2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE steering

Navigation/Radio System
Your vehicle may have a navigation radio system.
The navigation system has built-in features
intended to minimize driver distraction. Technology
alone, no matter how advanced, can never
replace your own judgment. See the Navigation
System manual for some tips to help you
reduce distractions while driving.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK®is designed to discourage theft
of your vehicle’s radio. The feature works
automatically by learning a portion of the
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN). If the radio
is moved to a different vehicle, it will not operate
and LOCKED will appear on the display.
With THEFTLOCK
®activated, the radio will not
operate if stolen.
Your radio has a blinking indicator light located
on the upper left side of the radio. The indicator
light is used to show that the theft-deterrent feature
mode is set. The blinking indicator light will only
ash when the ignition is in the off position.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
If your vehicle has this
feature, some audio
controls can be adjusted
at the steering wheel.
They include the
following:
xw:Press the downxor upwarrow to go to
the previous or to the next radio station and stay
there. The radio only seeks stations with a strong
signal that are in the selected band.
To scan stations, press and hold either the down
x
or upwarrow for two seconds until SCAN displays
and a beep sounds. The radio goes to a station,
plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next
station. Press either the down
xor upwarrow
again to stop scanning.
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Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle.... 274
Defensive Driving...................................... 274
Drunken Driving........................................ 275
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 278
Braking...................................................... 278
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 279
Braking in Emergencies............................. 281
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 281
Active Handling System............................. 283
Limited-Slip Rear Axle............................... 285
Selective Ride Control............................... 286
Steering.................................................... 286
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 289
Passing..................................................... 289
Loss of Control.......................................... 291
Racing or Other Competitive Driving.......... 292Driving at Night......................................... 293
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 295
City Driving............................................... 297
Freeway Driving........................................ 298
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 300
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 301
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 302
Winter Driving........................................... 304
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow................................. 308
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 309
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 309
Towing........................................................ 315
Towing Your Vehicle................................. 315
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 315
Towing a Trailer........................................ 315
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
273

Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control your
vehicle while driving — brakes, steering, and
accelerator. At times, as when driving on snow
or ice, it is easy to ask more of those control
systems than the tires and road can provide.
Meaning, you can lose control of your vehicle.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 281
andActive Handling System on page 283.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories
can affect your vehicle’s performance. See
Accessories and Modications on page 319.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 196.
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 the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. The brakes might not have time
to cool between hard stops. The brakes will wear
out much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking.
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Remember: ABS 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 the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let anti-lock work for you.
You might 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 ABS, 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
displays on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
when the TCS system is limiting wheel spin.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 214.
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. See
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 160.
281

Selective Ride Control
You may have a ride control system on your
vehicle called Magnetic Selective Ride Control.
The system provides the following performance
benets:
Reduced Impact Harshness
Improved Road Isolation
Improved High-Speed Stability
Improved Handling Response
Better Control of Body Ride Motions
This knob is located
on the center console.
Turn it to select the
suspension of your
choice.
TOUR:Use for normal city and highway driving.
This setting provides a smooth, soft ride.SPORT:Use where road conditions or personal
preference demand more control. This setting
provides more “feel”, or response to the road
conditions.
You can select a setting at any time. Based on road
conditions, steering wheel angle and your vehicle
speed, the system automatically adjusts to provide
the best ride and handling. Select a new setting
whenever driving conditions change.
There are three Driver Information Center (DIC)
messages that are displayed when a
malfunction occurs with the Selective Ride
Control system (SERVICE RIDE CONTROL,
SHOCKS INOPERATIVE, MAXIMUM SPEED
80 MPH (129 KM/H). Refer toDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 214for more information.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the
engine stops or the system is not functioning,
you can steer but it will take much more effort.
286

Magnetic Speed Variable
Assist Steering
Your vehicle has a steering system that
continuously adjusts the effort you feel when
steering at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease
when parking, yet a rm, solid feel at highway
speeds.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned
on the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is
subject to the same laws of physics when driving on
curves. The traction of the tires against the road
surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change
its path when you turn the front wheels. If there is
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the
same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a
vehicle on wet ice, you will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on
the condition of the tires and the road surface, the
angle at which the curve is banked, and your
speed. While you are in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems — steering and acceleration — have to
do their work where the tires meet the road.
Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 281.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease
up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the
way you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you
should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted
speeds are based on good weather and road
conditions. Under less favorable conditions you will
want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while
the front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive”
through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady
speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of
the curve, and then accelerate gently into
the straightaway.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories
and Modications on page 319.
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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

Off-Road Recovery
You may nd that your vehicle’s right wheels have
dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while you are driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below
the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy.
Ease off the accelerator and then, if there
is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle
straddles the edge of the pavement.You can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter
turn until the right front tire contacts the pavement
edge. Then turn the steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then
goes back into the right lane again. A simple
maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a
two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move,
since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane
as oncoming traffic for several seconds. A
miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief
surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put
the passing driver face to face with the worst of all
traffic accidents — the head-on collision.
289