2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE brakes

You have to fully apply your regular brakes rst
and then press the shift lever button before
you can shift from PARK (P) when the vehicle
is running. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P),
ease pressure on the shift lever and push the shift
lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain
brake application. Then press the shift lever button
and move the shift lever into another gear. See
Shifting Out of Park (P) (Automatic Transmission)
on page 104.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage
the transmission. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out
of snow, ice, or sand without damaging your
transmission, seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 308.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart when
you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
If your vehicle needs towing, seeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 315.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is rmly on
the brake pedal, your vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while your engine is running at
high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) with the engine running at high
speed may damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Be sure the engine is not running at high speed
when shifting your vehicle.
96

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the Anti-Lock
Brake System (ABS),
this light will come on
when the engine is
started and may stay on
for several seconds.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system. If the light still
stays on, or comes on again while you are driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake
system warning light is not on, you still have brakes,
but you do not have anti-lock brakes. If the regular
brake system warning light is also on, you do not
have anti-lock brakes and there is a problem with
your regular brakes. See “SERVICE ANTILOCK
BRAKES” underDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 214.
The ABS warning light will come on briey when
you turn the ignition on. This is normal. If the light
does not come on then, have it xed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
This light should come
on briey as you start
the engine. If the
light does not come
on then, have it xed
so it will be ready
to warn you if there
is a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on and the Driver
Information Center (DIC) shows a SERVICE
TRACTION SYSTEM message when you
are driving, there is a problem with your Traction
Control System (TCS) and your vehicle needs
service. When this light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
If the driver turns off the TCS by pressing the
button on the console, the TCS light will come
on and the TRACTION SYSTEM OFF message
will show on the DIC. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 214for more information.
197

CHANGE ENGINE OIL
This message displays when the life of the engine
oil has expired. SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 433. After an oil change, the engine oil
life system must be reset. See “Engine Oil Life”
underDIC Controls and Displays on page 208.
Also, seeEngine Oil on page 333andEngine Oil
Life System on page 340for more information.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID
This message displays, a chime sounds, and the
brake system warning light on the instrument
panel cluster turns on if the ignition is on to inform
the driver that the brake uid level is low. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 196. Have
the brake system serviced by your dealer as
soon as possible. SeeBrakes on page 361.
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
This message displays when the engine coolant
level is low. Have the cooling system serviced
by your dealer as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 347.
CHECK GAS CAP
This message displays if the fuel cap has not
been fully tightened. Check the fuel cap to make
sure that it is on properly. Once tightened, it takes
at least one overnight park to reset or clear this
message. If both the CHECK GAS CAP message
and the malfunction indicator lamp in the
instrument panel cluster are on, you may need to
see your dealer for service. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 200for more information.
CHECK OIL LEVEL
This message displays and two chimes sound if
the oil level in the vehicle is low. Once the vehicle
senses a change in the engine oil level, the
light remains off.
If this message appears after starting the engine,
the engine oil level may be too low. You may
need to add oil. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 350.
To acknowledge the message, press the RESET
button. The message reappears every 10 minutes
until this condition changes.
217

SERVICE AIR CONDITIONING
This message displays when the electronic sensors
that control the air conditioning and heating
systems are no longer working. Have the climate
control system serviced by your dealer if you notice
a drop in heating and air conditioning efficiency.
SERVICE ANTILOCK BRAKES
If this message displays while you are driving, stop
as soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then
start the engine again to reset the system. If the
message stays on, or comes back on again while
you are driving, your vehicle is in need of service.
See your dealer. If the anti-lock brake system (ABS)
warning light is on and the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes, but do
not have ABS. If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you do not have ABS and there is a
problem with the brakes. SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light on page 197andBrake
System Warning Light on page 196.
If this message is displayed, the Traction Control
System (TCS) and the Active Handling System
will also be disabled. The DIC will scroll three
messages: SERVICE ANTILOCK BRAKES,
SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM, and SERVICEACTIVE HANDLING, and the instrument panel
cluster lights will come on along with a chime.
When the service message is displayed, the
computer controlled systems will not assist the
driver. Have the system repaired by your dealer as
soon as possible. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To acknowledge these messages, press the
RESET button.SERVICE CHARGING SYSTEM
If this message displays while you are driving,
there may be a problem with the electrical charging
system. It could mean that there is a loose or
broken drive belt or that there is another electrical
problem. Have your vehicle checked right away
by your dealer. Driving while this message is
on could drain the battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the
message on, be certain to turn off the vehicle’s
accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner.
Multiple chimes sound when this message is
displayed.
To acknowledge the message, press the RESET
button. The message reappears every 10 minutes
until this condition changes.
225

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.
278

If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking
and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal could get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it can take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Under certain weather or operating conditions,
occasional brake squeak, squeal, or other
noise might be heard with your vehicle’s
performance braking system. This brake system
is designed for superior fade resistance and
consistent operation using high performance
brake pads. Brake noise is normal and does
not affect system performance.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories
can affect your vehicle’s performance. See
Accessories and Modications on page 319.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking
system that will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start the engine and begin to drive
away, ABS will check itself. You might hear
a momentary motor or clicking noise while this
test is going on, and you might even notice that
the brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem
with ABS, this warning
light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning
Light on page 197.
279

Let us say the road is wet and you are driving
safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of
you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here is what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at
each wheel.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than
any driver could. The computer is programmed
to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, the computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
280

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