2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE stop start

Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
{CAUTION:
If either seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatbacks to be sure they
are locked.
The seats have manual reclining seatbacks. The lever
used to operate them is located on the outboard side of
the seats.To adjust the seatback, lean slightly forward to lift your
weight off the seatback. Pull completely up on the lever
until it stops, and lean back to position the seatback to
where you want it. Release the lever to lock the seatback
into place.
1-6

Sun Visors
Pull the visor toward you, or move it to the side to help
reduce glare.
To use the lighted mirror, lift the cover.
Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
This vehicle has theft-deterrent features, however,
they do not make it impossible to steal.
Theft-Deterrent System
This vehicle has a theft-deterrent alarm system.
The security light ashes if
a door is open and locked
with the power door lock
switch.
If this light stays on while the engine is running,
the vehicle needs service.
Arming the System
To arm the system:
PressQon the keyless access transmitter.
Open the door and lock the door with the power
door lock switch. The security light should ash.
Remove the keyless access transmitter from inside
the vehicle and close the door. The security light
stops ashing and stays on. After 30 seconds,
the light should turn off.
The vehicle can be programmed to automatically
lock the doors and arm the theft-deterrent system
when you exit the vehicle. SeeDIC Vehicle
Personalization on page 3-71.
If a door or the hatch/trunk is opened without using
the keyless access transmitter, the alarm goes off.
The horn sounds for two minutes, then goes off to
save battery power. The vehicle will not start without
a keyless access transmitter present.
The theft-deterrent system does not arm if the driver
door is locked with the power door lock switch after the
doors are closed.
If the keyless access transmitter is removed from the
vehicle while a passenger is in it, have them lock
the doors after they are closed. The alarm will not
arm, so the passenger will not set it off.
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Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast
or slow, for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can be
gradually increased.
Front Air Dam
The vehicle is equipped with a front air dam which has
minimal ground clearance.
Vehicles with the ZR-1 package also come with a
splitter made from carbon ber.
{CAUTION:
The splitter in the ZR-1 is made from carbon ber.
When damaged, the exposed edges can be very
sharp. A person could be injured by these sharp
edges. Use caution when washing the vehicle,
coming in contact with, or removing damaged
carbon ber parts. See your dealer/retailer for
replacement.
Under normal operation, these components will
occasionally contact some road surfaces (speed bumps,
driveway ramps, etc.). This can be heard inside the
vehicle as a scraping noise. This is normal and does
not indicate a problem.
Use care when approaching bumps or objects on road
surfaces and avoid them when possible.
2-21

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories can be used for up to
10 minutes after the engine is turned off:
Audio System
Power Windows
These features continue to work up to 10 minutes after
the engine is turned off or until either door is opened.
If a door is opened, the power windows and audio
system will shut off.
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral) for an
automatic transmission. For a manual transmission the
vehicle can be started in Neutral or any other gear as
long as the clutch pedal is pressed. To restart a vehicle
with a manual transmission when you are already
moving, use the Neutral position only. To restart a vehicle
with an automatic transmission when you are already
moving, use N (Neutral).Notice:Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage
the transmission. Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
The keyless access transmitter must be inside the
vehicle for the ignition to work.
Cell phone chargers can interfere with the operation of
the Keyless Access System. Battery chargers should
not be plugged in when starting or turning off the engine.
To start the vehicle, do the following:
1. For vehicles with an automatic transmission, with
your foot on the brake pedal, press the START
button located on the instrument panel. For vehicles
with a manual transmission, you must also press in
the clutch pedal while pressing the START button.
If there is not a keyless access transmitter in the
vehicle or if there is something causing interference
with it, the DIC will display NO FOBS DETECTED.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-54
for more information.
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2. When the engine begins cranking, let go of the
button and the engine cranks automatically until
it starts. If the battery in the keyless access
transmitter is weak, the DIC displays FOB
BATTERY LOW. You can still drive the vehicle.
See “Battery Replacement” underKeyless Access
System Operation on page 2-5for more information.
If the fob battery is dead, you need to insert the
fob into the fob slot to enable engine starting.
See “No Fobs Detected” underDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-54.
3. Do not race the engine immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates all moving parts.4. If the engine does not start and no DIC message is
displayed, wait 15 seconds before trying again to let
the cranking motor cool down.
If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below 0°F or−18°C),
it could be ooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing the accelerator pedal all the way to the oor
while cranking for up to 15 seconds maximum. Wait
at least 15 seconds between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down. When the engine starts,
let go of the accelerator. If the vehicle starts briey
but then stops again, repeat these steps. This clears
the extra gasoline from the engine.
Notice:Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by pressing the START button immediately
after cranking has ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the battery. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down.
2-24

The vehicle has a Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in starting the engine and
protects components. Once cranking has been initiated,
the engine continues cranking for a few seconds or until
the vehicle starts. If the engine does not start, cranking
automatically stops after 15 seconds to prevent cranking
motor damage. To prevent gear damage, this system
also prevents cranking if the engine is already running.
Notice:The engine is designed to work with
the electronics in the vehicle. If electrical parts or
accessories are added, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer/retailer. If you do not, the
engine might not perform properly. Any resulting
damage would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.Stopping the Engine
If the vehicle has an automatic transmission, move
the shift lever to P (Park) and press and hold the
Acc. (Off/Accessory) button, located on the instrument
panel, until the engine shuts off. If the shift lever is not
in P (Park), the engine shuts off and the vehicle goes
into the Accessory Mode. The DIC displays SHIFT TO
PARK. Once the shifter is moved to P (Park), the vehicle
turns off. If the vehicle has a manual transmission,
it is recommended that you move the shift lever to
R (Reverse) and set the parking brake after you turn off
the engine by pressing the Acc. (Off/Accessory) button.
If the keyless access transmitter is not detected inside
the vehicle when it is turned to off, the DIC displays
NO FOB – OFF OR RUN?.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-54for
more information.
2-25

R (Reverse):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging the transmission, seeIf
Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on
page 4-21.
N (Neutral):In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart the engine when
the vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
If the vehicle needs towing, seeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 4-28.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your
foot is rmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while the engine is running at high speed.Notice:Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with
the engine running at high speed may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive):This position is for normal driving. It provide
the best fuel economy. If you need more power for
passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding, see “Skidding” underLoss of
Control on page 4-13.
S (Sport Mode):When in S (Sport Mode), the
transmission will work as an automatic until you use the
Manual Paddle Shift Controls, which activates driver
manual gear selection. See Manual Paddle Shift later in
this section. While in S (Sport Mode), the transmission’s
computer determines when the vehicle is being driven
in a competitive manner and will select and hold the
transmission in lower gears and have more noticeable
upshifts for sportier vehicle performance.
2-27

Manual Paddle Shift
While in the S (Sport Mode) position, the paddles
located on the steering wheel can be used to manually
up-shift or down-shift the transmission.
While in S (Sport Mode), push the paddle above the
steering wheel spokes to up-shift to the next gear, or
pull on the paddle behind the steering wheel spokes to
down-shift to the next gear.
To use the system, shift from P (Park) position to
S (Sport Mode) while stopped and with the engine
running, or from D (Drive) with the vehicle moving.When accelerating the vehicle from a stop in snowy and
icy conditions, you may want to shift to 2 (Second) or
3 (Third) gear. A higher gear allows you to gain more
traction on slippery surfaces. If traction control is active,
upshifts are delayed to increase your control of the
vehicle. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-6.
While the Manual Paddle Shift gear selection system
is active, the transmission will automatically downshift
through the gears as the vehicle slows. The transmission
will select 2 (Second) gear as the vehicle stops. From a
stop, the vehicle will start from and hold 2 (Second) gear
unless the driver manually paddle shifts into a different
gear or selects D (Drive). The driver can select 1 (First)
gear for maximum acceleration from a stop.
When using the Manual
Paddle Shift feature while
in S (Sport Mode), the
current gear will be
displayed in the Driver
Information (DIC), or the
Head-Up Display (HUD),
if the vehicle has either of
these features.
If the vehicle has a Navigation system, see “Head-Up
Display (HUD)” in the Index of the navigation manual.
2-28