Page 285 of 428

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-22
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23 Manual Transmission
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-24
Cooling System (Engine) . . . 10-28
Cooling System (Intercooler) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-34
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-36
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-44
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45 Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-45
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Windshield Replacement . . . 10-47
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Page 295 of 428

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-11
A. Clutch Master CylinderReservoir (If Equipped).
See Hydraulic Clutch on
page 10‑24.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10‑37.
C. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 10‑38.
D. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑29.
E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑24.
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on
page 10‑36. G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See
“When
to Add Engine Oil” underBrake
Fluid on page 10‑41.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑15.
I. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑52.
J. Passenger Compartment Air Filter (Out of View). See
Passenger Compartment Air
Filter on page 8‑7.
K. Battery on page 10‑43.
If the vehicle has the 6.2 L LS3
V8 engine (without the dry sump
engine oil tank) and you are facing
the front of the vehicle.
Page 327 of 428

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-43
Notice:
.Using the wrong fluid
can badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts.
For example, just a few
drops of mineral-based oil,
such as engine oil, in the
brake hydraulic system can
damage brake hydraulic
system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in
the wrong kind of fluid.
.If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces,
the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not
to spill brake fluid on the
vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately.
Battery
Refer to the replacement number
on the original battery label when a
new battery is needed.For battery replacement, see
your dealer or the service manual.
To purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑15.
{DANGER
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
{WARNING
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. See
Jump Starting on
page 10‑82 for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt. Some vehicles have a built-in
battery charger that can be
plugged in to keep the battery
charged when the vehicle is not
in use. For vehicles without a
battery charger, see the following
information.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
See
“Power Window Initialization” in
Power Windows on page 2‑17.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
Page 335 of 428

Black plate (51,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-51
Fuses and circuit breakers protect
the following in the vehicle:
.Headlamp Wiring
.Windshield Wiper Motor
.Power Windows and Other
Power Accessories
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road
and a fuse needs to be replaced,
the same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed to use
and replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have
the headlamp wiring checked right
away if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using
the windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow
or ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle
are protected from short circuits
by a combination of J-Case fuses,
mini-fuses and circuit breakers.
This greatly reduces the chance of
fires caused by electrical problems. Look at the silver-colored band
inside the fuse. If the band is broken
or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure
you replace a bad fuse with a new
one of the identical size and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the
road and do not have a spare fuse,
you can borrow one that has the
same amperage. Just pick some
feature of the vehicle that you can
get along without
—like the radio
or cigarette lighter —and use its
fuse, if it is the correct amperage.
Replace it as soon as you can.
Vehicles with the ZR‐1 package
have an intercooler relay located on
the fan shroud. See your dealer.
Vehicles with the ZR‐1 package also
have a fuel system mini-fuse. It is
located near the battery in the
battery storage compartment in
the rear of the vehicle.
Page 336 of 428
Black plate (52,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
10-52 Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
There is one fuse block in the
engine compartment located on
the passenger side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑10 for more information
on location.
Notice: Spilling liquid on any
electrical component on the
vehicle may damage it. Always
keep the covers on any electrical
component.
For ZR1 models, the Fuel System
fuse is located at the battery.
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses and features
shown. Fuse Usage
1 Transmission
Control Module/
Transmission
2 Horn, Alternator
Sense
3 Antilock Braking
System (ABS)/Real
Time Damping
Page 337 of 428
Black plate (53,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-53
FuseUsage
4 Wiper
5 Stoplamps/
Back-Up Lamps
6 Oxygen Sensor
7 Battery Main 5
8 Parking Lamps
9 Powertrain Relay
Input/Electronic
Throttle Control
10 Manual
Transmission
Solenoids
11 Antilock Braking
System Fuse
Usage
12 Odd Numbered
Fuel Injectors
13 Electronic
Suspension
Control (Option)
14 Canister Purge
Solenoid, Mass Air
Flow Sensor
15 Air Conditioner
Compressor
16 Even Numbered
Fuel Injectors
17 Windshield Washer
18 Headlamp Washer
19 Passenger Side
Low-Beam
Headlamp Fuse
Usage
20 Fuel Pump
(except ZR1)
21 Driver Side
Low-Beam
Headlamp
22 Front Fog Lamp
23 Passenger Side
High-Beam
Headlamp
24 Driver Side
High-Beam
Headlamp
56 Engine Control
Module (ECM)/
Transmission
Control
Module (TCM)/
Easy Key Module
Page 338 of 428
Black plate (54,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
10-54 Vehicle Care
J-StyleFuses Usage
25 Cooling Fan
26 Battery Main 3
27 Antilock Brake
System
28 Heating/Ventilation/
Air Conditioning
Blower
29 Battery Main 2
30 Starter
31 Audio Amplifier
32 Intercooler Pump
33 Battery Main 1
Micro-Relays Usage 34 Horn
35 Air
Conditioning
Compressor
36 Windshield
Washer Micro-Relays Usage
37 Parking
Lamps,
Foglamps
38 Front
Fog Lamp
39 High-Beam
Headlamp
46 Headlamp
Washer
55 Fuel Pump
(except ZR1)
Mini-Relays Usage 40 Rear Defog
41 Windshield Wiper
High/Low
42 Windshield Wiper
Run/Accessory
43 Crank
44 Powertrain
Ignition 1 Mini-Relays Usage
45 Windshield Wiper
On/Off
47 Low-Beam
Headlamp
Spare Fuses Usage 48 Spare
49 Spare
50 Spare
51 Spare
52 Spare
53 Spare
54 Fuse Puller
Diodes Usage § Diode 1
§ Wiper
§ Diode 2
Page 366 of 428

Black plate (82,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
10-82 Vehicle Care
Jump Starting
For more information about the
vehicle battery, seeBattery on
page 10‑43.
If your battery has run down, you
may want to use another vehicle
and some jumper cables to start
your vehicle. Be sure to use the
following steps to do it safely.
{WARNING
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can
burn you.
.They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
.They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you. Notice:
If you try to start your
vehicle by pushing or pulling it,
you could damage your vehicle.
Do not push or pull your vehicle
to start it; instead, use the jump
starting procedure in this manual
to start your vehicle when the
battery has run down.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must
have a 12-volt battery with a
negative ground system.
Notice: If the other vehicle's
system is not a 12-volt system
with a negative ground, both
vehicles can be damaged. Only
use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump
start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach,
but be sure the vehicles are not
touching each other. If they
are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able to start
your vehicle, and the bad
grounding could damage the
electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the
vehicles rolling, set the parking
brake firmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start
procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in Neutral
before setting the parking
brakes.
Notice: If you leave the radio or
other accessories on during the
jump starting procedure, they
could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by the
warranty. Always turn off the
radio and other accessories when
jump starting the vehicle.