1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Owners Manual

yellowblue
2-45
Headlamp Doors
The headlamp doors are designed to open when you turn
the headlamps on, and close when you turn the
headlamps and parking lamps off. If you turn the
headlamps on, then turn the headlamp switch back to
the parking lamps setting, the headlamp doors will
stay open.You can open the doors manually using the knob next to
the headlamp assembly. Turn the knob counterclockwise
until the doors are open.
The headlamp doors should be open when driving in icy
or snowy conditions to prevent the doors from freezing
closed and when washing the vehicle to help clean
the headlamps.
NOTICE:
In order to avoid possible contact of the hood to
the headlamp doors, care should be taken in
raising the hood with the headlamps up, or shut
off the headlamps prior to opening the hood.

yellowblue
2-46
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps
from low beam to high or
high to low, push the turn
signal lever all the way
forward.
When the high beams are on, this light on the instrument
panel also will be on. To change the headlamps from
high to low, pull the lever rearward.
Lamps on Reminder
If you turn the ignition off and leave the headlamps or
parking lamps on and open the door, you will hear a
chime reminding you to turn off all lamps.
Flash-to-Pass
Momentarily pull the turn signal lever toward you. The
high
-beam indicator will flash to indicate to the other
driver that you intend to pass. If the low
-beam
headlamps are off and you have the optional fog lamps
on, the fog lamps will flash.
Windshield Wipers
You can control the windshield wipers by moving the
lever with the wiper symbol on it. This lever is located
on the right side of the steering column.
For a single wiping cycle, push the lever down to MIST.
Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go. The
wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the lever on MIST longer.

yellowblue
2-47
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Push the lever up to INT (intermittent), then turn
the band, located on the lever, to adjust the delay time.
Rotate the band up for a shorter delay, down for a longer
delay. The wiper speed can only be adjusted when the
lever is in the INT position, not in HI or LO.
For steady wiping at low speed, move the lever up to the
LO position. For steady high
-speed wiping, move the
lever up further, to HI. To stop the wipers, move the
lever down to OFF.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they're frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If the blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
The lever on the right side of the steering column also
controls the windshield washer. There is a push button at
the end of the lever. To spray washer fluid on the
windshield, push the button and hold it. The washer will
spray until you release the button. The wipers will
continue to clear the window for about six seconds after
the button is released and then stop or return to your
preset speed.
CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
If the fluid in the windshield washer fluid reservoir is low,
the message LOW WASHER FLUID will appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) display. It will take
60 seconds after the bottle is refilled for this message to
turn off. For information on the correct washer fluid
mixture to use, see ªWindshield Washer Fluidº and
ªRecommended Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index.

yellowblue
2-48
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When using cruise control, the accelerator pedal will
return to its fully
-released position and will not move
while cruise control is engaged.The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display the
cruise set speed in a digital number. For example, the
DIC will say CRUISE SET 60 mph (97 km/h). When
you apply the brakes or push the clutch pedal, the cruise
control disengages. The DIC will show CRUISE
DISENGAGED. See ªDIC Warnings and Messagesº in
the Index.
CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don't
use cruise control on slippery roads.

yellowblue
2-49
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the Traction
Control System begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. (See ªTraction
Control Systemº in the Index.) When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise
control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use it.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push the SET button at the end of the lever and
release it. The cruise set speed will be displayed by
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal. The pedal
will return to an ªidleº position.Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set the cruise control at a desired speed and
then you apply the brake or clutch pedal. This, of
course, disengages the cruise control. But you don't
need to reset it.
Once you're going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch to R/A
(Resume/Accelerate) for about half a second. The
Driver Information Center (DIC) will display the cruise
set speed.
You'll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:

Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
The speed will not begin to increase until sufficient
pedal travel is achieved. Push the button at the end of
the lever, then release the button and the accelerator
pedal. You'll now cruise at the higher speed.
The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display
the cruise set speed.

yellowblue
2-50

Move the cruise switch to R/A. Hold it there until
you get up to the speed you want, then release the
switch. (To increase your speed in very small
amounts, move the switch to R/A briefly, then
release it. Each time you do this, the vehicle will go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.)
The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display
the cruise set speed.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce speed while using
cruise control:

Push in the SET button at the end of the lever until
you reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display
the cruise set speed.

To slow down in very small amounts, push the SET
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you'll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display
the cruise set speed.Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase speed. When you
take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle will slow down
to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift to
a lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,
applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many
drivers find this to be too much trouble and don't use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
pedal, if you have a manual transmission vehicle, or

Move the cruise switch to OFF.
The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display
the message ªCRUISE DISENGAGED.º
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
cruise control set speed memory is erased.

yellowblue
2-51
Exterior Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control (Optional)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
Automatic Headlamp Control (if equipped) work, so be
sure it isn't covered.
The DRL/Automatic Headlamp Control system will
make the front turn signal lamps come on when:

the ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off and

the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only the front turn signal lamps
will be on. The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won't be on. Your instrument panel won't
be lit up either.When it's dark enough outside, the front turn signal
lamps will turn off and the headlamps and parking
lamps will turn on. The other lamps that come on with
the headlamps will also come on.
When it's bright enough outside, the headlamps will go
off and the front turn signal lamps will come on.
To idle the vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is in OFF or LOCK. Then start
the vehicle. The DRL, headlamps and parking lamps
will stay off until you release the parking brake.
The Automatic Headlamp Control feature can be turned
on or off except for vehicles first sold in Canada. See
ªDriver Information Center (DIC)º in the Index to turn
this feature on or off (if equipped with the Automatic
Headlamp Control feature).
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.

yellowblue
2-52
Fog Lamps (Option)
Use the fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions. Your parking lamps or low
-beam headlamps
must be on or the fog lamps won't work.
To turn the fog lamps on, push the button located on the
instrument panel to the left of the steering column. A
light on the button will come on when the fog lamps are
on. Push the button again to turn the fog lamps off.
Twilight Sentinel (Option)
Twilight Sentinel provides a period of exterior
illumination as you leave the vicinity of the vehicle. The
feature is activated when the headlamps are on due to
the optional Automatic Headlamp Control feature
described previously in this section, and when the
ignition is turned off. Your headlamps will then remain
on until the headlamp switch is moved from OFF to the
parking lamp position or until an illumination period has
elapsed. See ªDriver Information Center (DIC)º in the
Index to select the desired illumination period.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamp switch in
the parking lamp or headlamp position, the Twilight
Sentinel cycle will not occur.
You can customize the vehicle to activate the Twilight
Sentinel when the ignition is turned off under the
conditions listed previously, or you may choose not to
activate this feature under any conditions. See ªDriver
Information Center (DIC)º in the Index to customize
this feature.