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
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-15
5. Reach through the open windowand manually pull the release
lever on the floor.
6. Press the unlock button on the transmitter to turn off the alarm.
If the alarm does not sound, check
to see if the horn works. The horn
fuse may be blown. See Fuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 10‑47.
If the horn works, but the alarm
does not go off, see your dealer.
Disarming the System
Press the unlock button on the RKE
transmitter or squeeze the door
handle sensor while the transmitter
is near the vehicle to unlock a door.
Unlocking a door any other way sets
off the alarm. If the alarm sounds,
press the unlock button on the RKE
transmitter to disarm it.
Do not leave the key or device
that disarms or deactivates the
theft-deterrent system in the vehicle.
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑21 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
Immobilizer Operation
The vehicle has a passive
theft-deterrent system.
The system is automatically armed
when the ignition is turned off.
The immobilization system is
disarmed when the ignition is turned
to OFF/ACCESSORY or START and
a valid transmitter is found in the
vehicle.
You do not have to manually arm or
disarm the system.
The security light comes on if there
is a problem with arming or
disarming the theft-deterrent
system. The system has one or more RKE
transmitters that are matched to an
immobilizer control unit in the
vehicle. Only a correctly matched
RKE transmitter starts the vehicle.
The vehicle may not start if the RKE
transmitter is damaged.
If the engine does not start and the
security light comes on, there may
be a problem with the immobilizer
system. Press the START button
again.
If the vehicle does not start and
the RKE transmitter appears to
be undamaged, try another
RKE transmitter. Or, place the
transmitter in the transmitter pocket.
See
“NO FOBS DETECTED”
under Key and Lock Messages on
page 5‑42 for additional information.
Check the fuse. See Fuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 10‑47.
Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-7
Certain electrical accessories may
not be compatible with the
accessory power outlet and could
overload vehicle or adapter fuses.
If a problem is experienced, see
your dealer.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included
with the equipment. SeeAdd-On
Electrical Equipment on page 9‑54.
It is recommended that a qualified
technician or dealer be seen for the
proper installation of your
equipment.
Notice: Hanging heavy
equipment from the power
outlet can cause damage not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
The power outlets are designed
for accessory power plugs only,
such as cell phone charge cords.Cigarette Lighter
To use the cigarette lighter, push it
in all the way and let go. When it is
ready, it will pop back out by itself.
Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter
in while it is heating does not let
the lighter back away from the
heating element when it is hot.
Damage from overheating can
occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be
blown. Do not hold a cigarette
lighter in while it is heating.
Ashtrays
The ashtray and cigarette lighter are
located on the instrument panel, in
front of the shift lever. To use the
ashtray, press on the indentation at
the top of the door.
Notice: If papers, pins, or other
flammable items are put in the
ashtray, hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite
them and possibly damage the
vehicle. Never put flammable
items in the ashtray.
Loose objects, such as paper clips,
can lodge behind and beneath the
ashtray lid and prevent movement of
the lid. You should avoid putting
small, loose objects near the
ashtray.
Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-35
If the ignition is on and the HUD
image cannot be seen, check to
see if:
.Something is covering the
HUD unit.
.The HUD dimmer control is
adjusted properly.
.The HUD image is adjusted to
the proper height.
.Ambient light is low, in the
direction the vehicle is facing.
.A fuse is blown. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 10‑47.
Keep in mind that the windshield is
part of the HUD system. See
Windshield Replacement on
page 10‑43.
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing the RESET button.
The messages that require
immediate action cannot be
cleared until that action is
performed. All messages should be
taken seriously and clearing the
messages does not correct the
problem.
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
This message displays when the
vehicle has detected that the battery
voltage is dropping beyond a
reasonable point. The battery saver
system starts reducing certain
features of the vehicle that you may
be able to notice. At the point that
features are disabled, this message
is displayed. It means that the
vehicle is trying to save the charge
in the battery. Turn off unnecessary
accessories to allow the battery to
recharge.
BATTERY VOLTAGE HIGH
See Voltmeter Gauge on page 5‑16.
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW
SeeVoltmeter Gauge on page 5‑16.
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Lighting 6-5
The lever returns to its starting
position when it is released.
If after signaling a turn or lane
change the arrows flash rapidly or
do not come on, a signal bulb may
be burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb
is not burned out, check the fuse.
SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 10‑47.
Turn Signal on Chime
A chime sounds if the turn signal
has been on for more than 1.2 km
(0.75 miles) of driving.
If you need to leave the turn
signal on for more than 1.2 km
(0.75 miles), turn off the signal and
then turn it back on.Fog Lamps
Use fog lamps for better vision in
foggy or misty conditions.
The fog lamps control is located on
the multifunction lever next to the
exterior lamp control.
#(Fog Lamps): Turning the band
to this position will turn the fog
lamps on.
When you turn the fog lamps on,
the fog lamp light will appear on the
instrument panel cluster to indicate
that the fog lamps and the parking
lamps are on. If you turn the high-beam
headlamps on, the fog lamps will
turn off. They will turn on again
when you switch to low-beam
headlamps.
The ignition must be on for the
fog lamps to operate.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be on
along with the fog lamps.
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-22
Cooling System (Engine) . . . 10-25
Cooling System
(Intercooler) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-30
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-32
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-41
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control
Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-42
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Windshield Replacement . . . 10-43
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Black plate (46,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-46 Vehicle Care
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
and Stoplamps
To replace a stoplamp, taillamp/turn
signal bulb:
1. Remove the screw from the topof the lamp assembly.
2. Tilt the lamp assemblytoward you.
3. Turn the bulb socket one-quarter turn counterclockwise and pull
it out.
4. Pull the bulb straight out to remove it from the socket. 5. Push the new bulb in the bulb
socket until it snaps into place.
6. Reinstall the lamp assembly by first lining up the tabs on the
bottom of the lamp assembly
with the tabs in the vehicle, then
slide it in.
7. Replace the screw at the top of the lamp assembly.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Front Parking/
Turn Signal 5702KA
Headlamp,
High‐Beam Lamp H9
Sidemarker Lamp 194LL (W3W)
Stoplamp/Taillamp/
Turn Signal Lamp 3047K
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed.
This greatly reduces the chance of
circuit overload and fire caused by
electrical problems.
Fuses and circuit breakers protect
power devices in the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
Black plate (47,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-47
If there is a problem on the road
and a fuse needs to be replaced,
the same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed to use
and replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or
in some cases to remain off.
Have the headlamp wiring checked
right away if the lamps go on and
off or remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of J-Case fuses,
mini-fuses and circuit breakers.
This greatly reduces the chance of
fires caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band
inside the fuse. If the band is broken
or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure
you replace a bad fuse with a new
one of the identical size and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the
road and do not have a spare fuse,
you can borrow one that has the
same amperage. Just pick some
feature of the vehicle that you can
get along without
—like the radio or
cigarette lighter —and use its fuse,
if it is the correct amperage.
Replace it as soon as you can.
Vehicles with the ZR1 package have
an intercooler relay located on the
fan shroud. See your dealer.
Vehicles with the ZR1 package also
have a fuel system mini-fuse. It is
located near the battery in the
battery storage compartment in the
rear of the vehicle.