When the passenger sensing system has turned off the
right front passenger frontal airbag and seat-mounted
side impact airbag, the off indicator will light and stay lit
to remind you that the airbag(s) are off. See Passenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 4‑34.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn on
(may inflate) the right front passenger frontal airbag and
seat-mounted side impact airbag anytime the system
senses that a person of adult size is sitting properly in
the right front passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing system has allowed
the airbag(s) to be enabled, the on indicator will light
and stay lit to remind you that the airbag or airbags
are active.
For some children who have outgrown child restraints
and for very small adults, the passenger sensing
system may or may not turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag, depending upon the person's seating posture and body
build. Everyone in the vehicle who has outgrown child
restraints should wear a safety belt properly
—whether
or not there is an airbag for that person.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness Light
on page 4‑33
for more information, including important safety
information.
2-55
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
The vehicle may have an automatic dimming inside
rearview mirror with a compass display and/or map
lamps, and OnStar
®. The mirror automatically changes
to reduce glare from headlamps behind you. A time
delay feature prevents rapid changing from the day to
night positions while driving under lights and through
traffic.
If the vehicle has OnStar, there are three control buttons
located at the bottom of the mirror. See the OnStar
®
owner's guide for more information on the services
OnStar®provides.
P(On/Off): The automatic dimming feature is
activated when the vehicle is started. Press and hold
this button for up to six seconds to turn this feature on
or off.
T(Indicator Light): This light turns on when the
automatic dimming feature is active.
Map Lamps
If the mirror has map lamps, they are located at the
bottom of the mirror. To manually turn the lamps on
or off, press the button next to each lamp.
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror.
Use a soft towel dampened with water.
Compass
Compass Operation
With the compass feature on, each time the vehicle is
started, the compass will take a few seconds to adjust
and display the current compass heading. For example,
NE is displayed for north-east.
3-39
If, after several seconds, both status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be
a problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer/retailer for service.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness Light
on page 4‑33
for more information, including important safety
information.
Voltmeter Gauge
Base and Z06 The voltmeter shows the
voltage output of the
battery. It shows the
voltage output of the
charging system while
the engine is running.
The reading changes as the rate of charge changes
(with engine speed, for example), but if the voltmeter
reads at 9 volts or below, the instrument panel cluster
and other systems may shut down. The Driver
Information Center (DIC) reads BATTERY VOLTAGE
LOW when the vehicle is at 10 volts or below. Have it
checked right away. Driving with the voltmeter reading
at 10 volts or below could drain the battery and disable
the vehicle.
4-35
This light comes on briefly while starting the engine. If it
does not come on, have it fixed so it is ready to warn if
there is a problem.
{WARNING:
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 to Parking Brake
on page 3‑34to
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 floor. It may take
longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. See Towing Your Vehicle
on
page 5‑33and DIC Warnings and Messageson
page 4‑52for more information.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes on
briefly 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. See Brake System
Warning Light on page 4‑36.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC), see
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑52for all
brake related DIC messages.
4-37
When the Light Flashes First and Then is
On Steady
This indicates that there may be a problem with the Tire
Pressure Monitor System. The light flashes for about a
minute and stays on steady for the remainder of the
ignition cycle. This sequence repeats with every ignition
cycle. See Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
on
page 6‑74for more information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
A computer system called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition, and emission control systems.
It makes sure that emissions are at acceptable levels
for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment.
This comes on briefly
while starting the engine.
If it does not come on,
have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer/retailer. 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: Modifications 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.
Modifications 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. See
Accessories and Modifications on page 6‑3.
4-41
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
This message displays when the engine coolant level is
low. Have the cooling system serviced by your dealer/
retailer as soon as possible. See Engine Coolant
on
page 6‑34.
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/retailer for service. See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
on page 4‑41for more information.
CHECK OIL LEVEL
On some vehicles, 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. See Engine Overheating on page 6‑38.
To acknowledge the message, press the RESET button.
The message reappears every 10 minutes until this
condition changes.
CLOSE TRUNK TO MOVE TOP
This message displays and a sound will be heard if
the trunk is open while you are trying to operate the
convertible top. Make sure the trunk is closed before
operating the convertible top. See Convertible Top
(Manual)
on page 3‑59or Convertible Top (Power)on
page 3‑66.
COMPETITIVE DRIVING MODE
This message displays and a sound will be heard
when the Competitive Driving mode is selected.
The instrument panel cluster light will be on when
the Competitive Driving mode is selected. If your
vehicle is equipped with a manual transmission,
Launch Control is available when this mode selected.
The Traction Control System (TCS) will not be operating
while in the Competitive Driving mode. Adjust your
driving accordingly. This system is available on all
models except ZR1. See Competitive Driving Mode
on
page 5‑9, including the “Launch Control” information,
and Racing or Other Competitive Drivingon page 5‑19for more information.
4-55
Gasoline Octane
If the vehicle has the 6.2L V8 engine (VIN Code W), use
premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating
of 91 or higher. You can also use regular unleaded
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but the vehicle's
acceleration could be slightly reduced, and a slight
audible knocking noise, commonly referred to as spark
knock, might be heard. If the octane is less than 87,
a heavy knocking noise might be heard when driving.
If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could
damage the engine. If heavy knocking is heard when
using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, the engine
needs service.
If the vehicle has the 6.2L V8 engine (VIN Code T)
or the 7.0L V8 engine (VIN Code E), use premium
unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91
or higher. For best performance, use premium unleaded
gasoline with a posted octane rating of 93. In an
emergency, you can use regular unleaded gasoline
with an octane rating of 87 or higher. If 87 octane fuel is
used, do not perform any aggressive driving maneuvers
such as wide open throttle applications. You might also
hear audible spark knock during acceleration. Refill the
tank with premium fuel as soon as possible to avoid
damaging the engine. If heavy knocking is heard when
using gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher, the engine
needs service.
Gasoline Specifications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specification D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB‐3.5 or 3.511 in Canada. Some gasolines
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
We recommend against the use of gasolines containing
MMT. See Additives
on page 6‑8for additional
information.
California Fuel
If the vehicle is certified to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See the underhood
emission control label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions standards, the
vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission control system
performance might be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the vehicle might fail
a smog‐check test. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on
page 4‑41. If this occurs, return to your authorized
dealer/retailer for diagnosis. If it is determined that the
condition is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs
might not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
6-7
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work properly. In most
cases, nothing should have to be added to the fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the minimum
amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. To help keep fuel
injectors and intake valves clean, or if the vehicle
experiences problems due to dirty injectors or valves,
look for gasoline that is advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
For customers who do not use TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel System
Treatment PLUS, added to the fuel tank at every engine
oil change, can help clean deposits from fuel injectors
and intake valves. GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS
is the only gasoline additive recommended by General
Motors.
Also, your dealer/retailer has additives that will help
correct and prevent most deposit‐related problems. Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines might be
available in your area. We recommend that you use
these gasolines, if they comply with the specifications
described earlier. However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than 10% ethanol must
not be used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice:
This vehicle was not designed for fuel
that contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic and rubber parts.
That damage would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. We recommend against
the use of such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can
reduce the life of spark plugs and the performance
of the emission control system could be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp might turn on. If this
occurs, return to your dealer/retailer for service.
6-8