2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE coolant temperature

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-33
The information may be displayed in
English or metric units and appears
as an image focused out toward the
front of the vehicle. The HUD
consists of the following information:
.Speedometer
.Turn Signal Indicators
.High-Beam Indicator Symbol
.Tachometer
.Manual Paddle Shift Gear
Indicator (If Equipped)
These displays on the HUD are
for use when using the manual
paddle shift controls to shift the
transmission. See“Manual
Paddle Shift” inAutomatic
Transmission on page 9‑27.
.Shift Light
This light is used for
performance driving to indicate
that the vehicle's best
performance level has been
reached to shift the transmission
into the next higher gear. An arrow pointing up will light
up on the display just prior to
reaching the engine fuel cut-off
mode. This cut-off is about 6,500
rpm for the LS3 engine, 6,600
rpm for the LS9 & ZR1 engines,
and 7,000 rpm for the
LS7 engine.
.Check Gauges Warning
.Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
.Transmission Fluid Temperature
Gauge, (Automatic Transmission
Vehicles Only)
.Engine Oil Temperature Gauge
.Engine Oil Pressure Gauge
.G-Force Gauge
.Boost Gauge (If Equipped)
.Audio Functions, Street
Mode Only
.Navigation, Only with Navigation
Radio, Turn-by-Turn Guidance.
Street Mode Only
There are three HUD modes that
can be viewed in the HUD display.
Press the MODE button to scroll
through these modes in the
following order:
English
Metric
Street Mode supports audio and
navigation functions with your
choice of tachometer settings.

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-34 Instruments and Controls
English
Metric
Track Mode 1 supports the G-Force
gauge and minor gauges with a
circular tachometer.
English
Metric
Track Mode 2 supports G-Force
gauges, boost gauge w/ZR1, and
minor gauges with a linear
tachometer.
When the desired HUD display
has been selected, release the
MODE button.
Within each mode, the display, can
be further customized by pressing
the PAGE button. Pressing this button in each mode
will turn off and on the following:
.Street Mode
—No tachometer,
circular tachometer, and linear
tachometer.
.Track Modes 1 and 2 —
No minor gauge, coolant
temperature, transmission oil
temperature (Automatic
Transmission only), engine oil
temperature, engine oil
pressure, and boost gauge.
While in Track Mode 1 or 2, the
maximum G value achieved
during the current ignition cycle
can be displayed by pressing
and holding the PAGE button.
The maximum G display will be
shown until the PAGE button is
released. The maximum G value
display will be identical to the
normal G value display, except
the maximum G gauge digits
(X.XX G) and corresponding
G gauge bar will overwrite the
current G value.

Black plate (40,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-40 Instruments and Controls
CRUISE SET TO XXX MPH
(XXX km/h)
SeeCruise Control on page 9‑45.
Door Ajar Messages
DRIVER DOOR AJAR
This message displays if the driver
door is not closed properly. Make
sure that the door is closed
completely.
HATCH AJAR (Coupe)
This message displays when the
hatch is not closed completely.
Make sure that the hatch is closed
completely. See Hatch on page 2‑11
for more information.
PASSENGER DOOR AJAR
This message displays if the
passenger door is not closed
properly. Make sure that the door is
closed completely.
TONNEAU AJAR (Convertible)
This message displays when the
convertible top is not closed
completely. Make sure that the
top is closed completely. See
Convertible Top on page 2‑24 for
more information.
TRUNK AJAR (Convertible)
This message displays when the
trunk is not closed completely. Make
sure that the trunk is closed
completely. See Hatch on page 2‑11
for more information.
Engine Cooling System
Messages
CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
This message displays when the
engine coolant level is low. Have
the cooling system serviced by your
dealer as soon as possible. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑30.
COOLANT OVER
TEMPERATURE
This message displays and a sound
will be heard if the engine coolant
exceeds 124°C (255°F). If you have
been operating the vehicle under
normal driving conditions, pull off
the road, stop the vehicle, and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
You can monitor the coolant
temperature with the gauges button
on the DIC or the engine coolant
temperature gauge on the
instrument panel cluster. See
Engine Overheating on page 10‑34,
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑28, and Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge on page 5‑16.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
and sound will come back on until
this condition changes. If you do not
press the RESET button, the
message remains on until the
condition changes.

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-41
ENGINE OVERHEATED–
STOP ENGINE
This message displays and a sound
will be heard when the engine has
overheated. Stop and turn the
engine off immediately to avoid
severe engine damage. See Engine
Overheating on page 10‑34.
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, see Engine
Overheating on page 10‑34. 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 5‑28. 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 5‑28. Also, see Engine Oil on
page 10‑16 andEngine Oil Life
System on page 10‑22 for more
information.

Black plate (42,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-42 Instruments and Controls
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. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 10‑34.
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. A sound will be heard when this
message is displayed. See
Engine
Oil on page 10‑16.
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE DRAG CONTROL
ACTIVE
This message displays when engine
drag control is active. When driving
in a lower gear in rainy, snowy,
or icy conditions and then letting up
on the accelerator or downshifting,
the rear wheels may begin to slip
and this message displays. This
message stays on for a few
seconds following the engine drag
control event.
REDUCED ENGINE POWER
If this message displays and the
check engine light comes on, a
noticeable reduction in the vehicle's
performance may occur. If the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER
message is displayed, but there is
no reduction in performance, proceed to your destination. The
performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven.
The vehicle may be driven at a
reduced speed while the REDUCED
ENGINE POWER message is
displayed, but acceleration and
speed may be reduced. Anytime the
check engine light stays on, the
vehicle should be taken to your
dealer as soon as possible for
diagnosis and repair. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑19
for more information.
Multiple chimes sound when this
message is displayed.
To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. The message
reappears every five minutes until
this condition changes.
If the REDUCED ENGINE POWER
message is displayed in
combination with the COOLANT
OVER TEMPERATURE message,
see Engine Overheating on
page 10‑34.

Black plate (53,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-53
This message is followed by the
MAXIMUM SPEED 90 km/h
(55 MPH) message, and then by the
REDUCED HANDLING message.
The Active Handling System will
intervene more quickly when a flat
tire has been detected. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
You can receive more than one tire
pressure message at a time. To
read other messages that may have
been sent at the same time, press
the RESET button. If a tire pressure
message appears on the DIC, stop
as soon as you can. Have the tire
pressures checked and set to those
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. SeeRun-Flat
Tires on page 10‑59, Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑14, Tire Pressure
on page 10‑66, and Tire Pressure
Monitor System on page 10‑68. The
DIC also shows the tire pressure
values. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑28. To acknowledge the message, press
the RESET button. A message
reappears every 10 minutes until
the condition is corrected.
Transmission Messages
SERVICE TRANSMISSION
This message displays when there
is a problem with the transmission.
See your dealer for service.
SHIFT TO PARK
If the vehicle has an automatic
transmission, this message displays
if the vehicle is not in P (Park) when
the engine is being turned off. The
vehicle will be in ACCESSORY.
Once the shift lever is moved to
P (Park), the vehicle will turn off.
The vehicle will remain in
ACCESSORY, without the 20 minute
time-out period, until the shift lever
is moved to P (Park) or until the
driver presses the pushbutton to
restart the vehicle. See
Ignition
Positions on page 9‑19 for more
information.
TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays and
four chimes sound if the
transmission fluid temperature
rises above 132°C (270°F) or rises
rapidly. The transmission may
shift gears or apply the torque
converter clutch to reduce the fluid
temperature. Driving aggressively or
driving on long hills can cause the
transmission fluid temperature to be
higher than normal. If this message
appears, you may continue to drive
at a slower speed. Monitor the
transmission fluid temperature and
allow it to cool to at least 110°C
(230°F). The transmission fluid
temperature can be monitored with
the gauges button on the DIC. See
“DIC Operation and Displays” under
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑28 andAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 10‑23.
Also check the engine coolant
temperature. If it is also hot, see
Engine Overheating on page 10‑34.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-28 Vehicle Care
Cooling System (Engine)
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.
7.0L Engine shown,6.2L Engine similar
A. Electric Engine Cooling Fan
B. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap
{WARNING
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{WARNING
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is
a leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle. Notice:
Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL
®can cause premature
engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing
sooner, at 50 000 km (30,000 mi)
or 24 months, whichever occurs
first. Any repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use DEX-COOL
(silicate-free) coolant in the
vehicle.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-30 Vehicle Care
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle
is filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating on
page 10‑34.
What to Use
{WARNING
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle's coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water
or the wrong mixture, the engine
could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning.
The engine could catch fire and
you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:.Gives freezing protection down
to
−37°C (−34°F), outside
temperature.
.Gives boiling protection
up to 129°C (265°F), engine
temperature.
.Protects against rust and
corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Notice: If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other
parts.