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216 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you
and others:. Dispense fuel only into
approved containers.
. Do not fill a container while
it is inside a vehicle, in a
vehicle's trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than
the ground.
. Bring the fill nozzle in
contact with the inside of
the fill opening before
operating the nozzle.
Contact should be
maintained until the filling is
complete.
. Do not smoke while
pumping fuel.
. Avoid using electronic
devices.
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
{Warning
Never tow a trailer with your
vehicle. It was not designed or
intended to tow a trailer.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0113.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
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218 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 219
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 220
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 237
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 239
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 239
Cooling System (Engine) . . . . . 242
Cooling System (Aero Panel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 Cooling System (Intercooler on
LT4 and LT5 Engines) . . . . . . . 247
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 247
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Battery - North America . . . . . . 251
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 253
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 254
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 254
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 255
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 257
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 258
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Competition Oriented Tires . . . 268
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 269
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
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Vehicle Care 219
Wheel Alignment and TireBalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 284
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
{Warning
Most motor vehicles, including
this one, as well as many of its
service parts and fluids, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and
systems, many fluids, and some
component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0251
and Jump Starting - North America
0 295 and the back cover.
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220 Vehicle Care
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.Damage to suspension components
caused by modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 083.
Lifting the Vehicle
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle can cause an
injury. The vehicle can slip off the
jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be
badly injured. Find a level place
to lift your vehicle. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatictransmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the
vehicle will not move, put blocks
in front of and behind the wheels.
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Vehicle Care 221
{Warning
Getting under a vehicle when it is
lifted on a jack is dangerous.
If the vehicle slips off the jack,
you could be badly injured or
killed. Never get under a vehicle
when it is supported only by
a jack.
{Warning
Raising the vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle or the vehicle
may fall and cause injury to you
or others.
If a jack is used to lift the vehicle,
follow the instructions that came
with the jack, and be sure to use the
correct lifting points to avoid
damaging the vehicle.
Caution
Lifting the vehicle improperly can
damage it and result in costly
repairs not covered by the vehicle
warranty. To lift the vehicle
properly and prevent vehicle
damage: . Be sure to place a block or
pad between the jack and
the vehicle.
. Lift only in the areas shown
in the following illustrations.
For additional information, see
your dealer and the Chevrolet
Corvette service manual.
Caution
The front jack pads must not
contact the rocker panels, the
front fenders, or the floor pan.
If they do, damage may occur.
Lifting from the Front –Cradle
The front lifting points can be
accessed from either side of the
vehicle, behind the front tires.
1. Locate the front lifting points.
2. Place a block or pad between the jack and the vehicle.
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Vehicle Care 223
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have
the proper knowledge, service
manual, tools, or parts. Always
follow owner’s manual procedures
and consult the service manual
for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see
Publication Ordering Information
0 339. This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 083.
If equipped with remote vehicle
start, open the hood before
performing any service work to
prevent remote starting the vehicle
accidentally. See Remote Vehicle
Start 033.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0324.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release lever
inside the vehicle. It is below
the instrument panel on the
driver side.
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232 Vehicle Care
1. Engine Oil Dipstick. See“Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0232.
2. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank Fill Cap. See “Changing Engine Oil
and Filter” Engine Oil 0232.
3. Passenger Compartment Air
Filter 0155 (Out of View).
4. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
See Cooling System (Engine)
0 242 orCooling System (Aero
Panel) 0246 orCooling
System (Intercooler on LT4 and
LT5 Engines) 0247.
5. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0259.
6. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0239.
7. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View).
See Cooling System (Engine)
0 242 orCooling System (Aero
Panel) 0246 orCooling
System (Intercooler on LT4 and
LT5 Engines) 0247.
8. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0250. 9. Clutch Master Cylinder
Reservoir (If Equipped). See
Hydraulic Clutch 0239.
10. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 248.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0237. .
Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil (Except
ZR1, Z06, Grand Sport, and
Stingray with Z51)
If the ENGINE OIL LOW–ADD OIL
message displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), check the
engine oil level right away.
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially
prior to a long trip. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0225 for the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.
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234 Vehicle Care
Checking Engine Oil (ZR1, Z06,
Grand Sport, and Stingray
with Z51)
1. Engine Oil Dipstick
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a
loop. The dipstick is located on the
dry sump engine oil tank. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0225 for the location of the dry
sump engine oil tank. These vehicles have a
racetrack-ready dry sump engine
lubrication system. This high
performance system operates
differently than a standard engine
lubrication system and requires a
special procedure when checking
the engine oil level. Follow this
procedure closely.
The engine oil level must be
checked when the engine is warm.
Cold oil level in the dry sump tank
may not indicate the actual amount
of oil in the system. With this
system, engine oil is contained in an
external tank, separate from the
engine. Under normal operating
conditions, the oil pan under the
engine does not store any oil. If the
vehicle has been parked for an
extended period without the engine
being started, some oil will seep
back into the oil pan, reducing the
amount of oil held in the dry sump
tank and there could be no engine
oil at all showing on the dipstick.
This is normal since the dipstick is
designed to read the engine oil level
only after the engine has run long
enough to reach normal operatingtemperature. Do not add engine oil
based on cold engine dipstick
readings. The engine oil level on the
dipstick will also be inaccurate if
checked while the engine is running.
1. To obtain an accurate engine oil level reading, warm up the
engine to at least 80 °C (175 °
F). Cold oil will not give a
correct oil level reading.
2. Once the engine is warm, turn off the engine. Checking the oil
while the engine is running will
result in an incorrect oil level
reading.
3. Check the oil level between five and 10 minutes after the
engine is shut down.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.