2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE maintenance

Seats and Restraint System............................. 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-8
Child Restraints
.......................................1-25
Airbag System
.........................................1-44
Restraint System Check
............................1-60
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
......................................2-10
Windows
.................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-21
Mirrors
....................................................2-37
OnStar
®System
......................................2-40
Universal Home Remote System
................2-44
Storage Areas
.........................................2-51
Roof Panel
..............................................2-54
Convertible Top
.......................................2-59
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-24
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-31
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-49
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-80Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle
....... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-28
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-6
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-12
Rear Axle
...............................................5-55
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-56
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-56
Windshield Replacement
...........................5-60
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-60
Tires
......................................................5-62
Appearance Care
.....................................5-91
Vehicle Identication
...............................5-101
Electrical System
....................................5-102
Capacities and Specications
...................5-110
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-14
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
...........7-16
Index................................................................ 1
2009 Chevrolet Corvette Owner ManualM

Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems
Safety Belts
Now and then, check the safety belt reminder light,
safety belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and
anchorages are all working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system
parts that might keep a safety belt system from doing
its job. See your dealer/retailer to have it repaired. Torn
or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash.
They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn
or frayed, get a new one right away.
Make sure the safety belt reminder light is working.
SeeSafety Belt Reminders on page 3-34for more
information.
Keep safety belts clean and dry. SeeCare of Safety
Belts on page 5-95.
Airbags
The airbag system does not need regularly scheduled
maintenance or replacement. Make sure the airbag
readiness light is working. SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 3-35for more information.
Notice:If an airbag covering is damaged, opened,
or broken, the airbag may not work properly. Do
not open or break the airbag coverings. If there are
any opened or broken airbag covers, have the
airbag covering and/or airbag module replaced. For
the location of the airbag modules, seeWhat
Makes an Airbag Inflate? on page 1-51. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
1-60

Manual Operation
Driver Power/Temperature:Press the driver
temperature knob to turn the climate control system off.
This is the only setting that completely shuts off the
fan. The digital display shows only the outside
temperature. The driver and the passenger set
temperature and the air intake mode can still be
adjusted when the climate control is off.
Passenger Power/Temperature:Press the passenger
temperature knob to turn the passenger’s climate
control system on or off. Turn the knob to increase or
decrease the temperature for the passenger. If the
passenger’s climate control system is off, the driver’s
temperature knob will control the temperature for
the entire vehicle.
x9w(Fan):Press to increase or decrease the fan
speed. The fan speed setting will appear in the display.
Pressing the arrows will delete AUTO from the digital
display. The fan graphics with the fan speed bars will be
shown. The AUTO button must be pressed to return to
the automatic fan control.
If the airow seems low when the fan speed is at the
highest setting, the passenger compartment air lter
may need to be replaced. For more information, see
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-30and
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
N(Air Delivery Mode Control):Press this button to
manually lock in the current air delivery setting and
to stop the automatic mode control. Pressing
Ndeletes
AUTO from the digital display and the mode graphics
will be shown. To change the setting, press
Nagain.
The AUTO button must be pressed to return to the
automatic mode selection.
To change the current mode, select one of the following:
H(Vent):Air is directed to the instrument panel
outlets, with some air directed to the oor outlets.
%(Bi-Level):Air is divided between the instrument
panel and oor outlets.
6(Floor):Air is directed to the oor outlets, with
some air directed to the windshield and side window
defogger outlets.
-(Floor/Defog):This mode clears the windows of fog
or moisture. Air is directed to the windshield and the
oor outlets, with a small amount to the side window
outlets. In this mode, the system automatically turns
off the recirculation and runs the air-conditioning
compressor unless the outside temperature is at or
below freezing. The recirculation mode cannot be
selected while in the defog mode.
3-26

Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The passenger compartment air lter removes certain
particles from the air including pollen and dust particles.
Reductions in airow, which may occur more often in
dusty areas, indicate that the lter may need to be
replaced. SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4
for information on how often to replace the lter.
Notice:Driving without a passenger compartment
air lter in place can cause water and small
particles, like paper and leaves, to be pulled into
your climate control system which may cause
damage to it. Make sure you always replace the
old lter with a new one.
The passenger compartment air lter is located on the
passenger side of the engine compartment near the
battery. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-14.To check or replace the air lter:
1. Remove the cover retainer clips (A) from the
passenger compartment air lter cover.
2. Remove the cover.
3-30

If the check engine light comes on and stays on, while
the engine is running, this indicates that there is an
OBD II problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by the system before
any problem is apparent. Being aware of the light
can prevent more serious damage to the vehicle.
This system assists the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If the vehicle is continually driven with
this light on, after a while, the emission controls
might not work as well, the vehicle’s fuel economy
might not be as good, and the engine might not
run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs
that might not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Notice:Modications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system of
the vehicle or the replacement of the original tires
with other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect the vehicle’s emission
controls and can cause this light to come on.
Modications to these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the vehicle warranty.
This could also result in a failure to pass a
required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test.
SeeAccessories and Modifications on page 5-3.This light comes on during a malfunction in one of
two ways:
Light Flashing:A misre condition has been detected.
A misre increases vehicle emissions and could
damage the emission control system on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
The following can prevent more serious damage to the
vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park the vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds, and restart
the engine. If the light is still ashing, follow the previous
steps and see your dealer/retailer for service as soon
as possible.
3-43

Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
might begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on the vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection
could prevent getting a vehicle registration.
Here are some things to know to help the vehicle pass
an inspection:
The vehicle will not pass this inspection if the check
engine light is on with the engine running.
To perform a check engine light bulb check with the
keyless ignition, make sure the transmitter fob is
in the passenger compartment. SeeIgnition
Positions on page 2-22. Press the bottom of the
Acc. button on the instrument panel and hold
the button down for ve seconds. The instrument
panel, including the check engine light, will light up
and the ignition will be on, but the engine will not
start — press the bottom of the Acc. button only
briey, less than ve seconds, the accessory power
mode will be turned on, but not the ignition.
After the bulb check, press and release the Acc.
button again to turn the ignition off and avoid
draining the vehicle’s battery.
The vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
OBD II (on-board diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control systems have not been
completely diagnosed by the system. The vehicle
would be considered not ready for inspection.
This can happen if the battery has recently
been replaced or if the battery has run down.
The diagnostic system is designed to evaluate
critical emission control systems during normal
driving. This can take several days of routine
driving. If this has been done and the vehicle still
does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD II
system readiness, your dealer/retailer can prepare
the vehicle for inspection.
3-45

Engine Oil Pressure Gage
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
The engine can become so hot that it catches re.
Someone could be burned. Check the oil as soon
as possible and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance can
damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil.
The engine oil pressure gage shows the engine
oil pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) or
kPa (kilopascals) when the engine is running.
Oil pressure should be 20 to 80 psi (140 to 550 kPa).
In certain situations such as long, extended idles on hot
days, it could read as low as 6 psi (40 kPa) and still
be considered normal. It may vary with engine speed,
outside temperature and oil viscosity, but readings
above the shaded area show the normal operating
range. Readings in the shaded area tell you that the
engine is low on oil, or that you might have some other
oil problem. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-20. United States
Canada
United States — Z06
and ZR1 ModelsCanada — Z06 and
ZR1 Models
3-46

Average Speed:Press the TRIP button until the
average speed is displayed, such as:
AVERAGE SPEED 62 MPH or
AVERAGE SPEED 100 km/h
Press and hold the RESET button to reset to
0.0 mph (km/h).
Engine Oil Life:Press the TRIP button until the engine
oil life is displayed, such as OIL LIFE REMAINING 89%.
This is an estimate of the engine oil’s remaining
useful life. It will show 100% when the system is reset
after an oil change. It will alert you to change the oil on a
schedule consistent with your driving conditions.
When the remaining oil life is low, the system will alert
you with the message CHANGE ENGINE OIL.
Remember, you must reset the engine oil life system
yourself after each oil change. It will not reset itself.
To reset the system, seeEngine Oil Life System
on page 5-26. Be careful not to reset the engine oil life
system accidentally at any time other than when the
oil has just been changed. It cannot be reset accurately
until the next oil change.
SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4andEngine
Oil on page 5-20for more information.
OPTION Button
The OPTION button allows you to access the
PERSONAL OPTIONS menu and customize the
personalization settings on your vehicle. SeeDIC
Vehicle Personalization on page 3-71for more
information.
RESET Button
The RESET button, used along with other buttons,
will reset system functions and turn off or acknowledge
messages on the DIC.
DIC Warnings and Messages
Messages are displayed on the DIC to notify the driver
that the status of the vehicle has changed and that some
action may be needed by the driver to correct the
condition. Multiple messages may appear one after
another. You can scroll through the messages that may
have been sent at the same time. The DIC is continuously
updated with the vehicle performance status.
Some messages may not require immediate action,
but you can press the RESET button to acknowledge
that you received the messages and to clear them from
the display.
3-54