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 (42,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-42 Vehicle Care
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake on
page 9‑36.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move. 3. With the engine off, turn the
ignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move. Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
.To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
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 (66,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-66 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS is designed to warn the
driver when a low tire pressure
condition exists. TPMS sensors
are mounted onto each tire and
wheel assembly on your vehicle.
The TPMS sensors monitor the air
pressure in the tires and transmits
the tire pressure readings to a
receiver located in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition
is detected, the TPMS illuminates
the low tire pressure warning light,
located in the instrument cluster.
If the warning light comes on,
stop as soon as possible and inflate
the tires to the recommendedpressure shown on the tire loading
information label. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑14.
A message to check the pressure in
a specific tire displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The low
tire pressure warning light and the
DIC warning message appear at
each ignition cycle until the tires
are inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. Using the DIC, tire
pressure levels can be viewed.
For additional information and
details about the DIC operation and
displays see Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑26 and
Tire Messages on page 5‑49.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven.
This could be an early indicator that
the air pressure is getting low and
needs to be inflated to the proper
pressure. A Tire and Loading Information label
shows the size of the original
equipment tires and the correct
inflation pressure for the tires when
they are cold. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑14, for an example
of the Tire and Loading Information
label and its location. Also see
Tire Pressure on page 10‑62 for
additional information.
The TPMS can warn about a
low tire pressure condition but it
does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See Tire Inspection
on page 10‑68, Tire Rotation on
page 10‑68, When It Is Time for
New Tires on page 10‑69, and
Tires on page 10‑54.
Notice: Tire sealant materials are
not all the same. A non-approved
tire sealant could damage the
TPMS sensors. TPMS sensor
damage caused by using an
incorrect tire sealant is not
covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use only the
Black plate (67,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-67
GM-approved tire sealant
available through your dealer or
included in the vehicle.
TPMS Malfunction Light and
Message
The TPMS will not function properly
if one or more of the TPMS sensors
are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the
low tire warning light flashes for
about one minute and then stays on
for the remainder of the ignition
cycle. A DIC warning message
also displays. The malfunction light
and DIC warning message come on
at each ignition cycle until the
problem is corrected. Some of the
conditions that can cause these to
come on are:
.The TPMS sensor matching
process was not done or not
completed successfully.
The malfunction light and the
DIC message should go off after
successfully completing the
sensor matching process.
.One or more TPMS sensors
are missing or damaged. The
malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off when the
TPMS sensors are installed and
the sensor matching process
is performed successfully.
See your dealer for service.
.Replacement tires or wheels do
not match the original equipment
tires or wheels. Tires and wheels
other than those recommended
could prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. SeeBuying
New Tires on page 10‑70.
.Operating electronic devices or
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
If the TPMS is not functioning
properly, it cannot detect or signal a
low tire condition. See your dealer
for service if the TPMS malfunction
light and DIC message come on
and stays on.
TPMS Sensor Matching
Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. The identification
code needs to be matched to a new
tire/wheel position after replacing
one or more of the TPMS sensors.
The malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off at the next
ignition cycle. The sensors are
matched to the tire/wheel positions,
using a TPMS relearn tool, in the
following order: driver side front tire,
passenger side front tire, passenger
side rear tire, and driver side rear.
See your dealer for service.
Black plate (78,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-78 Vehicle Care
Jump Starting
For more information about the
vehicle battery, seeBattery on
page 10‑40.
If your battery has run down, you
may want to use another vehicle
and some jumper cables to start
your vehicle. Be sure to use the
following steps to do it safely.
{WARNING
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can
burn you.
.They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
.They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you. Notice:
If you try to start your
vehicle by pushing or pulling it,
you could damage your vehicle.
Do not push or pull your vehicle
to start it; instead, use the jump
starting procedure in this manual
to start your vehicle when the
battery has run down.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must
have a 12-volt battery with a
negative ground system.
Notice: Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump
starting. If the other vehicle does
not have a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles
can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach,
but be sure the vehicles are not
touching each other. If they are,
it could cause a ground
connection you do not want.
You would not be able to start
your vehicle, and the bad
grounding could damage the
electrical systems. To avoid the possibility of the
vehicles rolling, set the parking
brake firmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start
procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in Neutral
before setting the parking
brakes.
Notice: If any accessories are left
on or plugged in during the jump
starting procedure, they could be
damaged. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible,
turn off or unplug all accessories
on either vehicle when jump
starting the vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug unnecessary
accessories plugged into the
cigarette lighter or the accessory
power outlet. Turn off the radio
and all lamps that are not
needed. This will avoid sparks
and help save both batteries.
And it could save the radio!
Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Customer Information 13-21
if the vehicle is leased, with the
consent of the lessee; in response
to an official request by police or
similar government office; as part of
GM's defense of litigation through
the discovery process; or, as
required by law. Data that GM
collects or receives may also be
used for GM research needs or
may be made available to others for
research purposes, where a need is
shown and the data is not tied to a
specific vehicle or vehicle owner.
OnStar®
If the vehicle is equipped with an
active OnStar system, that system
may also record data in crash or
near crash-like situations. The
OnStar Terms and Conditions
provides information on data
collection and use and is available
at www.onstar.com (U.S.) or
www.onstar.ca (Canada), or by
pressing the
Qbutton and
speaking to an advisor. See OnStar
Overview on page 14‑1.
Navigation System
If the vehicle has a navigation
system, use of the system may
result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers, and
other trip information. Refer to the
navigation manual for information
on stored data and for deletion
instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some
vehicles for functions such as tire
pressure monitoring and ignition
system security, as well as in
connection with conveniences
such as key fobs for remote door
locking/unlocking and starting, and
in-vehicle transmitters for garage
door openers. RFID technology in
GM vehicles does not use or record
personal information or link with
any other GM system containing
personal information.
Radio Frequency
Statement
This vehicle has systems that
operate on a radio frequency that
comply with Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and with Industry Canada
Standards RSS‐GEN/210/220/310.
Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. The device may not cause harmful interference.
2. The device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the
device.
Changes or modifications to any of
these systems by other than an
authorized service facility could void
authorization to use this equipment.