CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1996 4.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. You should turn
your ASR system off. (See “ASR System” in the Index.)
Then shift back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a
forward gear (or with a manual transmission, between
FIRST
(1) or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R)),
spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on
the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear. If
that doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may need
to be towed out. If you do need to be towed out, see
“Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine e Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your
Corvette. This section begins with service and fuel
information, and then it shows how to check important
fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical
information about your vehicle, and a part devoted to its
appearance care.
Service
Your Corvette dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you’ll go to your
dealer for all your service needs. You’ll get genuine GM
parts and GM-trained and supported service people. We
hope you’ll want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine GM parts have one
of these marks:
n
Delco
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you’ll
want
to get the proper Corvette Service Manual. It tells
you much more about how to service your Corvett,e than
this manual can.
To order the proper service manual, see
“Service and Owner Publications’’ in the Index.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see “Servicing Your Air
Bag-Equipped Corvette” in the Index.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any’iervice work you
perform. See “Maintenance Record” in the Index.
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You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged
if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, and the proper replacement
parts and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance
task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused.
If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall
off. You could be hurt.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuel
If you have the 5.7L Code 5 engine, use premium
unleaded gasoline rated at
91 octane or higher.
If you have the 5.7L Code
P engine, use premium
unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher for best
performance. You may use middle grade
or regular
unleaded gasolines, but your vehicle may not accelerate
as well.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use should meet
specifications ASTM D4814 in the United States and
CGSB 3.5-M93
in Canada. Improved gasoline
specifications have been developed by the American
Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) for
better vehicle performance and engine protection.
Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification could
provide improved driveability and emission control
system protection compared to other gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane for premium is at least 91
(at least 89 for middle grade and
87 for regular). If the
octane is less than 87, you may get a heavy knocking
noise when you drive. If it’s bad enough, it can damage
your engine.
If you’re using fuel rated at the recommended octane or
higher and you still hear heavy knocking, your engine
needs service. But don’t worry if you hear
a little
pinging noise when you’re accelerating or driving up a
hill. That’s normal, and you don’t have to buy a higher
octane fuel to get rid of pinging, It’s the heavy, constant
knock that means you have a problem.
If your vehicle
is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label),
it
is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications. If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return to your
authorized Corvette dealer for diagnosis to determine
the cause of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine In Canada, some gasolines contain an octane enhancing
additive called MMT.
If you use such fuels, your
emission control system performance may deteriorate
and the malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may also turn on. If this happens, return to your
authorized Corvette dealer for service.
To pfovide cleaner air, all gasolines are now required to
contain additives that will help prevent deposits from
forming
in your engine and fuel system, ailowing your
emission control system to function properly. Therefore,
you should not have to add anything to the fuel.
In
addition, gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be
available in your area to help clean the air. General
Motors recommends that you use these gasolines
if they
comply with the specifications described earlier.
I NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may 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 wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN).
General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation,
North American Export Sales (NAES)
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
LA

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Filling Your Tank
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently, and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames, and smoking materials away from gasoline.
The cap is under a hinged door on the rear decklid of
your vehicle. While refueling, place the
cap
in the indent to the left of
the filler neck.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine /rl CAUTION:
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you
if you open the
,fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Corvette” in the Index. When you put
the cap back
on, turn it to the right until
you hear at least three clicks. Make sure
you fully install
the cap. 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” in the Index.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit or have proper
. venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might be damaged.
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sr

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Things Under the Hood
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the handle inside the vehicle. Then
go
to the side of the vehicle and pull up on the rear
edge
of the hood, near the windshield.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine LT1 Engine Shown, LT4 Engine Similar You’ll
see the following when you open the hood with
the
LT1 engine:
A. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Reservoir
(if equipped)
B. Brake Fluid Reservoir
C. Battery
D. Electric Engine Fan
E. Air Cleaner
E Coolant Recovery Tank
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap
I. Engine Oil Dipstick
J. Coolant High Fill Reservoir
K. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (if equipped)
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
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 gasoline,
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.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps are
on.
Then release the hood strut by moving it to the centered
position and lowering the hood. Lower the hood until
the bottom
of the hood is the same height as the top
of the windshield, then release it.
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