Page 317 of 434

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-43
What to Add
Use only new DOT 3 brake fluid
from a sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it.
This helps keep dirt from entering
the reservoir.
{WARNING
With the wrong kind of fluid in
the brake hydraulic system, the
brakes might not work well.
This could cause a crash.
Always use the proper brake fluid.Notice
.Using the wrong fluid can
badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts.
For example, just a few
drops of mineral-based oil,
such as engine oil, in the
brake hydraulic system can
damage brake hydraulic
system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in
the wrong kind of fluid.
.If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces,
the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to
spill brake fluid on the
vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately.
Battery
Refer to the replacement number
on the original battery label when a
new battery is needed.
For battery replacement, see your
dealer or the service manual.
To purchase a service manual,
see
Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑17.
{WARNING
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.
Page 318 of 434

Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-44 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Storage
{WARNING
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. SeeJump Starting on
page 10‑82 for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt.
Some vehicles have a battery
maintainer package. Follow the
instructions provided with the
battery maintainer package to keep
the battery charged when the
vehicle is not in use. For vehicles
without a battery maintainer, see the
following information. Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
See
“Power Window Initialization”
in Power Windows on page 2‑18.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly
check rear axle fluid unless a leak is
suspected or an unusual noise is
heard. A fluid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and
repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading,
the vehicle should be on a level
surface.
Page 325 of 434

Black plate (51,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-51
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 somefeature 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.
Page 326 of 434
Black plate (52,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-52 Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
There is one fuse block in the
engine compartment located on
the passenger side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑10 for more information
on location.
Notice: Spilling liquid on any
electrical component on the
vehicle may damage it. Always
keep the covers on any electrical
component.
For ZR1 models, the Fuel System
fuse is located at the battery.
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown. Fuse Usage
1 Transmission
Control Module/
Transmission
2 Horn, Alternator
Sense
Page 327 of 434
Black plate (53,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-53
FuseUsage
3 Antilock Brake
System (ABS)/Real
Time Damping
4 Wiper
5 Stoplamps/Back-Up
Lamps
6 Oxygen Sensor
7 Battery Main 5
8 Parking Lamps
9 Powertrain Relay
Input/Electronic
Throttle Control
10 Manual
Transmission
Solenoids
11 Antilock Brake
System
12 Odd Numbered Fuel
Injectors Fuse
Usage
13 Electronic
Suspension Control
(Option)
14 Canister Purge
Solenoid, Mass Air
Flow Sensor
15 Air Conditioner
Compressor
16 Even Numbered
Fuel Injectors
17 Windshield Washer
18 Headlamp Washer
19 Passenger Side
Low-Beam
Headlamp
20 Fuel Pump
(except ZR1)
21 Driver Side
Low-Beam
Headlamp Fuse
Usage
22 Front Fog Lamp
23 Passenger Side
High-Beam
Headlamp
24 Driver Side
High-Beam
Headlamp
56 Engine Control
Module (ECM)/
Transmission
Control Module
(TCM)/Easy Key
Module
J-Style Fuses Usage
25 Cooling Fan
26 Battery Main 3
27 Antilock Brake
System
Page 328 of 434
Black plate (54,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-54 Vehicle Care
J-StyleFuses Usage
28 Heating/Ventilation/
Air Conditioning
Blower
29 Battery Main 2
30 Starter
31 Audio Amplifier
32 Intercooler Pump
33 Battery Main 1
Micro-Relays Usage 34 Horn
35 Air Conditioning
Compressor
36 Windshield
Washer
37 Parking Lamps,
Foglamps
38 Front Fog Lamp Micro-Relays Usage
39 High-Beam
Headlamp
46 Headlamp
Washer
55 Fuel Pump
(except ZR1)
Mini-Relays Usage 40 Rear Defog
41 Windshield Wiper
High/Low
42 Windshield Wiper
Run/Accessory
43 Crank
44 Powertrain
Ignition 1
45 Windshield Wiper
On/Off
47 Low-Beam
Headlamp Spare Fuses Usage
48 Spare
49 Spare
50 Spare
51 Spare
52 Spare
53 Spare
54 Fuse Puller
Diodes Usage § Diode 1
§ Wiper
§ Diode 2
Page 356 of 434

Black plate (82,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-82 Vehicle Care
Jump Starting
For more information about the
vehicle battery, seeBattery on
page 10‑43.
If your battery has run down, you
may want to use another vehicle
and some jumper cables to start
your vehicle. Be sure to use the
following steps to do it safely.
{WARNING
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can
burn you.
.They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
.They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you. Notice:
If you try to start your
vehicle by pushing or pulling it,
you could damage your vehicle.
Do not push or pull your vehicle
to start it; instead, use the jump
starting procedure in this manual
to start your vehicle when the
battery has run down.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must
have a 12-volt battery with a
negative ground system.
Notice: Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump
starting. If the other vehicle does
not have a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles
can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach,
but be sure the vehicles are not
touching each other. If they are,
it could cause a ground
connection you do not want.
You would not be able to start
your vehicle, and the bad
grounding could damage the
electrical systems. To avoid the possibility of the
vehicles rolling, set the parking
brake firmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start
procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in Neutral
before setting the parking
brakes.
Notice: If the radio or other
accessories are left on during the
jump starting procedure, they
could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by the
warranty. Always turn off the
radio and other accessories when
jump starting the vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug unnecessary
accessories plugged into the
cigarette lighter or the accessory
power outlet. Turn off the radio
and all lamps that are not
needed. This will avoid sparks
and help save both batteries.
And it could save the radio!
Page 357 of 434

Black plate (83,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-83
4. Open the hoods and locate thepositive (+) and negative (−)
terminal locations on each
vehicle.
6.2 L LS3 shown, 7.0 L LS7 and
6.2 L LS9 similar
Your vehicle has a remote
positive (+) terminal (A) and a
remote negative (−) terminal (B),
as shown in the illustration,
which should be used to jump
start your vehicle. The remote positive (+)
terminal (A) can be accessed by
opening the cover of the engine
compartment fuse block.
The remote negative (−)
terminal (B) is located
underneath the engine cover,
below the engine oil fill cap.
See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑10 for
the location of the engine
compartment fuse block and
engine oil fill cap.
You will not need to access
the battery for jump starting.
The remote terminals are for
that purpose.
{WARNING
An electric fan can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
{WARNING
Using an open flame near a
battery can cause battery gas to
explode. People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a flashlight if you
need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough
water. You do not need to add
water to the battery installed in
your new vehicle. But if a battery
has filler caps, be sure the right
amount of fluid is there. If it is low,
add water to take care of that
first. If you do not, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.