2011 CHEVROLET CORVETTE engine overheat

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-15
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
English
Metric
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the gauge
pointer moves into the shaded area,
the engine is too hot.
This means that the engine coolant
has overheated. If the vehicle has
been operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle and turn off the engine as
soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑34 for more information.
Voltmeter Gauge
Base and Z06, English and Metric
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.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-39
Door Ajar Messages
DRIVER DOOR AJAR
This message displays if the driver
door is not closed properly. Make
sure that the door is closed
completely.
HATCH AJAR (Coupe)
This message displays when the
hatch is not closed completely.
Make sure that the hatch is closed
completely. SeeHatch on page 2‑10
for more information.
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
This message displays if the
passenger door is not closed
properly. Make sure that the door
is closed completely.
TONNEAU AJAR (Convertible)
This message displays when
the convertible top is not closed
completely. Make sure that the
top is closed completely. See
Convertible Top on page 2‑22 for
more information.
TRUNK AJAR (Convertible)
This message displays when the
trunk is not closed completely.
Make sure that the trunk is closed
completely. See Hatch on page 2‑10
for more information.
Engine Cooling System
Messages
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
This message displays when the
engine coolant level is low. Have
the cooling system serviced by your
dealer as soon as possible. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑29.
COOLANT OVER
TEMPERATURE
This message displays and a sound
will be heard if the engine coolant
exceeds 124°C (255°F). If you have
been operating the vehicle under
normal driving conditions, pull off
the road, stop the vehicle, and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
You can monitor the coolant
temperature with the gauges
button on the DIC or the engine
coolant temperature gauge on
the instrument panel cluster. See
Engine Overheating on page 10‑34,
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑25, and Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge on page 5‑15.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
and sound will come back on until
this condition changes. If you do
not press the RESET button, the
message remains on until the
condition changes.

Black plate (40,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
5-40 Instruments and Controls
ENGINE OVERHEATED–
STOP ENGINE
This message displays and a sound
will be heard when the engine
has overheated. Stop and turn the
engine off immediately to avoid
severe engine damage. See Engine
Overheating on page 10‑34.
ENGINE PROTECTION
REDUCE ENGINE RPM
This message displays if the
engine oil temperature exceeds
160°C (320°F). Check the engine
coolant temperature and engine oil
level. If the engine is too hot, see
Engine Overheating on page 10‑34.
The vehicle may need service, so
see your dealer.
You can monitor the oil temperature
with the gauges button on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑25.
Multiple chimes sound when
this message is displayed. This
message remains displayed and
active until the issue is resolved.
HOT ENGINE AIR
CONDITIONING OFF
This message displays when
the engine coolant becomes
hotter than the normal operating
temperature. To avoid added strain
on a hot engine, the air conditioning
compressor is automatically turned
off. When the coolant temperature
returns to normal, the A/C operation
automatically resumes. You can
continue to drive the vehicle. If this
message continues to appear, have
the system repaired by your dealer
as soon as possible to avoid
compressor damage.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL
This message displays when the
life of the engine oil has expired.
See Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11‑2. After an oil change, the engine oil life system must be reset.
See
“Engine Oil Life” underDriver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑25. Also, see Engine Oil on
page 10‑15 andEngine Oil Life
System on page 10‑22 for 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 10‑34.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
reappears every 10 minutes until
this condition changes.

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-41
LOW OIL PRESSURE
This message displays if low
oil pressure levels occur. If this
message appears while the engine
is running, stop the engine and do
not operate it until the cause of low
oil pressure is corrected. Severe
damage to the engine can result.
A sound will be heard when this
message is displayed. SeeEngine
Oil on page 10‑15.
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE DRAG CONTROL
ACTIVE
This message displays when
engine drag control is active.
When driving in a lower gear in
rainy, snowy, or icy conditions and
then letting up on the accelerator
or downshifting, the rear wheels
may begin to slip and this message
displays. This message stays on for
a few seconds following the engine
drag control event.
REDUCED ENGINE POWER
If this message displays and the
check engine light comes on,
a noticeable reduction in the
vehicle's performance may occur.
If the REDUCED ENGINE POWER
message is displayed, but there
is no reduction in performance,
proceed to your destination. The
performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven.
The vehicle may be driven at a
reduced speed while the REDUCED
ENGINE POWER message is
displayed, but acceleration and
speed may be reduced. Anytime
the check engine light stays on,
the vehicle should be taken to
your dealer as soon as possible
for diagnosis and repair. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑18 for more information.
Multiple chimes sound when this
message is displayed. To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
reappears every five minutes until
this condition changes.
If the REDUCED ENGINE
POWER message is displayed in
combination with the COOLANT
OVER TEMPERATURE message,
see
Engine Overheating on
page 10‑34.
Fuel System Messages
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 for service.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑18 for more information.

Black plate (53,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-53
You can receive more than one
tire pressure message at a time.
To read other messages that may
have been sent at the same time,
press the RESET button. If a tire
pressure message appears on the
DIC, stop as soon as you can. Have
the tire pressures checked and set
to those shown on the Tire Loading
Information label. SeeRun-Flat
Tires on page 10‑59, Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑14, Tire Pressure
on page 10‑66, and Tire Pressure
Monitor System on page 10‑68.
The DIC also shows the tire
pressure values. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑25.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. A message
reappears every 10 minutes until the
condition is corrected.Transmission Messages
SERVICE TRANSMISSION
This message displays when there
is a problem with the transmission.
See your dealer for service.
SHIFT TO PARK
If the vehicle has an automatic
transmission, this message displays
if the vehicle is not in P (Park)
when the engine is being turned off.
The vehicle will be in ACCESSORY
Once the shift lever is moved to
P (Park), the vehicle will turn off.
The vehicle will remain in
ACCESSORY, without the 20 minute
time-out period, until the shift lever
is moved to P (Park) or until the
driver presses the pushbutton to
restart the vehicle. See Ignition
Positions on page 9‑20 for more
information.
TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays and four
chimes sound if the transmission
fluid temperature rises above
132°C (270°F) or rises rapidly.
The transmission may shift gears
or apply the torque converter clutch
to reduce the fluid temperature.
Driving aggressively or driving
on long hills can cause the
transmission fluid temperature
to be higher than normal. If this
message appears, you may
continue to drive at a slower speed.
Monitor the transmission fluid
temperature and allow it to cool
to at least 110°C (230°F). The
transmission fluid temperature can
be monitored with the gauges button
on the DIC. See “DIC Operation and
Displays” underDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑25 and
Automatic Transmission Fluid on
page 10‑23. Also check the engine
coolant temperature. If it is also
hot, see Engine Overheating on
page 10‑34.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-13
Run the engine for short periods
only as needed to keep warm, but
be careful.
To save fuel, run the engine for only
short periods as needed to warm
the vehicle and then shut the engine
off and close the window most of
the way to save heat. Repeat this
until help arrives but only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the
cold. Moving about to keep warm
also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine
runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this
as little as possible to save fuel.If the Vehicle is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method.
{WARNING
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and
you or others could be injured.
The vehicle can overheat,
causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the
wheels as little as possible and
avoid going above 55 km/h
(35 mph) as shown on the
speedometer.
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see Tire
Chains on page 10‑80.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around
the front wheels. Turn off any
traction system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, or with a manual transmission,
between 1 (First) or 2 (Second) and
R (Reverse), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not
get the vehicle out after a few
tries, it might need to be towed out.
If the vehicle does need to be towed
out, see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑86.

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-23
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.
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. 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 and holding 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?.
See Key and Lock Messages on
page 5‑42 for more information.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
9-24 Driving and Operating
Shifting Into Park
(Automatic Transmission)
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly 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 down
and set the parking brake.
See Parking Brake on page 9‑35
for 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)
{WARNING
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
firmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running,
it could overheat and even catch
fire. You or others could be
injured. Do not leave the vehicle
with the engine running.