with air 
bags. The driver  should sit as far back as possible 
while  still maintaining control 
of the vehicle. 
An  inflating 
air bag  can seriously  injure small 
children.  Always secure children properly  in your 
vehicle. 
To read  how,  see  the part  of this manual 
called  “Children”  and the caution  label  on the 
passenger’s  safety  belt. 
There is  an air  bag 
readiness light on  the 
instrument panel,  which 
shows  AIR  BAG. 
The  system  checks  the  air bag  electrical system for 
malfunctions.  The light tells  you  if there is  an electrical 
problem.  See “Air  Bag Readiness Light”  in the  Index 
for  more information. 
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Safety  Belt  Extender 
If the  vehicle’s  safety  belt will fasten around you,  you 
should  use  it. 
But  if  a safety  belt  isn’t  long enough to fasten, your 
dealer  will  order  you  an extender.  It’s free.  When  you go 
in  to  order  it, take  the  heaviest coat  you  will  wear, 
so the 
extender  will  be long  enough for you.  The extender  will 
be  just  for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that 
you  choose.  Don’t  let  someone  else use it, and use  it 
only  for the  seat it is made to fit. 
To wear it,  just attach  it 
to  the  regular  safety  belt. 
Checking  Your  Restraint  Systems 
Now  and then, make sure the  safety belt reminder  light 
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors  and 
anchorages are working  properly. Look for any other 
loose or damaged safety belt system parts.  If you  see 
anything that might keep a  safety belt  system  from 
doing its  job, have  it repaired. 
Tom or frayed safety belts  may not protect you in a 
crash. They  can  rip apart under impact forces. 
If a belt is 
torn or frayed, get a new  one right  away. 
Also  look for any opened  or broken  air bag covers,  and 
have them repaired  or replaced, (The  air bag  system 
does  not need regular maintenance.) 
1-33   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine e Section 2 Features  and  Controls 
~~  ~~ 
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your  Corvette, and information on  starting, 
shifting and braking. Also explained  are  the  instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you  if everything 
is  working  properly 
-- and what  to  do if you have a  problem. 
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2-4 
2-5 
2-6 
2-  14 
2-15 
2- 16 
2-18 
2-19 
2-20 
2-22 
2-24 
2-26 
2-29 
2-32 
2-33 
2-35 
2-36  Keys 
Door 
Locks 
Memory  (Option) 
Remote Function Actuation  System 
Remote  Hatch Release 
Theft 
Universal Theft-Deterrent System 
PASS-Key@ 
New  Vehicle  “Break-In” 
Ignition Switch  Starting  Your Engine 
Engine Coolant Heater (Canada Only) 
Automatic Transmission  Operation 
Manual Transmission Operation 
Parking  Brake 
Shifting Into  PARK (P) 
(Automatic Transmission Models Only) 
Shifting  Out 
of PARK (P) 
(Automatic Transmission) 
Parking  Your Vehicle  (Manual Transmission)  2-36 
2-37 
2-37 
2-38 
2-38 
2-40 
2-4  1 
2-4 
1 
2-50 
2-52 
2-53 
2-54 
2-59 
2-6 
1 
2-68  2-70 
2-7 
1 
2-8  1 
2-90  Parking 
Over Things That  Bum 
Engine Exhaust 
Running  Your Engine While You’re Parked 
(Automatic Transmission) 
Limited-Slip  Rear Axle 
Selective  Real Time Damping  (Option) 
Windows 
Tilt Wheel  Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever 
Lamps 
Interior  Lamps 
Mirrors  Storage  Compartments 
Floor  Mats (Option) 
Roof  Panel 
Instrument  Panel 
Instrument  Panel  Cluster 
Warning Lights, Gages and Messages 
Driver  Information Center (DIC) 
DIC Warnings and Messages 
2-1   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The MEMORY  buttons are located  on the driver’s side 
door, above the power mirror buttons.  The MEMORY 
buttons  can store and recall the vehicle  settings for  up to 
three drivers. Use  button “1” to store the vehicle settings 
for  the  first driver, button 
“2” for a second driver  or 
press buttons 
1 and 2 simultaneously  for a third  driver. 
To store  your  vehicle  settings,  press  and  hold  a  MEMORY 
button.  The light  will  glow  steady  for  one  second  and  then 
flash  once when 
the settings  are  completed. 
To  recall  your settings, press your  MEMORY button. 
The  light above the  button will flash until  the correct 
vehicle  settings 
are achieved, then glow  for three 
seconds when completed. 
Your  memory settings  will also  be recalled when 
you press the active door  UNLOCK button on the 
key  fob transmitter. 
Drivers 
1,2 and 3 correspond  to the order in which your 
key  fob  transmitters were programmed.  (See 
“Fob 
Training” in  the Index). 
Memory  recall will not 
work if the vehicle  is moving, 
the  ignition  key is removed  or a power seat, mirror  or 
memory  switch  is being used.  Memory recall will be 
temporarily  interrupted during  engine crank. 
Remote  Function  Actuation  System 
Your Corvette has  a  passive/active  Remote Function 
Actuation  (RFA) system  that allows  you  to  lock  and 
unlock your doors, unlock your  hatch,  turn  the  panic 
alarm  on and 
off and disarm or arm your  theft-deterrent 
system.  When using one  of the  key fob  transmitters 
supplied with your  vehicle,  the  passive  range  distance 
is  as much as 
30 feet (9 m) away  from the  vehicle  on 
the driver’s side and 
20 feet (6 m)  away  on the 
passenger’s side.  The active  range distance is  as 
much  as 
100 feet (30 m) away. 
Your  vehicle  comes 
standard  with  two 
transmitters,  and up to 
three  can be  matched 
to your  vehicle. 
See  “Matching Transmitter(s)  to Your 
Ve , 
this section.  .:le” 
later 
in   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Key in the  Ignition 
If you  leave  your vehicle with  the keys  inside,  it’s an 
easy  target  for  joy  riders  or professional thieves 
-- so 
don’t  do  it. 
When  you park your  Corvette and open  the driver’s 
door,  you’ll  hear a tone reminding  you 
to remove your 
key  from  the  ignition and take  it with  you. Always  do 
this.  Your steering wheel will be  locked, and 
so will 
your  ignition. 
If you have an automatic transmission, 
taking  your key  out also locks your transmission.  And 
remember  to lock  the  doors. 
Parking  at  Night 
Park  in a lighted spot,  close all windows and  lock your 
vehicle.  Remember  to keep your  valuables  out 
of sight. 
Put  them  in a storage  area, or take them with  you. 
Parking  Lots 
If you park in a  lot where someone will  be watching 
your  vehicle,  it’s best  to  lock  it  up and take your  keys. 
But  what  if  you  have to  leave  your key? 
Do not leave 
valuables 
in your vehicle,  since  there would be no  place 
to  secure  them. 
Universal  Theft-Deterrent  System 
SECURITY 
Your Corvette  has a 
theft-deterrent  alarm 
system.  With  this  system, 
the  SECURITY  light will 
flash as  you  open  the  door 
(if your ignition is off). This 
light reminds  you to arm  the 
theft-deterrent  system. 
To arm the system,  do the  following: 
1. Press  the LOCK button on the  key fob transmitter,  as 
2. Walk out of range  with  the  passive switch on, OR 
3. Open  the  door.  (The SECURITY  light  should  flash.) 
Lock the door  with  the  power  door  lock  switch.  The 
SECURITY  light will  stop  flashing  and  stay  on.  Close 
all the doors. The  SECURITY  light  should 
go off. 
Now,  if a door  or  the  hatch is opened  without  the  key or 
the  key  fob transmitter system,  the alarm  will  go 
off. 
Your horn will  sound for two minutes,  then it will go off 
to  save  battery power.  And,  your vehicle won’t start. 
mentioned earlier, 
OR 
2-16 
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