2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 Owners Manual

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-27
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running. But if you ever have
to, here are some things to know.
{WARNING
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains carbon monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area that
has no fresh air ventilation.
For more information, seeEngine
Exhaust on page 9‑26.
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out
of the vehicle if the automatic
transmission shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be sure
the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) on page 9‑24.
Automatic
Transmission
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
P (Park): This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position
to use when starting the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
9-28 Driving and Operating
{WARNING
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) on page 9‑24.
Be sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. You have to fully apply the brakes and then press the shift lever
button before you can shift from
P (Park) when the vehicle is
running. If you cannot shift out of
P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever and push the shift lever all the
way into P (Park) as you maintain
brake application. Then press the
shift lever button and move the shift
lever into another gear. See
Shifting
out of Park on page 9‑25.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only
after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see
If the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9‑13. N (Neutral):
In this position, the
engine does not connect with the
wheels. To restart the engine when
the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only. If the vehicle needs
towing, see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑82.
{WARNING
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Notice: Shifting out of P (Park)
or N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission.

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-29
The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Be sure the engine is not running
at high speed when shifting the
vehicle.
D (Drive):This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If you need more
power for passing, push the pedal
down to achieve the desired level of
acceleration.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”under
Loss of Control on page 9‑5.
S (Sport Mode): When in
S (Sport Mode), the transmission will
work as an automatic until you use
the Manual Paddle Shift Controls,
which activates driver manual gear
selection. See Manual Mode on
page 9‑29. While in S (Sport Mode),
the transmission will have more
noticeable upshifts for sportier
vehicle performance.Manual Mode
Manual Paddle Shift
While in S (Sport Mode), the paddles
located on the steering wheel can
be used to manually up-shift or
down-shift the transmission.
The Manual Paddle Shift system is
activated from S (Sport Mode) by
pushing the paddle, above the
steering wheel spokes, to up-shift
to the next gear, or pulling on the
paddle, behind the steering wheel
spokes, to down-shift to the
next gear. When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
you may want to shift to 2 (Second)
or 3 (Third) gear. A higher gear
allows you to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces. If traction control
is active, upshifts are delayed to
increase your control of the vehicle.
See
Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑36 Traction Control
System (TCS).
The Manual Paddle Shift system
can be deactivated by moving the
shift lever from S (Sport Mode)
back to D (Drive), or by holding
either up‐shift paddle for more than
one second.
The driver may choose to briefly
activate the Manual Paddle Shift
system while in D (Drive). Tapping
either the upshift or downshift
controls will place the transmission
in Manual Paddle Shift mode.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
9-30 Driving and Operating
The driver may then exit Manual
Paddle Shift mode by holding
either upshift control for more than
one second. The system will
return to automatic shifting after
10 seconds of cruising at a steady
speed and no manual shifts,
or when the vehicle comes to
a stop.
While the Manual Paddle Shift gear
selection system is active, the
transmission will automatically
downshift through the gears as the
vehicle slows. The transmission will
select 2 (Second) gear as the
vehicle stops. From a stop, the
vehicle will start from and hold
2 (Second) gear unless the driver
manually paddle shifts into a
different gear or selects D (Drive).
The driver can select 1 (First) gear
for maximum acceleration from
a stop.
When using the Manual Paddle
Shift feature while in S (Sport Mode),
the current gear will be displayed in
the Driver Information (DIC), or the
Head-Up Display (HUD), if the
vehicle has either of these features.
If the vehicle has a Head-Up
Display (HUD), seeHead-Up
Display (HUD) on page 5‑31.
The Manual Paddle Shift system
will not allow either an up-shift or a
down-shift if the vehicle speed is too
fast or too slow, nor will it allow a
start from 4 (Fourth) or higher gear.
If up-shifting does not occur when
needed, vehicle speed will be
limited to protect the engine. When the transmission gear does
not respond to a shift change, the
DIC will show an X over the gear
display.
When a requested shift is denied
due to the speed restrictions shown,
the DIC will momentarily show an X
over the gear display and a chime
will sound.
If the vehicle has a HUD, and the
transmission gear does not respond
to a shift change, a chime will sound
and the HUD will momentarily show
an X over the gear display.
Manual Paddle Shift operation is
available for use with Cruise
Control. See
Cruise Control on
page 9‑45 Cruise Control for more
information.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-31
The vehicle speeds required for
Manual Paddle Shift up-shifts
depend on several vehicle inputs,
which will vary the allowed up-shift
speed by a few km/h (mph).
For vehicles with a 2.56:1 Axle
Ratio (RPO GM8)
.Up-shifts to 4 (Fourth) gear
require approximately 35 km/h
(22 mph).
.Up-shifts to 5 (Fifth) gear require
approximately 45 km/h (28 mph).
.Up-shifts to 6 (Sixth) gear
require approximately 65 km/h
(41 mph).
To prevent damage to the
powertrain, Manual Paddle
downshifts to a lower gear cannot
be done above certain speeds. The maximum speed allowed for
downshifting of gears 1 (First)
through 4 (Fourth) are:
.Into 4 (Fourth) gear over
250 km/h (155 mph).
.Into 3 (Third) gear over
188 km/h (117 mph).
.Into 2 (Second) gear over
120 km/h (75 mph).
.Into 1 (First) gear over
68 km/h (42 mph).
For vehicles with a 2.73:1 Axle
Ratio (RPO GU2)
.Up-shifts to 4 (Fourth) gear
require approximately 31 km/h
(19 mph).
.Up-shifts to 5 (Fifth) gear require
approximately 39 km/h (24 mph).
.Up-shifts to 6 (Sixth) gear
require approximately 57 km/h
(35 mph). To prevent damage to the
powertrain, Manual Paddle
downshifts to a lower gear cannot
be done above certain speeds.
The maximum speed allowed for
downshifting of gears 1 (First)
through 4 (Fourth) are:
.Into 4 (Fourth) gear over
234 km/h (145 mph).
.Into 3 (Third) gear over
176 km/h (109 mph).
.Into 2 (Second) gear over
113 km/h (70 mph).
.Into 1 (First) gear over
64 km/h (40 mph).
If the driver does not request an
upshift as the engine speed
approaches fuel shut off rpm, the
engine speed will be limited to
protect the engine. See Tachometer
on page 5‑12 for more information.

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
9-32 Driving and Operating
Manual Transmission
This is the shift pattern for the
six-speed manual transmission.
Here is how to operate the
transmission:
1 (First):Press the clutch pedal
and shift into 1 (First). Then slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you
press the accelerator pedal. You can shift into 1 (First) when
you are going less than 64 km/h
(40 mph). If you come to a complete
stop and it is hard to shift into
1 (First), put the shift lever in Neutral
and let up on the clutch. Press the
clutch pedal back down. Then shift
into 1 (First).
2 (Second):
Press the clutch pedal
as you let up on the accelerator
pedal and shift into 2 (Second).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator
pedal.
3 (Third), 4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth) and
6 (Sixth): Shift into 3 (Third),
4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth) and 6 (Sixth) the
same way you do for 2 (Second).
Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brake pedal.
Just before the vehicle stops, press
the clutch pedal and the brake
pedal, and shift to Neutral. Neutral:
Use this position when
you start or idle the engine.
The shift lever is in Neutral when
it is centered in the shift pattern,
not in any gear.
R (Reverse): To back up, press
down the clutch pedal and shift into
R (Reverse). Just apply pressure to
get the lever past 5 (Fifth) and
6 (Sixth) into R (Reverse). Let up on
the clutch pedal slowly while
pressing the accelerator pedal.
The six-speed manual transmission
has a feature that allows you to
safely shift into R (Reverse) while
the vehicle is rolling at less than
5 km/h (3 mph). You will be
locked out if you try to shift into
R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving faster than 5 km/h (3 mph).

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-33
Shift Speeds
(Manual Transmission)
{WARNING
If you skip a gear when you
downshift, you could lose control
of the vehicle. You could injure
yourself or others. Do not shift
down more than one gear at a
time when you downshift.This chart shows when to shift to the next higher gear for the best fuel
economy.
Manual Transmission RecommendedShift Speeds in km/h (mph)
Engine Acceleration Shift Speed
1 to 2 2 to 3 3 to 4 4 to 5 5 to 6
All Engines 24 (15) 40 (25) 64 (40) 72 (45) 80 (50)
If the engine speed drops below
900 rpm, or if the engine is not
running smoothly, you should
downshift to the next lower gear.
You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine
running smoothly or for good engine
performance. Notice:
When shifting gears, do
not move the shift lever around
unnecessarily. This may damage
the transmission. Shift directly
into the next gear.

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
9-34 Driving and Operating
One to Four Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)
When this light comes on, you can
only shift from 1 (First) to 4 (Fourth)
instead of 1 (First) to 2 (Second).
SeeOne-to-Four Shift Light (Manual
Transmission) on page 5‑22 for
more information.
Downshifting
(Manual Transmission)
Do not downshift into the gear
shown below at a speed greater
than shown in the table:
1 (First) 80 km/h (50 mph)
2 (Second) 119 km/h (74 mph) 3 (Third) 163 km/h (101 mph)
4 (Fourth) 209 km/h (130 mph)
Notice: If you skip more than one
gear when you downshift, or if
you race the engine when you
release the clutch pedal while
downshifting, you could damage
the engine, clutch, driveshaft or
the transmission. Do not skip
gears or race the engine when
downshifting. The six-speed transmission has a
spring that centers the shift lever
near 3 (Third) and 4 (Fourth).
This spring helps you know which
gear you are in when you are
shifting. Be careful when shifting
from 1 (First) to 2 (Second) or
downshifting from 6 (Sixth) to
5 (Fifth). The spring will try to pull
the shift lever toward 4 (Fourth) and
3 (Third). Make sure you move the
lever into 2 (Second) or 5 (Fifth).
If you let the shift lever move in the
direction of the pulling, you may end
up shifting from 1 (First) to 4 (Fourth)
or from 6 (Sixth) to 3 (Third).
If the driver does not upshift as
the engine speed approaches fuel
shut off RPM, the engine speed will
be limited to protect the engine.
See
Tachometer on page 5‑12 for
more information.