CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1997 5.G Owners Manual

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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine e Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
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5-3
5-8
5-13
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
5- 16 Cooling System
5-22 If a Tire Goes Flat
5-22 If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
5-1

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hazard
I
I’ Warning Flashers
a
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
Press this button to make
your front and rear turn
signal lamps flash on
and
off.
The hazard warning flashers will work once the button
is pressed, regardless of the key position.
To turn off the flashers, push the hazard button.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side
of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 1
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
Corvette. But please
use the following steps to do
it safely.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Trying to start your Corvette by pushing or
pulling it could damage your vehicle, even
if you
have a manual transmission. And if you have an
automatic transmission, it won’t start that way. Batteries can
hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
0 They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
0 They contain enough electricity to
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
burn
you.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able to
start your Corvette, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or accessory plug.
Turn off all lamps that
aren’t needed as well as radios. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries. In addition, it
could save your radio!
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the
positive
(+) and negative (-) terminals on each.
A 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ’ 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 don’t
need to add water
to the Delco Freedom’ battery
installed in every new
GM 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 don’t, explosive gas could
be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Don’t 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. Check that the jumper cables don’t 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
(+) and negative (-) will go to an unpainted
metal engine part or a body metal surface. Don’t
connect positive
(+) to negative (-) or you will get a
short that would damage the battery and maybe other
parts, too. And don’t connect negative
(-) to
negative
(-) on the dead battery, as this can cause
sparks. Follow Step
9 carefully.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engine is running.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 6. Positive (+) goes to positive (+) and negative (-)
goes to negative (-) or a metal engine part. Connect
the red positive
(+) cable to the positive (+) terminal
of the vehicle with the dead battery. Use a remote
positive
(+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
7. Don't let the other end
touch metal.
.. Connect , it
to the positive
(+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
positive
(+) terminal if
8. Now connect the
black negative
(-) cable
to the good battery's
negative
(-) terminal.
Don't let the other end
touch anything until the
next step.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 11. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.
If it won’t start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
9. The other end of the negative (-) cable doesn’t go
to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy, unpainted
metal part on the engine
of the vehicle with the
dead battery. Attach the 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, but the chance of sparks getting
back to the battery is much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
the engine for a while.
12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
I
- +
B
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing
service tow your vehicle. They can provide the right
equipment and know how to tow your vehicle
without damage.
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since
it
was factory new by adding aftermarket items like fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you
do anything, turn on the hazard
warning flashers. When
you call, tell the towing service:
0 That your vehicle cannot be towed with
sling-type equipment.
That your vehicle has rear-wheel drive.
The make, model and year of your vehicle.
0 Whether you can still move the shift lever.
0 If there was an accident, what was damaged.
0 If the vehicle is to be towed from the rear with a
wheel-lift truck, a front dolly will be required.
When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator
know that this manual contains detailed towing
instructions and illustrations.
The operator may want to
see them.

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’
A CAUTION:
I
To help avoid injury to you or others:
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is
Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds.
Never tow with damaged parts not fully
Never get under your vehicle after it has
Always secure the vehicle on each side with
Use only R-hooks. being towed.
secured.
been lifted by the tow truck.
separate safety chains when towing it.
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision,
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before it is transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing, etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle. Always use
R-hooks inserted
in the front and rear R-hook
slots. Never use J-hooks. They will damage
drivetrain and suspension components.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
in the
OFF position. The steering wheel should be
clamped in
a straight-ahead position, with a clamping
device designed for towing service.
Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column lock for this. The transmission
should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking
brake released.
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