2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE stop start

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
1-16 In Brief
Transmission
Manual Paddle Shift
(Automatic Transmission)
The Manual Paddle Shift system
can be used in D (Drive) or
S (Sport Mode). The system is
activated by pushing the paddle,
above the steering wheel spokes, to
manually up-shift to the next gear,
or pulling on the paddle, behind
the steering wheel spokes to
manually down-shift.The current gear will be displayed in
the Driver Information (DIC), or the
Head-Up Display (HUD), if the
vehicle has either of these features.
The Manual Paddle Shift system
can be deactivated by moving the
shift lever from S (Sport Mode)
back to D (Drive), or by holding the
up‐shift paddle for more than
one second. If the shift lever was
in D (Drive) when the system was
activated, the transmission will
return to automatic shifting after
10 seconds of cruising at a steady
speed and no manual shifts,
or when the vehicle comes to
a stop.
The Manual Paddle Shift system
will not allow either an up-shift or a
down-shift, if the vehicle speed is
too fast or too slow, nor will it
allow a start from 4 (Fourth) or
higher gear.
See
Manual Mode on page 9‑29.
One to Four Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)
On vehicles with a manual
transmission, when this light comes
on, you can only shift from 1 (First)
to 4 (Fourth) instead of 1 (First) to
2 (Second).
For more information about shifting
for the best fuel economy, see
Manual Transmission on page 9‑32.

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
1-22 In Brief
The vehicle has an Active Handling
System that helps maintain
directional control of the vehicle in
difficult driving conditions. See
Active Handling System on
page 9‑38.
The vehicle may have Competitive
Driving Mode (except ZR1),
Performance Traction
Management (Z06, ZR1), and
Launch Control systems designed to
allow increased performance while
accelerating and cornering. See
Competitive Driving Mode on
page 9‑39.Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts you
to a significant loss in pressure of
one of the vehicle's tires. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. SeeVehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑14. The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver
’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑68.Z06, Z16, and ZR1
Features
Checking Engine Oil
Z06, ZR1, and manual transmission
Z16 (Grand Sport) coupe models
have a high performance dry sump
lubrication system. This system
operates differently than a standard
engine lubrication system. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑16.
You should check the oil level only
after the engine has been
thoroughly warmed up and then
shut off for at least five minutes.
This ensures that the oil level
reading obtained will be accurate.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
1-24 In Brief
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control, if equipped.
.Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
.Combine several trips into a
single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Premium Fuel
This vehicle's engine was designed
to use premium unleaded gasoline.
See Recommended Fuel on
page 9‑48.
Battery
This vehicle has a maintenance free
battery. See Battery on page 10‑43
and Jump Starting on page 10‑82.
For Z06, ZR1, and manual
transmission Z16 (Grand Sport)
coupe models the battery is located
in the rear hatch/trunk area. Access
to the battery is not necessary to
jump start the vehicle. There are
positive (+) and negative (−)
terminals in the engine
compartment.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
2-14 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Arming the System
To arm the system, pressQon the
RKE transmitter, or open the door
and lock the door with the power
door lock switch. The security light
should flash. Remove the RKE
transmitter from inside the vehicle
and close the door. The security
light stops flashing and stays on.
After 30 seconds, the light should
turn off.
The vehicle can be programmed to
automatically lock the doors and
arm the theft-deterrent system when
you exit the vehicle. See Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑55.
If a door or the hatch/trunk is
opened without using the RKE
transmitter, the alarm goes off. The
horn sounds for two minutes, then
goes off to save battery power. The
vehicle will not start without a RKE
transmitter present. The theft-deterrent system does not
arm if the driver door is locked with
the power door lock switch after the
doors are closed.
If the RKE transmitter is removed
from the vehicle while a passenger
is in it, have them lock the doors
after they are closed. The alarm will
not arm, so the passenger will not
set it off.
Testing the Alarm
To test the system use the following
procedure.
1. Make sure the trunk lid/hatch is
latched.
2. Lower the window on the driver door.
3. Manually arm the system.
4. Close the doors and wait 30 seconds. 5. Reach through the open window
and 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 10‑51.
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.

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-3
Power Seat Adjustment
To adjust a power seat, if equipped:
.Move the seat forward or
rearward by sliding the control
forward or rearward.
.Raise or lower the front or rear
part of the seat cushion by
moving the front or rear of the
control up or down.
Lumbar Adjustment
Power Lumbar and Side
Bolsters
A. Lumbar Support Control
B. Side Bolster Support Control
To adjust the support, if equipped:
.Move control (A) forward or
rearward to adjust lumbar
support.
.Move control (B) up or down to
adjust the side bolsters.
Reclining Seatbacks
{WARNING
You can lose control of the
vehicle if you try to adjust a
manual driver seat while the
vehicle is moving. The sudden
movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a
pedal when you do not want to.
Adjust the driver seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
{WARNING
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-11
.Wear the shoulder belt over the
shoulder and across the chest.
These parts of the body are best
able to take belt restraining
forces. The shoulder belt locks if
there is a sudden stop or crash.
{WARNING
You can be seriously injured,
or even killed, by not wearing
your safety belt properly.
.Never allow the lap or
shoulder belt to become
loose or twisted.
.Never wear the shoulder belt
under both arms or behind
your back.
.Never route the lap or
shoulder belt over an
armrest.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle
have a lap-shoulder belt.
The following instructions explain
how to wear a lap-shoulder belt
properly.
1. Adjust the seat, if the seat isadjustable, so you can sit up
straight. To see how, see
“Seats” in the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull
the belt across you. Do not let it
get twisted. The lap-shoulder belt may lock if
you pull the belt across you very
quickly. If this happens, let the
belt go back slightly to unlock it.
Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a
passenger belt is pulled out all
the way, the child restraint
locking feature may be engaged.
If this happens, let the belt go
back all the way and start again.
Engaging the child restraint
locking feature in the right front
seating position may affect the
passenger sensing system. See
Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑21
for more information.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-5
Windshield Washer
Press and hold the button at the end
of the lever to spray washer fluid on
the windshield. The washer will
spray until the button is released.
The wipers will continue to clear the
window for about six seconds after
the button is released and then stop
or return to your preset speed.
{WARNING
In freezing weather, do not use
the washer until the windshield is
warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the
windshield, blocking your vision.
If the fluid in the windshield washer
fluid reservoir is low, the message
CHECK WASHER FLUID will
appear on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) display. It will take
15 seconds after the bottle is refilled
for this message to turn off. For information on the correct
washer fluid to use, see
Washer
Fluid on page 10‑38 and
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Compass
Compass Operation
With the compass feature on, each
time the vehicle is started, the
compass will take a few seconds to
adjust and display the current
compass heading. For example,
NE is displayed for north-east.
Compass Calibration
PressPonce to turn the compass
display on or off.
If after several seconds the display
does not show a compass heading,
there may be a strong magnetic
field interfering with the compass.
Interference can be caused by a
magnetic antenna mount, note pad
holder, or similar object. If the letter C or CAL appears in the
compass window, the compass
needs calibration.
Depending on the mirror, in order
to calibrate, CAL must be displayed
in the mirror compass windows.
If CAL is not displayed, press
Pfor
several seconds or until CAL is
displayed.
If the compass has map lamps, it
can be placed in calibration mode
by pressing and holding the left map
light button until a C appears on the
compass display.
The mirror compass can be
calibrated by driving the vehicle in
circles at 8 km/h (5 mph) or less until
the display reads a direction.

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-16 Instruments and Controls
Oil pressure may exceed 689 kPa
(100 psi) when first started or when
accelerating. It may vary with
engine speed, outside temperature
and oil viscosity, but readings above
the shaded area show the normal
operating range. Readings in the
shaded area tell you that the engine
is low on oil, or that you might have
some other oil problem. SeeEngine
Oil on page 10‑16.
The engine oil pressure can also be
displayed using the GAGES button
on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑28.Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric
English
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the gauge
pointer moves into the shaded area,
the engine is too hot.
This means that the engine coolant
has overheated. If the vehicle has
been operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle and turn off the engine as
soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑34 for more information.