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Driving and Operating 195
Warning (Continued)
If unusual fumes are detected or if it is
suspected that exhaust is coming into the
vehicle:
.Drive it only with the windows
completely down.
.Have the vehicle repaired immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the engine
running in an enclosed area such as a
garage or a building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
{Warning
To prevent exhaust gases from entering
the vehicle and heat from damaging the
vehicle, the engine cover and all fluid fill
plugs must be secured before closing the
tonneau cover (convertible only) and
operating the vehicle. Make sure all bolts
are torqued to GM specifications.
Running the Vehicle While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine
running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine running,
follow the proper steps to be sure the
vehicle will not move. See Shifting Into Park
0 193 and
Engine Exhaust 0194.
Dual Clutch Transmission
This vehicle is equipped with a dual clutch
transmission that contains an integrated
rear differential. The dual clutch
transmission provides an extremely
connected feel due to the direct connection between the engine and gear box. This
arrangement provides very fast shift times
for maximum performance. Automatic
driving mode is selected by pulling D on the
transmission range selection panel and
provides fully automatic shifting operation
which can be further refined using driver
mode control. Upshifts may be delayed
regardless of mode selection or ambient
temperature until the engine is warmed up.
Manual operation can also be selected. See
Manual Mode later in this section.
This transmission is electronically controlled.
The shift switches are on the center console.
The selected gear position will illuminate red
on the shift switch, while all others will
display in white. The indicator on the shift
switch may flash if the shift is not
immediate or if the gear is not fully
engaged. This may occur in very cold
conditions or when Double Paddle Declutch
is used.
The transmission does not operate when the
vehicle is off.
If the vehicle is in accessory mode, the
transmission can be shifted into P (Park).
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196 Driving and Operating
If ENGINE START/STOP is pressed twice while
at a relatively high speed, the engine will
turn off and the transmission will
automatically shift into N (Neutral). Once the
vehicle is stopped, P (Park) can be selected.
P :This position locks the drive wheels. Use
P (Park) when starting the vehicle to ensure
the vehicle does not move.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle
if the vehicle is not in P (Park) with the
parking brake set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine
is running. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and shift to
P (Park). See Shifting Into Park 0193.
When the vehicle is stopped, press ENGINE
START/STOP to turn off the vehicle. The
transmission will shift into P (Park)
automatically unless N (Neutral) is selected. The vehicle will not shift into P (Park) if it is
moving too fast. Stop the vehicle and shift
into P (Park).
To shift into and out of P (Park), see
Shifting
Into Park 0193 and
Shifting out of Park 0193.
R : Use this gear to back up.
If the vehicle is shifted into R (Reverse) while
the speed is too high, the vehicle will shift
into N (Neutral). Reduce vehicle speed and
try the shift again.
To shift into R (Reverse): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Pull the R (Reverse) switch on the center console.
To shift out of R (Reverse): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift into the desired gear.
At low vehicle speeds, R (Reverse) can be
used to rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission. See If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0185. N :
In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on
the brake pedal, the vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while the engine is running at
high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with
the engine running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting the
vehicle.
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Driving and Operating 197
Caution
The vehicle is not designed to stay in
N (Neutral) for extended periods of time.
It will automatically shift into P (Park).
To shift into N (Neutral), press and hold the
N (Neutral) switch until the N indicator
is red.
To shift out of N (Neutral): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift into the desired gear.
Maintaining N (Neutral) with Engine Off
This vehicle includes a method of keeping
the vehicle in N (Neutral) while the engine
is off.
This method is not to be used for vehicle
towing. If the vehicle needs to be towed,
see Transporting a Disabled Vehicle 0293.
Driver Remains in Vehicle : To place the
vehicle in N (Neutral) with the engine off
and the vehicle occupied:
1. Ensure the vehicle is on level ground, the engine is running and the vehicle is in
P (Park). 2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Turn off the engine and release the
brake pedal.
5. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, start the engine and
repeat Steps 2–4.
6. The vehicle will now remain in N (Neutral).
Driver Leaves Vehicle : To place the vehicle
in N (Neutral) with the engine off and the
vehicle unoccupied:
1. Ensure the vehicle is on level ground, the engine is running and the vehicle is in
P (Park).
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral).
5. Turn off the engine and release the brake pedal.
6. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, start the engine and
repeat Steps 2–5.
7. Exit the vehicle and close the door. 8. The vehicle may automatically shift to
P (Park) upon re-entry.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.
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Driving and Operating 199
To exit Temporary Manual Paddle Shift
mode do one of the following:
.Hold the + paddle for more than
one second.
.Drive at a steady speed without manual
shifts or aggressive cornering for several
seconds.
.Lower vehicle speed to 6 km/h (4 mph)
or less.
While the Manual Paddle Shift system is
active, the transmission will automatically
downshift through the gears as the vehicle
slows. The transmission will select 1 (First)
gear as the vehicle stops. From a stop, the
vehicle will start from and hold 1 (First) gear
unless Manual Paddle Shifts are used to
shift into a different gear, or D (Drive) is
selected. To cause the transmission to downshift to
the lowest gear possible for the vehicle
speed, in Manual Paddle Shift or Temporary
Manual Paddle Shift mode:
.Pull and briefly hold the
−paddle. If the
paddle continues to be held as the vehicle
slows, downshifts will continue as vehicle
speed allows.
The Manual Paddle Shift system will not
upshift or downshift if vehicle speed is too
fast or too slow, and will not start from any
gear other than 1 (First) gear.
If upshifting does not occur when necessary
in Manual Paddle Shift mode, vehicle speed
is limited to protect the engine. When in
Temporary Manual Paddle Shift mode, the
transmission will automatically upshift if the
accelerator pedal is pressed all the way to
the floor. Manual Paddle Shift can be used with cruise
control. See
Cruise Control 0219.
At maximum engine speed (rpm), auto-shifts
will occur after a specified time period to
protect the engine.
The vehicle speeds required for Manual
Paddle Shift upshifts depend on several
vehicle inputs, which will vary the allowed
upshift speed by a few km/h (mph).
To prevent damage to the powertrain,
Manual Paddle downshifts cannot be
performed above certain speeds.
The vehicle speeds for allowed Manual
Paddle shifts can vary by vehicle model or
optional equipment; such as the Stingray Z51
with Electronic Limited-Slip Differential
(eLSD) differs from non-Z51 with Mechanical
Limited-Slip Differential (mLSD).
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202 Driving and Operating
Z06 (LT6)
Upshift Allowed (into gear) At Approximately
km/h mph
2nd 14 9 3rd 24 15
4th 35 22 5th 47 29
6th 60 37 7th 77 48
8th 93 58
Maximum Downshift Inhibit Speed (into gear) At Approximately
km/h mph
1st 66 41
2nd 113 69 3rd 162 101
4th 225 140 5th 303 188
6th Aero Limited Aero Limited 7th Aero Limited Aero Limited Double Paddle Declutch
Double Paddle Declutch allows the vehicle to
temporarily disconnect the engine from the
wheels, similar to N (Neutral). This feature is
activated by pulling and holding both the
+ paddle and
−paddle at the same time
while the vehicle is in R (Reverse), D (Drive),
or M (Manual Mode). The vehicle will remain
in this condition until both the + paddle and
− paddle are released. The R, D, or M
indicator on the center shift console will
flash red to indicate that the vehicle is in
Double Paddle Declutch. In addition, the
current gear state indicator in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) may change to
flashing blue to indicate that the vehicle is
in Double Paddle Declutch. To exit Double
Paddle Declutch, release both the + paddle
and −paddle. The engine will reconnect to
the wheels and the shift indicator will stop
flashing. There are two Double Paddle
Declutch exit styles:
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:
.Accelerator pedal is fully released
.Vehicle speed is above 10 km/h (6 mph)
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Driving and Operating 203
.Vehicle is in R (Reverse)
.Paddles are released separately
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.
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 if the
Traction Control System (TCS) is turned off
while performing a Rapid Exit. Rapid Exit
launch occurs when all of the following
conditions are met:
.Vehicle speed is below 10 km/h (6 mph)
.Vehicle is in D (Drive) or
M (Manual Mode)
.Both paddles 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).
Manual Launch (Z06 model only) :
While
the vehicle is in Double Paddle Declutch,
Manual Launch can be activated to gain
more precise control over the engine speed
to prepare for a Standard or Rapid Exit. To
activate this feature, first enter Double
Paddle Declutch, then release and repull
either the + paddle or −paddle while
keeping the opposite paddle held. The
Performance Transmission Active Light will
illuminate in the gauge cluster to indicate
that Manual Launch has been activated. See
Performance Transmission Active 089.
When Manual Launch is active, the engine
will respond differently when the accelerator
pedal is pressed compared to normal Double
Paddle Declutch. The accelerator pedal must
be pressed further to increase the engine
rpm and a lower engine rpm limit will be
applied. This feature also provides faster
engine response during a Rapid Exit if any
of the Performance Traction Management
(PTM) modes or Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) Off has been selected. To exit Manual Launch, release both the + paddle and
−
paddle. The vehicle will also exit Double
Paddle Declutch and the engine will
reconnect to the wheels. A Standard Exit or
Rapid Exit will be performed based on the
same conditions listed previously.
{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
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206 Driving and Operating
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.
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 thespinning 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 the vehicle
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 0219.
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 0185 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
=comes on
and stays on to indicate that the system is
inactive and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is safe to
drive, but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
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Driving and Operating 207
If=comes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
=comes on and
stays on, the vehicle may need more time
to diagnose the problem. If the condition
persists, see your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off and On
The TCS/StabiliTrak/ESC button is on the
center console.
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and release
@.
The Traction Off light
iilluminates in the
instrument cluster. To turn TCS on again,
press and release
@. The Traction Off light
idisplayed in the instrument cluster will
turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
@is
pressed, the system will not turn off until
the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC,
press and hold
@until the Traction Off
light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC OFF light@
illuminate and stay on in the instrument
cluster.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again,
press and release
@. The Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC OFF light@in the
instrument cluster turn off. If the Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
system is malfunctioning and the DIC
displays SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM,
StabiliTrak/ESC will be affected as follows:
.StabiliTrak/ESC cannot be turned off by
the driver.
.If StabiliTrak/ESC is off, it will be turned
on automatically.
.Competitive Driving Mode or Performance
Traction Management is unavailable.
.StabiliTrak/ESC will feel different in aiding
and maintaining directional control.
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0232.
For Z06 Models Only
When the convertible top is down or the
removable hard top is removed from the
vehicle and ESC is in Competitive Mode,
Performance Traction Management (PTM)
mode, or if it has been turned off, the ESC
Off light will turn off when the vehicle
exceeds 160 km/h (100 mph), indicating that
StabiliTrak/ESC is fully enabled.