1993 Chevrolet Corvette Owners Manual

and signals. They give information to drivers without iaking attention from the roadway. A solid yellow line on your side of the road or lane means Don't Cross.

Your Own Signals Drivers -signal to other.s, too. It's not only more polite.,. it's safer to let other drivers 1mow what-you are doing-. And in some' places the law requires driver signals: Turn and Lane Change Signals: Always signal when you plan to turn or .change lanes. If neces-ssary, you can use hand signals out the window: Left arm straight out 'for a left turn, down for slow :or about- to-stop, and up for .a right turn. Sl6bing Down: If time allows, tap the brake pedal once or twice in advance. of slowing or stopping. This warns the driver behind you. Disabled Your four-wtiy flashers signal that. your vehicle is disabled or is a hazard. See the h d e x under Hazard Warning Flashers. Traffic Officer The traffic police officer is also a source of important information The officer's signals govern, no matter what the traffic lights or othersigns say. The next section discusses some of the road conditions you may encounter.

Your Driving and the Road

Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your Corvette: Buckle up. (See the Index under Safety Belts,) Defensive driving r e d y means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads, or freeways, it ‘means “always expect the unexpected.“’ Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be, careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their mistakes. Expect children to dash out from behind parked cars, often followed by other children. Expect occupants in parked cars to open doors into traffic. Watch for movement in parked cars- someone may be about to open a door.

Expect other drivers to run stop signs when you are on a through street. Be ready to brake if necessary as you gd through intersections. You may not have to use the brake, but if you do, you will be ready. If you’re driving through a shopping center parking lot where there are well- marked lanes, dectional arrows, and designated parking areas, expect some drivers to ignore all these makings and dash straight toward one part of the ,lot. Pedestrians can be careless. Watch for them. In general, you must give way to pedestrians even if you lmow you have the right of way. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive driving

maneuver, in both. city-and rural driving. You never kmw.when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly. Here’s a final bit of information about defensive driving. The most dangerous time for driving in the U.S . is very early on Sunday morning, In fact, GM Research studies show that the most and the least dangerous times for driving, every week, fall on the same day. That day is Sunday. The most dangerous time is Sunday from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. The safest time is Sunday &om 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Driving the same distance on a Sunday at 3 a.m. isn’t just a little more dangerous than it is at 10 am. It’s about 134 times more dangerous! That leads to the next section.

I68

1 1 1

Your Driving and the Road

shows that the driving slrills of many people are impaired at a BAG approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in an accident increases- sharply for drivers who have a BAG of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent (three beers in one hour for a 180-pound or 82 kg person) has doubled his or her chance of having an accident. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of that driver having an accident is six times greater; at a level of 0.15 pexent, the chances are twenty-five times greater! And, the body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up.

Drunken Driving (cam) The law in most U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In Canada the limit is 0.08 percent, and in some other countries it’s lower than that. The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour). I70

”

. . I

Of course, as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them. But it’s very important to keep in mind that the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research

Your Driving and the Road

Braking Braking action involves perception time .and reaction: time. First, you have.to .decide to push on the br&i pedal. That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time. Average reaction time .is about 3/4 -of, a second. But that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver and- as long as two or three seconds or mQre with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 W h ) travels 66 feet (21) m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important.

And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or gravel) ; the conditian uf the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; arid the. condition of your brakes. Most drivers;treat.their brakes with care. Some, however, overwarlc the braking system with poor driving habits.

. Avoid needless heavy braking. Some

people. drive in spurts-heavy acceleration followed. by heavy braking-rather- than lreeping pace with traffic, This.is a mistake. Your brakes may not have h e to cool between hard.stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking.

Don’t “ride” the brakes by letting your left foot rest lightly on the hake pedal while driving.

I“ L

cause them to overheat $u:,~&e

A,, “Riding” yom brakes. can

allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking and longer brake life.

. If you keep pace with the traffic and

Anti-L~ck Brakes (ABS) Your Corvette has an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent skidding. This light on the instrument panel will go on when you start your vehicle. See the Index under Anti-Lock Brake System Light.

point that they.won’t work well. You might not be able to-stop .your vehicle in time -to avoid an accident. If you “ride” your bides,. they w3’i get, suhot they :direquire a b t of pedal force to slow you down. Avoid “riding” the’brakes.

If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake normally but don’t pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine stops, you wilI still have some power brake assist. But you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it may take Homgez ta stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.

I N o T I c E

Your Driving and the Road

Anfi-Lock Brakes (CONT.) Here's haw anti-lock works. Let's say the road is wet. You're driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in front of ,you. You slam on the brakes. ,Here's what happens with ABS . A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. The computer separately works the brakesat each front wheel and at the .rear wheels.

The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire alid road conditions.

You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard. As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed a d controls braking pressure accordingly. CAUTION

e 74

L .

P

TO Use Anti-L.ock: Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal downand let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the brake pedal vibrate, or you -may notice some noise, but thi.s is normal.

When the ABS is active, the A B S ACTIVE light- conies on to-indicate luw traction conditions. Adjust your -driving accordingly. When you start your vehicle and begin to drive away, you may hear a momentary motsr Qr .clicking, noise-and you. m y even notice that, yow bmke pedd -moves a little while this is going on. This is the ABS test-ing itself. You- may also hear and feel this durihg a hard stop.

Corvette ASR (Acceleration SIip R.egulati0.n) System Yo& vehicle has an ASR system that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road conditions. The ASR system works at all speeds. It limits wheel spin by reducing englne torque by cLusing the throttle and managing sp'ark and .applyiag the rear brakes. You may €&el the system working., .or you may notice some noise, but this is normal.

Your Driving and the Road

Corvette ASR System (CONT.) The ASR system comes on when the ignition is -turned on and operates at all speeds. When your ASR system is operating, the ASR ACTIVE indicator on the Driver Information Center (DIC) will come on. It indicates the system has detected excess wheel slip, like the conditions found on slippery-roads. Also, when ASR is active, the cruise control will be automaticaIly turned off

The SERVICE ASR warning light lets you know when there is a problem with your ASR system. When this light is on, you have no-automatic wheel spin protection. Adjust your driving accordingly, See the Index under Service ASR Light..

Turning the ASR System Off To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you should always leave your ASR. system on. But you can turn the ASR system off if you ever need to. ASR OFF means the controller is passive, but still monitoring wheel speed informauon.

i

T"

$"'

To turn the system off, press the button located above the headlight switch. The ASR OFFlight will come on and stay on. If you are driving and push the ASR OFF button, the ASR system will not be turned off until the rear wheels stabilize with the front wheels. Any time the ASR system is off, it can be switched. on again. The ASR OFF light should go off. The ASR system automatically comes on whenever you start your vehicle. NOTE: When ASR is active the cruise CQntrOl will go off.

Disc Brake Wear lndicators Your Corvette has four-wheel disc brakes. Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a high- pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come and go or be heard aIl the time your vehicle is moving (except when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly).

Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly applied. This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes. Brake linings should always be replaced as complete axle sets.

Your Driving and the Road

- -

Brake Pedal Travel See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to normal height, Qr if there is a rapid- increase in pedal travel. This couid be a sign of brake trouble

Brake Adjustment AS you make brake stops, your disc brakes automatically adjust .for wear.

, .. .

Braking In Emergencies Use your .anti-lock braking system when you-need to. With,anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time.. In many.emagencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking;.

178

Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system fails to function, you c-an steer but it will take much more effort.

i.

steering Tips-Dtiving on Curves It's important to tale curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the "driver lost control" accidents mentioned on. the news happen on .curves. .Here's why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on'curves; The.;traction of the tixes against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If yuu"ve mer tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice> you:U understand this.

The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tizies and the road surface, the angle at which the-curve is banked, and your speed, While you're in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control. Suppose you're steering through. a. sharp a.xve. Then you suddenly acwlerate. If excess wheel spin is detected, ASR will reduce erigine torque to the wheels. Lf your ASR system is off, those two control systems-steering and acceleration-can ovGrwhelm those i places where-the tires meet the road and make you lose control. 1 What should you do if this ever happens? Let up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down.

r" i

'4

f - / _

t-

Your Driving and the Road

Steering Tips-Driving on Curves (CONT.) Speed limit signs near curves warm that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your hont wheels are straight ahead. Try to adjust your speed so you can Wive” through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway. When you drive into a curve at night, it’s harder to see the road ahead of you because it bends away from the straight beams of your lights. This is one good reason to drive slower. I80

’

. . I

Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out €ram nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by braking-if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room. That’s the time for evasive action-steering around the problem. Your Corvette can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the

problem, to the left or right depending on the space available. An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object. You must then be prepared to steer back to your original lane and then brake to a controlled stop. Depending on your speed, this can be rather violent for an unprepared driver. This is one of the reasons driving experts recommend that you use your safety belts and keep both hands on the steering wheel. The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times.

T

,+ I r.

Ofl-Road .Recovery You may h d sometime that your right wheels bave dropped 08 the edge of-a road mtwthe &odder while you’re driving. ff- the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that. your%Wde straddles the edge of. the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to ‘h turn until theight. front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your stetking wheel to go straight d m the rcradway. If the- shoulder appears to be about four inches (100 mm) or more below the pavement,. this difference.cm cause

problems. If there is not boough room to pull entirely onto the shoulder and stgp, then fdbw the same procedures. But if the riglit €rant tire scrubs against the side. af the pavement, do not skstr too much steering- more.sharplyy. With angle, the vehicle may jump back o ~ t o the road with so much steering input that it-cmsses over into the oncoming ,before you can bring it back tr&c under control.. ;Instead, ease off again an the? accelerator and steeping input, straddle the pavement once more, then try again.

row urlvrng ana tne noaa

PaSShg (COW.) Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, -and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates -it’s all right to pass, (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on.your side of the lane or a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic. * If you suspect that the- driver of the vehicle you want to. pass isn’t .aware of-your presence, tap the horn a couple of times before. passing. Do not.get too close- to the vehicle you want to pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following tQo closely reduces your area of vision, especi-ally if you’re following a larger vehicle. Also, you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ,ahead suddenly slows dr stops. Keep back a- reasonable distance.

I 82

‘

When it 1cr.oks like a chance to:pass is .doming up, start to-accelerate but stay in the- right lane and don’t -get- too close. Time your move so, you will be increasing speed as’the time comes to move into the other lane.3 the. way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start’” that more than makes up f i x the distance you would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to Cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity. If other vehicles .are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But: take care that someone- isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance, over your shoulder andxheck the blind spot.

Check your mirr-ors, glance over your shoulder, aad start your left lane change-,signal before ,moving aut of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the. passed vehicle to see-its front in your inside mirror, activate.your right lane ,change signal and move back into the right lane; (Remember that-your right 0-utside mirror is-convex. The vehicle you just passed ‘may seem to be farther away+from you than it redly is.) Try n0t.t.o pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle. Don’t overtake a slowly .m,oving .vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lights. are not flashing, it may be slowing dawn or starting to turn. If you’re- being passed, make it easy for the following. driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease. a little to the right;

Loss. of Control Let’s review what- driving experts say about what ha-ppens when the three cuntrd systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) dodt have enough hictior where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked, In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to- steer and constantly seek an escape r.oute.oy area of less danger.

w-

Your Driving and the Road

Skidding (CONT.) (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden change could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues-such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a ‘‘mirrored surface”-and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock braking system (ABS) helps avoid only the bralung skid. Steer the way you want the vehicle to go.

Driving at Night Night driving is more dangerous than. day driving. One reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired-by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Here are some tips on night driving.

Drive defensively. Remember, this is the most dangerous time. Don’t drink and drive. (See the Index under Drunken Dn’ving for mure on this problem.) Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlights behind you.

Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. It’s hard to teil how fast the vehicle ahead is going just by looking at its taillights. Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlights can light up only so much road ahead. In remote areas, watch for animals. If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.

i

r; T

I“

Myht Vision No one can see as well at night, as in the daytime. But as we get older -these differences increase. A. 50-year-ald driver may require .at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What you 80 in the daytime can also &ct your night vision. For example, if you spen-d-the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlights, but they also make a lot of things invisible that should r.enmin visible-such as parked cars, obstacles, pedestrians, or even trains blocking railway crossings.. You may want to put on your sunglasses after you have pulled into a brightly lighted service or refreshment area.

Eyes shielded from that glare may adjust more quickly to darkness back on the road, But be sure to remove your sunglasses before you .leave the service area. You can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlights), slow down a little. Avoid -staring directly into the approaching lights. If there is a line of opposing traffic, make occasional glances over the line of headlights to make certain that one of the vehicles isn’t starting to move into your lane. Once you .are past the bright lights, give your eyes time to readjust before resuming speed.

High Beams If the vehicle approaching-you has its high beams on, signal by fliclcing yours to high and then back to low beam. This is the usual signal to lower the headlight beams. zf.the other driver still doesn’t lower the beams, resist the ternaptation to. put your high beams on. This only makes two ha-blinded drivers. On a freeway, use your high beams only in remote axeas where you won’t impair approaching drivers. In some p€aces, like cities, using high beams is illegal. When you follow another vehicle on a freeway or highway, use low beams. True, most vehicles now have day-night mirrors that enable the driver to reduce glare. But outside mirrors are not of this type and high beams from behind can bother the driver ahead.

Your Driving and the Road

Remember that your hedlights light up €arless of a roadway when you are .in a turn or cuwe. Keep your eyes: moving; that way, it's easier to pick aut d.imly lighted objects. Just as sour headlights should be checked regulaily-far proper aim, so; should your .eyes be mmined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness-the inabiIity light-and wen? even aware .of it,

to see in dim

c..

Driving in the.Rain -Rainiand wet roads can mestll dtiving ,.trouble. On a wet road you can'-t stop., accelerate or turn as well because your tire-to-roacl traction. isn't as good as on dry roads. A n d , if your tires don't have much tread left, youl~ get even less traction. It% always wise t;p g~ slower and be cautious'if rai.n starts to fall While ybir are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when. your:reflexes are. tuned far driving C I ~ dry pavement. Thei;he.avier. the rain, the hatdef it is to- see. Eveh if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can male it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even pegple

a

birr

walking. 'Rad spray can often be worse for vision than rain, especially if it comes from: a dirty road: So it is wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank-filled. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing: areas on the wind,shi.eld, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts.

Driving too fast through large water puddles or even going through some vehiclewashes em cause problems, too. The water..may affect your 'brakes. Try to avoid puddles. But if you can't, try to slow down before you hit them.

your unvrng ana the Koad

Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride-on the-water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re going-fast enough. When youi vehi-cle. is hydroplaning, it has little or no-contact with the road. You might. not be aware of hydroplaning. You could drive along for some time without realizing your tires aren’t in constant contact with the road. You could find out the hard way: when you have to slow, turn, move out to pass- or if .you get hit by-a gust of wind. You could suddenly find yours& out of control.

Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven’t much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water- is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning. Hydrop1anhg:usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it is raining, and be careful.

just

Some Other Rainy Weather Tips 9 Turn on your headlights-not your parking lights-to help make you more visible to -others. Look for hard-to-see vehicles co-ming from behind. You may want to use your headlights even in daytime if it’s -raining hard. Besides slo.wing down, allow some extra follo~ng distance. And‘be especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself-more clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by r-oad . spray. If the road. spray is.50 heavy you..are actually blinded, drop back. .Don’t pass until conditions improve. Going more slowly is better than having-an accident. Use your defogger if it helps. Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See the Index under Tires.)

‘

I88

1””

1,

I,

.. .. -. . ,

Driving in Fag, lMfst and Haze Fog can occur with high humidity or heavy frost. It can be so mild that you can see through it for several hundred feet (meters). Or it might be so thick that you can s’ee only a few feet (meters) ahead. It’may come suddenly to an athenvise dear road. And it can be a mjolc hazard. When you drive into .a fog patch, your visibility will be. reduced quickly. The biggest dangers ‘are strilung. the vehicle ahead or being struck by the one behind. Tryto “read” the fog density down the mad. If the vehicle ahead starts to become less clear or, at night, if the tai11,ights are hader to see, the fog is probably thickning. Slow down to give tr&c behind you a chance to -slaw.down.

Everybody then has a .betta -chance to avoid hitting the vehide ahead. A patch of dense fog may extend only €or a few feet (meters) or for miles (kilometers); you can’t really tell while you’re in it. You. can only treat the situation with extrbme care. One cornmon fog condition- sometimes called mist or ground fag- can happen in weather that .seems perfect, especially at night or in the early morning in valley and low, marshy areas. You can be suddenly enveloped in thick, wet haze that may even coat your windshield. You can often spot these fog patches or mist layers with Y O W ~ headlights. But sometimes they can be waiting for you as you come over a hill or dip into a shallow valley. Start yaur windshield wipers and washer to help clear accumulated road dirt. Slow down carefully.

Tips on Driving in Fog If you get caught in fog, turn your headlights on low bearit, even in daytime. You’ll see-and be seen- better. Use your fdg lights. Don’t use your high beams. The light wil1,bounce off the water droplets that make up fog and reflect back at you. Use your defogger. In high humidity, even a light buildup of moisture on the inside of the glass will -cut down on your already limited visibility. Runyour windshield wipers .and washer occas.itmdl.y. Moisture c5u1 bui1d:up on the outside. glass, and what .seems to be fog may’actnrilly b-e-moisture on the outside of yoarwindshield. Treat dense fog as an emergency. Try to find. a-place to pull off the road, Of course you want to respect another’s property, but you might need-to put

Your Driving and the Road

trees, telephone poles,

Tips on Driving in Fog (CONT.) something between you and moving vehicles-space, a private driveway, anything that removes you from other trafic. If visibility is near zero and you must stop but are unsure whether you are away from the road, turn your lights on, start your hazard warning flashers, and sound your horn at intervals or when you hear approaching traffic. Pass other vehicles in fog only if you can see far enough ahead to pass safely. Even then, be prepared to delay your pass if you suspect the fog is worse up ahead. If other vehicles try to pass you, make it easy for them.

City Driving One of the biggest problems with city. streets is the amount o€ traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to traffic signals. Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving: * Know the best way to get to where you-are going. Try not to drive around trying to pick out a familiar street or landmark. Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown part of the city just .as you would for a cross- country trip. 9 Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the next section, Freeway Driving.)

Treat a green light as a warning .signal, A traffic light is there because the corner is busy .enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles. that have not cleared the intersection or may be running the red light. Obey all posted speed limits. But remenher that they are for ideal road, weather and visibility conditions. You may need to drive bglow the .posted limit . i n b.ad weather or when visibility is especially poor, 9 Pull to the right (with care) and stop clear of intersections when you see or hear emergency vehicles.

f' '"

Freeway Driviing Mile--for mile, .freeways (also called thruways, parkways, -expressways, turnpikes,' or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But they have their own specid rules. The most important advice on freeway driving is: Heep.up with tretffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the ,ot.her drivers are driving-. Too-fast :or too-slow driving breaks a mo'oth traffic flow. Treat the left €me on a :freeway as :a passing lane.

. 1 -

Entering the Freeway At the entrance 'there' is usually a ramp that l;md$ to the freeway. .If you' have a clear view of the h . m y as you drive along thr: entrance ramp, you .shmild begin to c.heclr. trdfic. Try to determine where. you expect to- blend with the flav. If traffic is light, you may have no problem. But if it -is heavy, h d . a gap as you move dong the entering lane &id time p u r qpmach. Tryto merge into the gap at close to ,the prevailing speed. Switch on yow: turn signal, check your rearview mirrors .as you move along, and.glmce .over your shoulder as often as necessary. 'Try to blend smoothly with the. traffic fluw.

the passing lane.

DrJvfng on the Freeway Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to,the p r e k b g rate if it's slower. Stay in right fane unless you want to pass. If you are m a two-lme freeway; treat the right lane as the sbw lane and the,left lane If you are on a thee-lane freeway, treat the right- lane as the. slower-speed through lane, the middle €ane as the higherdpeed through lane, and the left lane -as the passing . . lane. Before changing lanes, check your rearview minors. Then use YOU turn signal. Just before you I-cave-the lane, glance quickly over p w shoulder to make sure there isn't another vehicle in your "blind" spot.

Your Driving and the Road

Driving on the Freeway (CONTJ ~ f y o u are moving from an outside to a center lane. on a freeway having more than two lanes, make sure another vehic1e;isn't about to move into the same spot. Look at the 'vehicles two lanes over and watch for telltale signs: turn signals flashing? an increase in speed, or moving toward the edge-of the lane. Be prepared to delay your move. Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night.

Leaving the Freeway When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in advance. Dashing across lanes at the last minute is dangerous. If you miss your exit do not,.under any circum- stances, stop and back up. Drive on to the next exit. At each exit point is a deceleration lane. Ideally it should be long enough for you to enter it at freeway speed (after signaling, of course) and then do your braking before moving onto the ,exit ramp. Unfortunately, not all deceleration lanes are long enough- .some are too short for all the braking. Decide when to start braking. If you must brake on the.through lane, and if

there is traffic close behind you, yau can allow a little extra tirrie and flash your brake lights (in addition to your turn signal) as extra warning that you are about to slow down and exit. The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not-to your sense of motion. After driving.for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend to- think. you -we going slower than you actually are. For example, 40 mph (65 I&) might seem like only 20 mph (32 W h ) . Obviously, this could lead to serious trouble on a ramp designed for 20 rnph (32 W)!

be

Driving a Long Distance Although most long trips today are made on freeways, there are still many made on regular highways. Long-distance driving on freeways and regular highways is the same in some ways. The trip has to be planned and the vehicle prepared, you drive at higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns behhd the wheel. You’ll enjoy your trip more if you and your vehicle are in good shape. Here are some.fips for a successful long trip.

Before Leaving on a Long Trip Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re not fresh-such as after a day’s work- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily drive in. Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in Chevrolet dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help if you need it.

Here &e some things you can check before a trip:

Windshield Washer Fluid: .Is the reservoir full? Are ,all windows clean inside and outside? Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape? Fuel,, Enme Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels? Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean? Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-hee trip. Is the tread good enough for lofig-distance drivhg? Are the tires all inflated to the recammended pressure? Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system? 0 Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps? 193

!-

Your Driving and the Road

On She Road Uidess you are the -only driver, it is good to share the driving task with others. Limit turns behind the wheel to about 100 miles (160 km) Or two hours at a sitting.-Then, either change drivers ar stop for some rdreshment like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up. But do stop and move around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier meals tend to mdke some people sleepy. On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways that do not have controlled .access,.you’ll wmt to watch for some situations :not usustlly found on freeways. Examples: are: stop signs and signals, shopping tenters with direct access to the highway, no passing zones and school zones, vehicles turning le& and- right off the-road, pedestrians, cyclists, parked vehicles, and even a&&.

Highway Hypnosis Is thete-actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever. There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine; and the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than a second, and you could crash and be injured. What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can happen. Then here are some tips: 4 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool interior.

Keep your eyes moving. Sca.n the road ahead and -to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors frequently and your instruments from time to time. This can help you avoid a fixed stare. Wear good sunglasses in bright light. Glare can cause drowsiness. But don’t wear sunglasses at night. They will. drastically reduce-your,overall.~sion at the very time you need all the. seeing power you have. If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, &‘parking area and take a nap, get so.me exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as an emergency.

As in any driving situation, keep pace with traffic and allow adequate foIlowing distances.

f

F"

Hin and Mounfain Roads Driving on steep hills or mountains is dif€erent fram driving in flat or rolling terrain. If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're planning to visit there, here are -some tips that can make your trips safer and.more enjoyable.

Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transmission. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to h o w is this: Let your engine do. some of the slowing 'down. Don't make your brakes do it all. Shift to a lower gear when you go down .a steep or long hill. That way, you will slow down without excessive use of your brake-s.

*f

hiU better.

Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift dawn to a lower gear. The lower gems help cool your engine and transmission, and you can clin-ib the Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wide . o r cut- across. the .center of the road. Drive at speeds that-let-you stay 'in your own l a e . That way, you won't be surprised by,a vehicle- coming toward you in the same lane. * It takes longer to pass another vehicle- when you're going uphill. You'll want to leave extra room to pass. If a vehicle is passing you and doesn't have enough room, slow down to make it easier for the other vehicle to get by.

Your;briving and.

the Road

, ,.,

Hill an.d Mountain Roads (C.ONT.) *- As you go over the top of a hilI, be alert. There could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident. * You may see highway signs 0x1 mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or na passing zones, a falling rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropfiate action. Winter driving can present special problems. See the .Index under Winteu. Driving.

Parking on UMs Hills and mountains mean spectacular scenery. But please be car.eful where you stop if you decide to look at the view or t.ake pictures. .Look €or pull-offs or parking areas .provided for scenic viewing. Another part of this manual tells .how to use your parking brake (see the Index under Fuiking Brake). But on a mountain or steep hill, you can do one more thing. You can turn your kont wheels to keep your vehicle frorn.r.olling downhill or out .into traffic. Here'.s how:

Parking Downhill Turn your wheels to the right. You don't have to j a m your tires against the curb, if there is a curb. A-gentle c6xltact is all you need.

Parkifig Uphill If there is a -curb, turn. your wheels to the left ifthe curb is at the.right side :of your vehicle.

If you’re going uphill on a one-way street aad you’re parldng. on the,left side, your wheels should poifit to the right.

If there is no curb when yo,u’re parking uph.j,ll, turn. the wheels to the right. If there is no curb when you’re- parking -uphill Qn the 1efi:side o h one-%ay street, .your wheels should be turned to the left.

your urlvlng ana tne Koaa

Torque Lock (AUTQMATIC TRANSMISSION) If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transmissian into P (Park) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the shift lever out of P (Ihrlr). This is called “torque lock.” To prevent torqu’e lock, always be sure to shift into P (Park) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. To find out how, see the Index under Shifting Into P (Park). When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of P (Park) before you release the parking brake. If torque lock does occur, you may need to. have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of-the pressure from the transmiss.ion, ‘so you can pull the shifi lever out of P (Park). I98

Winter Driving Here are some tips for winter driving:

Have your Corvette in good shape for winter. Be sure your engine coolant mix is correct. Snow tires can help in loose snow, but they may give you less traction on ice than regular tires. If you do not expect to be driving in deep snow, but may have to travel over ice, you may not want to switch to snow tires at .all.

YOU may want to put winter emergency supplies in your vehicle. Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, .a red cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if-you will be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these items in your vehicle.

m-4.

Driving on Snow or Ice Most of the time, those ,places where y6ur tires meet the road pr:obably have good traction. However, if there is mow or ice betwe.en you^ tires and the road, you can have a very slippery Situati-on. You’ll have alot lcss traction Crr “@p”and -will need t.Cbe very careful. What’s the wors;t- time for this? “Wet ice;” Very cold mow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But-wet. ice can be even more trouble .because it-may offer the least traction . o % all. You c.an i e t wet ice-when -it% about freezing ( W F , PC) 2nd heezing pain begins- to fall. Try to avoid driving an wet ice until salt, and sand crews ean get there.

Allow greaterfollowing distafice on any slippery road. Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a- spot that% covered with ke. On an othehvise dear roadyice patches may appear in shaded areas- whefe. the sun can’t reach: around clumps crf trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes- the &dace of. a curve or an overpass may remain icy’when. the surrounding roads are dear. If you see a patch of ic.e ahead of you, brake befgre you are on it. Try not to, brakc while you?e:actu.al€y on the ice, and. avoid sudden steering maneuvers,

If You're Caught in a Blizzard If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You should probably stay with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near help and you can hike through the snow. Here are some things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe:

Turn on your hazard flashers. Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you've been stopped by the snow.

Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you. If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor mats-anything you can wrap around yourself or tuck under your clothing tu keep warm. 4 You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.

. . I

!OO

CAUTION

~~ A Snow can trap exhaust gases:

under your vehicle.. This can.

. .

cause :deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get inside. ..CO . ' could overcome you and kill .you; You can't see it or smell it, so you might not know it was in your vehicle. Clear away. snow.from around the'.base of your vehicle, especially any that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check around. again from time to time to be sure snow doesn't collect there. Open a window just a little on-the side of the vehicle that's. away from the wind. This will help keep CO out.

fi

p" ,

'7

F"

Run your engbe only as. long -as you must. This saves fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly €or signaling later on with your headlights. Let the heater mn €or a while. Then> shut the engine off and close the window almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when you feel really qncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every haK-hour or so until help comes.

If You're Stuck in Deep Snow You should twn your ASR system off if you're stuck in deep snow. See the Index under Accelerafion Slip Regulation (ASR) Sysleem. This manual explains how to get the vehicle out of deep snow without damaging it. See the Index under Rocking Your Vehicle.

Towing a Trailer Your Corvette is neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer.

20 I

Notes

' 202

Part 5 Problems on the Road

H ere ~ O U ’ I I find What to do about: same problems that can occur on the road.

Hazard Warning: Flashers +.. ............................................................................ 204 Jump Starting ............ $. ..... (.. ............................ .,. ............................................... .-. 205 Towing Your Corvette ........................................................................................ 208 Engine:Overheating 21 3 If a Tire Gdes Flat ................................................................................................ 224 Changing a Flat Tire ............................................................................................ 225 C.ompact Spare Tire ..;.. ......................................................................................... 236 If You‘re Stuck: In. S.md, Mud, Tce or Snow .................................................... 237

.........................................................................................

”4

. .

LJ

203 . =

Problems on the Road

Hazard Warning Flashers Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They also let police know you have a problem. Your front and rear turn signal lights will flash on and off.

Press the button in to make your front and rear turn signal lights flash on and Off. Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what position your key is in, and even if the key isn’t in.

204

‘

To turn off the flashers, pull out on the .*collar. When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals won’t work.

1 Other warning Devices

If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.

Jump Starting If your battery has WII down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your Corvette. But please follow the steps here to do it safely.

NOTICE

I I

r-

To Jump Start Your Corvette: 1. Check the other vehicle. It must have

a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system.

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren't touching each other. If they are, it could cause a ground connection you don't want, You wouldn't be able t o start your Corvette, and the bad grounding cguid

d-amage the electrical systems.

Problems on the Road

4. Open the hoods and locate the

batteries.

3. Turn off the ignition on both

vehicles. Turn off all lights that aren’t needed, and radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save your radio!

Find the positive { + j and, negative (-) terminals on each battery.

5. Check that .the jumpgr cables don’t have loose or ,misskg insulation. If they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles. could be damaged, too.

Before: you connect the cables, here &e same things yo-u should:know, Positive

6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to

the positive (+) terminal of the vehicle with the: dead battery. Use -a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has -one.

CAUTION

7. Don’t let the other en’d touch .metal. Connect it ta tke positive ( + ) tGmina1 of the p o d battery. use a remQte positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one..

8. Now connect the black negative (-} cable to the good battery’s negative (-) terminal.

D~p’-t let the other end-touch anything until the nexthtep. The other end of the negative cable doem% go t a the-dead battery. It goes to a heavy unpainted metal’part on the engine of thevehicle with the dead battery.

Problems on the Road

Jump Siaithg (C0;NT.) 9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches

(45 em> away from the dead battery, but -not near engine parts that move. The dectrical cowection is just as good there, but the chance of sparks getting back to., the batt-ery is much less. 10. Now start the vehicle with the go0.d

battery and run the engine for a while.

11. Try’to start the vehicle with the

dead battery. If it won’t start after a>few tries, it probably needs service.

108

12, Remove the cables in reverse order

(as shown in this diagram) to prevent electrical shorting. Take care that they don’ttouch each other or any other m&al.

Towing Your Corvette Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your Corvette, The usual towing equipment is : (A) Sling-twe tow truck (B) Wheel-lift tow truck (C) Car carrier If your vehicle has-been changed or modified since it was factory-new by adding aftermarket items like fog lamps, aero skirting, or special-tires and wheels, these instructions and illustrations may not be correct. Before you do anything, turn on the hazard warning flashers.

When you cdI, tell the towing service:

That your vehicle cannot be towed -horn the rear with sling-type equipment. That your vehicle has rear-wheel drivei The make, model, and year of your vehicle.

Whether you can still movethe shift lever. If there was an accident, what was damaged.

When the towing service arrives, let the tow.operator know that this manual contains detailed. t,owing instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to see them.

A.

. .

’ .

Never.&t .passengers ride in:a .. vghiele that is being towed:: 0 . N&er tow fasterthan safe or .posted: speeds. Never &w with damaged parts not fully secmed. Never -get under your vehicle:&er if has-been Wed by the tow truck. Always w e separate sa€ety,chahs on each side when towing a Never .use “r’ hrioks. Use T- vehicle. ho-o€cs.instead.

Towhg Your Corvette (CONT.) When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key off. The steering wheel should-be. clamp,ed in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping device designed fur towing s-ervice. DO not use the vehicle's stewing column iock for this. The transmission shoLild be in N [Neutral), and the.parlepg brake released. Don't have your vehicle tqwed on the rear wheels,. unless you must. If the vehicle must. be t0we.d on the rear wheels, dan't go more than 3 m p h

(56 km/h) or farther than 50 miles (80.h) or your transmission will be -damaged. Go slow over rough ground, and position one wheel at a time (angled 450j if you have- to go over eurbs.and rises. .Wheels &the lifted end should be- at. least 4 inches (10 cm) above the ground. If these limits must be exceeded, then the rear wheels have to be supported .on-a dolly.

A A vehicle can f a H ~ ~ ~ m ~ a : c ~

carrier if ,it isn't propgilp '

secured., This can cause a.colii$ion, serious. pelrsonal injury .and:.vehicle. damage. The vehicle..shou[d be t-ightly secured with chains or--sted - ' cables before it i s transported-' Don't use substitutes '(ropes, leather straps, canvas webbing, etc:.) that- can be cut by sharp edges underneath the t.owed vehicle,

Y5047

21 I

Pro-blems on the Road

Towing from the Front- Vehicle Hook-Up (corvr.) 4. Attach a separate safety chain around

Towing fro-m fhe Rear- Vehicle Hook-Up .Before hooking up to a tow truck, be sure to read all the information on Towing Your Corvette earlier in this sectim. Also be sure to use the proper hook-up for your particular vehicle.

the outboard end. of each lower control arm.

F"

Engine Overheating Y0.u will find an engine coolant temperature gage. on. the instrument cluster and a low coolant warning light on the Drives In€orrnation Centkr.

Ifsteamis

Problems on the Road

If No Steam is Coming from Your Engine: If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get .a M e too hot when you: 9 Climb a long hill on a hot day. 4 Stop after high speed driving. Idle for long periods in traffic.

If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam, try this for a minute or so: 1 I Turn off your air conditioner. 2. Turn on your heater to €ull hot at the

highest fan speed and open the window as necessary.

3. Try to keep your engine under load

(in a -drive gear where the engine runs slower).

If you no longer have the overheat warning,.you cm drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about ten minutes., If the warning doesn't c o ~ e back on, you' can drive normally. I€ the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle right away. If there's still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine for two or three minutes while you're parked, to see jfthe warning stops. But then, if you still have the warning, TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE until it cools down. You- may decide not to l.23 the ho0.d but to get service help right away.

r e

F“

;I”

Cooling System When you decide it% safe to lift the hood, heri’s.what you’ll see-: (A) Coolant.recovery tank (B) Coolant-high fillreservoir with

pressure c ~ p

(C) Electric engine fans

When it is cwl, rtmove- the .coolant reqvery tank cap and I-ook at - the dipstick. The Coolant level should be at or above-COLD. If it isn”t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pmp, vapor vent pipes or hoses or coolant pump.

If the caulant inside the csolaht recovery tank is boiling, don’t do; anything else until it cuols dam.

rroblems on the Koad

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tank If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level isn’t at or above COLD, add a 50/50 mixture of clean water (preferably distilled) and a proper antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See the Index under Coolant for more information about the proper coolant mix. )

If there seems to be no leak, check to see if the electric engine fans are running. If the engine is overheating, both fans should be running. If they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.

Engine Overheating (COW.) A Heater adradiator hoses,

’.-

.and oiher enginelparts, can .be.very-hot. Don’t touch them ...If you do, you canbe burned. Don’t run the engine if there is a leak. If you run the engine,.it could lose all coolant. That could cause an engine fire, and you could be burned. Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.

216

.-

Adding only plain:water.to yam cooling system can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other .liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mix will. Your vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mix. With plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could get too hot but you wouldn't get the overheat warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mix of clean water and a proper antifreeze.

You can'bebumed if you . -spiU"CoolaZit hot engine parts. Coolant contains'ethylene glycol and it will burn . i f the engine parts are hot enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.

When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or above COLD, start your vehicle. If the overheat warning continues, there's one more thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant mix directly to the coolant high fill reservoir, but be sure the cooling system is cool before you do it.

Problems on the Road

.n

- ,.

How fa Add Coolant to the Coolant High FM Reservoir-LT1 On/y

1. You can remove the coolant high fill

reservoir pressure cap when the cooling system, including the coolant high fill reservoir pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. Turn the cap slowly to the left until it first stops. (Don't press down while turning the pressure cap.)

If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means there is still some pressure left.

How to Add Coo/ant to the Coolant Recovery Tank (CONT.) CAUTlON

Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling system can blow out and burn you badly. They are under pressure, and if you turn the.coolant high fill reservoir pressure cap-even a little-they can come out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the cooling system, including the coolant high fill reservoir pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and coolant high fill reservoir pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn the pressure cap.

2. Then keep turning the prissure cap, but ~ Q W push down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap

3. Fill the coolant high fill reservoir witk the proper mix, up-to the base of the filler neck.

A You cm be'burned if-you . " :

spill.. coolent :on hol engine p.arts. Co&mt contains ethylene glycol and it -will burn if-the engine parts are hot enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.

' ,

4. After the engine, codls, open the ak bleed valves on the throttle body and water pump inlet..

Problems on m e Road

8. Rinse or wipe the sp,illed coolant

frori~ the engine ariid curnp-artment.

6. Add coolant to the coolant high fill resgmoir until you see a steady stream of coalant c:oming from the bleed valves. Theen close the bleed valves.

7. Continue to fill the coolant high fill reservoir up to the -base .of the filler neck..

I 220

. . I

P

.-

idlefor- approximately four niinutes. By this-time, the coolant level inside the coolant high fill reservoir will he lower.. Add msie of the. proper mix through the filler neck until the level reach-es the base of'the filler neck.

10. Shut the engine off and replace the pressuk cap. Be sure the arrows .oii. the- cap line up as: shown above.

11. Then fiu the coolant recovery t.ank a to the HOT IIM~~C-OII the dipstick. Be sure to put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank.

For a.complete drain, .flush and refill, see your ChevroIet de-aler or. a Chevrdet Corvette SerPice Manual. To purchase a service manual, see the Index under Service PuGlicationS.

Problems on the Road

2. Then keep turning. the pressure cap,

-but now push down as you turn it. Remove the pressure. cap.

3. Fill the coolant high fill reservoir with

the proper mix, .up to the base of the filler neck.

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant High Fi/l Reservoir-LT5 On/y 1. YQU can remove, the coolant high fill

reservoir pressure cap when the cooling system, including.the coolant high fill reservoir pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly to the left until it first stlaps. (Don't press down while turning the pressure cap .)

If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss- means ther,e is still some pressure left.

122

4. Then fill the coorant recovery tam to

the HOT mark an the.dip$tick..

-5.. Put the cap back on the- coolant. recovery tank, but leave the coolant high fill reservoir pressure cap off.

6. Start the engine and let it m until y ~ u can feel the upper radiator hose- getting hot. Watch out for the engine- fans.

7. By this time the coolant level inside

the coolant high fill reservoir filler neck may be -lower. if the level is lower, add more of the proper mix thxough the filler neck until the level reaches..the base of the Tiller neck.

Problems on the Road

h any rear bhwout, remove y o p foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by steering the way you want the vehicbto go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, hut you can still steer. Gently brake to B stop, well off’ the road if posiible. If your tire go& flat, the next section shows how to use your jacking equipment to change a flat tire sdely.

lJu Tire Goes Flat It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving, especially if-you maintain your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few tips- about what to expect and what to do: If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take yuur foot 08 the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane p-osition, then gently brake to -a stop well out of the. traffic lam. A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may require the same corre&ion you’d use in a skid.

If a tire gaes aat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by drivmg..slowly.to a level place: Turn on -your ha-zmd warning flashers.

II

Problems on thc Road

ucket

I.-

J I I - Always use the special wheel nut socket when using the wheel wrench provided with your vehicle. See the Index under Center Storage Console.

2. The spare tite an,d jack are located on 3. To.lower the tire c.&er tray, u s ~ t h e socket end of-the wheel wench t ~ : turn the latdh bolt clockmi%

the tire c.z@er tray under the rear end of your vehicle.

4. Now put the hooked end of the whe.el me-nch intathe tray sht arid lift up. the. tire carriex txay . .Pull the latch- bdt toward you to .free the front ofthe tire emier bqy. After the.lat& bolt is. hee, lower the tire carrier tray using :the wheel wrench. If you can? free the latch Mlt, Ibdsen it sdme more: Then repeai the procedure. Dgn't loosen the-latch b o 1 t . t ~ ~ much. If you loosen it all t.he .., caxrier tray -euuld. fall down.. way; $#~g

227

Prc L'- ms on the Road

8. A special wheel lock key (removal tool) and instructions are provided with your vehicle. Attach the wheel lock key to the socket of the wheel wrench. Remove the locking wheel hut by turning counterclockwise.

9. Using the wheel wrench and the

special wheel nut socket, loosen the remaining wheel nuts by turning them counterclockwise. Don't remove them yet.

Changing a FIaf Tire (CONTJ 5. Pull the spare tire out. The jack is inside the bag, held to the spare tire with a spring.

6. Remove the jack by pullihg up on the

erid of the spring.

7. Your Corvette has gray plastic wheel

nut caps. Remove them using the socket end of the wheel wrench. Store the plastic-wheel nut caps somewhere until you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.

228

1 1 .‘Near eadh wheel, there-ae. triangles in the vehicle’s ro.cl& panel.. Positiorr the jack and raise the jack head until it fits firmly between the triangles in the vehitle’s frame narest the flat tire, Put the compact spare-tire- newyoui If you have the ZR-f Special Performance Coupe, the lo.&itor -triangles. may .be difficult to see. .They are on the underside of the mdding: The- jack head fits onto the -metal flange, slightly inboard. from the lacator triangles,.

229 . .

Problems on the Road

Changin,g a Flat Tire (CONTJ 12. Raise the vehicle by rotating the

wheel wrench clockwise; Raise the- vehicle far enough off the ground sa there is enough room for the-spare. tire to fit.

13. Remove all-the remaining wheel

nuts qnd take off the flat tire.

14. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces or spare wheel.

15. Place tne spare on the.wheel

mounting sur€ac,e.

16. Replace. the wheel nuts, including the loclhg- wheel -nut, with the, rounded end of the.nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held. against the hub.

17. Lower the vehicle by rotating the; pheel wrench counterclqclnvise. Lower. the jack completely.

Problems on the Road

Changing a flat Tire (CONI-.) 18. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a criss-cross sequence as shown.