2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE brakes

Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different
positions for the shift lever.
P (Park):This position locks the rear wheels. It is the
best position to use when starting the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily.{CAUTION:
It is 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.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. 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, always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-33.
Be sure the shift lever is fully in P (Park) before starting
the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply the brakes and
then press the shift lever button before you can shift
from P (Park) when the vehicle is running. If you cannot
shift out of P (Park), ease pressure on the shift lever
and push the shift lever all the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever
button and move the shift lever into another gear.
SeeShifting Out of Park on page 2-34.
2-26

Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a desired speed and then
the brakes are applied, the cruise control is disengaged.
But it does not need to be reset.
Once the vehicle is going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or
more, you can move the cruise control switch briey
from
RtoS.
The vehicles goes back up to your chosen speed and
stays there.
If the switch is held at resume/accelerate the vehicle
keeps going faster until the switch is released or the
brake is applied. Do not hold the switch at resume/
accelerate, unless you want the vehicle to go faster.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Press
Jat the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal.
The vehicle now cruises at the higher speed.
If the accelerator pedal is held longer than
60 seconds, cruise control will turn off.
Move the cruise switch fromRtoS. Hold it there until
desired speed is reached, and then release the
switch. To increase the vehicle speed in small
amounts, move the switch briey to
S. Each time this
is done, the vehicle goes about 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control

Press and hold the set button until the lower speed
desired is reached, then release it.
To slow down in small amounts, briey pressJ.
Each time this is done, the vehicle goes about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle’s
speed. When you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle
slows down to the cruise control speed set earlier.
3-12

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works on hills depends upon
the vehicle’s speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you might want to step
on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle’s
speed. When going downhill, you might have to brake
or shift to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed
down. When the brakes are applied the cruise control
turns off.
Cruise Control in Sport/Mode and Manual
Paddle Shift Gear Selection
When the vehicle is in S (Sport Mode) and the manual
paddle shift controls are not being used, cruise
control operates in the same manner as D (Drive).
When the vehicle is in S (Sport Mode) and the manual
paddle shift controls are being used, cruise control
operates as follows:
If cruise control is active and a gear is selected with
the manual paddle shift controls, the vehicle speed is
maintained in the driver selected gear and will not
automatically up-shift or down-shift the transmission
while the driver’s gear selection is active.
If driving in hilly terrain, cruise control may not be
able to maintain vehicle speed if an up-shift or
down-shift is not selected by the driver. While driving
on hilly terrain and cruise control is active with
a manual paddle shift gear selection, the driver
must select the proper gear for the terrain or select
D (Drive) on the gear range selector for full automatic
transmission operation.
Ending Cruise Control
To end a cruise control session, step lightly on the
brake pedal. If the vehicle has a manual transmission,
lightly tapping the clutch will also end a cruise control
session.
Move the cruise control switch to
9to turn the system
completely off.
When cruise control is disengaged, the CRUISE
DISENGAGED message displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-54.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased when
the cruise control or the ignition is turned off.
3-13

{CAUTION:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service.
If this warning light stays on after the engine is started,
the parking brake may still be set or there could be
a brake problem. Refer toParking Brake on page 2-32
to see if it is set. If the parking brake is not set, have
the brake system inspected right away.
If the light comes on while driving and a CHECK
BRAKE FLUID message shows on the DIC, pull off the
road and stop carefully. The pedal may be harder to
push or the pedal may go closer to the oor. It may take
longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 4-28andDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-54for more information.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes on
briey when the engine
is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer. If the system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safely
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light is
not on, the vehicle still has brakes, but not antilock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, the vehicle does not have antilock brakes and
there is a problem with the regular brakes. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-38.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-54for all
brake related DIC messages.
3-39

BUCKLE PASSENGER
This message reminds you to buckle the passenger’s
safety belt.
This message displays and a sound will be heard when
the ignition is on, the driver’s safety belt is buckled, the
passenger’s safety belt is unbuckled with the passenger
airbag enabled, and the vehicle is in motion. You should
have the passenger buckle their safety belt.
The reminder will be repeated if the ignition is on, the
vehicle is in motion, the driver is buckled and the
passenger is still unbuckled, and the passenger airbag
is enabled. If the passenger’s safety belt is already
buckled, this message will not come on.
BUCKLE SEATBELT
This message reminds you to buckle the driver’s
safety belt.
This message displays and a sound will be heard when
the ignition is on, the driver’s safety belt is unbuckled,
and the vehicle is in motion. You should buckle your
safety belt.
If the driver remains unbuckled when the ignition is on
and the vehicle is in motion, the reminder will be
repeated. If the driver’s safety belt is already buckled,
this message will not come on.This message is an additional reminder to the safety
belt reminder light in the instrument panel cluster.
SeeSafety Belt Reminders on page 3-34for more
information.
CHANGE BRAKE PADS
On vehicles with electronic brake pad wear sensors,
this message will be displayed when the pads are worn.
See your dealer/retailer for service.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL
This message displays when the life of the engine oil
has expired. SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
After an oil change, the engine oil life system must
be reset. See “Engine Oil Life” underDIC Operation
and Displays on page 3-49. Also, seeEngine Oil
on page 5-20andEngine Oil Life System on page 5-26
for more information.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID
This message displays, a sound will be heard, 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. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-38. Have the brake system
serviced by your dealer/retailer as soon as possible.
SeeBrakes on page 5-44.
3-56

To acknowledge the message, press the RESET button.
The message reappears every ve minutes until this
condition changes.
If the REDUCED ENGINE POWER message is
displayed in combination with the COOLANT OVER
TEMPERATURE message, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-39.
SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM
This message displays if there is a problem with the
Active Handling System and the vehicle needs service.
The active handling system light on the instrument
panel cluster also turns on and a sound will be heard.
See your dealer/retailer. When this message is
displayed, the system is not working. Adjust your driving
accordingly. SeeActive Handling System on page 4-8
for more information.
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/retailer 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,
the vehicle is in need of service. See your dealer/retailer.
If the antilock 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.
SeeAntilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 3-39andBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-38.
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 SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING, and
the instrument panel cluster lights will come on along
with a sound. When the service message is displayed,
the computer controlled systems will not assist the
driver. Have the system repaired by your dealer/retailer
as soon as possible. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To acknowledge these messages, press the RESET
button.
3-63

Drunk Driving
{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your
reexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol.
You can have a serious — or even fatal — collision
if you drive after drinking. Do not drink and drive or
ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home
in a cab; or if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a global tragedy.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a
vehicle: judgment, muscular coordination, vision, and
attentiveness.
Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, more than 17,000 annual
motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with
the use of alcohol, with about 250,000 people injured.For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and
then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been drinking — driver
or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of
being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the
person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control the 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 the vehicle.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-6and
Active Handling System on page 4-8.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 5-3.
4-3

Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-38.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it 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
the 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 with a lot of heavy braking. Keeping pace with
the traffic and allowing realistic following distances
eliminates a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is being
driven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes.
If the brakes are pumped, the pedal could get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, there will still be some
power brake assist but it will be used when the brake is
applied. 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
the vehicle’s performance braking system. This brake
system is designed for superior fade resistance and
consistent operation using high performance brake pads.
Brake noise and brake dust are normal and do not affect
system performance.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 5-3.
4-4