Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
Introduction 3
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this,” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M: Shown when the owner
manual has additional instructions
or information.
*: Shown when the service
manual has additional instructions
or information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.”
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9: Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®(if equipped)
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I: Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
_: Flame/Fire Prohibited
.:Fuel Gauge
+: Fuses
3:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
Instruments and Controls 93
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . 94
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . 94
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . 94
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Boost Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 106
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 106
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Charging System Light . . . . . . . 108
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 108
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Gear Shifting Light (Canada and Mexico Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Traction Control System (TCS)/ Electronic Stability Control
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . 113
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 114
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 114
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . 115
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 115
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . 117
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Battery Voltage and Charging Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Brake System Messages . . . . . 122
Compass Messages . . . . . . . . . . 123
Convertible Top Messages . . . 123
Cruise Control Messages . . . . . 124
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . 124
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . 125
Engine Power Messages . . . . . 126
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . . 126
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 126
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Ride Control System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Airbag System Messages . . . . 129
Security Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Service Vehicle Messages . . . . 129
Starting the Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Tire Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Transmission Messages . . . . . . 131
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
Instruments and Controls 111
Service Electric Parking
Brake Light
The service electric parking brake
light should come on briefly when
starting the vehicle. If it does not
come on, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer.
If this light stays on, there is a
problem with a system on the
vehicle that is causing the parking
brake system to work at a reduced
level. The vehicle can still be driven,
but should be taken to a dealer as
soon as possible. SeeElectric
Parking Brake 0197. If a message
displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), see Brake System
Messages 0122.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
If the light comes on while driving,
stop as soon as it is safely possible
and turn off the vehicle. Then start
the engine again to reset the
system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the
vehicle needs service. A chime may
also sound when the light comes on
steady.
If the ABS light is the only light on,
the vehicle has regular brakes, but
the antilock brakes are not
functioning. If both the ABS and the brake
system warning light are on, the
vehicle's antilock brakes are not
functioning and there is a problem
with the regular brakes. See your
dealer for service.
See
Brake System Warning Light
0 110 and Brake System
Messages 0122.Gear Shifting Light
(Canada and
Mexico Only)
This light comes on when a gear
shift is recommended for best fuel
economy. When the arrow is pointed
up, an upshift is recommended.
When the arrow is pointed down, a
downshift is recommended. The
number displayed with the arrow
indicates the recommended gear.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
Instruments and Controls 127
Lamp Messages
AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROL
ON/OFF
This message is displayed when the
automatic light control has been
turned on or off. SeeAutomatic
Headlamp System 0144.
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message is displayed if the
turn signal has been left on. Turn off
the turn signal.
Ride Control System
Messages
STABILITRAK
COMPETITIVE MODE
This message displays and a sound
will be heard when the Competitive
Driving mode is selected. The
instrument cluster light will be on
when the Competitive Driving mode
is selected. Launch Control is
available when this mode is
selected. The Traction Control
System (TCS) will not be operating
while in the Competitive Driving mode. Adjust your driving
accordingly. See
Competitive
Driving Mode 0205, including the
“Launch Control” information.
MAXIMUM SPEED 129 km/h
(80 MPH)
This message displays when a
malfunction is present in the
Magnetic Ride Control system. The
vehicle speed will be limited to a
value determined by the vehicle
when the shock absorber system
has failed and the shocks are in
their full soft mode. Have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer as soon as
possible.
To acknowledge the message, press
the SEL button. The message
reappears every 10 minutes until
this condition changes.
PERFORMANCE TRACTION
WET ACTIVE HANDLING ON
This message displays and a sound
will be heard when this Performance
Traction Management mode is
selected. The instrument cluster
light will also be on when this mode
is selected. Launch Control is available when this mode is
selected. In this mode the Traction
Control and Stability Control
systems are available but intended
for use on wet race track conditions.
Adjust your driving accordingly. This
mode is available only on Z06,
Grand Sport, and Stingray with FE4
–
Z51 Performance Package and
Magnetic Ride Control. See
“Performance Traction
Management” and“Launch Control”
under Competitive Driving Mode
0 205 for more information about
the use of this mode.
PERFORMANCE TRACTION
DRY ACTIVE HANDLING ON
This message displays and a sound
will be heard when this Performance
Traction Management mode is
selected. The instrument cluster
light will also be on when this mode
is selected. Launch Control is
available when this mode is
selected. In this mode the Traction
Control and Stability Control
systems are available but intended
for use on dry race track conditions.
Adjust your driving accordingly. This
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
160 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 174
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 175
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 177
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 181
Front Air Dam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Composite Materials . . . . . . . . . . 182
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Parking (Manual
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Active Fuel Management
®. . . . 188
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 189
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 194
Active Rev Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 197
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 199
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 201 Competitive Driving Mode . . . . 205
Limited-Slip Differential
(Stingray without
Z51 Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Limited-Slip Differential (Z06,
Grand Sport, and Stingray
with Z51) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Driver Assistance Systems
Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 212
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 215
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
Driving and Operating 163
Steering
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering
messages underService Vehicle
Messages 0129. See your dealer if
there is a problem.
Curve Tips
. Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
168 Driving and Operating
10. Reinstall the wheel using thespecific wheel nut torque. See
Capacities and
Specifications 0321.
If additional brake cooling is
required, the grille mesh in the lower
corners of the front grille in front of
the brake duct can be removed.
This is not reversible, and a
replacement grille will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If this is done, it is recommended
that the gap between the fascia and
the cooling duct be taped over.
Brake Burnishing
New brake pads must be burnished
before racing or other competitive
driving.
Caution
Performing the brake burnish
procedure on a base brake
system can result in brake
damage.
Caution
The new vehicle break-in period
should be completed before
performing the brake burnish
procedure, otherwise damage
may occur to the powertrain/
engine. See New Vehicle
Break-In 0181.
Caution
Brake pedal fade will occur during
any track burnish procedure and
can cause brake pedal travel and
force to increase. This could
extend stopping distance until the
brakes are fully burnished.
When this procedure is performed
as instructed, it will not damage the
brakes. The brake pads will smoke
and produce an odor. The braking
force and pedal travel may increase.
After the procedure, the brake pads
may appear white at the rotor
contact. Perform this procedure only on dry
pavement, in a safe manner, and in
compliance with all local and state
ordinances/laws regarding motor
vehicle operation.
Brake Burnish Procedure (Z51
Performance Package, Grand
Sport without Z07, and Z06
without Z07 Performance Package
or Z06 without J57 Ceramic
Brakes)
1. Apply the brakes 25 times starting at 100 km/h (60 mph) to
50 km/h (30 mph) while
decelerating at 0.4 g. This is a
medium brake application.
Drive for at least 1 km (0.6 mi)
between applying the brakes.
This first step may be skipped
if there are more than 320 km
(200 mi) on the brake pads.
2. Repeatedly apply the brakes from 100 km/h (60 mph) to
25 km/h (15 mph) while
decelerating at 0.8 g. This is a
hard brake application, without
activating the Antilock Brake
System (ABS). Drive for at
least 1 km (0.6 mi) between
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9956103) - 2017 - crc - 4/28/16
Driving and Operating 169
stops. Repeat until the brake
pedal travel starts to increase.
Depending on conditions, this
should take no longer than 25
brake applications.
3. Cool down: Drive at 100 km/h (60 mph) for approximately
15 km (10 mi) without using the
brakes.
4. Apply the brakes 25 times from 100 km/h (60 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph) while decelerating at
0.4 g. This is a medium brake
application. Drive for at least
1 km (0.6 mi) between
applications.
Street High Performance Brake
Burnishing Procedure (Grand
Sport and Z06 with Z07
Performance Package or Z06 with
J57 Ceramic Brakes) 1. From a stop, accelerate as rapidly as possible without
activating traction control to a
speed of 100 km/h (60 mph). 2. Use enough pedal force to
completely stop the vehicle in
four to five seconds. If ABS
activates, braking is too hard.
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 –50
times. This should take about
10 minutes.
4. After completing the 50 stops, cool the brakes by driving for
8 km (5 mi) at 100 km/h
(60 mph).
As with all high performance brake
systems, some amount of brake
squeal is normal.
Racing/Track Brake Burnishing
Procedure (Grand Sport, Z06 with
Z07 Performance Package, or Z06
with J57 Ceramic Brakes)
This procedure should only be run
on a track and only on dry
pavement.Caution
Brake pedal fade will occur during
this track burnish procedure and
can cause brake pedal travel and
force to increase. This could
extend stopping distance until the
brakes are fully burnished.
1. Drive a normal first lap, not too aggressively.
2. Laps 2 and 3 should be gradually driven faster and
more aggressively, while
allowing for reduced brake
output and increased stopping
distance due to brake fade.
3. Drive Lap 4 near full speed, while allowing for reduced
brake output and increased
stopping distance due to
brake fade.
4. Laps 5 and 6 should be cool down laps.
5. Lap 7 should be normal driving or an easy out lap.