
Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
5-22 Instruments and Controls
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. 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 5‑21.One-to-Four Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)
When this light comes on, the
vehicle can only be shifted from
1 (First) to 4 (Fourth) instead of
1 (First) to 2 (Second). The shift must be completed into
4 (Fourth) to turn off this feature.
This helps the vehicle get the best
possible fuel economy.
After shifting to 4 (Fourth), the
vehicle can be downshifted to a
lower gear.
Notice:
Forcing the shift lever
into any gear except 4 (Fourth)
when the 1 TO 4 SHIFT light
comes on may damage the
transmission. Shift only from
1 (First) to 4 (Fourth) when the
light comes on.
This light comes on when:
.The engine coolant temperature
is higher than 76°C (169°F),
.The vehicle is going 24 to
31 km/h (15 to 19 mph) and
.The vehicle 21 percent throttle
or less.

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
5-26 Instruments and Controls
DIC Operation and Displays
Depending on the features on the
vehicle, the drive gear may display
on the DIC. See“Manual Paddle
Shift” under Automatic Transmission
on page 9‑28 and“Head-Up
Display (HUD)” in the index of
the Navigation system manual
for more information.
The Driver Information Center (DIC)
has different modes which can be
accessed by pressing the following
buttons located on the instrument
panel, to the right of the instrument
panel cluster.
. 4(Fuel): Press this button to
display fuel information such as fuel
economy and range.
2(Gauges): Press this button
to display gauge information like oil
pressure and temperature, coolant
temperature, automatic transmission
fluid temperature, if equipped,
battery voltage, and front/rear tire
pressures. TRIP:
Press this button to display
your total and trip distance driven,
the elapsed time function, your
average speed, and the engine
oil life.
OPTION: Press this button to
choose personal options that
are available on your vehicle,
depending on the options your
vehicle is equipped with, such
as door locks, easy entry seats,
and language.
RESET: Press this button, used
along with the other buttons, to
reset system functions, select
personal options, and turn off or
acknowledge messages on the DIC.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-27
FUEL Button
The fuel button displays average
fuel economy and instantaneous
fuel economy, calculated for your
specific driving conditions, and
range information.
Average Fuel Economy:The
average fuel economy is viewed
as a long-term approximation of
your overall driving conditions.
You should reset the average fuel
economy display every time you
refuel. If you press the RESET
button in this mode while you are
driving, the system will reset this
display and begin figuring fuel
economy from that point in time.
Press the fuel button to display
average fuel economy, such as:
.AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY
11.7 L/100 km or
.AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY
20.1 MPG Instantaneous Fuel Economy:
Instantaneous fuel economy
reflects only the fuel economy
that the vehicle has right now and
will change frequently as driving
conditions change. Unlike average
fuel economy, this menu item
cannot be reset.
Press the fuel button again to
display instantaneous fuel economy,
such as:
.INSTANT FUEL ECONOMY
11.7 L/100 km or
.INSTANT FUEL ECONOMY
20.1 MPG
Fuel Range: The range calculates
the remaining distance you can
drive without refueling. It is based
on fuel economy and the fuel
remaining in the tank. Press the fuel button again to
display the range, such as:
.RANGE 48 km or
.RANGE 30 MI
If the LOW FUEL warning is
displayed or if RANGE is less
than 64 km (40 miles), the display
will read RANGE LOW.
The fuel economy data used to
determine fuel range is an average
of recent driving conditions. As your
driving conditions change, this data
is gradually updated automatically.
If the vehicle has been idling for a
long time, the range displayed on
the DIC could be abnormally low.
The vehicle must be driven 8–16 km
(5–10 miles) to get an accurate
reading.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-31
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{WARNING
If the HUD image is too bright,
or too high in your field of view, it
may take you more time to see
things you need to see when it is
dark outside. Be sure to keep the
HUD image dim and placed low in
your field of view.
For vehicles with the Head-Up
Display (HUD), you can see some
of the driver information that
appears on the instrument panel
cluster. The information may be displayed
in English or metric units and
appears as an image focused
out toward the front of the vehicle.
The HUD consists of the following
information:
.Speedometer
.Turn Signal Indicators
.High-Beam Indicator Symbol
.Tachometer
.Manual Paddle Shift Gear
Indicator (If Equipped)
These displays on the HUD are
for use when using the manual
paddle shift controls to shift the
transmission. See
“Manual
Paddle Shift” inAutomatic
Transmission on page 9‑28.
.Shift Light
This light is used for
performance driving to
indicate that the vehicle's
best performance level has
been reached to shift the transmission into the next higher
gear. An arrow pointing up will
light up on the display just prior
to reaching the engine fuel
cut-off mode. This cut-off is
about 6,500 RPM for the
LS3 engine, 6,600 RPM for
the LS9 & ZR1 engines and
7,000 RPM for the LS7 engine.
.Check Gauges Warning
.Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
.Transmission Fluid Temperature
Gauge, (Automatic Transmission
Vehicles Only)
.Engine Oil Temperature Gauge
.Engine Oil Pressure Gauge
.G-Force Gauge
.Boost Gauge (If Equipped)
.Audio Functions, Street
Mode Only
.Navigation, Only with Navigation
Radio, Turn-by-Turn Guidance

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 (42,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
5-42 Instruments and Controls
LOW FUEL
This message displays when the
fuel tank is less than 10 percent
full and the display is turned off.
A sound will be heard when this
message is displayed. Refill the fuel
tank as soon as possible. SeeFuel
Gauge on page 5‑11.
SERVICE FUEL SYSTEM
This message displays if the
Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
has detected a problem within
the fuel system. Have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. This
message also displays when the
cluster is not getting fuel information
from the PCM.
Key and Lock Messages
FOB AUTOLEARN WAIT
XX MINUTES
See “Matching Transmitter(s) to
Your Vehicle” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3.
FOB BATTERY LOW
See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3.
KNOWN FOB
See “Matching Transmitter(s) to
Your Vehicle” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3.
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FOBS
LEARNED
See “Matching Transmitter(s) to
Your Vehicle” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3.
NO FOBS DETECTED
This message displays if the vehicle
does not detect the presence of a
keyless access transmitter when
you have attempted to start the
vehicle or a vehicle door has just
closed. The following conditions
may cause this message to appear:
.Driver-added equipment plugged
into the accessory power outlet
on the center console is causing
interference. Examples of these
devices are cell phones and cell
phone chargers, two-way radios,
power inverters, or similar items.
Try moving the keyless access
transmitter away from these
devices when starting the
vehicle. In addition, PDA devices
and remote garage and gate
openers may also generate
Electromagnetic Interference
(EMI) that may interfere with
the keyless access transmitter.
Do not carry the keyless access
transmitter in the same pocket or
bag as these devices.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
8-4 Climate Controls
1(Defrost):This mode clears the
windows of fog or frost more quickly.
Air is directed to the windshield,
with a small amount directed to the
side window outlets. The indicator
light comes on and the digital
display will show the defrost mode
symbol and fan speed when the
front defrost mode is being used. 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. Recirculation
cannot be selected while in the
defrost mode. Pressing
1again
will return the system to the last
operating mode.
For severe ice conditions, turn
the driver's temperature knob to
32°C (90°F) while in defrost mode.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
^(Air Conditioning Off): Press
to turn the air conditioning
compressor off. Press AUTO to
return to automatic operation.
When in AUTO, the air conditioning
compressor comes on automatically,
as needed.
Air conditioning does not
operate at temperatures below
about 2°C to 4°C (35°F to 40°F).
In temperatures above 4°C (40°F),
the air conditioning cannot be
turned off in defrost and defog,
as it helps to remove moisture
from the vehicle. It also helps to
keep the windows clear.
You may notice a slight change
in engine performance when the
air-conditioning compressor shuts
off and turns on again. This is
normal. The system is designed to
make adjustments to help with fuel
economy while still maintaining the
selected temperature. On hot days, open the windows to
let hot inside air escape; then close
them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for the vehicle to cool down.
It also helps the system to operate
more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot
days press the AUTO button and
adjust the temperature to a cool,
comfortable setting. To achieve
maximum cool down, do the
following:
1. Select
Hmode.
2. Press
?.
3. Select the a/c on.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
5. Select the highest fan speed.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Racing or Other CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 9-10
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-13
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-14
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-18
Front Air Dam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Shifting Into Park (Automatic Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Shifting Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Parking (Manual Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Parking Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-28
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . 9-32
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Active Handling System . . . . . 9-37
Competitive Driving Mode . . . 9-38
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . 9-42
Selective Ride Control . . . . . . . 9-42
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . 9-49
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-49
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54