2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE steering

Driver Information Center (DIC)
The Driver Information Center (DIC) gives you the
status of many of your vehicle’s systems. It is also used
to display driver personalization features and
warning/status messages. The DIC display is located on
the instrument panel cluster below the speedometer
and tachometer, directly above the steering column. The
DIC buttons are located on the instrument panel, to
the right of the instrument panel cluster.
The DIC comes on when the ignition is turned on. After
displaying CORVETTE BY CHEVROLET, the DIC
will display the current driver and the information that
was last displayed before the engine was turned off.
If a problem is detected, a warning message will appear
on the DIC display. Be sure to take any message that
appears on the display seriously and remember that
clearing the message will only make the message
disappear, not correct the problem.
DIC Controls and Displays
The Driver Information Center (DIC) has different modes
which can be accessed by pressing the following
buttons located on the instrument panel, to the right of
the instrument panel cluster.
.4(Fuel):Press this button to display fuel information
such as fuel economy and range.
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Average Speed:Press the TRIP button until the
average speed is displayed, such as:
AVERAGE SPEED 62 MPH or
AVERAGE SPEED 100 km/h
Press and hold the RESET button to reset to 0.0 mph.
Engine Oil Life:Press the TRIP button until the
engine oil life is displayed, such as OIL LIFE
REMAINING 89%.
This is an estimate of the engine oil’s remaining useful
life. It will show 100% when the system is reset after
an oil change. It will alert you to change your oil
on a schedule consistent with your driving conditions.
When the remaining oil life is low, the system will
alert you with the message CHANGE ENGINE OIL.
Remember, you must reset the engine oil life system
yourself after each oil change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the system, press and hold the RESET button
for three seconds. Also, be careful not to reset the
engine oil life system accidentally at any time other than
when the oil has just been changed. It cannot be
reset accurately until the next oil change.
See “How to Reset the Engine Oil Life System” under
Engine Oil Life System on page 5-16,Scheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4, andEngine Oil on page 5-13
for more information.
OPTION Button
The OPTION button allows you to access the
PERSONAL OPTIONS menu and customize the
personalization settings on your vehicle. SeeDIC
Vehicle Personalization on page 3-69for more
information.
RESET Button
The RESET button, used along with other buttons, will
reset system functions and turn off or acknowledge
messages on the DIC.
DIC Warnings and Messages
The following messages and warnings may appear in
the DIC display. The DIC display area is located in
the instrument panel cluster below the speedometer and
tachometer, directly above the steering column. You
may receive more than one message at a time.
Messages will appear one behind the other. To
acknowledge a message and remove it from the display,
press the RESET button. You may scroll through the
messages that may have been sent at the same
time. The message center is continuously updated with
the vehicle performance status.
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If the SERVICE ANTILOCK BRAKES message is being
displayed, your Traction Control System and the
Active Handling System will also be disabled. The Driver
Information Center will scroll three messages: SERVICE
ANTILOCK BRAKES, SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM
and SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING, and the instrument
cluster lights will be illuminated along with a chime.
The driver can acknowledge these messages by
pressing the RESET button. When the service message
is displayed the computer controlled systems will not
assist the driver and you should have the system
repaired by your GM dealer as soon as possible. Adjust
your driving accordingly.
SERVICE CHARGING SYSTEM:Press the RESET
button 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 multiple chimes when this message is
displayed.
If this message comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical charging system.
It could indicate that you have a loose or broken drive
belt or another electrical problem. Have it checked
right away by your GM dealer. Driving while this warning
message is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the message on,
be certain to turn off your accessories, such as the
radio and air conditioner.SERVICE COLUMN LOCK (Manual Transmission
Only):This message may display if the system
that controls the locking and unlocking of the steering
column does not work properly. Have the vehicle towed
to your GM dealer for service.
SERVICE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:This message
displays if an electrical problem has occurred within the
Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Have your vehicle
serviced by your GM dealer.
SERVICE FUEL SYSTEM:This message displays if
the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) has detected
a problem within the fuel system. Have your vehicle
serviced by your GM dealer. This message will also be
displayed when the cluster is not getting fuel
information from the PCM.
SERVICE RIDE CONTROL:This message is used to
indicate to the driver that the Selective Ride Control
system has detected a malfunction and that the system
must be serviced. See your GM dealer. The SERVICE
RIDE CONTROL message will always come on when a
failure is detected by the Selective Ride Control
system. If a fault is present in the Selective Ride Control
system which causes the shocks to be in their full soft
condition, the SERVICE RIDE CONTROL, SHOCKS
INOPERATIVE and MAXIMUM SPEED 80 MPH
(129 km/h) will display together.
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Entering the Personal Options Menu
To enter the personal options menu, use the
following steps:
1. If you have an automatic transmission vehicle, turn
the vehicle on with the shift lever in PARK (P).
If you have a manual transmission vehicle, turn the
vehicle on with the parking brake set.
2. Press the OPTION button and you will enter the
PERSONAL OPTIONS menu.
The DIC will display the current driver
number (1 or 2) for a few seconds and then will
display instructions on which buttons to use
for setting the personalizations. The RESET button
is used to select a setting for a particular feature.
The OPTION button is used to move to the
next feature.
3. Press the OPTION button while the instruction
screen is displayed to enter the rst personalization
menu item.
4. Once you have cycled through all of the personal
options, pressing the OPTION button a nal time
exits the personal options menu. In addition, if
no button is pressed within 45 seconds, the DIC will
exit the personal options menu.
Personal Options
The following options are available for programming:
Display Units:This option allows you to choose
the measurement units.
Press the OPTION button until DISPLAY UNITS
appears on the display, then press the RESET button to
scroll through the following modes:
ENGLISH (default)
METRIC
If you choose ENGLISH, all information will be displayed
in English units.
If you choose METRIC, all information will be displayed
in metric units.
When the mode you want is selected, press the
OPTION button to set your choice and advance to the
next personal option.
Auto Memory Recall (Automatic Transmission
only):If your automatic transmission vehicle has the
memory package, you may have this option. This option
allows the driver’s seat, the telescopic steering
column, if equipped, and the outside rearview mirrors to
automatically move to the current driver’s set position
when the engine starts.
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Press the OPTION button until AUTO MEMORY
RECALL appears on the display, then press the RESET
button to scroll through the following modes:
YES
NO (default)
If you choose YES, the driver’s seat, the outside
rearview mirrors and the telescopic steering column, if
equipped, positions are recalled when you turn the
ignition on.
If you choose NO, this option will turn off.
When the mode you want is selected, press the
OPTION button to set your choice and advance to the
next personal option.
Auto Exit Recall:If your vehicle has the memory
package, you may have this option. This option allows
the driver’s seat and telescopic steering column, if
equipped, to automatically move to the current driver’s
exit position when one of the following occurs:
The vehicle is turned off or in Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) or ACCESSORY mode and the
driver’s door is opened.
The vehicle is turned off or in RAP and the unlock
button on the keyless access transmitter is
pressed.In order for the Auto Exit Recall feature to work on an
automatic transmission vehicle, the vehicle must be
in PARK (P). On a manual transmission vehicle,
the parking brake must be set.
Press the OPTION button until AUTO EXIT RECALL
appears on the display, then press the RESET button to
scroll through the following modes:
YES
NO (default)
If you choose YES, when you turn the ignition off and
open the driver’s door or press the unlock button on the
keyless access transmitter, the seat and the telescopic
steering wheel, if equipped, will return to their stored exit
positions for an easy exit or an easy entrance when
returning to the vehicle.
The seat and steering wheel will only return to the
stored driving position if you press the appropriate
memory button or activate the auto memory recall
feature.
If you choose NO, this option will turn off.
When the mode you want is selected, press the
OPTION button to set your choice and advance to the
next personal option.
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Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-5
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-6
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-8
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-8
Active Handling System.................................4-10
Limited-Slip Rear Axle...................................4-11
Selective Ride Control...................................4-12
Steering......................................................4-12
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-14
Passing.......................................................4-15
Loss of Control.............................................4-16
Driving at Night............................................4-17Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-19
City Driving..................................................4-21
Freeway Driving...........................................4-22
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-23
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-24
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-24
Winter Driving..............................................4-26
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-30
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-31
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-31
Towing..........................................................4-36
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-36
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-36
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-36
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reexes, perceptions, attentiveness,
and judgment can be affected by even a
small amount of alcohol. You can have a
serious — or even fatal — collision if you drive
after drinking. Please do not drink and drive or
ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride
home in a cab; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will not drink.
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 are driving on snow or ice, it
is easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can
lose control of your vehicle. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-8andActive Handling System
on page 4-10.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That is perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is 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 three-fourths 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 is pavement
or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is
wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of your brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brake
force applied.
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Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may hear
a motor or clicking noise and feel the brake pedal
move a little during a stop, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock brakes, you can steer and brake at the
same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system called TCS
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that the rear wheels are spinning too much or are
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the rear brakes and reduces engine power
(by closing the throttle and managing engine spark) to
limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION SYSTEM ACTIVE message will come
on when the TCS system is limiting wheel spin. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-54. You
may feel or hear the system working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS
system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions allow
you to safely use it again, you may re-engage the cruise
control. SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction Lever on
page 3-8.
4-8