2014 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Owners Manual

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6007198) - 2014 - CRC - 2/5/14
Driving and Operating 9-29
The Manual Paddle Shift system
can be deactivated by moving the
shift lever from M (Manual Mode)
back to D (Drive).
When the shift lever is in D (Drive),
press either the right (+) plus paddle
or the left (−) minus paddle to place
the transmission in Manual Paddle
Shift mode. The gear indicator by
the shift lever, in the cluster, and in
the HUD will display an M, even
though the shift lever is still in
D (Drive). To exit the system, hold
the (+) plus paddle for more than
one second. The system will return
to automatic shifting after
six seconds of cruising at a steady
speed, no manual shifts, no
aggressive cornering, or when the
vehicle comes to a stop.
While the Manual Paddle Shift gear
selection system is active, the
transmission will automatically
downshift through the gears as the
vehicle slows. The transmission willselect 2 (Second) gear as the
vehicle stops. From a stop, the
vehicle will start from and hold
2 (Second) gear unless the manual
paddle shifts are used to shift into a
different gear, or D (Drive) is
selected. The driver can select
1 (First) gear for maximum
acceleration from a stop.
The Manual Paddle Shift system will
not allow either an upshift or a
downshift if the vehicle speed is too
fast or too slow, nor will it allow a
start from 4 (Fourth) or higher gear.
If upshifting does not occur when
needed, vehicle speed will be
limited to protect the engine.
When a requested shift is denied
due to the speed restrictions shown,
a DIC message will be displayed,
and the current gear remains
displayed in the cluster and HUD.
Manual Paddle Shift operation is
available for use with cruise control.
See
Cruise Control on page 9-47.
The vehicle speeds required for
Manual Paddle Shift upshifts
depend on several vehicle inputs,
which will vary the allowed up-shift
speed by a few km/h (mph).
For vehicles with a 2.56:1 Axle
Ratio (RPO GM8 without Z51)
.Upshifts to 4 (Fourth) gear
require approximately 35 km/h
(22 mph).
.Upshifts to 5 (Fifth) gear require
approximately 45 km/h (28 mph).
.Upshifts to 6 (Sixth) gear require
approximately 65 km/h (41 mph).

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6007198) - 2014 - CRC - 2/5/14
9-30 Driving and Operating
To prevent damage to the
powertrain, Manual Paddle
downshifts to a lower gear cannot
be done above certain speeds. The
maximum speed allowed for
downshifting of gears 1 (First)
through 4 (Fourth) are:
.Into 4 (Fourth) gear over
250 km/h (155 mph).
.Into 3 (Third) gear over 188 km/h
(117 mph).
.Into 2 (Second) gear over
120 km/h (75 mph).
.Into 1 (First) gear over 68 km/h
(42 mph).
For vehicles with a 2.73:1 Axle
Ratio (RPO GU2 with Z51)
.Upshifts to 4 (Fourth) gear
require approximately 31 km/h
(19 mph).
.Upshifts to 5 (Fifth) gear require
approximately 39 km/h (24 mph).
.Upshifts to 6 (Sixth) gear require
approximately 57 km/h (35 mph). To prevent damage to the
powertrain, Manual Paddle
downshifts to a lower gear cannot
be done above certain speeds. The
maximum speed allowed for
downshifting of gears 1 (First)
through 4 (Fourth) are:
.Into 4 (Fourth) gear over
234 km/h (145 mph).
.Into 3 (Third) gear over 176 km/h
(109 mph).
.Into 2 (Second) gear over
113 km/h (70 mph).
.Into 1 (First) gear over 64 km/h
(40 mph).
If an upshift is not requested as the
engine speed approaches fuel shut
off rpm, the engine speed will be
limited to protect the engine. See
Tachometer on page 5-11.
Manual Transmission
This is the 7-speed manual
transmission shift pattern.
To operate:
1 (First): Press the clutch pedal
and shift into 1 (First). Then slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as the
accelerator pedal is pressed.
This can be done if the vehicle is
going less than 64 km/h (40 mph).
If the vehicle is at a complete stop
and it is hard to shift into 1 (First),
put the shift lever in Neutral and let

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6007198) - 2014 - CRC - 2/5/14
Driving and Operating 9-31
up on the clutch. Then press the
clutch pedal back down and shift
into 1 (First).
2 (Second):Press the clutch pedal
while letting up on the accelerator
pedal and shift into 2 (Second).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as the accelerator pedal is
pressed.
3 (Third), 4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth),
6 (Sixth), and 7 (Seventh): Shift
into 3 (Third), 4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth),
6 (Sixth), and 7 (Seventh) the same
way as for 2 (Second).
To stop, let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brake pedal.
Just before the vehicle stops, press
the clutch pedal and the brake
pedal, and shift to Neutral.
Neutral: Use to start or idle the
engine. Neutral is the center
position of the shift pattern. R (Reverse):
To back up, push
the clutch pedal and shift into
R (Reverse). Additional pressure
may be needed to move the lever
past 5 (Fifth) and 6 (Sixth) into
R (Reverse). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the
accelerator pedal.
The vehicle can be safely shifted
into R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving less than 5 km/h (3 mph).
If the vehicle is going faster than
that, R (Reverse) is locked out.
Shift Speeds
Use the following shift speeds,
shown in km/h (mph), for the best
fuel economy.
1 to 4 27 (17)
4 to 5 40 (25)
5 to 6 64 (40)
6 to 7 72 (45)
{Caution
When shifting gears, do not
move the shift lever around
unnecessarily. This may damage
the transmission. Shift directly
into the next gear.
1–4 Shift Message
When the DIC displays this
message, the vehicle can only be
shifted from 1 (First) to 4 (Fourth).
SeeTransmission Messages on
page 5-41.
Downshifting
Do not downshift into the gear at a
speed greater than shown:
1 (First) 72 km/h (45 mph)
2 (Second) 107 km/h (67 mph) 3 (Third) 160 km/h (100 mph)
4 (Fourth) 233 km/h (145 mph)

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6007198) - 2014 - CRC - 2/5/14
9-32 Driving and Operating
{Caution
When downshifting, if more than
one gear is skipped, or the engine
is racing when the clutch pedal is
released, the engine, clutch,
driveshaft or transmission could
be damaged.
If the engine speed drops below
900 rpm, or if the engine is not
running smoothly, downshift to the
next lower gear. It may be
necessary to downshift two or more
gears.
The transmission has a spring that
centers the shift lever near 3 (Third)
and 4 (Fourth). This spring helps to
know what gear the shift lever is in
when shifting. Be careful when
shifting from 1 (First) to 2 (Second)
or downshifting from 7 (Seventh) to
6 (Sixth). The spring will try to pull
the shift lever toward 4 (Fourth) and
3 (Third). Move the lever into
2 (Second) or 6 (Sixth) and do not
let the shift lever move in the direction of the pulling, or it could
shift from 1 (First) to 4 (Fourth) or
from 7 (Seventh) to 4 (Fourth).
If the vehicle is not upshifted as the
engine speed approaches fuel shut
off rpm, the engine speed will be
limited to protect the engine. See
Tachometer on page 5-11.
Active Rev Match
Vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission have Active Rev Match
(ARM). ARM aids in smoother
shifting by matching the engine
speed to the next selected gear. By
monitoring shift lever and clutch
operation, ARM adjusts engine
speed to match a calibrated value
based on gear selection. On
upshifts and downshifts, engine
speed will be increased and
decreased to match vehicle road
speed and transmission gear
position. ARM is maintained for a
few seconds between shifts, then
deactivates if the shift is not
completed.
The system is activated and
deactivated by pressing either of the
paddles marked REV MATCH on
the steering wheel. The system
must be activated with each new
ignition cycle.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6007198) - 2014 - CRC - 2/5/14
Driving and Operating 9-33
A gear indicator in the instrument
cluster displays the current gear
selected:
.When ARM is activated, the
gear number is amber.
.When ARM is deactivated, the
gear number is white.
.A white dash indicates that
service is required. ARM will be
disabled, and the malfunction
indicator lamp will be on. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5-15. The clutch and
manual transmission will
continue to operate normally.
ARM will also:
.Be active above 32 km/h
(20 mph).
.Match engine speed up to
5400 rpm.
.Not operate when the
accelerator pedal is applied.
.Be disabled when the coolant
temperature is below 0°C (32°F).
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has ABS, an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When 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. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5-19. 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 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
you 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

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6007198) - 2014 - CRC - 2/5/14
9-34 Driving and Operating
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 may hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate. This is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The switch is on the
center console. The EPB can
always be activated, even if the
ignition is off. To prevent draining
the battery, avoid repeated cycles of
the EPB when the engine is not
running.The system has a red parking brake
status light and an amber parking
brake warning light. See
Electric
Parking Brake Light on page 5-18
and Service Electric Parking Brake
Light on page 5-19. There are also
parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.
See Brake System Messages on
page 5-32. In case of insufficient
electrical power, the EPB cannot be
applied or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the red parking brake status light to
ensure that the parking brake is
applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Lift up the EPB switch momentarily.

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6007198) - 2014 - CRC - 2/5/14
Driving and Operating 9-35
The red parking brake status light
will flash and then stay on once the
EPB is fully applied. If the red
parking brake status light flashes
continuously, then the EPB is only
partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A DIC
message will display. Release the
EPB and try to apply it again. If the
light does not come on, or keeps
flashing, have the vehicle serviced.
Do not drive the vehicle if the red
parking brake status light is flashing.
See your dealer. SeeElectric
Parking Brake Light on page 5-18.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, lift up on the EPB switch
and hold it up. Continue to hold the
switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber
parking brake warning light remains
on, see your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the
vehicle is moving, the vehicle will
decelerate as long as the switch is
held up. If the switch is held up until
the vehicle comes to a stop, the
EPB will remain applied. The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when
the vehicle is not moving. This is
normal, and is done to periodically
check the correct operation of the
EPB system.
If the EPB fails to apply, the rear
wheels should be blocked to
prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Place the ignition in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN
position.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Push down momentarily on the EPB switch.
The EPB is released when the red
parking brake status light is off.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by
pushing down on the EPB switch
and holding it down. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking brake status light is off. If either light
stays on after release is attempted,
see your dealer.
{Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
The EPB can also be used to
prevent roll back for vehicles with a
manual transmission taking off on a
hill. When no roll back is desired, an
applied EPB will allow both feet to
be used for the clutch and

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6007198) - 2014 - CRC - 2/5/14
9-36 Driving and Operating
accelerator pedals in preparation for
starting the vehicle moving in the
intended direction. In this case,
there is no need to push the switch
to release the EPB.
Brake Assist
The Brake Assist feature is
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time isnormal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal as
the driving situation dictates. The
Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
If equipped, HSA may automatically
activate when the vehicle is stopped
on a grade. This feature is designed
to prevent the vehicle from rolling,
either forward or rearward, during
vehicle drive off. During the
transition from releasing the brake
pedal to accelerating to drive off on
a grade, HSA holds the braking
pressure to prevent rolling. HSA will
not activate if the vehicle is in a
drive gear and facing downhill or if
the vehicle is facing uphill and in
R (Reverse).
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and a StabiliTrak
system. These systems help limit
wheel spin and assist the driver in
maintaining control, especially on
slippery road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that the
rear wheels are spinning too much
or are beginning to lose traction.
When this happens, TCS applies
the brakes to the spinning wheel
and reduces engine power (by
closing the throttle and managing
engine spark) to limit wheel spin.