Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-3
The telescopic steering column
position can be stored with your
memory settings. See“Memory
Seat, Mirrors, and Steering Wheel”
under Power Seat Adjustment on
page 3‑2 for more information.
Steering Wheel Controls
For vehicles with steering wheel
controls, some audio controls can
be adjusted at the steering wheel.
b/g(Mute/Push to Talk):
Press to silence the vehicle
speakers only. Press again to turn
the sound on.
For vehicles with Bluetooth or
OnStar
®systems press and
hold
b/gfor longer than
two seconds to interact with those
systems. See Bluetooth on
page 7‑16 orOnStar Overview on
page 14‑1 for more information.
c(Phone On Hook): Press to
reject an incoming call, or end a
current call.
w x(Next/Previous): Press to
change radio stations or select
tracks on a CD. To change radio stations:
.Pressworxto go to the
next or to the previous radio
station and stay there.
The radio only seeks stations
with a strong signal that are in
the selected band.
.Press and holdworxfor
two seconds until SCAN displays
and a beep sounds to scan
stations. The radio goes to a
station, plays for a few seconds,
then goes to the next station.
Press again to stop scanning.
.Press and holdworxfor
four seconds until PRESET
SCAN displays and a beep
sounds to scan presets.
The radio goes to a station,
plays for a few seconds, then
goes to the next station.
Press again to stop scanning.
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-5
Windshield Washer
Press and hold the button at the end
of the lever to spray washer fluid on
the windshield. The washer will
spray until the button is released.
The wipers will continue to clear the
window for about six seconds after
the button is released and then stop
or return to your preset speed.
{WARNING
In freezing weather, do not use
the washer until the windshield is
warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the
windshield, blocking your vision.
If the fluid in the windshield washer
fluid reservoir is low a message may
appear on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) display, see Washer
Fluid Messages on page 5‑53. It will
take 15 seconds after the bottle is
refilled for this message to turn off. For information on the correct
washer fluid to use, see
Washer
Fluid on page 10‑34 and
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Compass
Compass Operation
With the compass feature on, each
time the vehicle is started, the
compass will take a few seconds to
adjust and display the current
compass heading. For example,
NE is displayed for north-east.
Compass Calibration
PressPonce to turn the compass
display on or off.
If after several seconds the display
does not show a compass heading,
there may be a strong magnetic
field interfering with the compass.
Interference can be caused by a
magnetic antenna mount, note pad
holder, or similar object. If the letter C or CAL appears in the
compass window, the compass
needs calibration.
Depending on the mirror, in order to
calibrate, CAL must be displayed
in the mirror compass windows.
If CAL is not displayed, press
Pfor
several seconds or until CAL is
displayed.
If the compass has map lamps, it
can be placed in calibration mode
by pressing and holding the left map
light button until a C appears on the
compass display.
The mirror compass can be
calibrated by driving the vehicle in
circles at 8 km/h (5 mph) or less until
the display reads a direction.
Compass Variance
The mirror is set to zone eight.
If you do not live in zone eight or
drive out of the area, the compass
variance needs to be changed to
the appropriate zone.
Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-6 Instruments and Controls
To adjust for compass variance:
1. Find your current location andvariance zone number on the
zone map that follows.
2. Press and holdPuntil a Z and
a zone number displays. The
compass is now in zone mode.
3. Once the zone number displays, press
Prepeatedly until you
reach the correct zone number.
Stop pressing
Pand the mirror
returns to normal operation.
Clock
To set the clock:
1. Press and hold H until the correct hour displays.
2. Press and hold M until the correct minute displays.
The clock mode automatically times
out with the changed display format
set as the current default setting.
To set the clock on a navigation
system, see the separate navigation
manual.
Power Outlets
The accessory power outlet can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
The accessory power outlet is
located inside the center console
storage compartment, on the
forward left side. Remove the cover to access and
replace when not in use.
{WARNING
Power is always supplied to the
outlets. Do not leave electrical
equipment plugged in when the
vehicle is not in use because the
vehicle could catch fire and cause
injury or death.
Notice: Leaving electrical
equipment plugged in for an
extended period of time while
the vehicle is off will drain the
battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-12 Instruments and Controls
Speedometer
The speedometer shows the speed
in either kilometers per hour (km/h)
or miles per hour (mph). For more
information see“Personal Options”
under Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑54.
Odometer
To read the odometer with the
ignition off, turn on the parking
lamps.
If the vehicle needs a new odometer
installed, the mileage total of the
new odometer will be set to the
original kilometers (miles) of the old
odometer. See your dealer if the
odometer must be replaced in the
vehicle.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine
speed in thousands of revolutions
per minute (rpm). Notice:
Fuel shuts off at about
6500 rpm for the base model,
7000 rpm for the Z06 model, and
6600 rpm for the ZR1 model. If the
vehicle continues to be driven at
the fuel shut off rpm, the engine
could be damaged. Be sure to
operate the vehicle below the fuel
shut off rpm or reduce the
vehicle's rpm quickly when the
fuel shuts off.
Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows how much
fuel the vehicle has left while the
engine is on. An arrow on the fuel gauge
indicates the side of the vehicle the
fuel door is on.
When the needle approaches the
low fuel symbol, a chime sounds
and LOW FUEL appears on the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
display. There is still a little fuel left,
but the vehicle's fuel tank should be
filled soon.
Press the RESET button to
acknowledge a DIC message(s).
Pressing the RESET button also
turns off a DIC message but the
LOW FUEL message comes on
again in 10 minutes if fuel is not
added to the vehicle.
Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-13
Here are five things that some
owners ask about. All these things
are normal and do not indicate that
anything is wrong with the fuel
gauge.
.At the service station, the gas
pump shuts off before the gauge
reads the full.
.It takes a little more or less
fuel to fill up than the gauge
indicated. For example, the
gauge may have indicated half
full, but it took a little more or
less than half of the tank's
capacity to fill the tank.
.The gauge pointer may move
while cornering, braking or
speeding up.
.The gauge may not indicate the
tank is empty when the ignition
is turned off.
.The gauge reading may change
slightly within the first several
minutes after starting the
vehicle.See
“DIC Operation and Displays”
in Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑26 for more information.
Boost Gauge (ZR1)
Metric
English
This gauge indicates vacuum during
light to moderate throttle and boost
under heavier throttle.
It displays the air pressure level in
the intake manifold before it enters
the engine's combustion chamber.
The gauge is automatically centered
at zero every time the engine is
started. Actual vacuum or boost is
displayed from this zero point.
Changes in ambient pressure,
such as driving in mountains and
changing weather, will slightly
change the zero reading.
Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-15
English—Z06 and ZR1 Models
{WARNING
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced. Notice:
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine
oil low can also damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Check the oil level as soon as
possible. Add oil if required,
but if the oil level is within the
operating range and the oil
pressure is still low, have the
vehicle serviced. Always follow
the maintenance schedule for
changing engine oil.
The engine oil pressure gauge
shows the engine oil pressure
in kPa (kilopascals) or psi (pounds
per square inch) when the engine is
running. Oil pressure should be 140 to
550 kPa (20 to 80 psi). In certain
situations such as long, extended
idles on hot days, it could read as
low as 40 kPa (6 psi) and still be
considered normal. Oil pressure
may exceed 689 kPa (100 psi)
when first started or when
accelerating. It may vary with
engine speed, outside temperature
and oil viscosity, but readings above
the shaded area show the normal
operating range. Readings in the
shaded area tell you that the engine
is low on oil, or that you might have
some other oil problem. See
Engine
Oil on page 10‑14.
The engine oil pressure can also
be displayed using the GAGES
button on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑26.
Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-24 Instruments and Controls
Active Handling System
Light
The Active Handling System light
comes on briefly while starting the
engine. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light stays on or comes on
while driving, a chime sounds and a
SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING
SYSTEM message appears on the
DIC and the vehicle need service.
When the Active Handling System
is turned off, the light comes on,
a chime sounds, and the
TRACTION SYSTEM AND ACTIVE
HANDLING–OFF message
displays in the DIC. The Traction Control System is off and the
Active Handling System does not
assist with controlling the vehicle.
When the Active Handling System is
turned back on, the light turns off, a
chime sounds, and the TRACTION
SYSTEM AND ACTIVE
HANDLING–
ON message displays
in the DIC.
See Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑44 for more information.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine is
started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS. When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
tire pressure message may also
display. See
Vehicle Messages on
page 5‑35 for more information.
Stop as soon as possible, and
inflate the tires to the pressure value
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑62 for more information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute
and then stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPMS. If the
problem is not corrected, the light
will come on at every ignition
cycle. See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑66 for more
information.
Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-26 Instruments and Controls
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The Driver Information Center (DIC)
display is located on the instrument
panel cluster and shows driver
personalization features and
warning/status messages.
The DIC comes on when the ignition
is turned on. After displaying
CORVETTE BY CHEVROLET, the
DIC shows the information that was
last displayed before the engine
was turned off.
If a problem is detected, a warning
message appears on the DIC
display. SeeVehicle Messages on
page 5‑35 for more information.
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 9‑27
andHead-Up Display
(HUD) on page 5‑31 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.