Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 157
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Caution
Driving through deep puddles or
standing water can cause water
to come in through the engine air
intake and damage the engine.
If deep puddles or standing water
cannot be avoided, proceed with
caution and do not exceed 8 km/h
(5 mph). Do not drive through
water that may come close to or
cover the vehicle’s underbody.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
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. See Tires0245.
. 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 include:
.When driving downhill in D
(Drive), the vehicle may
automatically downshift to assist
with speed control.
. A lower gear may also be
selected to provide further speed
control.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
158 Driving and Operating
{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
loss of steering assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line. .
Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, crash).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0182. .
The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0179.
. Allow greater following distance
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.
. Turn on Weather Mode. See
Driver Mode Control 0184.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 165
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic
keyless ignition with pushbutton
start.
The remote key must be in the
vehicle for the system to operate.
If the pushbutton start is not
working, the vehicle may be near a
strong radio antenna signal causing
interference to the Keyless Access
system. SeeRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation 09.
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be turned on and the brake
pedal must be applied. Stopping the Engine/OFF (No
Indicator Lights) :
When the
vehicle is stopped, press ENGINE
START/STOP 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) 0168.
If the vehicle is in R (Reverse), D
(Drive), or M (Manual Mode), the
vehicle will shift to P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and RAP will
remain active.
If the vehicle is in N (Neutral), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the
message SHIFT TO PARK in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
When the vehicle is shifted into
P (Park), the ignition will turn off.
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 turned 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 into N (Neutral). This can be done while the vehicle is
moving. After shifting into
N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shift into P (Park).
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake 0179.
Press ENGINE START/STOP
to turn the vehicle off.
{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.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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174 Driving and Operating
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the transmission fluid is
too hot. Driving under this
condition can damage the vehicle.
Stop and idle the engine to cool
the transmission fluid. This
message clears when the
transmission fluid has cooled
sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is needed for
passing, press the accelerator
pedal.
If the vehicle is shifted into D (Drive)
while the speed is too high, the
transmission will get ready to
engage D (Drive). Reduce the
vehicle speed, then the
transmission will engage D (Drive).
To shift into D (Drive):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the D (Drive) switch on the center console. To shift out of D (Drive):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”under
Loss of Control 0150.
The transmission can be shifted like
a manual transmission using the
paddle shift controls while in D
(Drive). See Manual Mode 0174.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If the vehicle
is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.
Manual Mode
Manual Paddle Shift
With the transmission in D (Drive),
press the M (Manual Mode) switch
on the center console to enter
Manual Mode. Use the paddles on
the steering wheel to manually
upshift or downshift the
transmission. The right + (plus)
paddle upshifts, and the left
−(minus) paddle downshifts.
When using the Manual Paddle
Shift feature, the current gear will be
displayed in the instrument cluster
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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178 Driving and Operating
Rapid Exit :This is intended for
use at a closed course race track
and not on public roads. Engine
power is reapplied to the wheels
quickly to support spirited driving.
The rate of launch is dependent on
how much the accelerator pedal is
pressed when the paddles are
released: The further the accelerator
pedal is pressed, the greater the
rate of launch. Tire spin may occur
with the accelerator pedal pressed
and the Traction Control System
(TCS) turned off.
This launch occurs when both of
these conditions are met:
. Vehicle speed is below
10 km/h (6 mph).
. Both the + paddle and −paddle
are released at the same time.
With the accelerator fully pressed
and the engine at the rev limiter,
peak performance only occurs if the
paddles are released within a short
period of time after reaching the rev
limit (i.e., a few seconds). Standard Exit :
Engine power is
reapplied to the wheels gently to
support normal vehicle operation on
public roads.
This occurs when paddles are
released under any of the these
conditions:
. Vehicle speed is above
10 km/h (6 mph).
. The vehicle is in R (Reverse).
. The + paddle and −paddle are
not released at the same time.
If the vehicle was in Temporary
Manual Paddle Shift mode before
entering Double Paddle Declutch,
the vehicle will return to D (Drive)
with automatic shifting upon exiting
Double Paddle Declutch.
{Warning
When exiting Double Paddle
Declutch, the vehicle may move
rapidly. You could lose control
and cause a crash with nearby
people or objects. Be ready to (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
release the accelerator pedal or
apply the brakes immediately if
the vehicle moves too quickly. Do
not use the Double Paddle
Declutch when people or objects
are near.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 179
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost
Vehicles equipped with electric
brake boost have hydraulic brake
circuits that are electronically
controlled when the brake pedal is
applied during normal operation.
The system performs routine tests
and turns off within a few minutes
after the vehicle is shutdown. Noise
may be heard during this time. If the
brake pedal is pressed during the
tests or when the electric brake
boost system is off, a noticeable
change in pedal force and travel
may be felt. This is normal.
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
helps prevent a braking skid and
maintain steering while
braking hard.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 105.
ABS does not change the time
needed to get a foot on the brake
pedal and does not always
decrease stopping distance. If you
get too close to the vehicle ahead,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room ahead to stop,
even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly.
Hearing and feeling ABS operate is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at
the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
even more than braking.
Electric Parking Brake
If equipped, the Electric Parking
Brake (EPB) can always be
activated, even if the ignition is off.
To prevent draining the battery,
avoid repeated cycles of the EPB
system when the engine is not
running.
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Driving and Operating 181
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.
Brake Assist
Brake Assist detects rapid brake
pedal applications due to
emergency braking situations and
provides additional braking to
activate the Antilock Brake System
(ABS) if the brake pedal is not
pushed hard enough to activate
ABS normally. Minor noise, brake
pedal pulsation, and/or pedal
movement during this time may
occur. Continue to apply the brake
pedal as the driving situation
dictates. Brake Assist disengages
when the brake pedal is released.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature.
HSA does not replace the need to
pay attention and drive safely.
You may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by this system.
Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. See
Defensive Driving0147.
When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA)
prevents the vehicle from rolling in
an unintended direction during the
transition from brake pedal release
to accelerator pedal apply. The
brakes release when the accelerator
pedal is applied. If the accelerator
pedal is not applied within a few
minutes, the Electric Parking Brake
will apply. The brakes may also
release under other conditions. Do
not rely on HSA to hold the vehicle. HSA is available when the vehicle is
facing uphill in a forward gear,
or when facing downhill in
R (Reverse). The vehicle must
come to a complete stop on a grade
for HSA to activate.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12470550) - 2020 - CRC - 4/23/20
182 Driving and Operating
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and a StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
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/ESC activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of thevehicle 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 0196.
If the driver disables TCS, cruise
control will disengage. Cruise
control will also be disabled if
Performance Traction Management
(PTM) is selected, or if StabiliTrak is
turned off.
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.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0159
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.
Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin
. Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is
activated
. Flash when ABS is active
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in