Maintenance Schedule Service and Appearance Care
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Fuel
Checking Fluids and Lubricants
GM Oil Life System™
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Brakes
Bulb ReplacementWindshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires and Wheels
Appearance Care
Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Capacities and Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Section
7
Section
6
Scheduled Maintenance
Owner Checks and Services
Periodic Maintenance InspectionsRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
Maintenance Records
iv
x
In 1984, the fourth generation of America's favorite
sports car anticipated the future with a sleek look and
advanced technology that provided superior handling
and performance. Windshield angle was the sheerest of
any domestic vehicle, cornering ability the tightest of
any production car. In short, the 1984 redesign enhanced
the Corvette's reputation as a leader in the world sports
car market.
After 44 years of production, Corvette only got better.
The fifth
-generation Corvette arrived in 1997, featuring
a completely restyled body and a new, all
-aluminum,
5.7 Liter, 345
-horsepower LS1 V8 engine.The structure of the fifth
-generation redesign is
the stiffest ever developed in 44 years of Corvette
production, resulting in unparalleled ride quality and
outstanding handling. Also unique to the new Corvette
is a rear
-mounted transmission.
Available as a Coupe for 1997, the new Corvette offered
such standard features as extended
-mobility tires, a
Bose audio system, and a new, latch-operated roof
designed for easy removal.
With many design cues inspired by the classic models
of the 1960s, the new fifth-generation Corvette is an
impressive combination of sleek styling and world
-class
sports car performance. For 1998, in addition to the
Coupe, a convertible was reintroduced. The
fifth-generation Corvette rollout was completed in 1999
with the introduction of the hardtop model.
2-80
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
NOTICE:
Modifications made to the engine, transmission,
exhaust or fuel system of your vehicle or the
replacement of the original tires with other than
those of the same Tire Performance Criteria
(TPC) can affect your vehicle's emission controls
and may cause the CHECK ENGINE light to
come on. Modifications to these systems could
lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass
a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn't come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing
-- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
Light On Steady
-- An emission control
system malfunction has been detected on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
2-91
Press the GAGE button again to display the oil
temperature, such as:
OIL TEMP 234 F or
OIL TEMP 112 C
Press the GAGE button again to display the coolant
temperature, such as:
COOLANT TEMP 123 F or
COOLANT TEMP 51 C
Press the GAGE button again to display the transmission
fluid temperature (automatic transmission only),
such as:
TRANS FLUID 123 F or
TRANS FLUID 51 C
Press the GAGE button again to display the battery
voltage, such as:
BATTERY VOLTS 13.5
Press the GAGE button again to display the tire pressure
for the front tires (left and right), such as:
FRONT L34 R33 PSI or
FRONT L234 R228 kPaPress the GAGE button again to display the tire pressure
for the rear tires (left and right), such as:
REAR L34 R33 PSI or
REAR L234 R228 kPa
Note that tire pressure is not available until the vehicle
has reached a speed of 15 mph (24 km/h) or more.
3 TRIP
The TRIP button allows you to scroll through the
functions listed below when you press it.
2-104
ACTIVE HANDLING: Your vehicle is equipped with
an optional computer controlled system to assist the
driver in controlling the vehicle in difficult driving
conditions. You may feel or hear the system working
and see the ACTIVE HANDLING message displayed in
the DIC. This is normal when the system is operating.
Also see ªAnti
-Lock Brakesº in the Index.
LOW TIRE PRESSURE: You will hear two chimes
when this message is displayed. To acknowledge the
warning, press RESET. After you press RESET,
a message will reappear every 10 minutes until this
condition changes. This message indicates that the
pressure in one of your tires is less than 25 psi
(172 kPa). Next to the LOW TIRE PRESSURE
message, you can see either LF (left front), LR
(left rear), RF (right front) or RR (right rear) to indicate
to you which tire is low on pressure. You can receive
more than one tire pressure message at a time. To read
other messages that may have been sent at the same
time, press RESET. If a tire pressure message appears
on the DIC, stop as soon as you can. Have the tire
pressures checked and set to those shown on your
Tire Loading Information Label. See ªExtended
Mobility Tiresº in the Index.
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.
2-105
FLAT TIRE: You will hear two chimes when this
message is displayed followed by the message MAX
SPEED 55 MPH (90 km/h). If this message appears,
do not drive your vehicle above these limits. The next
message to appear is REDUCED HANDLING.
Adjust your driving accordingly. To acknowledge these
warnings, press RESET. After you press RESET,
a message will reappear every 10 minutes until this
condition changes. This message indicates that the
pressure in one of your tires is lower than 5 psi (34 kPa).
Next to the FLAT TIRE message, you can see either
LF (left front), LR (left rear), RF (right front) or
RR (right rear) to indicate to you which tire is flat.
You can receive more than one tire pressure message at
a time. To read other messages that may have been sent
at the same time, press RESET. If a tire pressure
message appears on the DIC, stop as soon as you can.
Have the tire pressures checked and set to those shown
on your Tire Loading Information Label. See ªExtended
Mobility Tiresº and ªTire Inflationº in the Index.
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.
2-106
HIGH TIRE PRESSURE - (LF, LR, RF, RR): Yo u
will hear two chimes when this message is displayed. To
acknowledge the warning, press RESET. After you press
RESET, a message will reappear every 10 minutes until
this condition changes. This message indicates that the
pressure in one of your tires is higher than 42 psi
(290 kPa). Next to the HIGH TIRE PRESSURE
message, you can see either LF (left front), LR (left
rear), RF (right front) or RR (right rear) to indicate to
you which tire is higher than 42 psi (290 kPa). You can
receive more than one tire pressure message at a time.
To read other messages that may have been sent at the
same time, press RESET. If a tire pressure message
appears on the DIC, stop as soon as you can. Have the
tire pressures checked and set to those shown on your
Tire Loading Information Label. See ªExtended
Mobility Tiresº and ªTire Inflationº in the Index.SERVICE TIRE MON SYS: If this message
comes on, a part on the Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)
is not working properly. If you drive your vehicle while
any of the four sensors are missing or inoperable, the
warning will come on in approximately 10 minutes.
If all four sensors are missing, the warning will come
on in approximately 15 to 20 minutes. (All the sensors
would be missing, for example, if you put different
wheels on your vehicle without transferring the sensors.)
If the warning comes on and stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPM. See your dealer.
4-6
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle. (Also see ªTraction Control System
(TCS)º and ªActive Handling Systemº in the Index.)
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That's perception time. Then you have to bring up
your foot and do it. That's reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second.
But that's only an average. It might be less with one
driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it's pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of
the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.