Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7576293) - 2015 - crc - 10/31/14
9-12 Driving and Operating
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 10-47.
.Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
.Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
.Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(stalled car, accident).
.Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7576293) - 2015 - crc - 10/31/14
Driving and Operating 9-13
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C (32°
F) when freezing rain begins to fall,
resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated with salt
or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.
Traction Control should be turned
on. SeeTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control on page 9-38.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops on slippery roads, but apply the brakes sooner than when
on dry pavement. See
Antilock
Brake System (ABS) on page 9-35.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in
shaded areas. The surface of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
Turn off cruise control on slippery
surfaces.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program on page 13-5.
To get help and keep everyone in
the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
.Clear away snow from around
the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe.
.Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air.
(Continued)
Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7576293) - 2015 - crc - 10/31/14
Driving and Operating 9-21
to the Keyless Access system. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2-3.
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be in ON/RUN and the brake
pedal must be applied.
Stopping the Engine/OFF (No
Indicator Lights):When the
vehicle is stopped, press the
ENGINE START/STOP button once
to turn the engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 9-24.
Automatic Transmission
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display a
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Transmission
Messages on page 5-44. When the
vehicle is shifted into P (Park), the
ignition system will switch to OFF. Manual Transmission
If the vehicle is stationary, the
ignition will turn OFF, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 9-24.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location. 3. Come to a complete stop. Shift
to P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or Neutral with a
manual transmission. Turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake on
page 9-36.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold the ENGINE START/
STOP button for longer than
two seconds, or press twice within
five seconds.
Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7576293) - 2015 - crc - 10/31/14
9-28 Driving and Operating
Automatic
Transmission
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
P (Park):This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position to
use when starting the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park on
page 9-24.
Be sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. Fully apply the brakes and
then press the shift lever button
before shifting from P (Park) when
the vehicle is running. If the vehicle cannot be shifted out of P (Park),
ease pressure on the shift lever and
push the shift lever all the way into
P (Park) as brake application is
maintained. Then press the shift
lever button and move the shift lever
into another gear. See
Shifting out
of Park on page 9-25.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
{Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9-14.
Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7576293) - 2015 - crc - 10/31/14
Driving and Operating 9-35
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. 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 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
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.
Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7576293) - 2015 - crc - 10/31/14
9-38 Driving and Operating
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.StabiliTrak activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used when
TCS begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically
disengage. Cruise control may be
reengaged when road conditions
allow. See
Cruise Control on
page 9-49.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7576293) - 2015 - crc - 10/31/14
9-44 Driving and Operating
Stability Control
.Competitive Driving Mode allows
less computer control to permit
some slide and drift and is
selected with the
gbutton–only
available in Track mode.
.StabiliTrak can be turned off by
pressing and holding the
g
button for 10 seconds.
PTM (Performance Traction
Management) (if equipped)
.Available in Track mode.
.There are five selectable
settings if Competitive Driving
Mode is activated.
Competitive Driving Mode
If equipped, Competitive Driving
Mode, Performance Traction
Management, and Launch Control
are systems designed to allow
increased performance while
accelerating and/or cornering. This
is accomplished by regulating and
optimizing the engine, brakes, and suspension performance. These
modes are for use at a closed
course race track and are not
intended for use on public roads.
They will not compensate for driver
inexperience or lack of familiarity
with the race track. Drivers who
prefer to allow the system to have
more control of the engine, brake,
and suspension are advised to turn
the normal traction control and
StabiliTrak systems on.
{Caution
Attempting to shift when the drive
wheels are spinning and do not
have traction may cause damage
to the transmission. Damage
caused by misuse of the vehicle
is not covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not attempt to shift
when the drive wheels do not
have traction.
Competitive Driving Mode
(Except Z51 and Z06 with
Magnetic Ride Control)
Competitive Driving Mode allows full
engine power while StabiliTrak
helps maintain directional control of
the vehicle by selective brake
application. In this mode, TCS is off
and Launch Control is available.
Adjust your driving style to account
for the available engine power. See
“Launch Control”
later in this
section.
Black plate (49,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7576293) - 2015 - crc - 10/31/14
Driving and Operating 9-49
Cruise Control
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more
can be maintained without keeping
your foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
If equipped with a manual
transmission, the cruise control will
remain active when the gears are shifted. The cruise is disengaged if
the clutch is pressed for several
seconds.
If the Traction Control System (TCS)
begins to limit wheel spin while you
are using cruise control, the cruise
control automatically disengages.
See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control on page 9-38.
When road conditions allow for
using safely again, cruise control
can be turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
1(On/Off): Press to turn cruise
control on or off. A white indicator
comes on in the instrument cluster
when cruise is turned on.
RES/+ (Resume/Accelerate): If
there is a set speed in memory,
press briefly to resume to that
speed or press and hold to
accelerate. If cruise control is
already active, use to increase
vehicle speed.
SET/– (Set/Coast): Press briefly to
set the speed and activate cruise
control. If cruise control is already
active, use to decrease vehicle
speed.
*(Cancel): Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory.