1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE transmission

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Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This position locks your rear wheels. It's the
best position to use when you start your engine because
your vehicle can't move easily.
CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.

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Be sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has a
Brake
-Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI). You have to
fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. If you
cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift
lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P)
and release the shift lever button as you maintain brake
application. Then press the shift lever button and move
the shift lever into the gear you wish. If you do not
apply the brake after 15 seconds once the ignition is
turned on, you will receive a PRESS BRAKE BEFORE
SHIFT message in the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See ªShifting Out of PARK (P)º in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage your
transmission. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after
your vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
ªStuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snowº in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn't
connect with the wheels. To restart when you're
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
CAUTION:
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is ªracingº (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don't shift out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.

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NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn't covered by your warranty.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
): This position is for
normal driving.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
):

When driving on hilly, winding roads.

When going down a steep hill.SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2) when you start the
vehicle, the transmission will drive (and stay) in second
gear. You may use this feature for reducing torque to the
rear wheels when you are trying to start your vehicle
from a stop on slippery road surfaces, or for preventing
the transmission from downshifting into FIRST (1) in
situations where a downshift would be undesirable.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
selector lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission
won't shift into first gear until the vehicle is going
slowly enough.

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NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can't rotate, don't try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes or shift into
PARK (P) to hold your vehicle in position on
a hill.
Maximum engine speed is limited to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
Manual Transmission Operation
6-Speed
This is your shift pattern.
Here's how to operate your transmission:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST (1). Then slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you're going less
than 40 mph (64 km/h). If you've come to a complete
stop and it's hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL (N) and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).

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SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up on
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2). Then,
slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), FIFTH (5) AND SIXTH
(6): Shift into THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), FIFTH (5) and
SIXTH (6) the same way you do for SECOND (2).
Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to
NEUTRAL (N).
NEUTRAL (N): Use this position when you start or
idle your engine. Your shift lever is in NEUTRAL (N)
when it is centered in the shift pattern, not in any
other gear.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Just apply pressure
to get the lever past FIFTH (5) and SIXTH (6) into
REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while
pressing the accelerator pedal.Your six-speed manual transmission has a feature that
allows you to safely shift into REVERSE (R) while the
vehicle is rolling (at less than 3 mph (5 km/h)). You will
be locked out if you try to shift into REVERSE (R)
while your vehicle is moving faster than 3 mph
(5 km/h). If you have turned your ignition off and
wish to park your vehicle in REVERSE (R), you will
have to move the shift lever quickly to the right, and
immediately forward into gear.
Shift Speeds (Manual Transmission)
CAUTION:
If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, you could lose control of your vehicle.
You could injure yourself or others. Don't shift
down more than one gear at a time when you
down shift.

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This chart shows when to shift to the next higher gear
for the best fuel economy.
If your engine speed drops below 900 rpm, or if the
engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift to
the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good engine performance.
NOTICE:
When you are shifting gears, don't move the
gearshift lever around needlessly. This can
damage parts of the transmission and may
require costly repair. Shift directly into the next
appropriate gear.
One to Four Light (Manual Transmission)
When this light comes on,
you can only shift from
FIRST (1) to FOURTH (4)
instead of FIRST (1) to
SECOND (2).
You must complete the shift into FOURTH (4) to
deactivate this feature. This helps you get the best
possible fuel economy.
After shifting to FOURTH (4), you may downshift to a
lower gear if you prefer.

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NOTICE:
Do not try to force the shift lever into
SECOND (2) or THIRD (3) when the 1 TO
4 SHIFT light comes on. Do not try to re
-engage
FIRST (1) after starting to shift into
FOURTH (4). You will damage your
transmission. Shift only from FIRST (1) to
FOURTH (4) when the light comes on.
This light will come on when:

The engine coolant temperature is higher than
169F (76C),

you are going 15 to 19 mph (24 to 31 km/h) and

you are at 21 percent throttle or less.
Downshifting (Manual Transmission)
Do not downshift into the gear shown below at a speed
greater than shown in the table:
FIRST (1) 50 mph (80 km/h). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECOND (2) 74 mph (119 km/h). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THIRD (3) 101 mph (163 km/h). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FOURTH (4) 130 mph (209 km/h). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NOTICE:
If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, or if you race the engine when you
downshift, you can damage the clutch, driveshaft
or transmission.
The six-speed transmission has a spring that centers the
gearshift lever near THIRD (3) and FOURTH (4). This
spring helps you know which gear you are in when you
are shifting. Be careful when shifting from FIRST (1) to
SECOND (2) or downshifting from SIXTH (6) to
FIFTH (5). The spring will try to pull the gearshift lever
toward FOURTH (4) and THIRD (3). Make sure you
move the lever into SECOND (2) or FIFTH (5). If you
let the gearshift lever move in the direction of the
pulling, you may end up shifting from FIRST (1) to
FOURTH (4) or from SIXTH (6) to THIRD (3).

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Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle won't move, even
when you're on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by holding in the
button on the lever and pushing the lever all the way
toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
remove the key from the ignition, the vehicle is in
PARK (P).