2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ignition

Hatch/Trunk Lid Release
There are several ways to release the hatch/trunk lid.
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, the shift
lever must be in P (Park). For manual transmission
vehicles, the parking brake must be set when the
ignition is started for the hatch/trunk release to operate.
The parking brake does not need to be set when the
ignition is off for the hatch/trunk release to operate.
SeeParking Brake on page 2-32.
V(Hatch/Trunk):Press the hatch/trunk lid release
button, located on the instrument panel to the left of the
steering wheel. The theft-deterrent alarm system
must not be armed.
}(Hatch/Trunk):Press the hatch/trunk lid release
button on the keyless access transmitter. SeeKeyless
Access System on page 2-4.
Press the hatch/trunk release button located on the rear
of the hatch/trunk lid above the license plate, as long
as you have your transmitter with you.If your vehicle has lost battery power, open the hatch/
trunk using the vehicle key. SeeKeys on page 2-3for
more information. The key lock cylinder is located on
the rear of the hatch/trunk lid above the license plate.
Turn the vehicle key clockwise in the lock.
Closing the Rear Compartment
(Except Convertible)
To close the rear compartment lid of your coupe, pull
down on the rear edge of the lid. Lower it until the power
pull down latch feature activates and it will close the
rest of the way and latch automatically.
2-14

Power Windows
The power window switches are located on each door.
Pull up or press down on the front of the switch to
raise or lower the window.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) allows you to use
the power windows when the ignition is off. For more
information, seeRetained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 2-23.
Express-Down Window
Press the front of the switch to the second position to
activate the express-down feature. If you want to stop the
window as it is lowering, press the switch again.
Window Indexing
This feature automatically lowers the window a small
amount when the door is opened. When the door
is closed, the window will raise to its full up position.
If either window does not index properly, it could be due
to loss of power. Before returning to your dealer/retailer
for service, perform the power window initialize
procedure.
Power Window Initialize
After a power reconnect such as battery replacement,
the window index-up feature will not function until
the system is initialized.
Once power is restored:
1. Close the door.
2. Raise the window and hold the switch up for
three seconds after the window is closed.
3. Release the switch, then hold the switch up again
for three seconds and release.
2-17

Immobilizer Operation
The vehicle has a passive theft-deterrent system.
The system is automatically armed when the ignition is
turned off.
The immobilization system is disarmed when the ignition
is turned to OFF/ACCESSORY or START and a valid
transmitter is found in the vehicle.
You do not have to manually arm or disarm the system.
The security light comes on if there is a problem with
arming or disarming the theft-deterrent system.
The system has one or more keyless access
transmitters that are matched to an immobilizer control
unit in the vehicle. Only a correctly matched keyless
access transmitter starts the vehicle. The vehicle
may not start if the keyless access transmitter is
damaged.
If the engine does not start and the security light comes
on, there may be a problem with the immobilizer system.
Press the START button again.If the vehicle does not start and the keyless access
transmitter appears to be undamaged, try another
keyless access transmitter. Or, place the transmitter in
the transmitter pocket. See “NO FOBS DETECTED”
underDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-54for
additional information. Check the fuse. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-103. If the engine still does
not start with the other transmitter, the vehicle needs
service. If the engine does start, the rst transmitter may
be faulty. See your dealer/retailer or have a new keyless
access transmitter programmed to the vehicle.
The immobilizer system can learn new or replacement
keyless access transmitters. Up to four keyless access
transmitters can be programmed for the vehicle.
To program additional transmitters, see “Matching
transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle” underKeyless Access
System Operation on page 2-5.
Do not leave the key or device that disarms or
deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle.
2-20

Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an
electronic keyless ignition
with a pushbutton start.
In order to shift out of P (Park), the vehicle must be
running or in Acc. mode and the regular brake pedal
must be applied.
/(START):Press this button while your foot is on the
brake for an automatic transmission, or while pressing in
the clutch for a manual transmission, to start the engine.
If the vehicle is in OFF or Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) mode, the keyless access transmitter must be
inside the vehicle to start the engine.
9Acc. (OFF/ACCESSORY):When the engine
is on or the vehicle is in accessory power mode, it is
recommended that a manual transmission be placed
in R (Reverse). An automatic transmission must be
placed in P (Park). Then press the Acc. button to turn the
engine off and place the vehicle in RAP. See “Retained
Accessory Power (RAP)” later for more information. If an
automatic vehicle is not correctly placed in P (Park) a
SHIFT TO PARK message will display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
For more information, seeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-54.
When the engine is off, press this button to place the
vehicle in accessory mode. ACCESSORY MODE ON will
display on the Driver Information Center (DIC). This mode
allows you to use things like the radio and the windshield
wipers while the engine is off. Use accessory mode if you
must have the vehicle in motion while the engine is off, for
example, if the vehicle is being pushed or towed.
After being in accessory mode for about 10 minutes, the
vehicle will automatically enter RAP or OFF, depending
on if the doors are opened or closed.
2-22

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.
2-23

Downshifting (Manual Transmission)
Do not downshift into the gear shown below at a speed
greater than shown in the table:
1 (First) 50 mph (80 km/h)
2 (Second) 74 mph (119 km/h)
3 (Third) 101 mph (163 km/h)
4 (Fourth) 130 mph (209 km/h)
Notice:If you skip more than one gear when
you downshift, or if you race the engine when you
release the clutch pedal while downshifting, you
could damage the engine, clutch, driveshaft or the
transmission. Do not skip gears or race the engine
when downshifting.
The six-speed transmission has a spring that centers the
shift lever near 3 (Third) and 4 (Fourth). This spring helps
you know which gear you are in when you are shifting.
Be careful when shifting from 1 (First) to 2 (Second) or
downshifting from 6 (Sixth) to 5 (Fifth). The spring will try
to pull the shift lever toward 4 (Fourth) and 3 (Third).
Make sure you move the lever into 2 (Second) or
5 (Fifth). If you let the shift lever move in the direction
of the pulling, you may end up shifting from 1 (First) to
4 (Fourth) or from 6 (Sixth) to 3 (Third).
Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located to the right of the
center console.
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake lever up. If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning light will come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down. Then push the release button in as you move
the parking brake lever all the way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
2-32

Shifting Into Park
(Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake rmly set. The vehicle can roll. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow.
1. Hold the brake pedal set the parking brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 2-32for more
information.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by holding in the
button on the lever and pushing the lever all the
way toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Press the Acc. button (ignition switch) to turn the
engine off.
Leaving the Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle with the
engine running. The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake rmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running, it could overheat
and even catch re. You or others could be
injured. Do not leave the vehicle with the engine
running.
If you have to leave the vehicle with the engine running,
be sure the vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking brake is
rmly set before you leave it. After you have moved the
shift lever into P (Park), hold down the regular brake
pedal. See if you can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without rst pushing the button on the lever.
If you can, it means that the shift lever was not fully
locked into P (Park).
2-33

Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift the
transmission into P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of P (Park). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into P (Park) properly before you leave the
driver seat. To nd out how, see “Shifting Into P (Park)”
listed previously in this section.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
P (Park) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the transmission parking pawl, so you
can pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
Shifting Out of Park
Shift lock release prevents shifting out of P (Park)
unless the vehicle is running or in Accessory mode
and the brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always functional except in
the case of an uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery. SeeJump Starting on page 5-51
for more information.To shift out of P (Park) use the following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Press the shift lever button.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, press the shift
lever button again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still cannot move the shift lever from P (Park),
consult your dealer/retailer or a professional towing
service.
Parking the Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Before you get out of the vehicle, move the shift lever
into R (Reverse) and rmly apply the parking brake.
Once the shift lever has been placed into R (Reverse)
with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can turn the ignition
off and release the clutch.
2-34