
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Climate Controls 8-1
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic ClimateControl System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Maintenance
Passenger CompartmentAir Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
With this system the heating, cooling, and ventilation can be controlled.
A. Driver Temperature Controls
B. Display
C. Passenger Temperature Control
D. AUTO
E. Recirculation F. Air Conditioning
G. Fan Control
H. Air Delivery Mode Control
I. Defrost
J. Rear Window Defogger

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-22
Cooling System (Engine) . . . 10-25
Cooling System
(Intercooler) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-30
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-32
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-41
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control
Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-42
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Windshield Replacement . . . 10-43
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-26 Vehicle Care
Cooling System
(Intercooler)
The 6.2L LS9 supercharged
V8 engine has an intercooler
cooling system. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑8 for location of the
intercooler.
The intercooler cooling system has
a special procedure for draining and
adding coolant. Because this
procedure is difficult, see the dealer
for service if the intercooler is low
on coolant. The procedure can also
be found in the service manual.
To purchase a service manual,
see Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑18.
Checking Coolant
1. Verify that the engine and intercooler are no longer hot.
2. Place a cloth to absorb possible coolant loss under the driver's
side bleeder valve (A).
3. Loosen, but do not completely unscrew the bleeder valve to
check for coolant in the system. 4. Tighten the bleeder valve if there
is coolant flowing out of the
bleeder valve.
5. If there is no coolant flowing out of the bleeder valve, there could
be a leak in the system. Tighten
the bleeder valve and contact
the dealer for service.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle
is filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating on
page 10‑30.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-30 Vehicle Care
4. With the coolant surge tankpressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until the
upper radiator hose can be felt
getting hot. Any time during this
procedure, watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level stabilizes at
the FULL COLD mark on the
coolant surge tank.
5. Replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is
hand-tight and fully seated.
Check the level in the surge tank
when the system has cooled
down. If the coolant is not at
the proper level, repeat Steps 1
through 4, then reinstall the
pressure cap. If the coolant is
not at the proper level when the
system cools down again, see
the dealer.
Notice: If the pressure cap is not
tightly installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the
instrument panel cluster.
See Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge on page 5‑16. The vehicle
may also display a COOLANT
OVER TEMPERATURE
message on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Engine Cooling
System Messages on page 5‑39
for more information.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood but to get service help right
away. See Roadside Assistance
Program (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13‑8 orRoadside Assistance
Program (Mexico) on page 13‑10.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-31
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, do not continue
to run the engine and have the
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Engine damage from
running your engine without
coolant is not covered by the
vehicle warranty. See Overheated
Engine Protection Operating
Mode for information on driving
to a safe place in an emergency.
Notice: If the engine catches fire
while driving with no coolant, the
vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on
page 10‑32 for information on
driving to a safe place in an
emergency.If Steam is Coming from the
Engine
{WARNING
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Turn it off
and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of
steam or coolant before you open
the hood.
If you keep driving when the
vehicles engine is overheated,
the liquids in it can catch fire.
You or others could be badly
burned. Stop the engine if it
overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
SeeOverheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on
page 10‑32 for information on
driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
If No Steam is Coming from
the Engine
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day
.Stops after high-speed driving
.Idles for long periods in traffic

Black plate (50,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-50 Vehicle Care
J-StyleFuses Usage
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
37 Parking Lamps,
Fog Lamps
38 Front Fog Lamp Micro-
Relays Usage
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
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

Black plate (52,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-52 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
BTSI
SOL/STR
WHL LCK Brake
Transmission
Shift Interlock,
Steering Wheel
Column Lock
CLSTR/HUD Cluster,
Heads-Up Display
CRUISE
SWTCH Cruise Control
Switch
CTSY/LAMP Courtesy Lamp
DR LCK Door Locks
DRIV DR
SWITCH Driver Door Switch
ECM Engine Control
Module (ECM)
EXH MDL Exhaust Module
(Z06 & ZR1),
Spare (Coupe and
Convertible) Fuses
Usage
FUSE PLR Fuse Puller
GM LAN
RUN/CRNK GM LAN Devices
HTD SEAT/
WPR RLY Heated Seat,
Wiper Relays
HVAC/
PWR SND Heating Ventilation/
Air Conditioning,
Power Sounder
IGN SWTCH/
INTR SNSR Ignition Switch,
Intrusion Sensor
ISRVM/HVAC Electric Inside
Rearview Mirror,
Heating,
Ventilation, Air
Conditioning
ONSTAR OnStar
(if equipped)
RDO/
S-BAND Radio, S-Band Fuses
Usage
REAR FOG/
ALDL/TOP
SWTCH Rear Fog Lamp,
Assembly Line
Diagnostic Link
Connector,
Convertible Top
Switch
REVERSE
LAMPS Reverse Lamps
RUN CRNK Run/Crank Relay
SDM/AOS
SWTCH
AIRBAG Sensing and
Diagnostic Module,
Automatic
Occupant Sensing
Module, Airbag
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
STOP LAMP Stop Lamp
SWC DM Steering Wheel
Dimming

Black plate (54,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-54 Vehicle Care
Wheels and Tires
Tires
Every new GM vehicle has
high-quality tires made by a
leading tire manufacturer.
See the warranty manual for
information regarding the tire
warranty and where to get
service. For additional
information refer to the tire
manufacturer.
{WARNING
.Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
.Overloading the tires can
cause overheating as a
result of too much flexing.
There could be a blowout and
a serious crash. SeeVehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑14.
.Underinflated tires pose the
same danger as overloaded
tires. The resulting crash
could cause serious injury.
Check all tires frequently to
maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure
should be checked when the
tires are cold.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Overinflated tires are
more likely to be cut,
punctured, or broken by a
sudden impact—such as
when hitting a pothole. Keep
tires at the recommended
pressure.
.Worn or old tires can cause a
crash. If the tread is badly
worn, replace them.
.Replace any tires that have
been damaged by impacts
with potholes, curbs, etc.
.Improperly repaired tires can
cause a crash. Only the
dealer or an authorized tire
service center should repair,
replace, dismount, and mount
the tires.
(Continued)