2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE clutch

2-20
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
With RAP, your power windows and the audio system
will continue to work for up to 15 minutes after the
ignition key is turned to OFF and neither door is opened.
If a door is opened, the power windows and audio
system will shut off.
Starting Your Engine
This vehicle has a computer system that monitors engine
speed, throttle and pedal position, and records the
current status.
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's a
safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle
is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL and the
parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the
floor and start the engine. Your vehicle won't start if
the clutch pedal is not all the way down
-- that's a
safety feature.
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.

2-27
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
for your six
-speed
manual transmission.
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 and let up on the clutch. Press the
clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).

2-28
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.
NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle
your engine. Your shift lever is in NEUTRAL 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 a 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 downshift.

2-30
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).

2-45
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.
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
cruise control.
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.

2-46
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) briefly. 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 SET button at the
end of the lever, then release the button and the
accelerator pedal. You'll now cruise at the higher speed.

Move the cruise switch to R/A. parkHold 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.

To slow down in very small amounts, push the
SET button briefly. Each time you do this,
you'll go about 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.

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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.

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.Exterior Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps
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.
The DRL 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.
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.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.

2-103
REDUCE ENGINE RPM: You will hear four chimes
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 this condition
changes. If you do not press RESET, the message will
remain on the digital display until the condition changes.
If the engine oil temperature exceeds 320
F (160
C),
this message is displayed. You should check the engine
coolant temperature and engine oil level. If your engine
is too hot, see ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
Your vehicle may need service, so see your dealer.
You can monitor the oil temperature with the GAGES
button on the DIC.
HIGH TRANS TEMP (Automatic Transmission
Only): You will hear four chimes when this message is
displayed. To acknowledge this warning, press the
RESET button. After you press the RESET button,
the message will be displayed every 10 minutes until
the condition changes. If you do not press RESET,
the message remains on the display until the
condition changes.If the transmission fluid temperature rises above
270
F (132
C) or rises rapidly, this message is
displayed. The transmission may shift gears or apply the
torque converter clutch to reduce the fluid temperature.
Driving aggressively or driving on long hills can cause
the transmission fluid temperature to be higher than
normal. If this message appears, you may continue to
drive at a slower speed. You should also monitor the
transmission fluid temperature and allow it to cool to at
least 230
F (110
C). The transmission fluid temperature
can be monitored with the GAGES button on the DIC.
See ªAutomatic Transmission Fluidº in the Index.
You should also check the engine coolant temperature.
If it is also hot, see ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
If the HIGH TRANS TEMP message is displayed
during normal vehicle operation on flat roads, your
vehicle may need service. See your dealer for
an inspection.
SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLG: If the SERVICE
ACTIVE HNDLG message is displayed, there is a
problem with your Active Handling System and your
vehicle needs service. The instrument cluster light will
also be on and a chime will sound. When this message is
displayed, the system is not working. Adjust your
driving accordingly.