Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/21
Vehicle Care 247
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine parts can
burn you. Coolant contains ethylene
glycol and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system are under pressure.
Turning the pressure cap, even a little,
can cause them to come out at high
speed and you could be burned. Never
turn the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap
to cool.
If coolant is needed, be sure the cooling
system is cool, then add the proper
DEX-COOL coolant mixture directly to the
surge tank. 1. Open the Hatch/Trunk. See Hatch (Trunk)
0 19.
2. When the cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap and
engine, is no longer hot, remove the
pressure cap.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one-quarter turn
and then stop.
If a hiss is heard, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
3. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it.
4. Fill the coolant surge tank with theproper mixture until the level inside
stabilizes at the COLD FILL indicator in
the surge tank.
5. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the engine and let it run until
the engine is hot.
By this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If the
level is lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge tank until
the level stabilizes at the COLD FILL
indicator in the coolant surge tank.
6. Replace the pressure cap tightly.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/21
248 Vehicle Care
7. Verify coolant level after the engine isshut off and the coolant is cold.
If necessary, repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 3−7.
If the coolant still is not at the proper
level when the system cools down again,
see your dealer.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and
tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators to warn of
engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant temperature
gauge on the instrument cluster. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge 084. The
vehicle may also display a message on the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
If the decision is made not to lift the hatch
but to get service help right away, see
Roadside Assistance Program 0311.
If the decision is made to lift the hatch,
make sure the vehicle is parked on a level
surface. Then check to see if the engine cooling fans
are running. There are two cooling fans
located in the front (one at each corner) and
two cooling fans in the rear (one on each
side of the engine). If the engine is
overheating, the fans should be running.
If they are not, do not continue to run the
engine, and have the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a leak
in the engine cooling system. This can
cause a loss of all coolant and can
damage the system and vehicle. Have
any leaks fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from the Engine
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system are under pressure.
Turning the pressure cap, even a little,
can cause them to come out at high
speed and you could be burned. Never
turn the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap
to cool.
If Steam Is Coming from the Engine
Compartment with no Overheat Warning
Water from rain and car washes could enter
the engine compartment and contact hot
surfaces. If steam is coming from the engine
compartment with no accompanying
overheat warning, no service is needed.
If No Steam Is Coming from the Engine
If an engine overheat warning is displayed
but no steam can be seen or heard, the
problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
.Stops after high-speed driving.
.Idles for long periods in traffic.
If the overheat warning is displayed with no
sign of steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest fan
speed. Open the windows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral), and
let the engine idle.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/21
Vehicle Care 249
If the engine coolant temperature gauge is
no longer in the shaded area or an overheat
warning no longer displays, the vehicle can
be driven. Continue to drive the vehicle
slowly for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in front.
If the warning does not come back on,
continue to drive normally and have the
cooling system checked for proper fill and
function.
If the warning continues, pull over safely,
and park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the engine
for three minutes while parked. If the
warning is still displayed, turn off the
engine until it cools down.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When the vehicle needs windshield washer
fluid, be sure to read the manufacturer
instructions before use. If the vehicle will be
operating in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
1. Open the hood. SeeHood017.
2. Open the cap with the washer symbol
on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid that contains
any type of water repellent coating.
This can cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
.Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze)
in the windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield washer system
and paint.
.Do not mix water with ready-to-use
washer fluid. Water can cause the
solution to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other parts of
the washer system.
.When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer instructions
for adding water.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for fluid expansion if
freezing occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake linings have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake linings are worn and
new linings are needed. The sound can come
and go or can be heard all the time when
the vehicle is moving, except when applying
the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound means
that soon the brakes will not work well.
That could lead to a crash. When the
brake wear warning sound is heard, have
the vehicle serviced.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/21
252 Vehicle Care
{Warning
WARNING:Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Batteries also contain other chemicals
known to the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING.
For more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition 65 Warning 0231
and the back cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. See Jump
Starting - North America 0278 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Some vehicles have a battery maintainer
package. Follow the instructions provided
with the battery maintainer package to keep
the battery charged when the vehicle is not
in use. Plug the battery maintainer into the
underhood accessory power outlet only.
For vehicles without a battery maintainer,
see the following information:
Infrequent Usage: Remove the black,
negative (−) cable from the battery to keep
the battery from running down.
See “Window Indexing” underPower
Windows 029.
Extended Storage: It is recommended that
the battery maintainer package be used.
However, if not, remove the black, negative (−) cable from the battery. All
vehicle memory settings will need to be
reset when battery power is restored.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check, the
vehicle could begin to move. You or
others could be injured and property
could be damaged. Make sure there is
room in front of the vehicle in case it
begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle
facing downhill. Keeping your foot on the
regular brake, set the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's holding
ability: With the engine running and the
transmission in N (Neutral), slowly remove
foot pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by
the parking brake only.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/21
Vehicle Care 253
.To check the P (Park) mechanism's holding
ability: With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the parking brake
followed by the regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected
for wear and cracking.
Replacement blades come in different types
and are removed in different ways. For
proper type and length, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts 0302.
To replace the windshield wiper blade: 1. Pull the windshield wiper assembly away from the windshield.
2. Lift up on the latch in the middle of thewiper blade where the wiper arm
attaches.
3. With the latch open, pull the wiper blade down toward the windshield far enough
to release it from the J-hooked end of
the wiper arm.
4. Remove the wiper blade. Allowing the wiper blade arm to touch
the windshield when no wiper blade is
installed could damage the windshield.
Any damage that occurs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not
allow the wiper blade arm to touch the
windshield. 5. Reverse Steps 1–3 for wiper blade
replacement.
Windshield Replacement
HUD System
The windshield is part of the HUD system.
If the windshield needs to be replaced, be
sure to get one that is designed for HUD or
the HUD image may look out of focus.
Driver Assistance Systems
If the windshield needs to be replaced and
the vehicle is equipped with a front camera
sensor for the Driver Assistance Systems, a
GM replacement windshield is
recommended. The replacement windshield
must be installed according to GM
specifications for proper alignment. If it is
not, these systems may not work properly,
they may display messages, or they may
not work at all. See your dealer for proper
windshield replacement.
Acoustic Windshield
The vehicle is equipped with an acoustic
windshield. If the windshield needs to be
replaced be sure to get an acoustic
windshield so you will continue to have the
benefits an acoustic windshield can provide.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/21
260 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
10 Engine control module/ Air conditioning
11 –
12 Lithium ion battery module
13 Active fuel management
14 Seat fan 15 –
16 Exterior lighting module 17 Instrument panel cluster/Shifter interface
board/Transmission
control module/
Electronic brake control
module
18 Engine control module
19 –
20 Sensing and diagnostic module/Inside rear view
mirror
21 Exhaust valve solenoid
22 Fuel pump/Fuel tank zone module Fuses
Usage
23 Tonneau left
24 Tonneau right 25 Convertible top right
26 Convertible top left 27 Electronic suspension control
28 –
29 CGM
30 O2 sensor 31 O2 sensor/Engine oil/ Canister purge/Active
fuel management
32 Ignition even
33 Ignition odd
34 Engine control module 1 35 Engine control module/ Mass air flow Sensor/
O2 sensor/Air
conditioning
36 –
37 Canister vent
38 Latch control module Fuses
Usage
39 Right window switch/ Door lock
40 Left window switch/ Door lock
41 –
42 Engine control module 2
43 –
44 Air conditioning clutch 45 –
46 –
47 –
48 –
49 Auxiliary cooling fan right
50 –
51 –
52 –
53 Starter solenoid
54 Auxiliary cooling fan left
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/21
Vehicle Care 265
(1) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:The
United States version of a metric tire
sizing system. The letter "P" as the first
character in the tire size means a
passenger vehicle tire engineered to
standards set by the U.S. Tire and Rim
Association.
(2) Tire Width
:The 3-digit number
indicates the tire section width in
millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
(3) Aspect Ratio
:A 2-digit number that
indicates the tire height-to-width
measurements. For example, if the tire
size aspect ratio is 75, as shown in
item (3) of the illustration, it would
mean that the tire's sidewall is
75 percent as high as it is wide.
(4) Construction Code
:A letter code is
used to indicate the type of ply
construction in the tire. The letter "R"
means radial ply construction; the letter
"D" means diagonal or bias ply
construction.
(5) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of the
wheel in inches. (6) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load index and
speed rating of the tire. The load index
represents the load carrying capacity a
tire is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a tire is
certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air inside
the tire pressing outward on each
square inch of the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in kPa (kilopascal) or psi
(pounds per square inch).
Accessory Weight
:The combined
weight of optional accessories. Some
examples of optional accessories are
automatic transmission, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship of a
tire's height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of cords
between the plies and the tread. Cords
may be made from steel or other
reinforcing materials. Bead
:The tire bead contains steel
wires wrapped by steel cords that hold
the tire onto the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire in which
the plies are laid at alternate angles
less than 90 degrees to the centerline
of the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The amount of air
pressure in a tire, measured in kPa
(kilopascal) or psi (pounds per square
inch) before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See Tire Pressure0267.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a motor
vehicle with standard and optional
equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, but
without passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings
:A code molded into the
sidewall of a tire signifying that the tire
is in compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The
DOT code includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14622938) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/21
Vehicle Care 281
11. Now connect the black negative (−) cableto the negative (−) terminal (3) of the
good battery.
Do not let the other end touch anything
until the next step.
12. Connect the other end of the negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal (1)
on the dead battery.
13. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for a while.
14. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If it will not start after a
few tries, it probably needs service.
Caution
If the jumper cables are connected or
removed in the wrong order, electrical
shorting may occur and damage the
vehicle. The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Always connect
and remove the jumper cables in the
correct order, making sure that the cables
do not touch each other or other metal.
Jumper Cable Removal
Reverse the sequence exactly when
removing the jumper cables. After starting the disabled vehicle and
removing the jumper cables, allow it to idle
for several minutes.
The power windows may need to be
initialized. See
“Window Indexing” under
Power Windows 029.
Towing the Vehicle
Caution
Incorrectly towing a disabled vehicle may
cause damage. The damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not
lash or hook to suspension components.
Use the proper straps around the tires to
secure the vehicle. Do not drag a locked
wheel/tire. Use tire skates or dollies
under any locked wheel/tire while
loading the vehicle. Do not use a sling
type lift to tow the vehicle. This could
damage the vehicle.
GM recommends a flatbed tow truck to
transport a disabled vehicle. Use ramps to
help reduce approach angles, if necessary.
A towed vehicle should have its drive wheels
off the ground. If the disabled vehicle must
be towed, and is covered by GM and/or OnStar roadside benefits, contact Roadside
Assistance. Otherwise contact a professional
towing service.
If equipped, the Front Lift System can be
raised with the engine off. With the vehicle
in ACC/ACCESSORY and the doors closed,
press and hold the Front Lift System button
for 10 seconds. See
Front Lift System0214.
After the vehicle is loaded, the front can be
lowered by pressing the Front Lift System
button again with the doors closed.
Using the Tow Eye
Caution
Improper use of the tow eye can damage
the vehicle. If equipped, use the tow eye
to load a disabled vehicle onto a flatbed
tow truck from a flat road surface, or to
move the vehicle a short distance. Use
caution and low speeds. The transmission
must be in (N) Neutral when moving the
vehicle.
The vehicle may be equipped with a tow
eye that can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a flatbed car carrier from a flat road
surface. Do not use the tow eye to pull the
vehicle from snow, mud, or sand.