2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE parking brake

If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't shift
out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have your vehicle inspected by your dealer as soon
as possible.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever
into REVERSE (R) and ®rmly apply the parking
brake. Once the shift lever has been placed into
REVERSE (R) with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can
turn the ignition key to OFF, remove the key and
release the clutch.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things
that can burn.
2-34

Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked (Automatic
Transmission)
It's better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
ªEngine Exhaust.º
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust Ð with CO Ð can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. See
ªWinter Drivingº in the Index.
{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 ®rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Don't leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you've 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).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See
Shifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-31.
2-36

Roof Panel
Your vehicle may have a removable roof panel.
Removing the Roof Panel
{CAUTION:
Don't try to remove a roof panel while the
vehicle is moving. Trying to remove the roof
panel while the vehicle is moving could cause
an accident. The panel could fall into the
vehicle and cause you to lose control, or it
could ¯y off and strike another vehicle. You or
others could be injured. Remove the roof panel
only when the vehicle is parked.
Until you are sure you can remove the panel alone,
have someone help you.
Notice:To avoid damage to the roof panel, paint
and weatherstripping, do not drop or rest it on
its edges. Place the roof panel in the egg-shaped
stowage receivers after removing it from the vehicle.1. Park on a level surface, set the parking brake ®rmly
and shift an automatic transmission into PARK (P).
Shift a manual transmission into REVERSE (R).
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF. Lower both sun visors
and turn them toward the door glass.
3. Open the rear hatch and remove any items that may
interfere with proper storage of the roof panel.
4. Make sure to install the two egg-shaped stowage
receivers into the ¯oor of the rear storage
compartment. Secure both receivers into their
proper positions by turning them counterclockwise.
2-43

Lowering the Convertible Top
Notice:Don't leave the convertible out with the top
down for any long periods of time. The sun and
rain can damage the seat material and other things
inside the vehicle.
1. Set the parking brake ®rmly. Shift an automatic
transmission into PARK (P). Shift a manual
transmission into REVERSE (R).
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF. Lower both sun visors
and turn them toward the door glass.
Notice:Before lowering the convertible top into the
storage area, be sure there are no objects in the
way of the folded, stored top. The weight of a stored
top on items in the storage area may cause the
convertible top back glass to break.3. Unlock the front of the convertible top by lowering
the latch handles and turning them inward. Push
the latch handles back to the up position.
2-50

7. Then move the top rearward to its fully-stored
position.
8. After the top is stored, apply one even push on the
center of the front edge (A) of the convertible top to
assure that the top is fully retracted.
9. Close the storage compartment lid (C) by closing
with a swift, ®rm motion.
Raising the Convertible Top
1. Park on a level surface, set the parking brake ®rmly
and shift an automatic transmission into PARK (P).
Shift a manual transmission into REVERSE (R).
Lower both windows and sun visors and turn
the ignition key to OFF.
2. Tilt the driver's seat forward and press the storage
compartment release button, or use the manual
release cable if battery power has been lost. Lift the
storage compartment lid (C).
(After pressing the release button, the driver and
passenger door glass should retract to the full-down
position, if they have not already been lowered.)
2-53

The main components of your instrument panel are the
following:
A. Instrument Panel Brightness Control
B. Head-Up Display Controls
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
D. Driver Information Center (DIC) (Located in the
Instrument Cluster)
E. Instrument Panel Cluster
F. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever
G. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons
H. Hazard Warning Flasher Button
I. Center Air Outlets
J. Audio System
K. Climate Controls
L. Fog Lamp Button
M. Remote Hatch Release Button (Coupe) or Remote
Trunk Release Button (Convertible/Z06)N. Ignition Switch
O. Shift Lever (Automatic Shown)
P. Active Handling Button
Q. Accessory Power Outlet (Located in the Center
Console)
R. Selective Ride Control Switch
S. Air Bag Off Light
T. Instrument Panel Cupholder
U. Remote Fuel Door Release Button (Located in the
Center Console)
V. Ashtray and Cigarette Lighter
W. Parking Brake
X. Glove Box
Y. Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Located Behind the
Toe-Board)
Z. Air Bag Off Switch (Located in Glove Box)
3-3

You can open the doors manually using the knob next
to the headlamp assembly. Turn the knob
counterclockwise until the doors are open. Turn the
knob clockwise to close the doors manually.
The headlamp doors should be open when driving in icy
or snowy conditions to prevent the doors from freezing
closed and when washing the vehicle to help clean
the headlamps.
Notice:In order to avoid possible contact of the
hood to the headlamp doors, either take care
in raising the hood with the headlamps up, or turn
off the headlamps prior to opening the hood.
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. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
®rst sold in Canada.The DRL system will make the front turn signal lamps
come on when the following conditions are met:
·The ignition is on,
·the exterior lamp 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. 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.
3-13

Make sure your instrument panel brightness control is in
full bright position. See ªInstrument Panel Brightness
Controlº under
Interior Lamps on page 3-15.
With Twilight Sentinel
žturned on, you can idle the
vehicle with the lamps off, even when it's dark outside.
First set the parking brake while the ignition is in
OFF. Then start the vehicle. The lamps will stay off until
you release the parking brake.
Twilight Sentinel
žalso provides exterior illumination as
you leave the vehicle. If Twilight Sentinelžhas turned
on the lamps when you turn off the ignition, your lamps
will remain on until:
·The exterior lamp switch is moved from OFF to the
parking lamp position, or
·a delay time that you select has elapsed.
See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-44to
select the delay time that you want. You can also select
no delay time.
If you turn off the ignition with the exterior lamp switch
in the parking lamp or headlamp position, the Twilight
Sentinel
ždelay will not occur. The lamps will turn off as
soon as the switch is turned off.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
The knob for this feature is
located on the left side of
the instrument panel.
Push and release the knob and it will pop out. Turn the
knob clockwise to brighten the lights or counterclockwise
to dim them.
Be sure not to have this knob turned all the way down
with the lamps on during the day. Your Driver
Information Center (DIC) may not be visible.
3-15