2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE brakes

Adding non-dealer accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 319for more information.
Active Handling System
The Active Handling System is a computer
controlled system that helps the driver maintain
directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving
conditions. This is accomplished by selectively
applying any one of the vehicle’s brakes.
When you rst start your vehicle during cold winter
weather and begin to drive away, the message
ACTIVE HANDLING WARMING UP may be
displayed in the DIC. This is normal. You can
acknowledge this message by pressing the RESET
button. The Active Handling System performance
is affected until the message, ACTIVE HANDLING
READY, is displayed in the DIC.
The ACTIVE HANDLING CALIBRATING message
may be displayed in the DIC and the instrument
panel cluster light will be on after exceeding
18 mph (30 km/h) for 10 seconds. The Active
Handling System is off until the ACTIVE
HANDLING READY message is displayed.
This could take up to 15 minutes.The ACTIVE HANDLING message will come on
when the system is operating. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 214for more information.
You may also feel or hear the system working.
This is normal.
The SERVICE ACTIVE
HANDLING message
will be displayed, the
instrument cluster light
will come on, and a
chime will sound to let
you know if there is a
problem with the system.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 214for
more information.
When this light and the SERVICE ACTIVE
HANDLING SYSTEM message are on, the system
is not operational. Adjust your driving accordingly.
283

Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more
effective than braking. For example, you come
over a hill and nd a truck stopped in your lane,
or a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or
a child darts out from between parked cars
and stops right in front of you. You can avoid
these problems by braking — if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you cannot; there is not room.
That is the time for evasive action — steering
around the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies
like these. First apply the brakes. SeeBraking
on page 278. It is better to remove as much speed
as you can from a possible collision. Then steer
around the problem, to the left or right depending
on the space available.An emergency like this requires close attention and
a quick decision. If you are holding the steering
wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock
positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand. But you
have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly
straighten the wheel once you have avoided
the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety belts properly.
288

Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing
the next vehicle.
Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too
rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are not
ashing, it might be slowing down or starting
to turn.
If you are being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or
area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and
by not overdriving those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking
skid, the wheels are not rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or steering in
a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering
force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps
avoid only the acceleration skid. If your traction
control system is off, then an acceleration
skid is also best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
291

Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a
wet road, you cannot stop, accelerate, or turn as
well because your tire-to-road traction is not as
good as on dry roads. And, if your tires do not have
much tread left, you will get even less traction. It is
always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain
starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may
get wet suddenly when your reexes are tuned for
driving on dry pavement.The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see.
Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good
shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see
road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings,
the edge of the road, and even people walking.
It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment
in good shape and keep your windshield washer
uid reservoir lled with washer uid. Replace
your windshield wiper inserts when they show
signs of streaking or missing areas on the
windshield, or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They
may not work as well in a quick stop and
may cause pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car wash, apply the brake pedal
lightly until the brakes work normally.
295

Driving too fast through large water puddles or
even going through some car washes can cause
problems, too. The water may affect your
brakes. Try to avoid puddles. But if you cannot,
try to slow down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can
build up under your tires that they can actually ride
on the water. This can happen if the road is wet
enough and you are going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact
with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can
if your tires do not have much tread or if the
pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if
a lot of water is standing on the road. If you
can see reections from trees, telephone poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops dimple the
water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds.
There just is not a hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down
when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Notice:If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come
in through the engine’s air intake and badly
damage the engine. Never drive through water
that is slightly lower than the underbody of your
vehicle. If you cannot avoid deep puddles or
standing water, drive through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces. If you try to drive through owing
water, as you might at a low water
crossing, your vehicle can be carried away.
As little as six inches of owing water
can carry away a smaller vehicle. If this
happens, you and other vehicle occupants
could drown. Do not ignore police warning
signs, and otherwise be very cautious
about trying to drive through owing water.
296

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different
from driving in at or rolling terrain.If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that
can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check
all uid levels and also the brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transmission. These parts
can work hard on mountain roads.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, the brakes could
get so hot that they would not work well.
You would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine assist
the brakes on a steep downhill slope.
302

{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. The brakes
will have to do all the work of slowing
down. They could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would then have
poor braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Always have the
engine running and your vehicle in gear
when you go downhill.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let the engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when
you go down a steep or long hill.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift
down to a lower gear. The lower gears help
cool the engine and transmission, and you can
climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide
or cut across the center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something in your lane, like a stalled
car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that
warn of special problems. Examples are long
grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling
rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these
and take appropriate action.
303

Service........................................................ 319
Accessories and Modications................... 319
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 320
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 320
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 321
Fuel............................................................. 321
Gasoline Octane........................................ 321
Gasoline Specications.............................. 322
California Fuel........................................... 322
Additives................................................... 323
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 324
Filling the Tank......................................... 324
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 327
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 328
Hood Release........................................... 329
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 330
Engine Oil................................................. 333
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 340
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 342
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 345
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 345
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 346
Engine Coolant.......................................... 347
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 350Engine Overheating................................... 350
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 352
Cooling System......................................... 353
Power Steering Fluid................................. 358
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 360
Brakes...................................................... 361
Battery...................................................... 364
Jump Starting............................................ 365
Rear Axle.................................................... 370
Bulb Replacement....................................... 371
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting..... 371
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 372
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps....................................... 372
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 374
Replacement Bulbs................................... 374
Windshield Replacement............................ 375
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 375
Tires............................................................ 378
Winter Tires.............................................. 379
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 380
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 382
Extended Mobility Tires............................. 384
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 386
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
317