2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE brake

Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
passenger air bag.
·Air bags are designed to in¯ate only once. After an
air bag in¯ates, you'll need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you don't get them, the air
bag system won't be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
·Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module,
which records information about the air bag
system. The module records information about the
readiness of the system, when the system
commands air bag in¯ation and driver's safety belt
usage at deployment. The module also records
speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data.
·Let only quali®ed technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system won't work properly. See your dealer for
service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver's
or the passenger's air bag, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module in the steering wheel or both the air bag
module and the instrument panel for the
passenger's air bag. Do not open or break the air
bag coverings.
Air Bag Off Switch
Your vehicle has a switch in the glove box that you can
use to turn off the passenger's air bag.
This switch should only be turned to AIR BAG OFF if
the person in the passenger's position is a member of a
passenger risk group identi®ed by the national
government as follows:
1-44

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-9
Door Locks....................................................2-9
Power Door Locks........................................2-10
Lockout Protection........................................2-10
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-10
Hatch/Trunk.................................................2-11
Windows........................................................2-14
Power Windows............................................2-15
Sun Visors...................................................2-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent System..................................2-16
PASS-Key
ž..................................................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-19
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-19
Front Air Dam..............................................2-19
Ignition Positions..........................................2-20
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-21
Engine Coolant Heater (Canada Only).............2-23
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-24
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-27
Parking Brake..............................................2-30Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-31
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-33
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)...............................2-34
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-34
Engine Exhaust............................................2-35
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-36
Mirrors...........................................................2-37
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-37
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-37
Outside Power Heated Mirrors........................2-38
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror..................2-38
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-38
Storage Areas................................................2-39
Glove Box...................................................2-39
Cupholder(s)................................................2-39
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-39
Floor Mats...................................................2-40
Rear Storage Area........................................2-41
Convenience Net..........................................2-42
Cargo Cover................................................2-42
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Hatch/Trunk Lid Release
To use the hatch/trunk lid release on vehicles with an
automatic transmission, your vehicle must be in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). For manual transmissions,
set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake on page 2-30.
Press the button with the trunk symbol on it, located
at the left side of the steering column on the instrument
panel, to release the hatch/trunk lid from inside your
vehicle.The remote keyless entry transmitter will also release
the hatch/trunk lid. See
Remote Keyless Entry System
on page 2-4.
If your vehicle is equipped with a hatch and you have
lost battery power, use the manual release cables
to open the hatch. To access the cables, remove the
two access panels located in the rear of the trunk area.
There is one cable located under each access panel.
See
Rear Storage Area on page 2-41for more
information.
Pull each cable straight down for each latch to release
the hatch.
2-12

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle doesn't need an elaborate
²break-in.²But it will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
·Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the ®rst 500 miles (805 km).
·Don't drive at any one speed Ð fast or
slow Ð for the ®rst 500 miles (805 km). Don't
make full-throttle starts.
·Avoid making hard stops for the ®rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new
brake linings aren't yet broken in. Hard stops
with new linings can mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get new brake linings.
Front Air Dam
Your vehicle is equipped with a front air dam which has
minimal ground clearance for aerodynamics. For this
reason, the air dam has a spring-loaded hinge provided
and it will retract with road contact.
Under normal operation, the air dam will occasionally
contact some road surfaces (speed bumps, driveway
ramps, etc.). This can be heard inside the vehicle as a
scraping noise. This is normal and does not indicate
a problem.
Use care when approaching bumps or objects on road
surfaces and avoid them when possible.
2-19

When the engine is not running, ACCESSORY and ON
allow you to operate your electrical accessories,
such as the radio.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver's door
while the ignition is in OFF or ACCESSORY and
the key is in the ignition.
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 shift lever should be in NEUTRAL and the parking
brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the ¯oor
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. With your foot off 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. If it doesn't start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the ¯oor, while you
hold the ignition key in START. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and let up on the accelerator
pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between each try.
2-21

{CAUTION:
It is 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 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.
Be sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system.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
Shifting Out of Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-33.
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 If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-32.
2-25

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 into a drive gear while your engine is
ªracingº (running at high speed) is dangerous.
Unless your foot is ®rmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very rapidly. You
could lose control and hit people or objects.
Don't shift into a drive gear while your engine
is racing.
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 (
X): 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 (
X).Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (
X):
·When driving on hilly, winding roads.
·When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). 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, in deep snow or mud. If the shift
lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission won't shift into
®rst gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
2-26

Notice:If your wheels won't turn, 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
This is the shift pattern for
the six-speed manual
transmission.Here is 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 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).
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.
2-27