2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE maintenance schedule

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-7
Child Restraints
.......................................1-21
Airbag System
.........................................1-40
Restraint System Check
............................1-51
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
......................................2-10
Windows
.................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-20
Mirrors
....................................................2-35
OnStar
®System
......................................2-41
HomeLink®Wireless Control System
...........2-42
Storage Areas
.........................................2-46
Roof Panel
..............................................2-52
Convertible Top
.......................................2-57
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-68
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-25
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-32Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-49
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-78
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-36
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Rear Axle
...............................................5-43
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-44
Windshield Replacement
...........................5-48
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-49
Tires
......................................................5-51
Appearance Care
.....................................5-74
Vehicle Identication
.................................5-84
Electrical System
......................................5-85
Capacities and Specications
.....................5-92
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-10
Index................................................................ 1
2005 Chevrolet Corvette Owner ManualM

Stopping Your Engine
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, move the
shift lever to PARK (P) and press the ACC button. If
the shifter is not in PARK (P), the vehicle will go
into accessory mode and the DIC will display SHIFT TO
PARK. Once the shifter is moved to PARK (P), the
vehicle will turn off.
If your vehicle has a manual transmission, move the
shift lever to REVERSE (R) and press the ACC button.
If the shifter is not in REVERSE (R), the vehicle will
go into accessory mode and the DIC will display SHIFT
TO REVERSE. Once the shifter is moved to
REVERSE (R), the vehicle will turn off.
If the keyless access transmitter is not detected while
going to off, the DIC will display NO FOB – OFF
OR RUN?.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-54for
more information.
Notice:If you do not put a manual transmission in
REVERSE (R) before exiting your vehicle, your
vehicle will not be secured, the battery will drain
and could be damaged. Always put a manual
transmission in REVERSE (R) before shutting off the
engine and exiting the vehicle.
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, the 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, seeEngine Oil on page 5-13. 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.
Vehicles with the Z51 performance package have
greaseable outer ends on both of the rear toe-links.
Under normal use, lubrication should be performed as
described in the maintenance schedule. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4andRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-12. If you use the vehicle for
racing, lubrication should be performed at the end of
each racing day. See your dealer for lubrication
and make sure any needed repairs are made at once.
Proper procedures for performing these services can be
found in the service manual. SeeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-11.
2-23

If the airow seems low when the fan speed is at the
highest setting, the passenger compartment air lter may
need to be replaced. For more information, see
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-31and
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
?(Recirculation):Press this button to turn the
recirculation mode on or off. When the climate control
system is in recirculation mode an indicator light
will come on. This mode prevents outside air from
entering your vehicle. It can be used to prevent outside
air and odors from entering your vehicle and to help
cool the air inside your vehicle more quickly.
Recirculation mode is not available in defrost or
defog mode.
^(Air Conditioning Off):Press this button to turn
the air conditioning compressor off. Press AUTO
to return to automatic operation. When in AUTO, the air
conditioning compressor will come on automatically,
as needed.
Air conditioning does not operate at temperatures below
about 35°F to 40°F (2°C to 4°C). In temperatures
above 40°F (4°C), the air conditioning cannot be turned
off in defrost and defog, as it helps to remove moisture
from the vehicle. It also helps to keep the windows clear.You may notice a slight change in engine performance
when the air-conditioning compressor shuts off and
turns on again. This is normal. The system is designed
to make adjustments to help with fuel economy while
still maintaining the selected temperature.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps
the system to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days press the AUTO
button and adjust the temperature to a cool, comfortable
setting. To achieve maximum cool down, do the
following:
1. Select the vent mode.
2. Select recirculation mode.
3. Select the A/C on.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
5. Select the highest fan speed.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside of your vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening, after the air in
your vehicle has cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from
the air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is normal.
3-28

Outlet Adjustment
Use the tab located on the air outlets to change the
direction of the airow.
Operation Tips

Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the windshield that may
block the ow of air into your vehicle.
Use of non-GM approved hood deectors 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.
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The passenger compartment air lter removes certain
odor and particles from the air including pollen and dust
particles. Reductions in airow, which may occur
more often in dusty areas, indicate that the lter may
need to be replaced. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4for information on how often to replace the
lter.Notice:Driving without a passenger compartment
air lter in place can cause water and small
particles, like paper and leaves, to be pulled into
your climate control system which may cause
damage to it. Make sure you always replace the old
lter with a new one.
The passenger compartment air lter is located on the
passenger side of the engine compartment near the
battery. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12.
To check or replace the air lter, do the following:
1. Disengage the passenger compartment air lter
housing cover retainer clips (1).
2. Remove the passenger compartment air lter
housing cover.
3-31

Engine Oil Pressure Gage
The engine oil pressure gage shows the engine oil
pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) or kPa
(kilopascals) when the engine is running.
Oil pressure should be 20 to 80 psi (140 to 550 kPa). In
certain situations such as long, extended idles on hot
days, it could read as low as 6 psi (40 kPa) and still be
considered normal. It may vary with engine speed,
outside temperature and oil viscosity, but readings
above the shaded area show the normal operating
range. Readings in the shaded area tell you that
the engine is low on oil, or that you might have some
other oil problem. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13.The engine oil pressure can also be displayed using the
GAGES button on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-49.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may
damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil. United States
Canada
3-46

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.
3-54

BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE:When the vehicle has
detected that the battery voltage is dropping beyond a
reasonable point, the BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
message will display. The battery saver system will start
reducing certain features of the vehicle that you may
not be able to notice. At the point that features are
disabled, this message is displayed. It means that the
vehicle is trying to save the charge in the battery.
Turn off unnecessary accessories to allow the battery to
recharge.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL:This message will appear
when the life of the engine oil has expired. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4. After an oil
change, the engine oil life system must be reset. See
“Engine Oil Life” underDIC Controls and Displays
on page 3-49. Also, seeEngine Oil on page 5-13and
Engine Oil Life System on page 5-16for more
information.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID:This message will appear, a
chime will sound and the brake system warning light on
the instrument panel cluster will be on if the ignition is
on to inform the driver that the brake uid level is
low. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-38.
Have the brake system serviced by your GM dealer as
soon as possible. SeeBrakes on page 5-34.CHECK COOLANT LEVEL:This message will appear
when there is a low level of engine coolant. Have
the cooling system serviced by your GM dealer as soon
as possible. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-21.
CHECK GAS CAP:If the gas cap has not been fully
tightened, this message will appear. You should
check your gas cap to ensure that it is on properly.
Once tightened, it will take at least one overnight park
to reset or clear this message. If there is a CHECK GAS
CAP message and a malfunction indicator lamp on in
the instrument panel cluster, you may need to see your
GM dealer for service. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 3-42for more information.
CHECK OIL LEVEL: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. Once
the vehicle senses a change in the engine oil level, the
light will remain off.
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. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-24.
3-56

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine air cleaner/lters.
Notice:If you spray water into the engine air
cleaner/lter intake and water enters the engine air
cleaner/lter housing, you could damage your
vehicle’s engine. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Do not spray water into the
engine air cleaner/lter intake and/or housing.
If you are cleaning your vehicle with the hood open,
take care not to spray water directly into either end of
the air cleaner/lter housing, as shown in the illustration,
as this could damage your vehicle’s engine.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filters
Inspect the air cleaner/lters at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace them at the rst oil change after
each 50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4for more information. If
you are driving in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the
lters at each engine oil change.
5-18