
Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-25
Notice:If you lower the
convertible top on the vehicle
in cold weather (0°C (32°F) or
lower), you may damage
convertible top components.
Do not lower the top in cold
weather.
Notice: If you raise or lower the
convertible top while the vehicle
is in motion, you could damage
the top or the top mechanism.
The repairs would not be covered
by the warranty. Always put an
automatic transmission in
P (Park) or a manual transmission
in Neutral before raising or
lowering the convertible top. Lowering the Manual
Convertible Top
1. Park on a level surface.
Shift an automatic transmission
into P (Park) and set the
parking brake. Shift a manual
transmission into Neutral and set
the parking brake.
2. Make sure the ignition is off.
3. Make sure the trunk is closed.
4. Release the convertible top front latch, located above the inside
rearview mirror, by pulling and
turning it clockwise.
5. Lift upward on the front edge (A)of the convertible top to remove
it from the windshield frame.
Then lift upward on the rear
edge (B) of the convertible top
so it is vertical to the tonneau
cover (C). The front edge (A) and
rear edge (B) should be
straight up.
6. The convertible top front latch must be turned and closed after
the top has been pushed up.
Failure to close the latch may
prevent the tonneau cover from
completely closing.

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
2-26 Keys, Doors, and Windows
7. Tilt the driver seatback forwardand press the tonneau cover
release button located on the
underside of the tonneau
cover (C) behind the driver seat.
After pressing the release
button, the driver and passenger
door glass will retract to the
full-down position. Then raise
the tonneau cover (C).
If the tonneau cover does not
release and three chimes are
heard, check to make sure the
trunk lid is closed. Also, the
tonneau cover will not release if
the vehicle alarm is armed. If battery power has not been
lost, continue to Step 9.
If battery power has been lost,
the tonneau cover (C) can be
opened using the manual
release cable.
The tonneau cover manual
release cable is located
underneath the carpeting behind
the passenger seat head
restraint, on the underside
forward edge of the tonneau
cover. To access the cable, lift
and pull back the carpeting.
Notice:
If you lower the
convertible top into the storage
compartment and the rear edge of
the top is not in the full-down
position, you could damage the
top. Always verify that the rear
edge of the convertible top is in
the full-down position before
lowering the top into the storage
compartment.
8. Pull the cable to release the
tonneau cover, continue with
Step 9.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
2-30 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Lowering the Power
Convertible Top
1. Park on a level surface.Start the engine. Shift an
automatic transmission into
P (Park) and set the parking
brake. Shift a manual
transmission into Neutral, and
set the parking brake.
2. Make sure the trunk is closed, the rear trunk partition in the rear
storage area is in the fastened
upright position, and no objects
are forward of the divider.
See “Rear Trunk Partition” under
Rear Storage on page 4‑1.
3. Release the convertible top front latch, located above
the inside rearview mirror, by pulling and turning it
clockwise. Push upward on the
front edge. The windows will
automatically lower.
4. Return the convertible top front latch to the closed position.
5. Push and holdªon the
convertible top switch. The convertible top will lower into
the rear of the vehicle. A chime will
sound when the convertible top has
lowered completely. If the radio is
on, the sound may be muted for a
brief time due to a new audio
system equalization being loaded.
If the convertible top is operated
multiple times, the engine should be
running to prevent drain on the
vehicle's battery. Under certain
conditions, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) may display a
message regarding the convertible
top. See
Convertible Top Messages
on page 5‑37 for more information.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-31
Raising the Power Convertible Top
Notice:If you raise or lower the
convertible top while the vehicle
is in motion, you could damage
the top or the top mechanism.
The repairs would not be covered
by the warranty. Always put an
automatic transmission in
P (Park) or a manual transmission
in Neutral before raising or
lowering the convertible top.
1. Park on a level surface. Start the engine. Shift an automatic
transmission into P (Park) and
set the parking brake. Shift a
manual transmission into Neutral
and set the parking brake.
2. Make sure the trunk lid is closed, the rear trunk partition in the rear
storage area is in the fastened
upright position, and no objects
are forward of the divider.
See “Rear Trunk Partition” under
Rear Storage on page 4‑1.
3. Push and hold«on the
convertible top switch. The
convertible top will raise and the
windows will lower if they were
in the raised position. A chime
will sound when the convertible
top is raised completely.
4. After the convertible top is completely raised, release the
convertible top switch.
5. Pull the convertible top front latch down and turn it
counterclockwise to lock the
convertible top. If the radio is on, the sound may be
muted for a brief time due to a new
audio system equalization being
loaded.
If the vehicle has lost power, the
convertible top can still be raised by
releasing pressure on the hydraulic
pump, located under the passenger
side of the tonneau cover, using the
following steps. The carpet liner on
the passenger side must be pulled
back to access the hydraulic pump.
Never attempt to open or close the
convertible top manually without
releasing pressure first.
Manual operation of the convertible
top cannot be attempted for
five minutes after the last time the
convertible top switch was pressed
if the convertible top was not
opened completely and the tonneau
cover latched or closed completely
with the front latch locked in place
at the time the convertible top
switch was released.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Storage 4-1
Storage
Storage Compartments
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Rear Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Center Console Storage . . . . . . 4-2
Additional Storage Features
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Storage
Compartments
Glove Box
Open the glove box by lifting up on
the lever. Use the key to lock and
unlock the lighted glove box.
Cupholders
Slide the cover to access the
cupholders.
Rear Storage
Convertible Shown, Coupe Similar
There are two storage
compartments in the floor of the
hatch/trunk area; pull up to open the
cover.
For the Z06 and ZR1, the right
compartment stores the battery and
cannot be used for storage.
Notice: Do not store heavy or
sharp objects in the rear storage
compartments located in the
hatch/trunk area. The objects
could damage the underbody.

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
4-2 Storage
Rear Trunk Partition
For vehicles with the power
convertible top option only, there is
a trunk partition to keep cargo from
getting in the way of the convertible
top. The trunk partition must be in
place for the convertible top to
move. If the trunk partition is not
properly in place, a message will
display. SeeConvertible Top
Messages on page 5‑37 for more
information.
The trunk partition is a flat carpeted
board with a horizontal flap that can
be attached to the top of the trunk to
divide the storage compartment.
It can be stored flat when not in use.
Pull the divider up and snap it onto
place on both sides of the trunk.
Center Console Storage
To use this storage area, pull the
cover up on the driver side front
edge of the center console and
swing it to the passenger side.
Some vehicles might also have
input jacks for auxiliary audio
devices. See Auxiliary Devices on
page 7‑16.
Additional Storage
Features
Cargo Cover
For vehicles with this feature, the
security shade can provide hidden
storage in the rear area of the
vehicle. The shade is also helpful
in blocking the glare from the
removable roof when it is stored in
the rear compartment.

Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-37
have ABS. 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 2‑24.
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 2‑24 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 2‑24
for more information.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-39
HATCH AJAR (Coupe)
This message displays when the
hatch is not closed completely.
Make sure that the hatch is closed
completely. SeeHatch on page 2‑11
for more information.
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
This message displays if the
passenger door is not closed
properly. Make sure that the door is
closed completely.
TONNEAU AJAR (Convertible)
This message displays when the
convertible top is not closed
completely. Make sure that the
top is closed completely. See
Convertible Top on page 2‑24 for
more information.
TRUNK AJAR (Convertible)
This message displays when the
trunk is not closed completely.
Make sure that the trunk is closed
completely. See Hatch on page 2‑11
for more information.
Engine Cooling System
Messages
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
This message displays when
the engine coolant level is low.
Have the cooling system serviced
by your dealer as soon as possible.
See Engine Coolant on page 10‑26.
COOLANT OVER
TEMPERATURE
This message displays and a sound
will be heard if the engine coolant
exceeds 124°C (255°F). If you have
been operating the vehicle under
normal driving conditions, pull off
the road, stop the vehicle, and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
You can monitor the coolant
temperature with the gauges
button on the DIC or the engine
coolant temperature gauge on
the instrument panel cluster. See
Engine Overheating on
page 10‑30, Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑26, and
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
on page 5‑16.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
and sound will come back on until
this condition changes. If you do not
press the RESET button, the
message remains on until the
condition changes.ENGINE OVERHEATED –
STOP ENGINE
This message displays and a sound
will be heard when the engine has
overheated. Stop and turn the
engine off immediately to avoid
severe engine damage. See Engine
Overheating on page 10‑30.