check engine CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1996 4.G Workshop Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze that meets GM Specification
6277M, which won’t damage aluminum parts. Use
GM Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer) (GM
Part
No. 3634621) with any complete coolant change. If you
use this mixture, you don’t need to add anything else.
Adding only plain water to your 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
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored.
silicate-free) antifreeze.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the
mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Coolant
LOW
COOLANT
When your engine is cold, check the dipstick on the cap
of the coolant recovery tank. The coolant level should
be at COLD, or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level on the dipstick should be up to HOT,
or a little higher. If this
light comes on, it
means you’re
low on engine
coolant.
Your Corvette also has a high fill reservoir located at
the right rear
of the engine compartment.
If the recovery tank is very low or empty, also add
coolant to the high fill reservoir.
To add coolant at
the high fill reservoir, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
6-27

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Coolant High Fill Reservoir Cap
NOTICE:
Your coolant high fill reservoir cap is a 15 psi
(105 kPa) pressure-type cap and must be tightly
installed to prevent coolant loss
and possible
engine damage from overheating. Be sure the
arrows on the cap line up with the overflow tube.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a pre-set temperature.
Power Steering Fluid
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.
6-29

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How To Check Power Steering Fluid
When the engine compartment is cool, unscrew the cap
and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag. Replace the cap
and completely tighten it. Then remove the cap again
and look at the fluid level on 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 kvel should be
at the
HOT mark.
[rfl
When the engine
compartment is
cool, the level
should be at
the
FULL COLD mark.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of fluid to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index. Always use the proper fluid.
Failure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and
damage hoses and seals.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid,.be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use.
If you will be
operating your vehicle in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is here. It is filled
with
DOT-3 brake fluid.
There
are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid
goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake
lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid level
goes back up. The other reason is that fluid
is leaking out
of the brake system. If it is, you should have your brake
system fixed, since a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes won’t work well, or won’t work at
all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your brake fluid,
Adding brake fluid won’t correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you’ll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings.
You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work
is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
--
A CAUTION: 3
-
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on
the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is hot
enough.
You or others could be burned, and your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only
when work
is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to
check your brake fluid. See “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections” in the Index.
6-32

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Checking Brake Fluid
You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap.
Just look at the brake fluid reservoir. The fluid level
should be above the MIN mark on the reservoir. If it
isn’t, have your brake 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
When you
do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brake
fluid
-- such as Delco Supreme 11 @ (GM Part
No. 1052535). Use new brake fluid from a sealed
container
only, and always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap before removing it.
1
With the wrong kind of fluid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work
at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake fluid.
NOTICE:
0 Using the wrong fluid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just
a few
drops
of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake system can damage brake
system parts
so badly that they’ll have to be
replaced. Don’t let someone put in the
wrong kind of fluid.
If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to spill brake fluid
on your vehicle.
If you do, wash it off
immediately. See “Appearance Care” in the
Index.
6-33

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tires
We don’t make tires. Your new Corvette comes with
high-quality tires made by a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions about your tire warranty and
where to obtain service, see your Corvette Warranty
booklet for details.
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are
dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as
a result of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle” in
the Index.
CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Co
Underinflated tires
pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires
at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread
is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be
See “1nfla.tion
-- Tire Pressure” in this section for
the correct inflation pressure for competitive or
high-speed driving.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Extended Mobility Tires (Option)
If your Corvette has optional Goodyear Extended
Mobility Tires
(EMT’s), the tires will have “EMT”
molded on the sidewalls. Your vehicle may also have a
spare tire delete option. With the spare tire delete option,
there’s no spare tire,
no tire changing equipment and no
place to store
a tire in the vehicle. Extended Mobility
Tires perform
so well without any air that a Low Tire
Pressure Warning System (LTPWS) is used to alert you
if a tire has lost pressure. A LOWFLAT TIRE light will
appear on your Driver Information Center if a tire’s
inflation pressure is less than
25 psi (170 kPa). If the
LOWFLAT TIRE light comes
on, check your tire
pressures as soon as you can. See
“Low Tire Pressure
Warning Light” in the Index for additional information.
When the LOWELAT TIRE warning light is on,
your vehicle’s handling capabilities will be
reduced during severe maneuvers.
If you drive
too fast, you could lose control of your vehicle.
You or others could be injured. Don’t drive over 1 ,
55 mph (90 kmh) when the LOWLFLAT TIRE
warning light
is on. Drive cautiously, and check
your tire pressures as soon as you can.
I
6-47

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If a tire goes flat, you won’t need to stop on the side of
the road to change the tire.
You can just keep on driving.
The shorter the distance you drive and the slower the
speed, the greater the chance that the tire will not have
to be replaced. If you drive on a deflated EMT for
distances of
50 miles (80 km) or less and at speeds of
55 mph (90 km/h) or less, there is a good chance that the
tire can be repaired. The tire can operate effectively with
no air pressure for up to 200 miles (320 km) at speeds
up to
55 mph (90 km/h), but the tire would then have to
be replaced. Also remember: When a tire is filled with
air, it provides a cushion between the road and the
wheel. Because you do not have this cushion when
driving on a deflated tire, try to avoid potholes that
could damage your wheel and require replacement of it.
Some road hazards can damage a
tire beyond repair. This
damage could occur before you’ve driven on the tire in a
deflated condition. Whenever a tire has been damaged, or
if you’ve driven any distance on a deflated
EMT, check
with a Goodyear EMT Service Center to determine
whether the tire can be repaired or should be replaced. To
maintain your vehicle’s extended mobility feature,
all
replacement tires must be Extended Mobility Tires.
See the Goodyear Extended Mobility Tire Owner’s
Manual and Limited Warranty supplied with your
Corvette for additional information.
Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on
the rear edge of the driver’s door, shows the correct
inflation pressures for your tires when they’re cold.
“Cold” means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than
1 mile (1.6 km).
For competitive driving or high-speed driving (over
150 mph or 240 km/h), make sure your tires are inflated
to 35 psi
(240 kPa). When you end this type of driving,
reduce the cold inflation pressures (if necessary) to those
listed on the Tire-Loading Information label.
I NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right. It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underinflation), you can get the following:
0 Too much flexing
Too much heat
0 Tire overloading
0 Bad wear
0 Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
NOTICE: (Continued)

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I NOTICE: (Continued) I
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
If you have a compact spare tire, it should be at
60 psi (420 Wa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
Tire Rotation
The tires on your Corvette are directional, asymmetrical
and are different sizes front to rear. Due to this, your
tires should not be rotated. Each tire and wheel should
be used only in the position it is in.
When It’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s time for new tires is to check the
treadwear indicators, which will appear when your tires
have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or less of tread remaining.
6-49