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4-23
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn't another vehicle in your
ªblindº spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh
-- such as after a day's
work
-- don't plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll find experienced and able service experts in
Chevrolet dealerships all across North America. They'll
be ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble
-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long
-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up
-to-date maps?
6-
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6-1
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel
6
-6 Filling Your Tank
6
-9 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-12 Engine Oil
6
-16 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-18 Automatic Transmission Fluid
6
-19 Manual Transmission Fluid
6
-20 Hydraulic Clutch
6
-21 Rear Axle
6
-22 Surge Tank Pressure Cap
6
-23 Engine Coolant
6
-26 Power Steering Fluid
6
-27 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-29 Brakes
6
-32 Battery
6
-33 Bulb Replacement
6
-38 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
6
-41 Tires6
-52 Lifting Your Corvette
6-56 Appearance Care
6
-56 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-59 Cleaning a Removable Roof Panel
6
-60 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-61 Cleaning Your Convertible Top
6
-62 Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
6
-62 Cleaning Tires
6
-62 Finish Damage
6
-63 Underbody Maintenance
6
-64 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-65 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-65 Service Parts Identification Label
6
-66 Electrical System
6
-74 Replacement Bulbs
6
-74 Capacities and Specifications
6
-76 Air Conditioning Refrigerants
6
-76 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
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6-41
Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where to obtain service, see
your Chevrolet Warranty booklet for details.
CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much friction.
You could have an air
-out and a serious
accident. See ªLoading Your Vehicleº in
the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Underinflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut,
punctured or broken by a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
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6-42 Extended Mobility Tires
Your vehicle, when new, had Goodyear Extended
Mobility Tires (EMT). There's no spare tire, no tire
changing equipment and no place to store a tire in the
vehicle. Extended Mobility Tires perform so well
without any air that a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) is
used to alert you if a tire has lost pressure.
The Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) has a sensor on
each road wheel that transmits to a receiver on the
instrument panel.
The system operates on a radio frequency subject to
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and
with Industry and Science Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS
-210 of Industry and
Science Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions: (1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
If a tire's inflation pressure is between 5 psi (35 kPa)
and 25 psi (170 kPa), you will see a message on the
Driver Information Center. This message will show
which tire is underinflated and two chimes will sound.
An example would be LOW TIRE PRESSURE
-LR.
This would mean that the inflation pressure in your left
rear tire is between 5 psi (35 kPa) and 25 psi (170 kPa).
If the inflation pressure in the tire drops below 5 psi
(35 kPa), the message would read FLAT TIRE
-LR and
four chimes will sound. See ªDriver Information
Centerº in the Index.
The TPM will also alert you if a tire's pressure is higher
than 42 psi (290 kPa). The message will show which tire
is overinflated and two chimes will sound. An example
would be HIGH PRESSURE
-LR. This would mean that
the inflation pressure in your left rear tire is higher than
42 psi (290 kPa). See ªDriver Information Centerº in
the Index.
If a tire pressure message appears on the Driver
Information Center, stop as soon as you can. Have the
tire pressures checked and set to those shown on your
Tire Loading Information label. See ªInflation
-- Tire
Pressureº in the Index.
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6-43
CAUTION:
When the LOW TIRE PRESSURE or FLAT
TIRE message is displayed on the Driver
Information Center, your vehicle's handling
capabilities will be reduced during severe
maneuvers. If you drive too fast, you could lose
control of your vehicle. You or others could be
injured. Don't drive over 55 mph (90 km/h) when
the LOW TIRE PRESSURE or FLAT TIRE
message is displayed. Drive cautiously, and check
your tire pressures as soon as you can.
If a tire goes flat, you won't need to stop on the side of
the road to change the tire. You can just keep on driving.
The shorter the distance you drive and the slower the
speed, the greater the chance that the tire will not have
to be replaced. If you drive on a deflated EMT for
50 miles (80 km) or less and at speeds of 55 mph
(90 km/h) or less, there is a good chance that the tire can
be repaired. The tire can operate effectively with no air
pressure for up to 200 miles (320 km) at speeds up to
55 mph (90 km/h), but the tire would then have to be
replaced. When a tire is filled with air, it provides acushion between the road and the wheel. Because you
won't have this cushion when driving on a deflated tire,
try to avoid potholes that could damage your wheel and
require replacement of it.
Some road hazards can damage a tire beyond repair.
This damage could occur even before you've driven on
the tire in a deflated condition. When a tire has been
damaged, or if you've driven any distance on a deflated
EMT, check with an authorized Goodyear EMT Service
Center to determine whether the tire can be repaired or
should be replaced. To maintain your vehicle's extended
mobility feature, all replacement tires must be Extended
Mobility Tires. As soon as possible, contact the nearest
authorized Chevrolet or Goodyear EMT servicing
facility for inspection and repair or replacement. Call
Chevrolet at 1
-800-CHEV-USA (1-800-243-8872)
or Goodyear at 1
-800-789-9878 24-hours a day for
information on the location of the nearest EMT
servicing facility. In Canada, contact the Customer
Communication Center at 1
-800-263-3777, or Canadian
Roadside Assistance at 1
-800-268-6800. You can also
use the Goodyear number listed above to locate an
authorized EMT servicing facility.
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6-44
CAUTION:
Extended mobility tires are constructed
differently than other tires and could explode
during improper service. You or others could be
injured or killed if you attempt to repair, replace,
dismount, or mount an extended mobility tire.
Let only an authorized Goodyear EMT Service
Center repair, replace, dismount and mount
extended mobility tires.
The valve stems on your extended mobility tires have
sensors that are part of the TPM. These sensors contain
batteries which are designed to last for 10 years under
normal driving conditions. See your dealer if you ever
need to have a wheel replaced, or if the sensors ever
need replacement.
NOTICE:
Using liquid sealants can damage the tire valves
and tire pressure monitor sensors in your
extended mobility tires. This damage would not
be covered by warranty. Don't use liquid sealants
in your extended mobility tires.
If your vehicle is equipped with Goodyear Eagle F1-GS
tires and you feel that winter tires are needed for your
driving conditions, Goodyear Eagle M+S EMT tires are
available in your original equipment sizes from an
authorized Goodyear EMT retailer. These tires will
improve snow traction while maintaining your
Corvette's extended mobility feature. When using winter
tires on your vehicle, be sure to use them on all four
wheels. See ªBuying New Tiresº in the Index. If your
vehicle is equipped with Goodyear Eagle RS
-A tires,
they are all
-season rated tires.
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6-45 Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
rear edge of the driver's door, shows the correct
inflation pressures for your tires when they're cold.
ªColdº means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
NOTICE:
Don't let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right. It's not. If your tires
don't have enough air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Bad wear
Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
NOTICE: (Continued)
NOTICE: (Continued)
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
How to Check
With the Tire Pressure Monitor, you can check tire
inflation pressures while driving. After you've reached a
speed of 15 mph (24 km/h) or more, press and release
the GAGES button on the Driver Information Center
(DIC) until the front tire pressures are displayed. Then,
press and release the GAGES button for the rear tire
pressures. If the display doesn't show tire pressure, or if
the SERVICE TIRE MON SYS message appears, see
your dealer for service.
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6-60
If water drops are frequently allowed to dry on the roof
panel, impurities in the water will adhere to the top.
These impurities may etch or mar the finish. When the
panel gets wet, you should dry it off.
NOTICE:
Do not use a glass treatment or conditioner
containing ethyl alcohol or ethyl sulfate on the
roof panel. These products may damage
the panel.
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
The paint finish on your vehicle provides 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.
Use a car washing soap. Don't use strong soaps or
chemical detergents. Be sure to rinse the vehicle well,
removing all soap residue completely. You can get
GM
-approved cleaning products from your dealer. (SeeªAppearance Care and Materialsº in the Index.) 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 an all
-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
wide rear tires.
Check with the manager before using a car wash.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a car
washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses. Follow
instructions under ªWashing Your Vehicle.º