
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/Active
Handling System
M: Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-15
9:Use to turn off the windshield
wipers.
8: Use for a for a single wiping
cycle. For more wipes, hold the
band longer.
Windshield Washer: Press and
hold the button at the end of the
lever to spray washer fluid on the
windshield.
See Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑4.
Climate Controls
With this system, the heating, cooling, and ventilation can be controlled.
A. Driver Temperature Control
B. Display
C. Passenger Temperature Control
D. AUTO
E. Air Recirculation
F. Air Conditioning G. Fan Control
H. Air Delivery Mode Control
I. Defrost
J. Rear Window Defogger
See
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1.

Black plate (40,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-40 Instruments and Controls
ENGINE PROTECTION
REDUCE ENGINE RPM
This message displays if the engine
oil temperature exceeds 160°C
(320°F). Check the engine coolant
temperature and engine oil level.
If the engine is too hot, seeEngine
Overheating on page 10‑30.
The vehicle may need service, so
see your dealer.
You can monitor the oil temperature
with the gauges button on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑26.
Multiple chimes sound when
this message is displayed. This
message remains displayed and
active until the issue is resolved.
HOT ENGINE AIR
CONDITIONING OFF
This message displays when the
engine coolant becomes hotter than
the normal operating temperature. To avoid added strain on a hot
engine, the air conditioning
compressor is automatically turned
off. When the coolant temperature
returns to normal, the A/C operation
automatically resumes. You can
continue to drive the vehicle. If this
message continues to appear, have
the system repaired by your dealer
as soon as possible to avoid
compressor damage.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL
This message displays when the
life of the engine oil has expired.
See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3. After an oil change, the
engine oil life system must be reset.
See “Engine Oil Life” underDriver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑26. Also, see Engine Oil on
page 10‑14 andEngine Oil Life
System on page 10‑19 for more
information.
CHECK OIL LEVEL
On some vehicles, this message
displays and two chimes sound if
the oil level in the vehicle is low.
Once the vehicle senses a change
in the engine oil level, the light
remains off.
If this message appears after
starting the engine, the engine oil
level may be too low. You may need
to add oil. See Engine Overheating
on page 10‑30.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
reappears every 10 minutes until
this condition changes.
LOW OIL PRESSURE
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. If this
message appears while the engine
is running, stop the engine and do
not operate it until the cause of low
oil pressure is corrected. Severe
damage to the engine can result.

Black plate (49,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-49
This message is an additional
reminder to the safety belt reminder
light in the instrument panel cluster.
SeeSafety Belt Reminders on
page 5‑17 for more information.
Anti-theft Alarm System
Messages
INTRUSION SENSOR OFF
This message may display when the
anti-theft alarm has been disarmed.
INTRUSION SENSOR ON
This message may display when the
anti-theft alarm has been armed.
Service Vehicle Messages
SERVICE AIR CONDITIONING
This message displays when the
electronic sensors that control the
air conditioning and heating
systems are no longer working. Have the climate control system
serviced by your dealer if you
notice a drop in heating and air
conditioning efficiency.
SERVICE ELECTRICAL
SYSTEM
This message displays if an
electrical problem has occurred
within the Powertrain Control
Module (PCM). Have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON
This message displays and a sound
will be heard when there may be an
electrical or another system problem
with the vehicle. Have your vehicle
checked by your dealer if this
message keeps appearing.
Starting the Vehicle
Messages
PRESS BRAKE TO START
ENGINE (Automatic
Transmission Only)
This message displays if you try to
start the engine by pressing the
keyless ignition start button without
having the brake pressed. The
brake needs to be pressed when
starting the engine. See
Ignition
Positions on page 9‑20 for more
information.
Tire Messages
HIGH TIRE PRESSURE
This message may be displayed
when one or more of the tires is
overinflated. This message
also displays LEFT FRONT,
RIGHT FRONT, LEFT REAR,
or RIGHT REAR to indicate
which tire is affected.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Climate Controls 8-1
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic ClimateControl System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Maintenance
Passenger CompartmentAir Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
With this system the heating, cooling, and ventilation can be controlled.
A. Driver Temperature Controls
B. Display
C. Passenger Temperature Control
D. AUTO
E. Recirculation F. Air Conditioning
G. Fan Control
H. Air Delivery Mode Control
I. Defrost
J. Rear Window Defogger

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Climate Controls 8-3
Manual Operation
Driver Power/Temperature:Press
the driver temperature knob to turn
the climate control system off. This
is the only setting that completely
shuts off the fan. The digital display
shows only the outside temperature.
The driver and the passenger set
temperature and the air intake mode
can still be adjusted when the
climate control is off.
Passenger Power/Temperature:
Press the passenger temperature
knob to turn the passenger's climate
control system on or off. Turn the
knob to increase or decrease the
temperature for the passenger. If the
passenger's climate control system
is off, the driver's temperature knob
will control the temperature for the
entire vehicle.
x 9 w(Fan): Press to increase
or decrease the fan speed. The fan
speed setting will appear in the
display. Pressing the arrows will delete
AUTO from the digital display.
The fan graphics with the fan speed
bars will be shown. The AUTO
button must be pressed to return
to the automatic fan control.
If the airflow seems low when the
fan speed is at the highest setting,
the passenger compartment air filter
may need to be replaced. For more
information, see
Passenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 8‑7.
N(Air Delivery Mode Control):
Press this button to manually lock in
the current air delivery setting and
to stop the automatic mode control.
Pressing
Ndeletes AUTO from
the digital display and the mode
graphics will be shown. To change
the setting, press
Nagain.
The AUTO button must be pressed
to return to the automatic mode
selection. To change the current mode, select
one of the following:
H(Vent):
Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets, with some
air directed to the floor outlets.
%(Bi-Level): Air is divided
between the instrument panel and
floor outlets.
6(Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets, with some air directed
to the windshield and side window
defogger outlets.
-(Floor/Defog): This mode clears
the windows of fog or moisture.
Air is directed to the windshield
and the floor outlets, with a small
amount to the side window
outlets. In this mode, the system
automatically turns off the
recirculation and runs the air
conditioning compressor unless the
outside temperature is at or below
freezing. The recirculation mode
cannot be selected while in the
defog mode.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
8-4 Climate Controls
1(Defrost):This mode clears the
windows of fog or frost more quickly.
Air is directed to the windshield, with
a small amount directed to the side
window outlets. The indicator light
comes on and the digital display will
show the defrost mode symbol and
fan speed when the front defrost
mode is being used. In this mode,
the system automatically turns off
the recirculation and runs the air
conditioning compressor, unless the
outside temperature is at or below
freezing. Recirculation cannot be
selected while in the defrost mode.
Pressing
1again will return the
system to the last operating mode.
For severe ice conditions, turn the
driver's temperature knob to 32°C
(90°F) while in defrost mode.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
^(Air Conditioning Off): Press to
turn the air conditioning compressor
off. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation. When in
AUTO, the air conditioning
compressor comes on automatically,
as needed.
Air conditioning does not operate
at temperatures below about
2°C to 4°C (35°F to 40°F).
In temperatures above 4°C (40°F),
the air conditioning cannot be
turned off in defrost and defog,
as it helps to remove moisture from
the vehicle. It also helps to keep the
windows clear.
You may notice a slight change in
engine performance when the air
conditioning compressor shuts off
and turns on again. This is normal.
The system is designed to make
adjustments to help with fuel
economy while still maintaining the
selected temperature. On hot days, open the windows to
let hot inside air escape; then close
them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for the vehicle to cool down.
It also helps the system to operate
more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days
press the AUTO button and
adjust the temperature to a cool,
comfortable setting. To achieve
maximum cool down, do the
following:
1. Select
Hmode.
2. Press
?.
3. Select the a/c on.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
5. Select the highest fan speed.
Using these settings together for
long periods of time may cause
the air inside of your vehicle to
become too dry. To prevent this

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Climate Controls 8-5
from happening, after the air in
the vehicle has cooled, turn the
recirculation mode off.
The air conditioning system
removes moisture from the air, so a
small amount of water might drip
under the vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is
normal.
?(Recirculation):Press to turn
the recirculation mode on or off.
An indicator light comes on to show
that recirculation is on. This mode
prevents outside air from entering
your vehicle. It can be used to
prevent outside air and odors from
entering your vehicle and to help
cool the air inside your vehicle more
quickly. Recirculation mode is not
available in defrost or defog mode.
Sensors
The solar sensor on the vehicle
monitors the solar heat and uses
the information to maintain the
selected temperature when
operating in AUTO mode by
automatically adjusting the
temperature, fan speed, and air
delivery system. The system may
also supply cooler air to the side
of the vehicle facing the sun.
The recirculation mode will also be
activated, as necessary. Do not
cover the solar sensor located on
the top of the instrument panel near
the windshield or the system will not
work properly.
There is also a sensor located
behind the front bumper. This
sensor reads the outside air
temperature and helps to maintain
the temperature inside the vehicle.
Any cover on the front of the vehicle
could give a false reading in the
temperature. If the outside temperature goes up,
the displayed temperature will not
change until:
.The vehicle's speed is above
19 km/h (12 mph) for
five minutes.
.The vehicle's speed is above
52 km/h (32 mph) for two and
one‐half minutes.
These delays prevent false
readings. If the temperature goes
down, the outside temperature
will be shown when you start the
vehicle. If it has been turned off
for less than three hours, the
temperature will be recalled from the
previous vehicle operation.
There is also an inside temperature
sensor located to the left of the
ignition switch. The automatic
climate control system uses this
sensor to receive information, so if
you block or cover it, the system will
not function properly.