Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
5-36 Instruments and Controls
SERVICE CHARGING SYSTEM
If this message displays while you
are driving, there may be a problem
with the electrical charging system.
It could mean that there is a loose
or broken drive belt or that there is
another electrical problem. Have the
vehicle checked right away by your
dealer. Driving while this message is
on could drain the battery.
If you must drive a short distance
with the message on, be certain to
turn off the vehicle's accessories,
such as the radio and air
conditioner.
Multiple chimes sound when this
message is displayed.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
reappears every 10 minutes until
this condition changes.
Brake System Messages
ABS (Antilock Brake System)
ACTIVE
This message displays when the
Antilock Brake System (ABS) is
adjusting brake pressure to help
avoid a braking skid.
Slippery road conditions may exist
if this message is displayed, so
adjust your driving accordingly.
The message stays on for a few
seconds after the system stops
adjusting brake pressure. See
Antilock Brake System (ABS) on
page 9‑34for 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 for service.
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 fluid level is
low. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 5‑21. Have the brake
system serviced by your dealer as
soon as possible. See Brakes on
page 10‑38.
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.
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.
Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-37
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 5‑22
and Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑21.
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 as soon as possible.
Adjust your driving accordingly.
To acknowledge these messages,
press the RESET button.Convertible Top
Messages
ATTACH TRUNK PARTITION
If the vehicle has a power
convertible top, this message
displays and a sound will be heard
if the trunk partition is not in place.
Open the hatch/trunk and make
sure the trunk partition is secure
and no objects are on the trunk
partition. See Rear Storage on
page 4‑1 for more information.
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 on page 2‑22.
SET PARK BRAKE TO
MOVE TOP
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, this message displays
and a sound will be heard if you
try to operate the power convertible
top without first setting the parking
brake. Set the parking brake
before trying to operate the power
convertible top. See Convertible Top
on page 2‑22 for more information.
SHIFT TO PARK OR SET PARK
BRAKE FOR TOP
If the vehicle has an automatic
transmission, this message displays
and a sound will be heard if you try
to operate the power convertible top
without first shifting into P (Park) or
setting the parking brake. Either
shift the vehicle into P (Park) or set
the parking brake before trying to
operate the power convertible top.
SeeConvertible Top on page 2‑22
for more information.
Black plate (48,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
5-48 Instruments and Controls
SHOCKS INOPERATIVE
This message displays when a
malfunction is present in the
Selective Ride Control system
which is causing the shocks to
be in their full soft mode. This is a
warning to the driver that the vehicle
handling may be affected. Have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer as
soon as possible.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
reappears every 10 minutes until
this condition changes.
TRACTION SYSTEM ACTIVE
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
limiting wheel spin. Slippery road
conditions may exist if this message
is displayed, so adjust your driving
accordingly. The message stays
on for a few seconds after the
TCS stops limiting wheel spin.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑36 for more information.
TRACTION SYSTEM AND
ACTIVE HANDLING –OFF
This message displays, the
instrument panel cluster light
turns on, and a sound will be
heard when the Traction Control
System (TCS) and Active Handling
System are turned off by pressing
the Active Handling System button
on the console for five seconds.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
remains on with the TCS and Active
Handling System off. Adjust your
driving accordingly. See Traction
Control System (TCS) on page 9‑36
and Active Handling System on
page 9‑37 for more information.
To acknowledge this message,
press the RESET button.
TRACTION SYSTEM AND
ACTIVE HANDLING –ON
If the Traction Control System (TCS)
and Active Handling System are
off, this message displays briefly,
the instrument panel cluster light
turns off, and a sound will be heard
when the TCS and Active Handling
System are turned on by briefly
pressing the Active Handling
System button on the console.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑36 andActive Handling
System on page 9‑37 for more
information.
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Lighting 6-1
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Twilight Sentinel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 6-4
Turn and Lane-Change Signals (Auto Signal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Lighting Features
Entry/Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Battery Power Protection . . . . . . 6-7
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is located
to the left of the steering wheel on
the multifunction lever.
O(Exterior Lamp Control): Turn
the band with this symbol on it to
operate the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp band has four
positions:
O(Off): Turns off all lamps.
AUTO (Automatic): Sets the
exterior lamps to automatic mode.
AUTO mode turns the exterior
lamps on and off depending on
how much light is available outside
the vehicle. To override AUTO mode, turn the
control to off.
To reset to AUTO mode turn the
control to exterior lamps and then
back to AUTO. Automatic mode also
resets when the vehicle is turned off
and then back on again if the control
is left in the AUTO position.
;(Parking Lamp):
Turns on the
parking lamps together with the
following:
.Sidemarker Lamps
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
The parking brake indicator light
comes on and stays on when
the parking lamps are on with
the engine off and the ignition
to ACC/ACCESSORY.
5(Headlamps): Turns on the
headlamps, together with the
previously listed lamps and lights.
Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
6-2 Lighting
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the
exterior lamp control is left on in
either the headlamp or parking lamp
position and the driver's door is
opened with the ignition off.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low
beam to high, push the turn signal
lever all the way forward. To change
from high to low beam, pull the lever
rearward.
While the high beams are on, this
light on the instrument panel cluster
will also be lit.
Flash-to-Pass
To use the flash-to-pass feature,
briefly pull the turn signal lever
toward you. The high-beam
indicator flashes to indicate to
the other driver that you intend to
pass. If the low-beam headlamps
are off and the fog lamps are on,
the fog lamps flash.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see the
front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running
lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.The DRL system makes the front
turn signal lamps come on when the
following conditions are met:
.It is still daylight and the ignition
is on.
.The exterior lamp control is in
the AUTO position.
.The transmission is not in
P (Park) or the parking brake
is off.
.The parking brake is off or the
vehicle speed is greater than
13 km/h (8 mph).
When DRL are on, only the front
turn signal lamps will be on.
The parking lamps, taillamps,
instrument panel lights, or other
exterior lamps will not be on
when the DRL are being used.
Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-3
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. See Traction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑36 and
Active Handling System on
page 9‑37.
Adding non‐dealer accessories
can affect vehicle performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑4.
Braking
See Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑21.
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
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 feet). 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.
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-5
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering
can be more effective than braking.
For example, you come over a hill
and find a truck stopped in your
lane, or a car suddenly pulls out
from nowhere, or a child darts out
from between parked cars and stops
right in front of you. These problems
can be avoided by braking—if you
can stop in time. But sometimes you
cannot stop in time because there
is no room. That is the time for
evasive action —steering around
the problem.
The vehicle can perform very well
in emergencies like these. First
apply the brakes. See Braking on
page 9‑3. It is better to remove
as much speed as possible from
a collision. Then steer around
the problem, to the left or right
depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires
close attention and a quick decision.
If holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock
positions, it can be turned a full
180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have
to act fast, steer quickly, and just as
quickly straighten the wheel once
you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency
situations are always possible is a
good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety
belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only
slightly below the pavement,
recovery should be fairly easy.
Ease off the accelerator and
then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer so that the vehicle
straddles the edge of the pavement.
Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-9
Notice:Brake pedal fade will
occur during this track burnish
procedure and can cause brake
pedal travel and force to increase.
This could extend stopping
distance until the brakes are
fully burnished.
1. Drive a normal first lap and not too aggressive.
2. Laps 2 and 3 should be gradually driven faster and
more aggressive, while allowing
for reduced brake output and
increased stopping distance
due to brake fade.
3. Lap 4 as near to full speed, while allowing for reduced brake
output and increased stopping
distance due to brake fade.
4. Laps 5 and 6 should be cool down laps
5. Lap 7 should be normal driving or an easy out lap.Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in
a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to
drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under your vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road
is wet enough and you are going
fast enough. When your vehicle
is hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.