2009 Chevrolet Corvette Owners Manual

Download PDF Manual
see Tire Chains on page 5-85. 4-22 Loading the Vehicle It is very important to know how much weight your 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 your vehicle show how much weight it may properly carry, the Tire and Loading Information label and the Certiﬁcation label. { CAUTION: 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). If you do, parts on the vehicle can break, and it can change the way your vehicle handles. These could cause you to lose control and crash. Also, overloading can 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) of your vehicle. With the driver’s door open, you will ﬁnd the label attached below the door latch. This label shows the number of occupant seating positions (A), and the maximum vehicle capacity weight (B) in kilograms and pounds. The Tire and Loading Information label also shows the size of the original equipment tires (C) and the recommended cold tire inﬂation pressures (D). 4-23 4. The resulting ﬁgure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs and there will be ﬁve 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs (1400 − 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs). 5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4. 6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load from your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle. Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer. For more information on tires and inﬂation see Tires on page 5-62 and Inﬂation - Tire Pressure on page 5-71. There is also important loading information on the vehicle Certiﬁcation label. It tells you the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the front and rear axle. See “Certiﬁcation Label” later in this section. Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit 1. Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s placard. 2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle. 3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs. 4-24 Example 1 Example 2 Item Description Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 1 = Subtract Occupant Weight @ 150 lbs (68 kg) x 1 = Available Occupant and Cargo Weight = Total Item 400 lbs (181 kg) 150 lbs (68 kg) 250 lbs (113 kg) Description Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 2 = Subtract Occupant Weight @ 150 lbs (68 kg) x 2 = Available Cargo Weight = Total 400 lbs (181 kg) 300 lbs (136 kg) 100 lbs (45 kg) 4-25 positions. The combined weight of the driver, passengers and cargo should never exceed your vehicle’s capacity weight. Certiﬁcation Label Example 3 Item Description Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 3 = Subtract Occupant Weight @ 200 lbs (91 kg) x 2 = Available Cargo Weight = Total 400 lbs (181 kg) 400 lbs (181 kg) 0 lbs (0 kg) Refer to your vehicle’s Tire and Loading Information label for speciﬁc information about your vehicle’s capacity weight and seating 4-26 A vehicle speciﬁc Certiﬁcation label is attached to the rear edge of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross weight capacity of your vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear axle. Do not load your vehicle with more weight than it was designed to carry. See “Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit” earlier in this section. { CAUTION: 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). If you do, parts on the vehicle can break, and it can change the way your vehicle handles. These could cause you to lose control and crash. Also, overloading can shorten the life of the vehicle. Notice: Overloading your vehicle may cause damage. Repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Do not overload your vehicle. If you put things inside your vehicle — like suitcases, tools, packages or anything else — they will go as fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they will keep going. { CAUTION: Things you put inside your vehicle can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash. (cid:129) Put things in the rear area of your vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly. (cid:129) Never stack heavier things, like suitcases, inside the vehicle so that some of them are above the tops of the seats. (cid:129) Do not leave an unsecured child restraint in your vehicle. (cid:129) When you carry something inside the vehicle, secure it whenever you can. 4-27 Towing Towing Your Vehicle To avoid damage, the disabled vehicle should be towed with all four wheels off the ground. Consult your dealer/ retailer or a professional towing service if the disabled vehicle must be towed. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-7. Recreational Vehicle Towing Notice: Dolly towing or dinghy towing the vehicle may cause damage because of reduced ground clearance. Always put the vehicle on a ﬂatbed truck or trailer. The vehicle was neither designed nor intended to be towed with any of its wheels on the ground. If the vehicle must be towed, see “Towing Your Vehicle” earlier in this section. Towing a Trailer The vehicle is neither designed nor intended to tow a trailer. 4-28 Section 5 Service and Appearance Care Service ............................................................5-3 Accessories and Modiﬁcations ..........................5-3 California Proposition 65 Warning .....................5-4 California Perchlorate Materials Requirements .....5-4 Doing Your Own Service Work .........................5-4 Adding Equipment to the Outside of the Vehicle ......................................................5-5 Fuel ................................................................5-5 Gasoline Octane ............................................5-5 Gasoline Speciﬁcations ....................................5-6 California Fuel ...............................................5-6 Additives .......................................................5-7 Fuels in Foreign Countries ...............................5-8 Filling the Tank ..............................................5-8 Filling a Portable Fuel Container .....................5-11 Checking Things Under the Hood ....................5-12 Hood Release ..............................................5-13 Engine Compartment Overview .......................5-14 Engine Oil ...................................................5-19 Engine Oil Life System ..................................5-26 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ................................5-28 Automatic Transmission Fluid .........................5-31 Manual Transmission Fluid .............................5-31 Hydraulic Clutch ...........................................5-31 Cooling System (Engine) ................................5-32 Cooling System (Intercooler) ...........................5-33 Engine Coolant .............................................5-34 Engine Overheating .......................................5-39 Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode .........................................5-41 Power Steering Fluid .....................................5-41 Windshield Washer Fluid ................................5-42 Brakes ........................................................5-43 Battery ........................................................5-49 Jump Starting ...............................................5-50 Rear Axle .......................................................5-54 Headlamp Aiming ...........................................5-55 Bulb Replacement ..........................................5-56 High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting ............5-56 Halogen Bulbs ..............................................5-56 Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and Parking Lamps .....................................................5-57 Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps ............5-58 Replacement Bulbs .......................................5-59 Windshield Replacement .................................5-59 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ..............5-59 Tires ..............................................................5-62 Winter Tires .................................................5-63 Tire Sidewall Labeling ...................................5-64 Tire Terminology and Deﬁnitions .....................5-66 Run-Flat Tires ..............................................5-69 5-1 Section 5 Service and Appearance Care Inﬂation - Tire Pressure .................................5-71 High-Speed Operation ...................................5-72 Tire Pressure Monitor System .........................5-73 Tire Pressure Monitor Operation .....................5-75 Tire Inspection and Rotation ...........................5-77 When It Is Time for New Tires .......................5-77 Buying New Tires .........................................5-78 Different Size Tires and Wheels ......................5-80 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ..........................5-80 Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ..................5-82 Wheel Replacement ......................................5-82 Tire Chains ..................................................5-85 Lifting the Vehicle .........................................5-86 If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................5-90 Appearance Care ............................................5-91 Interior Cleaning ...........................................5-91 Fabric/Carpet ...............................................5-93 Coated Moldings ...........................................5-94 Leather .......................................................5-94 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces ........................................5-94 Cargo Cover and Convenience Net .................5-94 Care of Safety Belts ......................................5-95 Weatherstrips ...............................................5-95 Washing Your Vehicle ...................................5-95 Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses .....................5-96 Finish Care ..................................................5-96 Windshield and Wiper Blades .........................5-97 Removable Roof Panel ..................................5-98 Convertible Top ............................................5-98 Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels and Trim ...5-99 Tires .........................................................5-100 Finish Damage ...........................................5-100 Underbody Maintenance ...............................5-100 Fiberglass Springs (Composite Springs) ..........5-100 Chemical Paint Spotting ...............................5-101 Vehicle Identiﬁcation .....................................5-101 Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN) ................5-101 Service Parts Identiﬁcation Label ...................5-102 Electrical System ..........................................5-102 Add-On Electrical Equipment .........................5-102 Headlamp Wiring ........................................5-102 Windshield Wiper Fuses ...............................5-103 Power Windows and Other Power Options ......5-103 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ..........................5-103 Instrument Panel Fuse Block ........................5-103 Engine Compartment Fuse Block ...................5-106 Capacities and Speciﬁcations ........................5-110 5-2 Service For service and parts needs, visit your dealer/retailer. You will receive genuine GM parts and GM-trained and supported service people. Genuine GM parts have one of these marks: Accessories and Modiﬁcations When non-dealer/non-retailer accessories are added to the vehicle, they can affect vehicle performance and safety, including such things as airbags, braking, stability, ride and handling, emissions systems, aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems like antilock brakes, traction control, and stability control. Some of these accessories could even cause malfunction or damage not covered by the vehicle warranty. Damage to vehicle components resulting from the installation or use of non-GM certiﬁed parts, including control module modiﬁcations, are not covered under the terms of the vehicle warranty and may affect remaining warranty coverage for affected parts. GM Accessories are designed to complement and function with other systems on the vehicle. Your GM dealer/retailer can accessorize the vehicle using genuine GM Accessories. When you go to your GM dealer/ retailer and ask for GM Accessories, you will know that GM-trained and supported service technicians will perform the work using genuine GM Accessories. Also, see Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-56. 5-3 Doing Your Own Service Work { CAUTION: You can be injured and the vehicle could be damaged if you try to do service work on a vehicle without knowing enough about it. (cid:129) Be sure you have sufficient knowledge, experience, the proper replacement parts, and tools before attempting any vehicle maintenance task. (cid:129) Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts, and other fasteners. English and metric fasteners can be easily confused. If the wrong fasteners are used, parts can later break or fall off. You could be hurt. California Proposition 65 Warning Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain and/or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and systems (including some inside the vehicle), many ﬂuids, and some component wear by-products contain and/or emit these chemicals. California Perchlorate Materials Requirements Certain types of automotive applications, such as airbag initiators, seat belt pretensioners, and lithium batteries contained in remote keyless transmitters, may contain perchlorate materials. Special handling may be necessary. For additional information, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate. 5-4 If doing some of your own service work, use the proper service manual. It tells you much more about how to service the vehicle than this manual can. To order the proper service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-16. This vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to do your own service work, see Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-56. Keep a record with all parts receipts and list the mileage and the date of any service work performed. See Maintenance Record on page 6-16. Adding Equipment to the Outside of the Vehicle Things added to the outside of the vehicle can affect the airﬂow around it. This can cause wind noise and can affect fuel economy and windshield washer performance. Check with your dealer/retailer before adding equipment to the outside of the vehicle. Fuel Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the proper maintenance of this vehicle. To help keep the engine clean and maintain optimum vehicle performance, we recommend the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN) shows the code letter or number that identiﬁes the vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at the top left of the instrument panel. See Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN) on page 5-101. Gasoline Octane If the vehicle has the 6.2L V8 engine (VIN Code W), use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher. You can also use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but the vehicle’s acceleration could be slightly reduced, and you might notice a slight audible knocking noise, commonly referred to as spark knock. If the octane is less than 87, you might notice a heavy knocking noise when you drive. 5-5 If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could damage the engine. If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking, the engine needs service. If the vehicle has the 6.2L V8 engine (VIN Code R) or the 7.0L V8 engine (VIN Code E), use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher. For best performance, use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 93. In an emergency, you can use regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or higher. If 87 octane fuel is used, do not perform any aggressive driving maneuvers such as wide open throttle applications. You might also hear audible spark knock during acceleration. Reﬁll the tank with premium fuel as soon as possible to avoid damaging the engine. If you are using gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking, the engine needs service. Gasoline Speciﬁcations At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM speciﬁcation D 4814 in the United States or CAN/CGSB-3.5 or 3.511 in Canada. Some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend against the use of gasolines containing MMT. See Additives on page 5-7 for additional information. California Fuel If the vehicle is certiﬁed to meet California Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that meet California speciﬁcations. See the underhood emission control label. If this fuel is not available in states adopting California emissions standards, the vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal speciﬁcations, but emission control system performance might be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp could turn on and the vehicle might fail a smog-check test. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-44. If this occurs, return to your authorized dealer/retailer for diagnosis. If it is determined that the condition is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs might not be covered by the vehicle warranty. 5-6 Additives To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States are now required to contain additives that help prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming, allowing the emission control system to work properly. In most cases, you should not have to add anything to the fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the minimum amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations. To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean, or if the vehicle experiences problems due to dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that is advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. For customers who do not use TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS, added to the fuel tank at every engine oil change, can help clean deposits from fuel injectors and intake valves. GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS is the only gasoline additive recommended by General Motors. Also, your dealer/retailer has additives that will help correct and prevent most deposit-related problems. Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines might be available in your area. We recommend that you use these gasolines, if they comply with the speciﬁcations described earlier. However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels containing more than 10% ethanol must not be used in vehicles that were not designed for those fuels. Notice: This vehicle was not designed for fuel that contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal parts in the fuel system and also damage plastic and rubber parts. That damage would not be covered under the vehicle warranty. Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low emissions can contain an octane-enhancing additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT. 5-7 We recommend against the use of such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and the performance of the emission control system could be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp might turn on. If this occurs, return to your dealer/retailer for service. Fuels in Foreign Countries If you plan on driving in another country outside the United States or Canada, the proper fuel might be hard to ﬁnd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs caused by use of improper fuel would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or contact a major oil company that does business in the country where you will be driving. Filling the Tank { CAUTION: Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel ﬁre can cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to you and others, read and follow all the instructions on the pump island. Turn off the engine when you are refueling. Do not smoke if you are near fuel or refueling the vehicle. Do not use cellular phones. Keep sparks, ﬂames, and smoking materials away from fuel. Do not leave the fuel pump unattended when refueling the vehicle. This is against the law in some places. Do not re-enter the vehicle while pumping fuel. Keep children away from the fuel pump; never let children pump fuel. 5-8 The tethered fuel cap is located behind a hinged fuel door on the driver side of the vehicle. The fuel door release button is located on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel. Push the button to release the fuel door. 5-9 There is also a manual fuel door release tab. It is located against the upper trim in the rear compartment on the driver side of the vehicle. Pull the tab to release the fuel door. To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly counterclockwise. While refueling, let the cap hang by the tether below the fuel ﬁll opening. { CAUTION: Fuel can spray out on you if you open the fuel cap too quickly. If you spill fuel and then something ignites it, you could be badly burned. This spray can happen if the tank is nearly full, and is more likely in hot weather. Open the fuel cap slowly and wait for any hiss noise to stop. Then unscrew the cap all the way. Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overﬁll the tank and wait a few seconds after you have ﬁnished pumping before removing the nozzle. Clean fuel from painted surfaces as soon as possible. See Washing Your Vehicle on page 5-95. 5-10 When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise until it clicks. Make sure the cap is fully installed. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-44. The CHECK GAS CAP message displays on the Driver Information Center (DIC) if the fuel cap is not properly installed. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-56 for more information. { CAUTION: If a ﬁre starts while you are refueling, do not remove the nozzle. Shut off the ﬂow of fuel by shutting off the pump or by notifying the station attendant. Leave the area immediately. If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get Notice: the right type. Your dealer/retailer can get one for you. If you get the wrong type, it may not ﬁt properly. This may cause the malfunction indicator lamp to light and may damage the fuel tank and emissions system. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-44. Filling a Portable Fuel Container { CAUTION: Never ﬁll a portable fuel container while it is in the vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the container can ignite the fuel vapor. You can be badly burned and the vehicle damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others: (cid:129) Dispense fuel only into approved containers. (cid:129) Do not ﬁll a container while it is inside a vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed, or on any surface other than the ground. (cid:129) Bring the ﬁll nozzle in contact with the inside of the ﬁll opening before operating the nozzle. Contact should be maintained until the ﬁlling is complete. (cid:129) Do not smoke while pumping fuel. (cid:129) Do not use a cellular phone while pumping fuel. 5-11 Checking Things Under the Hood { CAUTION: { CAUTION: An electric fan under the hood can start up and injure you even when the engine is not running. Keep hands, clothing, and tools away from any underhood electric fan. Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and start a ﬁre. These include liquids like fuel, oil, coolant, brake ﬂuid, windshield washer and other ﬂuids, and plastic or rubber. You or others could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine. 5-12 Hood Release To open the hood: 1. Pull the hood release lever with this symbol on it. It is located inside the vehicle below the instrument panel on the driver side. 2. Go to the side of the vehicle and pull up on the rear edge of the hood, near the windshield. Before closing the hood, be sure all the ﬁller caps are on properly. Then, just pull the hood down and close it ﬁrmly. 5-13 Engine Compartment Overview If your vehicle has the 6.2L LS3 V8 engine and you are facing the front, when you open the hood, here is what you will see: 5-14 A. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir (If Equipped). See Hydraulic Clutch on page 5-31. B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” under Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-42. C. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under Brakes on page 5-43. D. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine Coolant on page 5-34. E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-28. F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on page 5-41. G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil” under Engine Oil on page 5-19. H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under Engine Oil on page 5-19. I. Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-106. J. Passenger Compartment Air Filter (Out of View). See Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-31. K. Battery on page 5-49. 5-15 If your vehicle has the 6.2L LS9 Supercharged V8 engine and you are facing the front, when you open the hood, here is what you will see: 5-16 A. Intercooler. See Cooling System (Engine) on page 5-32 or Cooling System (Intercooler) on page 5-33. B. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-28. C. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir and Cap. See Power Steering Fluid on page 5-41. D. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine Coolant on page 5-34. E. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” under Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-42. F. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir (If Equipped). See Hydraulic Clutch on page 5-31. G. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under Brakes on page 5-43. H. Passenger Compartment Air Filter (Out of View). See Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-31. I. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil” under Engine Oil on page 5-19. J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under Engine Oil on page 5-19. K. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Out of View). See Jump Starting on page 5-50. L. Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-106. 5-17 If your vehicle has the 7.0L LS7 V8 engine and you are facing the driver side of the vehicle, when you open the hood, here is what you will see: 5-18 A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-28. B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on page 5-41. C. Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-106. D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Out of View). See Jump Starting on page 5-50. E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under Engine Oil on page 5-19. F. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank. See “Changing Engine Oil and Filter (Z06 Only)” Engine Oil on page 5-19. G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil” under Engine Oil on page 5-19. H. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine Coolant on page 5-34. I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” under Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-42. J. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under Brakes on page 5-43. K. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Hydraulic Clutch on page 5-31. Engine Oil Checking Engine Oil (Except ZO6 and ZR1) If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message displays on the Driver Information Center (DIC), check the engine oil level right away. For more information, see Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-50. Check the engine oil level regularly; this is an added reminder. It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each fuel ﬁll. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground. The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for the location of the engine oil dipstick. 1. Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If this is not done, the oil dipstick might not show the actual level. 2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a lint-free paper towel or a cloth, then push it back in all the way. 3. Remove the dipstick again, keeping the tip down and read the level on the cross-hatched area. Oil levels that fall in the cross-hatched area are normal. 4. Push the dipstick back in all the way. 5-19 When to Add Engine Oil (Except ZO6 and ZR1) Notice: Do not add too much oil. If the engine has so much oil that the oil level gets above the cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating range, the engine could be damaged. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for the location of the engine oil ﬁll cap. If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the dipstick, add at least one quart/liter of the recommended oil. This section explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities and Speciﬁcations on page 5-110. See Racing or Other Competitive Driving on page 4-14 for additional information on engine oil. Add enough oil to put the level somewhere in the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way back in when through. 5-20 Checking Engine Oil (ZO6 and ZR1) A. Engine Oil Dipstick B. Engine Oil Fill Cap It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each fuel ﬁll. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground. The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. The dipstick is located on the dry sump engine oil tank. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for the location of the dry sump engine oil tank. These vehicles have a racetrack-ready dry sump engine lubrication system. This high-performance system operates differently than a standard engine lubrication system and requires a special procedure when checking the engine oil level. Follow this procedure closely when checking the engine oil level. The engine oil level must be checked when the engine is warm. Cold oil level in the dry sump tank may not indicate the actual amount of oil in the system. With this system, engine oil is contained in an external tank, separate from the engine. Under normal operating conditions, the oil pan under the engine does not store any oil. 5-21 If the vehicle has been parked for an extended period without the engine being started, some oil will seep back into the oil pan, reducing the amount of oil held in the dry sump tank and there could be no engine oil at all showing on the dipstick. This is normal since the dipstick is designed to read engine oil level only after the engine has run long enough to reach normal operating temperature. Do not add engine oil based on cold engine dipstick readings. The engine oil level on the dipstick will also be inaccurate if checked while the engine is running. 1. To obtain an accurate engine oil level reading, warm up the engine to at least 175°F (80°C). Cold oil will not give a correct oil level reading. 2. Once the engine is warm, turn off the engine. Checking the oil while the engine is running will result in an incorrect oil level reading. 3. Wait at least ﬁve minutes (but not more than 20 minutes) to allow oil to drain and settle in the engine. 4. Remove the dipstick from the external engine oil tank and clean it with a lint-free paper towel or a cloth. Re-insert the dipstick into the external oil tank, pushing it all the way in until it stops. 5. Remove the dipstick from the oil tank and read the level on the cross-hatched area. Oil levels that fall in the cross-hatched area are normal. 5-22 When to Add Engine Oil (ZO6 and ZR1) See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for the location of the external engine oil tank and ﬁll cap. If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the dipstick, add at least one quart/liter of the recommended oil through the oil ﬁll cap opening in the oil tank. This section explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities and Speciﬁcations on page 5-110. See Racing or Other Competitive Driving on page 4-14 for additional information on engine oil. Notice: Do not add too much oil. If the engine has so much oil that the oil level gets above the cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating range, the engine could be damaged. Add enough oil to put the level somewhere in the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the way back into the oil tank when through. Changing Engine Oil and Filter (ZO6 and ZR1) These vehicles have a racetrack-ready dry sump engine lubrication system. This high-performance system operates differently than a standard engine lubrication system and requires a special procedure when changing the engine oil and ﬁlter. Follow this procedure closely when changing the engine oil and ﬁlter. 5-23 2. Once the oil has been drained from the engine, remove the engine oil ﬁlter and allow the oil to drain. 3. Re-install both drain plugs and tighten them to 18 lb ft (25 Y ). 4. Replace the oil ﬁlter and tighten it to 18 lb ft (25 Y ). See Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 6-14 for the correct ﬁlter. 5. Oil is ﬁlled through the opening in the top of the external engine oil tank. Remove the oil ﬁll cap. 6. Add 10.5 quarts (9.9 L) of oil to the oil tank. See Capacities and Speciﬁcations on page 5-110. 7. Install the oil ﬁll cap and insert the dipstick, if removed. 8. Start the engine and let it run at idle for at least 15 seconds. This will circulate the fresh engine oil through the lubrication system. 9. Shut off the engine and check the oil level as described under “Checking Engine Oil (ZO6 and ZR1).” ZO6 Shown, ZR1 Similar A. Engine Oil Drain Plugs B. Seals 1. Remove the two engine oil drain plugs from the bottom of the engine oil pan. One drain plug drains the external oil tank via the oil transfer supply line. The other drain plug drains residual oil from the crankcase sump. Allow the oil to drain. 5-24 What Kind of Engine Oil to Use Look for three things: (cid:129) GM4718M This vehicle’s engine requires a special oil meeting GM Standard GM4718M. Oils meeting this standard may be identiﬁed as synthetic. However, not all synthetic oils will meet this GM standard. Use only an oil that meets GM Standard GM4718M. Notice: Using oils that do not have the GM4718M Standard designation can cause engine damage not covered by the vehicle warranty. (cid:129) SAE 5W-30 SAE 5W-30 is best for the vehicle. These numbers on an oil container show its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other viscosity oils such as SAE 20W-50. (cid:129) American Petroleum Institute (API) starburst symbol Oils meeting these requirements should have the starburst symbol on the container. This symbol indicates that the oil has been certiﬁed by the American Petroleum Institute (API). This vehicle’s engine was ﬁlled at the factory with a Mobil 1® synthetic oil meeting all requirements for this vehicle. Substitute Engine Oil: When adding oil to maintain engine oil level, oil meeting GM Standard GM4718M might not be available. You can add substitute oil designated SAE 5W-30 with the starburst symbol at all temperatures. Substitute oil not meeting GM Standard GM4718M should not be used for an oil change. 5-25 Engine Oil Additives / Engine Oil Flushes Do not add anything to the oil. The recommended oils with the starburst symbol that meet GM Standard GM4718M are all that is needed for good performance and engine protection. Engine oil system ﬂushes are not recommended and could cause engine damage not covered by the vehicle warranty. Engine Oil Life System When to Change Engine Oil This vehicle has a computer that indicates when to change the engine oil and ﬁlter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change is indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, the system must be reset every time the oil is changed. Z06 and ZR1 models have a racetrack-ready dry sump engine lubrication system. This high-performance system operates differently than a standard engine lubrication system and requires a special procedure when changing the engine oil and ﬁlter. See Engine Oil on page 5-19. When the system has calculated that oil life has been diminished, it indicates that an oil change is necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL message comes on. Change the oil as soon as possible within the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if driving under the best conditions, the oil life system might not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over a year. However, the engine oil and ﬁlter must be changed at least once a year and at this time the system must be reset. Your dealer/retailer has trained service people who will perform this work using genuine parts and reset the system. It is also important to check the oil regularly and keep it at the proper level. If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be changed at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since the last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system whenever the oil is changed. 5-26 How to Reset the Engine Oil Life System The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to change the engine oil and ﬁlter based on vehicle use. Whenever the oil is changed, reset the system so it can calculate when the next oil change is required. If a situation occurs where the oil is changed prior to a CHANGE ENGINE OIL message being turned on, reset the system. To reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message after an oil change: 1. Press the TRIP button so the OIL LIFE percentage is displayed. 2. Press RESET and hold for two seconds. OIL LIFE REMAINING 100% will appear. If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message comes back on when the vehicle is started, the engine oil life system has not reset. Repeat the procedure. What to Do with Used Oil Used engine oil contains certain elements that can be unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer. Do not let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing or rags containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer’s warnings about the use and disposal of oil products. Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the ﬁlter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. 5-27 If you spray water into the engine air Engine Air Cleaner/Filter See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for the location of the engine air cleaner/ﬁlter. Notice: cleaner/ﬁlter intake and water enters the engine air cleaner/ﬁlter housing, you could damage your vehicle’s engine. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Do not spray water into the engine air cleaner/ﬁlter intake and/or housing. If you are cleaning the vehicle with the hood open, take care not to spray water directly near the ﬁlter opening of the air cleaner, as shown in the illustration, as this could damage the vehicle’s engine. When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Inspect the air cleaner/ﬁlter at the Maintenance II intervals and replace them at the ﬁrst oil change after each 50,000 mile (80 000 km) interval. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4 for more information. If you are driving in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the ﬁlter at each engine oil change. How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter To inspect the air cleaner/ﬁlter, remove the ﬁlter from the vehicle and lightly shake the ﬁlter to release loose dust and dirt. If the ﬁlter remains caked with dirt, a new ﬁlter is required. 5-28 To inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/ﬁlter: 6.2 L LS3 Engine 6.2 L LS9 Engine shown, 7.0 L LS7 Engine similar 1. Remove the screws holding the air cleaner assembly. 2. Pull the air cleaner assembly back to gain access to the ﬁlter element. 5-29 { CAUTION: Operating the engine with the air cleaner/ﬁlter off can cause you or others to be burned. The air cleaner not only cleans the air; it helps to stop ﬂames if the engine backﬁres. If it is not there and the engine backﬁres, you could be burned. Do not drive with it off, and be careful working on the engine with the air cleaner/ﬁlter off. If the air cleaner/ﬁlter is off, a backﬁre can Notice: cause a damaging engine ﬁre. And, dirt can easily get into the engine, which will damage it. Always have the air cleaner/ﬁlter in place when you are driving. 3. Remove the screws holding the ﬁlter element in place. 4. Inspect or replace the ﬁlter. See Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 6-14. 5. Reverse Steps 1 and 3 to replace the air cleaner/ﬁlter cover. 5-30 Automatic Transmission Fluid How to Check Automatic Transmission Fluid It is not necessary to check the transmission ﬂuid level. A transmission ﬂuid leak is the only reason for ﬂuid loss. If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer service department and have it repaired as soon as possible. There is a special procedure for checking and changing the transmission ﬂuid. Because this procedure is difficult, you should have this done at your dealer/retailer service department. Contact your dealer/retailer for additional information or the procedure can be found in the service manual. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-16. Notice: Use of the incorrect automatic transmission ﬂuid may damage the vehicle, and the damages may not be covered by the vehicle’s warranty. Always use the automatic transmission ﬂuid listed in Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12. Change the ﬂuid and ﬁlter at the intervals listed in Additional Required Services on page 6-6, and be sure to use the ﬂuid listed in Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12. Manual Transmission Fluid It is not necessary to check the manual transmission ﬂuid level. A transmission ﬂuid leak is the only reason for ﬂuid loss. If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to your dealer/ retailer service department and have it repaired as soon as possible. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12 for the proper ﬂuid to use. Hydraulic Clutch It is not necessary to regularly check clutch ﬂuid unless you suspect there is a leak in the system. Adding ﬂuid will not correct a leak. A ﬂuid loss in this system could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected and repaired. 5-31 When to Check and What to Use The hydraulic clutch ﬂuid reservoir cap has this symbol on it. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for reservoir location. Cooling System (Engine) The cooling system allows the engine to maintain the correct working temperature. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule for the proper ﬂuid to use. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12. The ﬂuid requires changing every two years. See Additional Required Services on page 6-6. How to Check and Add Fluid Visually check the clutch ﬂuid reservoir to make sure the ﬂuid level is at the MIN (minimum) line on the side of the reservoir. The hydraulic clutch ﬂuid system should be closed and sealed. Do not remove the cap to check the ﬂuid level or to top-off the ﬂuid level. Remove the cap only when necessary to add the proper ﬂuid until the level reaches the MIN line. 5-32 7.0L Engine shown, 6.2L Engine similar A. Electric Engine Cooling Fan B. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure Cap { CAUTION: An electric engine cooling fan under the hood can start up even when the engine is not running and can cause injury. Keep hands, clothing, and tools away from any underhood electric fan. { CAUTION: Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If you do, you can be burned. Do not 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. Notice: Using coolant other than DEX-COOL® can cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant could require changing sooner, at 50 000 km (30,000 miles) or 24 months, whichever occurs ﬁrst. Any repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Always use DEX-COOL® (silicate-free) coolant in the vehicle. Cooling System (Intercooler) The 6.2L LS9 supercharged V8 engine has an intercooler cooling system. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for location of the intercooler. The intercooler cooling system has a special procedure for draining and adding coolant. Because this procedure is difficult, see your dealer/retailer for service if the intercooler is low on coolant. The procedure can also be found in the service manual. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-16. 5-33 3. Loosen, but do not completely unscrew the bleeder valve to check for coolant in the system. 4. Tighten the bleeder valve if there is coolant ﬂowing out of the bleeder valve. 5. If there is no coolant ﬂowing out of the bleeder valve, there could be a leak in the system. Tighten the bleeder valve and contact your dealer/retailer for service. Engine Coolant The cooling system in the vehicle is ﬁlled with DEX-COOL® engine coolant. This coolant is designed to remain in the vehicle for ﬁve years or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs ﬁrst. The following explains the cooling system and how to check and add coolant when it is low. If there is a problem with engine overheating, see Engine Overheating on page 5-39. Checking Coolant 1. Verify that the engine and intercooler are no longer hot. 2. Place a cloth to absorb possible coolant loss under the driver’s side bleeder valve (A). 5-34 What to Use { CAUTION: Adding only plain water to the cooling system can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture, the engine could get too hot but would not get the overheat warning. The engine could catch ﬁre and you or others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant. If using this mixture, nothing else needs to be added. This mixture: (cid:129) Gives freezing protection down to −34°F (−37°C), outside temperature. (cid:129) Gives boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C), engine temperature. If an improper coolant mixture is used, (cid:129) Protects against rust and corrosion. (cid:129) Will not damage aluminum parts. (cid:129) Helps keep the proper engine temperature. Notice: the engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The repair cost would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core, and other parts. Notice: If extra inhibitors and/or additives are used in the vehicle’s cooling system, the vehicle could be damaged. Use only the proper mixture of the engine coolant listed in this manual for the cooling system. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12 for more information. 5-35 Checking Coolant The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking the coolant level. Check to see if coolant is visible in the coolant surge tank. If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down. If coolant is visible but the coolant level is not at or above the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL coolant at the coolant recovery tank, but be sure the cooling system is cool before this is done. See Engine Coolant on page 5-34 for more information. The engine coolant surge tank is located toward the rear of the engine compartment on the driver side of the vehicle. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for more information on location. When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the FULL COLD mark on the coolant surge tank. When the engine is hot, the level could be higher than the FULL COLD line. If the coolant is below the FULL COLD line when the engine is hot, there could be a leak in the cooling system. If the coolant is low, add the coolant or take the vehicle to a dealer/retailer for service. How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge Tank { CAUTION: You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine. 5-36 { CAUTION: 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 surge tank pressure cap — even a little — they can come out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the cooling system, including the coolant surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and coolant surge tank pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn the pressure cap. If coolant is needed, add the proper DEX-COOL® coolant mixture directly to the surge tank, but be sure the cooling system is cool before this is done. 1. When the cooling system, including the coolant surge tank pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot, remove the pressure cap. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise about one-quarter turn and then stop. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means there is still some pressure left. 2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it. 5-37 3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper DEX-COOL coolant mixture until the level inside stabilizes at the FULL COLD mark on the front of the surge tank. 4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper radiator hose getting hot. Any time during this procedure, watch out for the engine cooling fan. By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge tank until the level stabilizes at the FULL COLD mark on the coolant surge tank. 5-38 5. Replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated. Check the level in the surge tank when the system has cooled down. If the coolant is not at the proper level, repeat Steps 1 through 4, then reinstall the pressure cap. If the coolant is not at the proper level when the system cools down again, see your dealer/retailer. If the pressure cap is not tightly installed, Notice: coolant loss and possible engine damage may occur. Be sure the cap is properly and tightly secured. Engine Overheating The vehicle has several indicators to warn of engine overheating. There is an engine coolant temperature gage on the instrument panel cluster. See Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-43. The vehicle may also display a COOLANT OVER TEMPERATURE message on the Driver Information Center (DIC). See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-56 for more information. You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service help right away. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-7. If you do decide to lift the hood, make sure the vehicle is parked on a level surface. Then check to see if the engine cooling fan is running. If the engine is overheating, the fan should be running. If it is not, do not continue to run the engine and have the vehicle serviced. Notice: Engine damage from running your engine without coolant is not covered by your warranty. See Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode on page 5-41 for information on driving to a safe place in an emergency. Notice: with no coolant, the vehicle can be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. See Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode on page 5-41 for information on driving to a safe place in an emergency. If the engine catches ﬁre while driving 5-39 If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine { CAUTION: Steam from an overheated engine can burn you badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam coming from it. Turn it off and get everyone away from the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or coolant before you open the hood. If you keep driving when the vehicles engine is overheated, the liquids in it can catch ﬁre. You or others could be badly burned. Stop the engine if it overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the engine is cool. See Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode on page 5-41 for information on driving to a safe place in an emergency. If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine If an engine overheat warning is displayed but no steam can be seen or heard, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when the vehicle: (cid:129) Climbs a long hill on a hot day. (cid:129) Stops after high-speed driving. Idles for long periods in traffic. If the overheat warning is displayed with no sign of steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off. 2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest fan speed. Open the windows as necessary. 3. If in a traffic jam, shift to N (Neutral) while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral) and let the engine idle. If the temperature overheat gage is no longer in the overheat zone or an overheat warning no longer displays, the vehicle can be driven. Continue to drive the vehicle slow for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe vehicle distance from the car in front of you. If the warning does not come back on, continue to drive normally. 5-40 (cid:129) If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park the vehicle right away. If there is no sign of steam, idle the engine for three minutes while parked. If the warning is still displayed, turn off the engine until it cools down. Also, see “Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode” next in this section. Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode This emergency operating mode lets the vehicle be driven to a safe place, up to 50 miles (80 km), in an emergency situation. If an overheated engine condition exists and the messages COOLANT OVER TEMPERATURE and REDUCED ENGINE POWER are displayed, along with the check engine light, an overheat protection mode which alternates ﬁring groups of cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode, there is a signiﬁcant loss in power and engine performance. Driving extended distances in the overheat protection mode should be avoided. Notice: After driving in the overheated engine protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage, allow the engine to cool before attempting any repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant loss, change the oil and reset the oil life system. See Engine Oil on page 5-19. Power Steering Fluid See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for reservoir location. When to Check Power Steering Fluid It is not necessary to regularly check power steering ﬂuid unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or you hear an unusual noise. A ﬂuid loss in this system could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected and repaired. 5-41 How to Check Power Steering Fluid To check the power steering ﬂuid: 1. Turn the ignition off and let the engine compartment cool down. 2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean. 3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. 4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it. 5. Remove the cap again and look at the ﬂuid level on the dipstick. There are markings on both sides of the dipstick. The level should be at the FULL COLD mark. If necessary, add only enough ﬂuid to bring the level up to the mark. When the engine compartment is hot, the level should be at the HOT mark. When the engine compartment is cool, the level should be at the FULL COLD mark. What to Use To determine what kind of ﬂuid to use, see Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12. Always use the proper ﬂuid. Notice: Use of the incorrect ﬂuid may damage the vehicle and the damages may not be covered by the vehicle’s warranty. Always use the correct ﬂuid listed in Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12. Windshield Washer Fluid What to Use When the vehicle needs windshield washer ﬂuid, be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If the vehicle will be operating in an area where the temperature may fall below freezing, use a ﬂuid that has sufficient protection against freezing. 5-42 Adding Washer Fluid Open the cap with the washer symbol on it. Add washer ﬂuid until the tank is full. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for reservoir location. Notice: (cid:129) When using concentrated washer ﬂuid, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for adding water. (cid:129) Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer ﬂuid. Water can cause the solution to freeze and damage your washer ﬂuid tank and other parts of the washer system. Also, water does not clean as well as washer ﬂuid. Fill the washer ﬂuid tank only three-quarters full when it is very cold. This allows for ﬂuid expansion if freezing occurs, which could damage the tank if it is completely full. (cid:129) Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your windshield washer. It can damage the vehicle’s windshield washer system and paint. Brakes Brake Fluid The brake master cylinder reservoir is ﬁlled with DOT 3 brake ﬂuid. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for the location of the reservoir. There are only two reasons why the brake ﬂuid level in the reservoir might go down: The brake ﬂuid level goes down because of normal brake lining wear. When new linings are installed, the ﬂuid level goes back up. (cid:129) A ﬂuid leak in the brake hydraulic system can also cause a low ﬂuid level. Have the brake hydraulic system ﬁxed, since a leak means that sooner or later the brakes will not work well. 5-43 (cid:129) (cid:129) Do not top off the brake ﬂuid. Adding ﬂuid does not correct a leak. If ﬂuid is added when the linings are worn, there will be too much ﬂuid when new brake linings are installed. Add or remove brake ﬂuid, as necessary, only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system. { CAUTION: If too much brake ﬂuid is added, it can spill on the engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough. You or others could be burned, and the vehicle could be damaged. Add brake ﬂuid only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system. See “Checking Brake Fluid” in this section. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to check the brake ﬂuid. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4. Checking Brake Fluid Check brake ﬂuid by looking at the brake ﬂuid reservoir. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14. The ﬂuid level should be above the MIN mark on the reservoir. If it is not, have the brake hydraulic system checked to see if there is a leak. After work is done on the brake hydraulic system, make sure the level is between the MIN and MAX marks. What to Add Use only new DOT 3 brake ﬂuid from a sealed container. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12. Always clean the brake ﬂuid reservoir cap and the area around the cap before removing it. This helps keep dirt from entering the reservoir. 5-44 { CAUTION: With the wrong kind of ﬂuid in the brake hydraulic system, the brakes might not work well. This could cause a crash. Always use the proper brake ﬂuid. Notice: (cid:129) Using the wrong ﬂuid can badly damage brake hydraulic system parts. For example, just a few drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in the brake hydraulic system can damage brake hydraulic system parts so badly that they will have to be replaced. Do not let someone put in the wrong kind of ﬂuid. If brake ﬂuid is spilled on the vehicle’s painted surfaces, the paint ﬁnish can be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake ﬂuid on the vehicle. If you do, wash it off immediately. See Washing Your Vehicle on page 5-95. Brake Wear (Except ZR1) This vehicle has 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 can come and go or be heard all the time the vehicle is moving, except when applying the brake pedal ﬁrmly. { CAUTION: The brake wear warning sound means that soon the brakes will not work well. That could lead to an accident. When the brake wear warning sound is heard, have the vehicle serviced. Notice: Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads could result in costly brake repair. Some driving conditions or climates can cause a brake squeal when the brakes are ﬁrst applied or lightly applied. This does not mean something is wrong with the brakes. Brake linings should always be replaced as complete axle sets. 5-45 (cid:129) Brake Wear (ZR1 Only) The ZR1 model does not have built-in brake pad wear indicators and periodic visual inspection of the brake pads is required to determine when to replace the brake pads. Notice: Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads could result in costly brake repair. (cid:129) Make sure that the brakes have been given sufficient time to cool and then set the park brake. The ZR1 also has an electronic brake pad wear sensor system. When pads are worn, the CHANGE BRAKE PADS message displays in the Driver Information Center. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-56. Some driving conditions or climates can cause a brake squeal when the brakes are ﬁrst applied or lightly applied. This does not mean something is wrong with the brakes. Brake linings should always be replaced as complete axle sets. Rear Front (cid:129) Brake pads can be visually inspected through the wheel by inspecting the outer brake pads at each wheel. (cid:129) Brake pads should be replaced when worn to two mm of pad thickness. New pads are 10 mm thick. In addition, brake pad inspection is required any time the tires are removed. 5-46 (cid:129) Notice: Rotors may be chipped if hard contact is made with the wheel during wheel installation or removal. Always use the rotor protectors. Be sure to carefully follow wheel removal and installation instructions. Brake Rotor Wear ZR1 models have ceramic brake rotors. Rotors should be visually inspected whenever the brake pads are replaced. Rotors also need to be weighed before brake pads are replaced to conﬁrm that the rotor mass is greater than the wear-out mass printed on the rotor. The rotor can be reused if the weight of the rotor is above the mass limit. Rotor inspection and weighing methods can be found in the service manual. See Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-16. Brake Rotor Protector { CAUTION: Ceramic rotors will be very hot after operation and touching them may cause burns. Be sure brake system is completely cool prior to installation of protector, or coming in contact with them. 5-47 Brake Pedal Travel See your dealer/retailer if the brake pedal does not return to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be a sign that brake service might be required. Brake Adjustment Every brake stop, the disc brakes automatically adjust for wear. Replacing Brake System Parts The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many parts have to be of top quality and work well together if the vehicle is to have really good braking. The vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality brake parts. When parts of the braking system are replaced — for example, when the brake linings wear down and new ones are installed — be sure to get new approved replacement parts. If this is not done, the brakes might not work properly. For example, if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for the vehicle, the balance between the front and rear brakes can change — for the worse. The braking performance expected can change in many other ways if the wrong replacement brake parts are installed. A rotor protector should always be installed before any wheel removal. The protector can be installed by feeding it through the wheel spokes and slipping it over the outer edge of the rotor. Leave the protector in place, over the rotor edge, until the wheel is re-installed. Rotor protectors are available through your dealer/retailer. 5-48 Battery This vehicle has a maintenance free battery. When it is time for a new battery, see your dealer/retailer for one that has the replacement number shown on the original battery’s label. For battery replacement, see your dealer/retailer or the service manual. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-16. Warning: Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. Vehicle Storage { CAUTION: Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas that can explode. You can be badly hurt if you are not careful. See Jump Starting on page 5-50 for tips on working around a battery without getting hurt. Infrequent Usage: If the vehicle is driven infrequently, remove the black, negative (−) cable from the battery. This helps keep the battery from running down. See “Power Window Initialization” in Power Windows on page 2-17. Extended Storage: For extended storage of the vehicle, remove the black, negative (−) cable from the battery or use a battery trickle charger. This helps maintain the charge of the battery over an extended period of time. 5-49 If you try to start your vehicle by pushing Notice: or pulling it, you could damage your vehicle. Do not push or pull your vehicle to start it; instead, use the jump starting procedure in this manual to start your vehicle when the battery has run down. 1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system. If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt Notice: system with a negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle. 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching each other. If they are, it could cause a ground connection you do not want. You would not be able to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical systems. To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set the parking brake ﬁrmly on both vehicles involved in the jump start procedure. Put an automatic transmission in P (Park) or a manual transmission in Neutral before setting the parking brakes. Jump Starting If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps to do it safely. { CAUTION: Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous because: (cid:129) They contain acid that can burn you. (cid:129) They contain gas that can explode or ignite. (cid:129) They contain enough electricity to burn you. If you do not follow these steps exactly, some or all of these things can hurt you. 5-50 Notice: If you leave the radio or other accessories on during the jump starting procedure, they could be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by the warranty. Always turn off the radio and other accessories when jump starting the vehicle. 3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette lighter or the accessory power outlet. Turn off the radio and all lamps that are not needed. This will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it could save the radio! 4. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and negative (−) terminal locations on each vehicle. 6.2 L LS3 shown, 7.0 L LS7 and 6.2 L LS9 similar. Your vehicle has a remote positive (+) terminal (A) and a remote negative (−) terminal (B), as shown in the illustration, which should be used to jump start your vehicle. The remote positive (+) terminal (A) can be accessed by opening the cover of the engine compartment fuse block. The remote negative (−) terminal (B) is located underneath the engine cover, below the engine oil ﬁll cap. 5-51 See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14 for the location of the engine compartment fuse block and engine oil ﬁll cap. You will not need to access the battery for jump starting. The remote terminals are for that purpose. { CAUTION: An electric fan can start up even when the engine is not running and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any underhood electric fan. { CAUTION: Using a match near a battery can cause battery gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this, and some have been blinded. Use a ﬂashlight if you need more light. Be sure the battery has enough water. You do not need to add water to the battery installed in your new vehicle. But if a battery has ﬁller caps, be sure the right amount of ﬂuid is there. If it is low, add water to take care of that ﬁrst. If you do not, explosive gas could be present. Battery ﬂuid contains acid that can burn you. Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it in your eyes or on your skin, ﬂush the place with water and get medical help immediately. 5-52 { CAUTION: Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts once the engine is running. 5. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose or missing insulation. If they do, you could get a shock. The vehicles could be damaged too. Before you connect the cables, here are some basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go to positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to a heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one. Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−) or you will get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts too. And do not connect the negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal on the dead battery because this can cause sparks. 6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one. 7. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect it to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one. 8. Now connect the black negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal of the good battery. Use a remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one. Do not let the other end touch anything until the next step. The other end of the negative (−) cable does not go to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote negative (−) terminal on the vehicle with the dead battery. 9. Connect the other end of the negative (−) cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery, but not near engine parts that move. The electrical connection is just as good there, and the chance of sparks getting back to the battery is much less. Your vehicle has a remote negative (−) terminal for this purpose. 10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for a while. 11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If it will not start after a few tries, it probably needs service. 5-53 If the jumper cables are connected or Notice: removed in the wrong order, electrical shorting may occur and damage the vehicle. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Always connect and remove the jumper cables in the correct order, making sure that the cables do not touch each other or other metal. Jumper Cable Removal A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote Negative (−) Terminal B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and Negative (−) Terminals C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal 5-54 To disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles, do the following: 1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the vehicle that had the dead battery. 2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the vehicle with the good battery. 3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the vehicle with the good battery. 4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the other vehicle. 5. Return the engine fuse block cover to its original position. 6. You may also need to initialize the power windows. See “Power Window Initialize” under Power Windows on page 2-17 for more information. Rear Axle When to Check Lubricant It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle ﬂuid unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear an unusual noise. A ﬂuid loss could indicate a problem. Have it inspected and repaired. How to Check Lubricant To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a level surface. If the level is below the bottom of the ﬁller plug hole, you will need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant to raise the level to the bottom of the ﬁller plug hole. What to Use To add lubricant when the level is low, use Dexron LS Gear Oil 75W-90 (GM Part No. US. 88862624, in Canada 88862625) meeting GM Speciﬁcation 9986290. To completely reﬁll after draining, see Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12. Then ﬁll to the bottom of the ﬁller plug hole with the Synthetic Gear Lubricant. Headlamp Aiming Headlamp aim has been preset at the factory and should need no further adjustment. However, if your vehicle is damaged in a crash, the headlamp aim may be affected. Aim adjustment to the low-beam headlamps may be necessary if oncoming drivers ﬂash their high-beam headlamps at you (for vertical aim). If the headlamps need to be re-aimed, it is recommended that you take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer for service. 5-55 Bulb Replacement For the proper type of replacement bulbs, see Replacement Bulbs on page 5-59. For any bulb changing procedure not listed in this section, contact your dealer/retailer. High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting { CAUTION: The low beam high intensity discharge lighting system operates at a very high voltage. If you try to service any of the system components, you could be seriously injured. Have your dealer/retailer or a qualiﬁed technician service them. The vehicle may have HID headlamps. After an HID headlamp bulb has been replaced, you may notice that the beam is a slightly different shade than it was originally. This is normal. Halogen Bulbs { CAUTION: Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or others could be injured. Be sure to read and follow the instructions on the bulb package. 5-56 Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and Parking Lamps To replace a high-beam or front parking/turn signal/ DRL bulb: 1. Turn the wheel to allow access to the wheel well. A. High-beam Headlamp B. Low-beam Headlamp C. Front Parking/Turn Signal/Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) If the low-beam headlamp needs to be replaced, see your dealer/retailer. See High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting on page 5-56 for more information. 2. Remove the three outer fasteners to move the access panel back. 3. Remove the outer cover to expose the high-beam headlamp bulb socket. 5-57 4. Remove the headlamp bulb by releasing the outer tabs from the socket. Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps To replace a stoplamp, taillamp/turn signal bulb: 1. Remove the screw from the top of the lamp assembly. 5. Remove the front parking/turn signal bulb by turning the bulb socket counterclockwise. 6. Replace the high-beam headlamp bulb with a new bulb and reattach to the bulb socket. Replace the front parking/turn signal bulb by turning the bulb socket clockwise. 7. Reverse the Steps 2 through 4 to reinstall. 5-58 2. Tilt the lamp assembly toward you. 3. Turn the bulb socket one-quarter turn counterclockwise and pull it out. 4. Pull the bulb straight out to remove it from the socket. 5. Push the new bulb in the bulb socket until it snaps into place. 6. Reinstall the lamp assembly by ﬁrst lining up the tabs on the bottom of the lamp assembly with the tabs in the vehicle, then slide it in. 7. Replace the screw at the top of the lamp assembly. Replacement Bulbs Exterior Lamp Bulb Number Front Parking/Turn Signal/Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) Headlamp, High-Beam Lamp Sidemarker Lamp Stoplamp/Taillamp/Turn Signal Lamp 5702KA H9 W3W 3057KX For replacement bulbs not listed here, contact your dealer/retailer. Windshield Replacement The windshield is part of the Head-Up Display (HUD) system. If you ever have to get the windshield replaced, get one that is designed for HUD or the HUD image may look out of focus. Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for wear and cracking. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4 for more information. Replacement blades come in different types and are removed in different ways. For the proper type and length, see Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 6-14. It is a good idea to clean or replace the wiper blade assembly every six months. Allowing the wiper blade arm to touch the windshield when no wiper blade is installed could damage the windshield. Any damage that occurs would not be covered by the vehicle’s warranty. Do not allow the wiper blade arm to touch the windshield. 5-59 To remove the wiper blade assembly: 1. Open the hood to gain access to the windshield wipers. 2. Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield. 4. Remove the insert from the blade assembly (A). The insert has two notches at one end that are locked by the bottom claws of the blade assembly. At the notch end, pull the insert from the blade assembly. To install the new wiper insert:

Boost Classifieds - Car Advice, Reviews, Events & Classifieds

2009 Chevrolet Corvette Owners Manual