Page 2 of 434

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
2012 Chevrolet Corvette Owner ManualM
Driving and Operating. . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-18
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-27
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-36
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-54 Vehicle Care
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-86
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . 10-86
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 11-3
Special Application
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . 11-12
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-15 Technical Data
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Customer Information . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-1
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-18
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-20
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
OnStar Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1
Page 5 of 434
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/Stabilitrak®
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Page 18 of 434
Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
1-12 In Brief
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior Mirrors
To adjust mirrors:
1. Press
}or|to select a mirror.
2. Press the control pad to adjust the mirror.
3. Return the switch to the center to deselect the mirror.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑16. If the vehicle has the memory
feature, a preferred mirror position
can be stored. See
Power Seat
Adjustment on page 3‑3.
To fold, pull the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward, to
return it to the original position.
Interior Mirror
An automatic dimming rearview
mirror will automatically reduce
headlamp glare coming from
vehicles that are traveling
behind you.
See Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2‑17.
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
The lever is located on the left side
of the steering column.
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever toward you.
2. Move the steering wheel up
or down.
3. Release the lever to lock the steering wheel in place.
Page 20 of 434

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
1-14 In Brief
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp control is located
to the left of the steering wheel, on
the multifunction lever.
O:Turn the band with this
symbol on it to operate the
exterior lamps.
O: Turns off all lamps.
AUTO: Sets the exterior lamps to
automatic mode. AUTO mode turns
the exterior lamps on and off
depending on how much light is
available outside the vehicle.
;: Turns on the parking lamps
together with the sidemarker lamps,
taillamps, license plate lamps, and
instrument panel lights.
5: Turns on the headlamps
together with the parking lamps,
sidemarker lamps, taillamps,
license plate lamps, and instrument
panel lights.
For more information, see:
.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
.Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 6‑4.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The windshield wiper/washer lever
is located on the right side of the
steering column.
1: Use for fast wipes.
6:Use for slow wipes.
3:Use to set a delay between
wipes.
x: Use for a delayed wiping
cycle. Turn the intermittent adjust
band down for a longer delay or
up for a shorter delay.
Page 48 of 434

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
2-16 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors
{WARNING
A convex mirror can make things,
like other vehicles, look farther
away than they really are. If you
cut too sharply into the right lane,
you could hit a vehicle on the
right. Check the inside mirror or
glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex
shaped. A convex mirror's surface is
curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat.
Power Mirrors
To adjust the mirrors:
1. Press
}or|to select a mirror.
2. Press the control pad to adjust the mirror.
3. Return the switch to the center to deselect the mirror.
If the vehicle has the memory
feature, a preferred mirror position
can be stored. See Power Seat
Adjustment on page 3‑3.
Folding Mirrors
To fold, pull the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward to
return it to the original position.
Heated Mirrors
For vehicles with heated mirrors:
1(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to heat the mirrors.
See “Rear Window Defogger” under
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1 for more
information.
Automatic Dimming
Mirror
If the vehicle has this feature, the
driver side outside mirror adjusts for
the glare of headlamps behind you.
This feature is controlled by the on
and off setting on the inside
rearview mirror.
Page 49 of 434

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-17
Interior Mirrors
Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror
An automatic dimming inside
rearview mirror will automatically
change to reduce glare from
headlamps behind you. A time
delay feature prevents rapid
changing from the day to night
positions while driving under lights
and through traffic.If the vehicle has OnStar
®, there are
additional control buttons located at
the bottom of the mirror. See OnStar
Overview on page 14‑1.
P(On/Off): The automatic
dimming feature is activated when
the vehicle is started. Press and
hold this button for up to
six seconds to turn this feature
on or off.
T(Indicator Light): This light turns
on when the automatic dimming
feature is active.
Map Lamps
If the mirror has map lamps, they
are located at the bottom of the
mirror. To manually turn the lamps
on or off, press the button next to
each lamp.
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly
on the mirror. Use a soft towel
dampened with water.
Page 137 of 434
Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-27
High-Beam On Light
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 6‑2 for more
information.
Front Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light comes on
when the fog lamps are in use.
The light goes out when the fog
lamps are turned off. See Fog
Lamps on page 6‑5 for more
information.
Lamps On Reminder
This light comes on whenever the
parking lamps are on.
See Exterior Lamps Off Reminder
on page 6‑2 for more information.
Page 155 of 434

Black plate (45,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-45
READY FOR FOB #X
See“Matching Transmitter(s) to
Your Vehicle” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3.
Lamp Messages
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED
This message displays if it is dark
enough outside and the headlamps
and the Twilight Sentinel
®controls
are off. This message informs the
driver that turning on the exterior
lamps is recommended. It has
become dark enough outside to
require the headlamps and/or
other exterior lamps.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays and a
sound will be heard if a turn signal
is left on for 1.2 km (three-quarters
of a mile). Move the turn signal/
multifunction lever to the off
position. To acknowledge this message,
press the RESET button.
Ride Control System
Messages
ACTIVE HANDLING
This message displays when the
Active Handling System is
operating. The Active Handling
System is a computer controlled
system that assists the driver in
controlling the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions. You may feel or
hear the system working and see
the ACTIVE HANDLING message
displayed in the DIC. This message
stays on for a few seconds following
the active handling event. This is
normal when the system is
operating. See
Active Handling
System on page 9‑38 andBraking
on page 9‑4.
ACTIVE HANDLING READY
This message displays when the
functional check of the Active
Handling System has been
completed. See Active Handling
System on page 9‑38 for more
information.
COMPETITIVE DRIVING MODE
This message displays and a sound
will be heard when the Competitive
Driving mode is selected. The
instrument panel cluster light will be
on when the Competitive Driving
mode is selected. If your vehicle
is equipped with a manual
transmission, Launch Control is
available when this mode is
selected. The Traction Control
System (TCS) will not be operating
while in the Competitive Driving
mode. Adjust your driving
accordingly. This system is available
on all models except ZR1and Z06.
See Competitive Driving Mode on
page 9‑39, including the “Launch
Control” information.