2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coolant level

2-26
Racing or Other Competitive Driving
See your Warranty Book before using your vehicle for
racing or other competitive driving.
NOTICE:
If you use your vehicle for racing or other
competitive driving, your engine may use more
oil than it would with normal use. Low oil levels
can damage the engine. Be sure to check the oil
level often during racing or other competitive
driving and keep the level at or near 1 quart (1 L)
above the upper mark that shows the proper
operating range on the engine oil dipstick. For
information on how to add oil, see ªAdding Oilº
under ªEngineº in the Index. After the
competitive driving, remove excess oil so that the
level on the dipstick is not above the upper mark
that shows the proper operating range.
Engine Coolant Heater (Canada Only)
The engine coolant heater is located on the driver's side
of the engine under the manifold.
In very cold weather, 0
F (
-18
C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle.

2-87 Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States Canada
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the shaded area, your
engine is too hot.
This means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible. (The
larger tic marks are in increments of 30
below 220
F
(104
C) and in increments of 10
above 220
F (104
C).)
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index for
more information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On
-Board
Diagnostics
-Second Generation) and is intended to assure
that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the
vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. The
CHECK ENGINE light comes on to indicate that there is
a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will
be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent.
This may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle.
This system is also designed to assist your service
technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.

2-91
The engine oil pressure can also be displayed using the
GAGES button on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See ªDriver Information Centerº in the Index.
CAUTION:
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Security Light
This light comes on to
remind you to arm your
theft
-deterrent system. If it
comes on and stays on when
your ignition is on, there
may be a problem with your
theft
-deterrent system.
See ªTheft
-Deterrent Systemº and ªPASS-Key Systemº
in the Index.
Check Gages Warning Light
This light will come on
briefly when you are
starting the engine. If the
light comes on and stays on
while you are driving, check
your gages to see if they are
in the warning areas.
This light can come on for the following reasons:

Low Oil Pressure

High Coolant Temperature

High or Low Battery Voltage

Low Fuel Level

2-105
LOW OIL PRESSURE: You will hear four chimes and
the CHECK GAGES telltale will come on 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 the vehicle is serviced. If you
do not press RESET, the message will remain on the
digital display until the vehicle is serviced.
Low oil pressure may be the result of a combination of
low oil level and abrupt changes in the vehicle's
direction. When this warning is displayed, you should
not operate the engine at high rpm or make fast abrupt
moves. As soon as possible, you should check the oil
level. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
LOW OIL LEVEL: Press RESET to acknowledge that
you have read the message and to remove it from the
display. The message will reappear every 10 minutes
until this condition changes.
You will hear two chimes when this message is
displayed. If this message appears after starting your
engine, your engine oil level may be too low. You may
need to add oil. See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.REDUCED ENGINE POWER: You will hear chimes
continuously when this message is displayed. To
acknowledge that you have read the message and to
remove it from the display, press RESET.
The message will reappear every 15 seconds until this
condition changes.
If the Driver Information Center (DIC) displays the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER message and the
CHECK ENGINE light comes on, a noticeable
reduction in the vehicle's performance may occur. If the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER message is displayed but
there is no reduction in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may be reduced the next
time the vehicle is driven.
The vehicle may be driven at a reduced speed while the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER message is displayed,
but acceleration and speed may be reduced. Anytime the
CHECK ENGINE light stays on, the vehicle should be
taken to an authorized Chevrolet dealer as soon as
possible for diagnosis and repair.
Also, refer to ªMalfunction Indicator Lampº
(Check Engine Light) in the Index. If the REDUCED
ENGINE POWER message is displayed in combination
with the COOLANT OVER TEMP message, see
ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.

2-108
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 causethe 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 HANDLING: 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.
ACTIVE HANDLING: Your vehicle is equipped with
a 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.

2-114
There are five HUD selections that you can choose to
view in the HUD display. By pressing and holding the
PAGE button, you can scroll through these pages in the
following order:

Speed Only

Speed and Gage

Speed, Tachometer and Gage

Speed and Tachometer

Tachometer Only
When you have chosen the desired HUD display, release
the PAGE button.
Gages can be scrolled through by tapping the PAGE
button (only when a gage is displayed). The gages
shown are the following:

Oil Pressure

Coolant Temperature

Fuel Level
The selections that you choose will remain in the
HUD display until they are changed.
Be sure to continue scanning your displays, controls and
driving environment just as you would in a vehicle
without HUD. If you never look at your instrument
panel cluster, you may not see something important,
such as a warning light. Under important warning
conditions, the CHECK GAGES icon will illuminate in
the HUD. View your Driver Information Center (DIC)
for more information.

3-11 Heating
The heater works best if you keep the windows closed.
Maximum heating will occur when airflow direction is
in the lower mode and the temperature knob (on a
manual climate control system) is all the way in the red
area. These settings will be selected by the automatic
electronic dual climate control system if operating in
AUTO when maximum heating is required.
The BI
-LEVEL setting is designed for use on sunny
days when the air is only moderately warm or cool.
On days like these, the sun may adequately warm
your upper body, but your lower body may not be
warm enough. The BI
-LEVEL setting will direct
cooler airflow to your upper body and warmer air to the
floor area.
If you have the optional engine coolant heater and use
it during cold weather 0
F (
-18
C) or lower, the
heating system will provide heat more quickly because
the coolant is already warmed. See ªEngine Coolant
Heaterº in the Index.
Defogging and Defrosting
To rapidly defrost the windshield, the FRONT defrost
mode (automatic electronic dual climate control system)
or defrost mode (manual control system) should be used
and the fan speed should be adjusted to the highest
speed. With the manual control system, turn the
temperature knob all the way to the red area.
To keep the windshield clear and provide heated air to
the floor area of the vehicle, use the DEFOG setting.
Your vehicle is equipped with side window defogger
vents located near the side rearview mirrors.
Rear Window Defogger
REAR: This button turns the rear defogger and the
heated outside mirrors on. The light on the button will
come on when operating. The system automatically
shuts off after approximately 15 minutes. If further
defogging is desired, press the button again and it will
operate for about seven and a half more minutes.
The rear window defogger operates only when the
engine is running.

5-12
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
or above the FULL COLD mark. If it isn't, you may
have a leak in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator,
water pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.
CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don't touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don't run the engine if there is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn't covered by your warranty.
See ªOverheated Engine Protection Operating
Modeº in the Index.