2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 Owners Manual

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-29
WARNING (Continued)
Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap,
is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and coolant surge tank pressure
cap to cool if you ever have to
turn the pressure cap.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL coolant mixture directly
to the surge tank, but be sure the
cooling system is cool before this
is done.
1. When the cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap and upper radiator
hose, is no longer hot, remove
the pressure cap.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter turn and then stop.
If a hiss is heard, wait for that to
stop. A hiss means there is still
some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it.3. Fill the coolant surge tank withthe proper DEX-COOL coolant
mixture until the level inside
stabilizes at the FULL COLD
mark on the front of the
surge tank.

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 (32,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-32 Vehicle Care
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highesttemperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows
as necessary.
3. If in a traffic jam, shift to N (Neutral) while stopped. If it is
safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral)
and let the engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gauge
is no longer in the overheat zone or
an overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away. If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down. Also, see
“Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode”
next in this section.
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode
lets the vehicle be driven to a
safe place, up to 80 km (50 mi),
in an emergency situation. If an
overheated engine condition exists
and the messages COOLANT
OVER TEMPERATURE and
REDUCED ENGINE POWER are
displayed, along with the check
engine light, an overheat protection
mode which alternates firing groups
of cylinders helps prevent engine
damage. In this mode, there is a
significant loss in power and engine
performance. Driving extended distances in the
overheat protection mode should be
avoided.
Notice:
After driving in the
overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool
before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely
degraded. Repair the cause of
coolant loss, change the oil
and reset the oil life system.
See Engine Oil on page 10‑14.
Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑8 for reservoir location.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-33
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering fluid unless
there is a leak suspected in the
system or an unusual noise is
heard. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
Notice:Extremely small amounts
of contamination can cause
steering system damage and
cause it to not work properly.
Do not allow contaminants to
contact the fluid side of the
reservoir cap/dipstick or to enter
the reservoir.
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Turn the ignition off and let the engine compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean. 3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the
dipstick with a clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
There are markings on both
sides of the dipstick.
The level should be at the FULL
COLD mark. If necessary, add only
enough fluid to bring the level up to
the mark.
When the engine compartment
is hot, the level should be at
the HOT mark. When the engine compartment is
cool, the level should be at the
FULL COLD mark.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use, see
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Always use the proper fluid.
Notice: Use of the incorrect fluid
may damage the vehicle and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Always
use the correct fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-34 Vehicle Care
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When the vehicle needs windshield
washer fluid, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If the vehicle will be operating
in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid
that has sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑8 for reservoir location. Notice
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
for adding water.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer fluid.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for
fluid expansion if freezing
occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is
completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system
and paint.
Brakes
Brake Wear (Except ZR1, Z06,
and Grand Sport)
This vehicle has disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{WARNING
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-35
Notice:Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could result
in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Wear (ZR1, Z06, and
Grand Sport Only)
The ZR1, Z06, and Grand Sport
models do not have built-in brake
pad wear indicators and periodic
visual inspection of the brake pads
is required to determine when to
replace the brake pads. Notice:
Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could result
in costly brake repair.
.Make sure that the brakes have
been given sufficient time to cool
and then set the park brake.
Rear
Front
.Brake pads can be visually
inspected through the wheel by
inspecting the outer brake pads
at each wheel.
.Brake pads should be replaced
when worn to 2 mm of pad
thickness. New pads are 10 mm
thick.
.In addition, brake pad inspection
is required any time the tires are
removed.

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-36 Vehicle Care
The ZR1, Z06, and Grand Sport
models also have an electronic
brake pad wear sensor system.
When pads are worn, the CHANGE
BRAKE PADS message displays
in the Driver Information Center.
SeeBrake System Messages on
page 5‑36. Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Rotor Wear
ZR1 models have, and Z06 and
Grand Sport models may have,
ceramic brake rotors. Rotors should
be visually inspected whenever the
brake pads are replaced. Rotors
also need to be weighed before
brake pads are replaced to confirm
that the rotor mass is greater than
the wear‐out mass printed on the
rotor. The rotor can be reused if the
weight of the rotor is above the
mass limit. Rotor inspection and
weighing methods can be found in
the service manual. See
Service
Publications Ordering Information
on page 13‑18. Brake Rotor Protector
{WARNING
Ceramic rotors will be very hot
after operation and touching them
may cause burns. Be sure brake
system is completely cool prior to
installation of protector, or coming
in contact with them.
Notice: Rotors may be chipped
if hard contact is made with the
wheel during wheel installation or
removal. Always use the rotor
protectors. Be sure to carefully
follow wheel removal and
installation instructions.