2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Owners Manual

Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window.
The rear window defogger will only work when the
engine is running.
=REAR:Press this button to turn the rear window
defogger on. Be sure to clear as much snow from
the rear window as possible. An indicator light in the
button will come on to let you know that the rear window
defogger is activated.
The rear window defogger will automatically turn off
about 15 minutes after the button is pressed. If turned
on again, the defogger will only run for about seven
minutes before turning off. The defogger can also
be turned off by pressing the button again or by turning
off the engine.
Your vehicle has heated outside rearview mirrors. The
mirrors will heat to help clear fog or frost from the
surface of the mirrors when the rear window defog
button is pressed.
Notice:Don’t use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’t be
covered by your warranty. Do not attach a temporary
vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similar
to the defogger grid.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the tab located on the air outlets to change the
direction of the airflow.
Operation Tips
•
Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the windshield that may
block the flow of air into your vehicle.
•Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
•Keep the area around the base of the instrument
panel console and air path under the seats clear
of objects to help circulate the air inside of
your vehicle more effectively.
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Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause
an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they are working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and warning lights work together to let you know when
there is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages
shows there may be a problem, check the section that
tells you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly — and even dangerous. So please get to know
your warning lights and gages. They are a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a Driver Information Center
that works along with the warning lights and gages.
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-48.
3-32

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster and Driver Information Center (DIC) are designed to let you know at a glance how the
vehicle is running. You will know how fast you are going, about how much fuel you have left and many other
things you will need to know to drive safely and economically. The instrument panel cluster indicator warning lights,
gages and DIC messages are explained on the following pages.
United States shown, Canada similar
3-33

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in either
miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h).
There is only one scale for mph and km/h. When you
press the E/M (English/metric) button on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), the cluster will calculate the
proper speed and move the needle to the correct
position. Either the MPH or the km/h telltale will
illuminate, depending on which measurement you
choose.
To read the odometer with the ignition off, turn on the
parking lamps.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. The mileage total of the
new odometer will be set to the original miles
(kilometers) of the old odometer. See your dealer if the
odometer must be replaced in your vehicle.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in thousands
of revolutions per minute (rpm).
Fuel will shut off at about 6200 rpm (6500 rpm for Z06).
If you continue to drive your vehicle at the fuel shut
off rpm, you could damage your engine. Be sure
to operate your vehicle below the fuel shut off rpm or
reduce your rpm quickly when the fuel shuts off.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten
their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
until the driver’s belt is
buckled.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows a deployed air bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag’s electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the air bag
modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module. For
more information on the air bag system, seeAir
Bag System on page 1-40.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will flash for
a few seconds. Then the
light should go out. This
means the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air
bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the air bag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light does not come on then, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
3-35

Air Bag Off Light
When you turn the passenger’s air bag off, this light will
come on and stay on to remind you that the air bag
has been turned off. This light will go off when you turn
the air bag back on again. SeeAir Bag Off Switch
on page 1-46for more on this, including important safety
information.{CAUTION:
If the passenger’s air bag is turned off for a
person who isn’t in a risk group identied by
the national government, that person won’t
have the extra protection of an air bag. In a
crash, the air bag wouldn’t be able to inate
and help protect the person sitting there. Don’t
turn off the passenger’s air bag unless the
person sitting there is in a risk group. See “Air
Bag Off Switch” in the Index for more on this,
including important safety information.
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{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on
when you have turned off the air bag, it means
that something may be wrong with the air bag
system. The passenger’s air bag could inate
even though the switch is off. If this ever
happens, don’t let anyone whom the national
government has identied as a member of a
passenger air bag risk group sit in the
passenger’s position (for example, don’t
secure a rear-facing child restraint in your
vehicle) until you have your vehicle serviced.
See “Air Bag Off Switch” in the Index.
Voltmeter Gage
When the key is in ON
with the engine not
running, the voltmeter
shows the voltage output
of your battery. When
the engine is running, it
shows the voltage
output of the
charging system.
The reading will change as the rate of charge changes
(with engine speed, for example), but if the voltmeter
reads at 9 volts or below, your instrument panel cluster
and other systems may shut down. The Driver
Information Center (DIC) will read LOW VOLTAGE
when your vehicle is at 10 volts or below. Have
it checked right away. Driving with the voltmeter reading
at 10 volts or below could drain your battery and
disable your vehicle.
3-37

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
This light should come on
when you turn the ignition
key to START. If it
does not come on then,
have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn you if
there is a problem.
If this warning light stays on after you start the engine,
the parking brake may still be set or there could be
a brake problem. Refer toParking Brake on page 2-31
to see if it is set. If the parking brake is not set, have
your brake system inspected right away.If the light comes on while you are driving and you have
a LOW BRAKE FLUID message showing on the DIC,
pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that
the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go
closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light
is still on, have the vehicle towed for service. See
Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-33.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you have pulled off the road and
stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
3-38