
Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
7-12 Infotainment System
Audio Players
CD Player
Care of the CD Player
Do not add labels to a CD; it could
get caught in the CD player. Use a
marking pen to write on the top of
the CD if a description is needed.
Do not use CD lens cleaners, they
could damage the CD player.
Notice:If a label is added to a
CD, more than one CD is inserted
into the slot at a time, or an
attempt is made to play scratched
or damaged CDs, the CD player
could be damaged. While using
the CD player, use only CDs in
good condition without any label,
load one CD at a time, and keep
the CD player and the loading slot
free of foreign materials, liquids,
and debris.
If an error displays, see “CD
Messages” later in this section.
Care of CDs
Store CDs in their original cases or
other protective cases and away
from direct sunlight and dust. The
CD player scans the bottom of the
disc. If the bottom of a CD is
damaged it may not play properly or
at all. Do not touch the bottom of a
CD while handling it. Pick up CDs
by grasping the outer edges or the
edge of the hole and the outer edge.
If the surface of a CD is dirty, take a
soft, lint‐free cloth or dampen a
clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral
detergent solution mixed with water,
and clean it. Make sure the wiping
process starts from the center to
the edge.
Using the CD Player
The CD player can play smaller
8 cm (3 in) single CDs with an
adapter ring.
A CD in the player stays in the
player when the ignition is turned
off. When the ignition or radio is
turned on, the CD starts to play
where it stopped, if it was the
last selected audio source.
Loading a CD
Insert the CD partway into the slot,
label side up, until the player pulls
the CD in. The CD begins playing
automatically.
The CD symbol displays when a
CD is inserted, and the track
number displays when each
new track starts to play.
M(Load):Press to load CD into
the CD player.

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Climate Controls 8-3
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 8‑6.
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
N
again. 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.
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.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
8-4 Climate Controls
^(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 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.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Climate Controls 8-5
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.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a
warming grid to remove fog or frost
from the rear window.
The rear window defogger only
works when the engine is running.
=(Rear Window Defogger):
Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. Be sure to clear
as much snow from the rear window
as possible. An indicator light
comes on to show that the rear
window defogger is on.
The rear window defogger turns off
about 10 minutes after the button is
pressed when traveling less than 48 km/h (30 mph). If turned on
again, the defogger only runs for
about five minutes before turning
off. The defogger can also be turned
off by turning off the engine.
The vehicle has heated outside
rearview mirrors. The mirrors will
heat to help clear fog or frost from
the surface of the mirrors when the
rear window defogger button is
pressed.
For vehicles with a power
convertible top, the rear window
defogger and heated mirrors are
automatically disabled when the
power convertible top is moving
or down.
Notice:
Do not use anything
sharp on the inside of the rear
window. If you do, you could cut
or damage the warming grid, and
the repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
attach a temporary vehicle
license, tape, a decal, or anything
similar to the defogger grid.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-9
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to
drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. SeeTires on
page 10‑58.
.Turn off cruise control.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-13
WARNING (Continued)
Clear away snow from around the
base of your vehicle, especially
any that is blocking the exhaust.
Run the engine for short periods
only as needed to keep warm,
but be careful.
To save fuel, run the engine for only
short periods as needed to warm
the vehicle and then shut the engine
off and close the window most of
the way to save heat. Repeat this
until help arrives but only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the
cold. Moving about to keep warm
also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs
faster than the idle speed. This
keeps the battery charged to restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method.
{WARNING
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 55 km/h (35 mph).
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see Tire
Chains on page 10‑80.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, or with a manual transmission,
between 1 (First) or 2 (Second) and
R (Reverse), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑86.

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
9-34 Driving and Operating
One to Four Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)
When this light comes on, you can
only shift from 1 (First) to 4 (Fourth)
instead of 1 (First) to 2 (Second).
SeeOne-to-Four Shift Light (Manual
Transmission) on page 5‑23 for
more information.
Downshifting
(Manual Transmission)
Do not downshift into the gear
shown below at a speed greater
than shown in the table:
1 (First) 80 km/h (50 mph)
2 (Second) 119 km/h (74 mph)
3 (Third) 163 km/h
(101 mph)
4 (Fourth) 209 km/h
(130 mph)
Notice: If you skip more than one
gear when you downshift, or if
you race the engine when you
release the clutch pedal while
downshifting, you could damage
the engine, clutch, driveshaft or
the transmission. Do not skip
gears or race the engine when
downshifting. The six-speed transmission has a
spring that centers the shift lever
near 3 (Third) and 4 (Fourth). This
spring helps you know which gear
you are in when you are shifting.
Be careful when shifting from
1 (First) to 2 (Second) or
downshifting from 6 (Sixth) to
5 (Fifth). The spring will try to pull
the shift lever toward 4 (Fourth) and
3 (Third). Make sure you move the
lever into 2 (Second) or 5 (Fifth).
If you let the shift lever move in the
direction of the pulling, you may end
up shifting from 1 (First) to 4 (Fourth)
or from 6 (Sixth) to 3 (Third).
If the driver does not upshift as the
engine speed approaches fuel shut
off RPM, the engine speed will be
limited to protect the engine. See
Tachometer on page 5‑12
for more
information.

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-35
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the engine is started and the
vehicle begins to drive away, ABS
checks itself. A momentary motor or
clicking noise might be heard while
this test is going on, and it might
even be noticed that the brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5‑22. If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You might hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate, but this is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.