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Keys, Doors, and Windows 19
Warning (Continued)
driving. When the hood is not closed, the
vehicle will not exceed 42 km/h
(26 mph). Close the hood to drive faster
than 42 km/h (26 mph).
The hood is not heavy enough to latch
under its own weight. The hood will remain
open until the striker is pushed into the
latch. Ensure the hood is fully latched before
taking the vehicle out of P (Park). 1. Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on properly, and all tools are
removed.
2. Ensure that all cargo is placed away from the emergency hood release
button.
3. Pull the hood down and set the striker gently into the latch.
4. Firmly press down on the front edge of the hood until the latch clicks twice.
5. Check that the hood is flush to the fascia to ensure the hood is fully closed. Storing Your Vehicle{Warning
The emergency hood release button
inside the underhood compartment will
not function when the battery is
disconnected or depleted. To avoid
personal injury or death, always keep the
hood fully closed and latched when
storing the vehicle. If the hood is not
latched, a person could climb into the
underhood compartment and
inadvertently close the hood. People
should never climb inside the underhood
compartment. Never shut the hood when
a person is inside.
See “Opening The Hood When There Is No
Electrical Power,” earlier in this section.
Hatch (Trunk)
{Warning
Components under the hatch, hatch
vents, and glass can get hot from running
the engine. To help avoid the risk of
burning unprotected skin, never touch
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
these components until they have cooled,
and always use a glove or towel to avoid
direct skin contact.
{Warning
Turn the vehicle off before opening the
hatch. If the engine is running with the
hatch open, you or others could be
injured.
Hatch/Trunk Release
The vehicle must be in P (Park).
{Warning
When opening or closing the hatch/trunk,
keep hands away from the closure area.
You or others could be injured.
To release the hatch/trunk:
{Warning
Vehicles equipped with a rear spoiler
have a small amount of space between
the hatch/trunk lid and the rear spoiler. (Continued)
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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56 Seats and Restraints
Warning (Continued)
Use caution if you should attempt to
restart the engine after a crash has
occurred.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate
the airbag, windshields are broken by
vehicle deformation. Additional windshield
breakage may also occur from the front
outboard passenger airbag.
.Airbags are designed to inflate only once.
After an airbag inflates, you will need
some new parts for the airbag system.
If you do not get them, the airbag
system will not be there to help protect
you in another crash. A new system will
include airbag modules and possibly other
parts. The service manual for the vehicle
covers the need to replace other parts.
.The vehicle has a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records
information after a crash. See Vehicle
Data Recording and Privacy 0328 and
Event Data Recorders 0329.
.Let only qualified technicians work on the
airbag system. Improper service can mean
that the airbag system will not work
properly. See your dealer for service.
Passenger Sensing System
The vehicle has a passenger sensing system
for the front outboard passenger position.
The passenger airbag status indicator will
light on the overhead console when the
vehicle is started.
United States
Canada and Mexico
The words ON and OFF, or the symbols for
on and off, will be visible during the system
check. When the system check is complete, either
the word ON or OFF, or the symbol for on
or off, will be visible. See
Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator 085.
The passenger sensing system turns off the
front outboard passenger frontal airbag
under certain conditions. No other airbag is
affected by the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with
sensors that are part of the front outboard
passenger seat and seat belt.
The sensors are designed to detect the
presence of a properly-seated occupant and
determine if the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag should be allowed to inflate
or not.
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly secured in a rear seat
in the correct child restraint for their weight
and size.
Rear-facing child restraints should not be
transported in the vehicle, even if the airbag
is off.
Never put a rear-facing child seat in the
front. This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag
inflates.
Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 57
{Warning
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the
passenger frontal airbag inflates. This is
because the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to the
inflating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the passenger
frontal airbag inflates and the passenger
seat is in a forward position.
Even if the passenger sensing system has
turned off the passenger frontal airbag,
no system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not inflate
under some unusual circumstance, even
though the airbag is off.
Never put a rear-facing child restraint in
the front seat, even if the airbag is off.
If securing a forward-facing child restraint
in the front outboard passenger seat,
always move the seat as far back as it
will go. It is better to secure child
restraints in the rear seat. Consider using
another vehicle to transport the child
when a rear seat is not available.The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag if:.The front outboard passenger seat is
unoccupied.
.The system determines an infant is
present in a child restraint.
.A front outboard passenger takes his/her
weight off of the seat for a period
of time.
When the passenger sensing system has
turned off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag, the OFF indicator will light
and stay lit as a reminder that the airbag is
off. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
0 85.
The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn on the front outboard passenger frontal
airbag anytime the system senses that a
person of adult size is sitting properly in the
front outboard passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing system has
allowed the airbag to be enabled, the ON
indicator will light and stay lit as a reminder
that the airbag is active.
For some children, including children in child
restraints, and for very small adults, the
passenger sensing system may or may not turn off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag, depending upon the person's
seating posture and body build. Everyone in
the vehicle who has outgrown child
restraints should wear a seat belt
properly
—whether or not there is an
airbag for that person.{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever comes
on and stays on, it means that
something may be wrong with the airbag
system. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness Light 084
for more information, including important
safety information.
If the On Indicator Is Lit for a Child
Restraint
The passenger sensing system is designed to
turn off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag if the system determines that
an infant is present in a child restraint. If a
child restraint has been installed and the ON
indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
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Seats and Restraints 61
Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster
seats should wear the vehicle’s seat belts.
Refer toHow to Wear Seat Belts Properly
0 45.
The manufacturer instructions that come
with the booster seat state the weight and
height limitations for that booster. Use a
booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until
the child passes the fit test below:
.Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the
knees bend at the seat edge? If yes,
continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
.Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the
shoulder belt rest on the shoulder? If yes,
continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
.Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the
hips, touching the thighs? If yes, continue.
If no, return to the booster seat.
.Can proper seat belt fit be maintained for
the length of the trip? If yes, continue.
If no, return to the booster seat.
Q: What is the proper way to wear seat belts?
A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder
belt and get the additional restraint a
shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder
belt should not cross the face or neck.
The lap belt should fit snugly below the
hips, just touching the top of the thighs.
This applies belt force to the child's
pelvic bones in a crash. It should never
be worn over the abdomen, which could
cause severe or even fatal internal
injuries in a crash.
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in a rear
seating position. In a crash, children who are not buckled up
can strike other people who are buckled up,
or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older
children need to use seat belts properly.
{Warning
Never allow more than one child to wear
the same seat belt. The seat belt cannot
properly spread the impact forces. In a
crash, they can be crushed together and
seriously injured. A seat belt must be
used by only one person at a time.
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Seats and Restraints 63
{Warning
Never hold an infant or a child while
riding in a vehicle. Due to crash forces, an
infant or a child will become so heavy it
is not possible to hold it during a crash.
For example, in a crash at only
40 km/h (25 mph), a 5.5 kg (12 lb) infant
will suddenly become a 110 kg (240 lb)
force on a person's arms. An infant or
child should be secured in an appropriate
child restraint.
{Warning
Children who are up against, or very
close to, any airbag when it inflates can
be seriously injured or killed. Never put a
rear-facing child restraint in the front
outboard seat. Secure a rear-facing child
restraint in a rear seat. It is also better to
secure a forward-facing child restraint in
a rear seat. If you must secure a
forward-facing child restraint in the front
outboard seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go.
Child restraints are devices used to restrain,
seat, or position children in the vehicle and
are sometimes called child seats or car seats.There are three basic types of child
restraints:
.Forward-facing child restraints
.Rear-facing child restraints
.Belt-positioning booster seats
The proper child restraint for your child
depends on their size, weight, and age, and
also on whether the child restraint is
compatible with the vehicle in which it will
be used.
For each type of child restraint, there are
many different models available. When
purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is
designed to be used in a motor vehicle and
is designed by a genuine child restraint
manufacturer. If it is, the child restraint will
have a label saying that it meets federal
motor vehicle safety standards.
The instruction manual that is provided with
the child restraint states the weight and
height limitations for that particular child
restraint. In addition, there are many kinds
of child restraints available for children with
special needs.
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64 Seats and Restraints
{Warning
To reduce the risk of neck and head
injury in a crash, infants and toddlers
should be secured in a rear-facing child
restraint until age two, or until they
reach the maximum height and weight
limits of their child restraint.
{Warning
A young child's hip bones are still so
small that the vehicle seat belt may not
remain low on the hip bones, as it
should. Instead, it may settle up around
the child's abdomen. In a crash, the belt
would apply force on a body area that is
unprotected by any bony structure. This
alone could cause serious or fatal injuries.
To reduce the risk of serious or fatal
injuries during a crash, young children
should always be secured in an
appropriate child restraint.
Child Restraint Systems
Rear-Facing Infant Restraint
A rear-facing child restraint provides
restraint with the seating surface against
the back of the infant.
The harness system holds the infant in place
and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant
positioned in the restraint.
Forward-Facing Child Restraint
A forward-facing child restraint provides
restraint for the child's body with the
harness.
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Driving and Operating 181
Shock Spring Seat Adjustment
The front shocks, on vehicles without
hydraulic front lift and rear shocks, have
threaded spring seats that allow adjustment
of the preload on the coil springs. The
vehicle corner weights can be adjusted for
track use. If the vehicle trim height is
modified, it should be returned to normal
trim height before street use.
The spring seat can be adjusted
approximately 20 mm (0.8 in) up or down
from the nominal position. Each complete
turn of the spring seat will change the
vehicle height approximately 1.5 mm
(0.06 in). When adjusting the seat to the
upper limit, lift the dust boot and ensure
the seat does not thread off the center
support tube (stop adjustment when threads
no longer visible). When adjusting the seat
to the lower limit, leave approximately
10 mm (0.4 in) of thread visible for the
lower lock nut to have full thread
engagement.
The following procedure can be complex and
should only be performed by trained
personnel. See your dealer.To adjust the lower spring seat:
1. Raise the vehicle so the tires are completely off the ground.
Front Shown, Rear Similar
2. Loosen the lower spring seat lock nut (2).
3. Thread the lower spring seat lock nut (2) downward off of the threads to its
resting location on the shoulder of the
center support tube.
4. While holding the center support tube holes, turn the spring seat (1) upward to
increase spring preload, or downward to
decrease spring preload. 5. Thread the lower lock nut (2) back on to
the center support tube and torque it
against the spring seat (1) to 25 Y
(18.4 lb ft).
Load Limit (Stingray Z51)
Limit vehicle load to the driver only, with no
other cargo. Inflate the front tires to 160 kPa
(23 psi) and the rear tires to 165 kPa (24 psi).
Drive at a maximum speed of 296 km/h
(184 mph).
Road Course target hot pressures are
220–240 kPa (32–35 psi). Value will vary
based on driving style, track, temperature,
and weather conditions. See Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation 0279 for high speed
non-track use.
Load Limit (Z06)
Tracks with Combined High-Speed and
High-Load Corners
(e.g., Nurburgring Nordschliefe, Spa
Francorchamps, or similar)
Limit the vehicle to the driver and one
passenger, with no additional cargo.
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186 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
overheat, causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the wheels as
little as possible and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to
clear the area around the front wheels. Turn
off any traction system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. To
prevent transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward and
reverse directions causes a rocking motion
that could free the vehicle. If that does not
get the vehicle out after a few tries, it may
need to be towed out. If the vehicle does
need to be towed out, seeTransporting a
Disabled Vehicle 0293.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how much
weight the vehicle can carry. This
weight is called the vehicle capacity
weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options. Two labels
on the vehicle may show how much
weight it may properly carry: the Tire
and Loading Information label and the
Certification label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any heavier
than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the maximum
front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). This can cause
systems to break and change the
way the vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a crash.
Overloading can also reduce stopping
performance, damage the tires, and
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Tire and Loading
Information label is attached to the
center pillar (B-pillar). This label shows
the number of occupant seating
positions (1), and the maximum vehicle
capacity weight (2) in kilograms and
pounds.
The Tire and Loading Information label
also shows the size of the original
equipment tires (3) and the
recommended cold tire inflation