2021 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8 power steering

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 9/22/20
Driving and Operating 175
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 176
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Track Events and Competitive Driving(Z51 Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Front Air Dam (and Splitter) . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Composite Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 194
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 195 Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 196
Dual Clutch Transmission
Dual Clutch Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 203
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Hill Rollback Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Front Lift System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Competitive Driving Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Limited-Slip Differential (without Z51) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Limited-Slip Differential (with Z51) . . . . . 217
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 228
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 228

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 177
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means“always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 045.
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they may do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious —or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control a
vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time. Deciding to push the brake
pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is
reaction time. Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that time, a
vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:
.Keep enough distance between you and
the vehicle in front of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops or a brake fault
occurs, the brakes may lose power assist.
More effort will be required to stop the
vehicle. It may take longer to stop.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 9/22/20
178 Driving and Operating
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.
If the steering assist is used for an extended
period of time while the vehicle is not
moving, power assist may be reduced.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the maximum rotation and is held
at that position for an extended period of
time, power steering assist may be reduced.Normal use of the power steering assist
should return when the system cools down.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Dynamic Rack Travel
If equipped with Magnetic Ride Control,
Dynamic Rack Travel (DRT) is a steering
system feature which enhances driving by
providing additional maximum steering
wheel rotation to allow a tighter turning
radius during low speed driving conditions.
If the vehicle speed increases or if the
suspension encounters significant wheel
travel, such as a driveway, while at
maximum steering rotation, DRT may gently
push the steering back a small amount to
prevent the front tires from contacting the
vehicle. This is normal operation. There is no
customer interface or display for this
feature. DRT is not available when in
Track Mode.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a curve.
.Maintain a reasonable and 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

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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192 Driving and Operating
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 07.
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) 0194.
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 0204. 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.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over and
must be turned off while driving, press and
hold ENGINE START/STOP for more than
two seconds, or press twice within
five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber Indicator Light) :
This mode allows the use of some electrical
accessories when the engine is off.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 203
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 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.
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
turned off. 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. See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light 088.
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.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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204 Driving and Operating
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
The Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can always
be applied, even if the vehicle is off. In case
of insufficient electrical power, the EPB
cannot be applied or released. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid unnecessary
repeated cycles of the EPB.The system has a red parking brake status
light and an amber service parking brake
warning light. See
Electric Parking Brake
Light 088 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light 088.
There are also parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.
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. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
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. If the amber service parking brake warning
light is on, press the EPB switch. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber service
parking brake warning light is on, see your
dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the vehicle is
moving, the vehicle will decelerate as long
as the switch is pressed. If the switch is
pressed 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, or at the request of other
safety functions that utilize the EPB.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the rear
wheels to prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the red parking
brake status light is off.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 209
pedal mapping, exhaust valve tuning, and
engine sound. My Mode will remain active
across ignition cycles.
Through the center display, the following
vehicle sub-systems may be available for
customization in this mode:
Engine Sound:Stealth, Tour, Sport, Track
Steering: Tour, Sport, Track
Suspension: Tour, Sport, Track
Brake Response: Tour, Sport, Track
For a more detailed description on how each
driver system is changed, see “Drive Mode
Customization,” later in this section.
Additionally the cluster theme can be set up
using the display menu in the cluster.
vZ-Mode : Z-Mode is used to
personalize dynamic driving. This mode
allows the driver to configure the driver
systems to their own preference for
maximum handling. Z-Mode further
enhances the experience by adding
powertrain customization. This mode
modifies pedal mapping, ESC performance,
TCS performance, suspension, steering,
exhaust valve turning, and engine sound. Through the center display, the driver can
customize multiple settings. The following
vehicle sub-systems may be available for
customization in this mode:
Engine Sound:
Stealth, Tour, Sport, Track
Steering: Tour, Sport, Track
Suspension: Tour, Sport, Track
Powertrain: Tour, Sport, Track, Weather
Brake Response: Tour, Sport, Track
PTM: Off, Wet, Dry, Sport, Race 1, Race 2
For a more detailed description on how each
driver system is changed, see “Drive Mode
Customization,” later in this section. For
more information on PTM, see “Performance
Traction Management,” later in this section.
Additionally, the cluster theme can be set
up using the display menu in the cluster.

Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 9/22/20
212 Driving and Operating
Cluster Display
Configures the gauge cluster display for
each mode when linked (default).
The Layout Display (Theme) is a preset of
Cluster Display and cannot be modified or
changed independently.
Throttle Progression
Adjusts throttle sensitivity by selecting how
quickly or slowly the throttle reacts to
input.
Throttle Progression is a preset of
Powertrain and cannot be modified or
changed independently.
Transmission Shift Operation
Basic:
.Transmission upshifts and downshifts are
selected based on vehicle speed and
accelerator position to optimize comfort
and fuel economy during mild driving
conditions.
Driver Influenced Gear Selection:
.Aggressive driving will influence both the
upshift and downshift points in all modes.
.Criteria which have influence are: driving
mode, accelerator, brakes, lateral and
longitudinal loading.
.Changes in gear selection behavior due to
aggressive driving can include:
‐ Downshifting early with higher rpm’s
during aggressive braking (i.e. entering
a corner)
‐ Altering upshifts while experiencing
lateral acceleration
‐ Not upshifting when the accelerator is
released to avoid unnecessary shifts if
the accelerator is re-applied
‐ Recognizing sporty driving and
anticipate upcoming corners with the
appropriate gear selection entering and
exiting
.Driver Modes
‐Driver influenced changes are effective
in all driving modes, however the
aggressiveness of the transmission
response will increase between Tour,
Sport, and Track Modes respectively.
Active Fuel Management (engine cylinder
shuts off)
.Normal with Dual Clutch Transmission:
The engine uses 8-cylinder mode when
accelerating, but changes to 4-cylinder
mode when coasting. Active Fuel Management is a preset of
Powertrain and cannot be modified or
changed independently.
Engine Sound
Caution
Using a stealth engine sound setting
during spirited driving will cause the
exhaust system to overheat and damage
the variable exhaust valves. Do not use
this setting when auto-crossing or driving
on high speed tracks.
If available, engine sound settings change
when the variable exhaust valves open.
Steering (Assist Effort)
Adjusts from a lighter steering feel to
reduced assist for more steering feel.
Magnetic Ride Control (if equipped)
Adjusts the shock dampening firmness based
on driving conditions to improve comfort
and performance.
Drive Mode Customization
The vehicle is equipped to modify the
following vehicle settings base on vehicle
content. Through the center stack, under