brakes CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1994 4.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How long should you keep the coolant
heater plugged in? The answer depends
on the weather, the kind of
oil you have,
and some other things. Instead of trying
to list everything here, we ask that you
contact your Chevrolet dealer in the area
where you’ll be parking your vehicle. The
dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.
. i:,
Automatic Transmission
There are several different positions for
your shift lever.
P (Park)
This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your
engine because your vehicle can’t move
easily. Ensure the shift
lever is fully in
“P”
(Park) range before starting the engine.
Your Corvette has a brake-transmission
shift interlock. You have to fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift
from “P” (Park) when the ignition key is
in the “Run” position. If you cannot shift
out of
“P” (Park), ease pressure on the
shift lever
- push the shift lever all the
51 ...

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features and Controls
way into “P” (Park) and release the shift
lever button as you maintain brake
application. Then press the shift lever
button and move the shift lever into the
gear
you wish. See “Shifting out of ‘P’
(Park)” in the Index.
R (Reverse)
Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
dangerous. Unless your foot is
on the brake pedal, your
could move very rapidly.
lose control and hit
Don’t shift
out of
Shifting to “R’ (Reverse) while your
vehicle is moving forward could
damage your transmission. Shift to
“R’ only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transmission, see “Stuck:
In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
N (Neutral)
In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when
you’re already moving, use
“N’ (Neutral:
only. Also, use
“N’ when your vehicle is
being towed.
... 52
NOTICE:
I
Damage to your transmission caused
by shifting out of “P” IPark) or
“N’
(Neutral) with the engine racing isn’t
covered by your warranty.
0 Automatic Overdrive
This position is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and you’re:
- Going less than about 35 mph
(56 kmh), push your accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
- Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or
more, push the accelerator all the way
down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
D (Third Gear)
This is like 0 , but you never go into
Overdrive.
Here are some times
you might choose
“D’ instead of 0 :
- When driving on hilly, winding roads
- When going down a steep hill
2 (Second Gear)
This position gives you more power but
lower
fuel economy. You can use “2” on
hills. It can help control your speed as
you
go down steep mountain roads, but
then you would also want to use your
brakes
off and on.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Don’t drive in “2” (Second Gear) for
more than
5 miles (8 km), or at
speeds over
55 mph (88 km/h), or
you can damage your transmission.
Use or “D” as much as possible.
Don’t shift into
“2” unless you are
going slower than
65 mph (1 05
km/h), or you can damage your
engine.
0 1 (First Gear)
This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
“2.” You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep
snow or mud. If the selector lever is put
ir
“1,” the transmission won’t shift into first
gear until the vehicle is going slowly
enough.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t
try to drive. This might happen if you
were stuck in very deep sand or mud
or were up against a solid object. You
could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill,
don’t hold your vehicle there with
only the accelerator pedal. This
could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes or
shift into
“P” (Park) to hold your
vehicle in position on a hill.
Maximum engine speed is limited to
protect driveline components from
improper operation.
1 3 5
I Manual Transmission
six-Speed
?his is your shift pattern. Here’s how to
bperate your transmission:
1 (First Gear) - Press the clutch
pedal and shift into
“ 1 .” Then, slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as
you press
the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into
‘‘ 1 ” when you’re
going less than
40 mph (64 km/h). If
you’ve come to a complete stop and
it’s hard to shift into
“1,” put the shift
lever in “Neutral” and let up on the
clutch. Press the clutch pedal back
down. Then shift into
“1.”
53 ...

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To release the parking brake: Hold the
brake pedal down. Pull the parking brake
lever up until you can push in the release
button. Hold the release button in as
you
move the lever all the way down.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on
can cause your rear brakes to over-
heat.
You may have to replace them,
and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
Shifting into“P” (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into “P’ (Park)
position like this:
0 Hold in the button on the lever,
and push the lever all the way
toward the front
of your vehicle.
I 3. Move the ignition key to “LOCK.”
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key
in your
hand, your vehicle
is in “P” (Park).
57 ...

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features and Controls
NOTICE:
0
0
0
0
When using concentrated washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer’s instructions
for adding water.
Don’t 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
doesn’t clean as well as washer
fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only
314 full when it’s very cold.
This allows for expansion,
which could damage
the tank
if it is completely full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in
your windshield washer. It can
damage your washer system
and paint.
>wise Control
Vith Cruise Control, you can maintain a
peed of about 25 mph (40 km/h) or
nore without keeping your foot on the
ccelerator. This can really help on long
ips. Cruise Control does not work at
peeds below about
25 mph (40 kmh).
Vhen you apply your brakes or push the
lutch pedal, or if ASR is active, the
bise Control shuts off.
To Set Cruise Control
1. Turn the Cruise Control switch on.
... 64

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
1
E
E
1
S
t
r
r
’arking Brake Indicator Light
rhis light will come on when you set your
mking brake, and it will stay on if your
)arking brake doesn’t release fully.
rhis light should also come on as you
tart the.vehicle. If it doesn’t come on
hen, have it fixed
so it will be ready to
cmind you if the parking brake hasn’t
&eleased fully.
SERVICE
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With anti-lock, this light will come on
when you start your engine and may stay
on for about two seconds. That’s normal.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is i
problem.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition off.
Or, if the light comes on when you’re
driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition
off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still
stays on, or comes on again while you’re
driving, your Corvette needs service. If
the regular brake system warning light
isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes.
If the regular
brake system warning light is also on, you
don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a
problem with your regular brakes. See
“Brake System Warning Light” earlier in
this part.
85 ...

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
There’s something else about drinking
and driving that many people don’t know.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a
person’s system can make crash injuries
worse. That’s especially true for brain,
spinal cord and heart injuries. That means
that if anyone who has been drinking
-
driver or passenger - is in a crash, the
chance
of being killed or permanently
disabled is higher than if that person had
not been drinking. And we’ve already
seen that the chance of a crash itself is
higher for drinking drivers.
. . .124
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your
vehicle
go where you want it to go. They
are the brakes, the steering and the
accelerator. All three systems have to do
their work at the places where the tires
meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you’re driving on
snow or
ice, it’s easy to ask more of those
control systems than the tires and road
can provide. That means you can lose
control of your vehicle.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time
and reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the
brake pedal. That’s perception time. Then
you have to bring up your foot and do it.
That’s reaction time.
Average reaction time is about
314 of a
second. But that’s only
an average. It
might be less with one driver and as long
as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and eyesight all
play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in
314 of a second,
a vehicle moving at
60 mph (100 km/h)
travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot
of distance in an emergency, so keeping
enough space between your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances
vary greatly with the surface of the road
(whether it’s pavement or gravel); the
condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; and the condition of your brakes.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some
people drive in spurts
- heavy
acceleration followed by heavy braking
- rather than keeping pace with traffic.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine This is a mistake. Your brakes may not
have time to cool between hard stops.
Your brakes will wear out much faster if
you do a lot
of heavy braking. If you keep
pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a
lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re
driving, brake normally but don’t pump
your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get
harder to push down. If your engine stops,
you will still have some power brake
assist. But you will use it
when you brake.
Once the power assist is used up, it may
take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
SERVICE
I
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your Corvette has an advanced electronic
braking system that will help prevent
skidding.
This light on the instrument panel will go
on when you start your vehicle.
When you start your vehicle and begin to
drive away, you may hear a momentary
motor or clicking noise. And you may
even notice that your brake pedal moves
,
little while this is going on. This is the
ABS system testing itself. If there’s a
problem with the anti-lock brake system,
the anti-lock brake system warning light
will stay on.
See “Anti-lock Brake System Warning
Light” in the Index. Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s, say
the road
is wet. You’re driving safely.
Suddenly an animal jumps out in front
You slam on the brakes. Here’s &at
happens with
ABS. ..
A computer senses that wheels &g,
slowing down. If one of the wheels is
about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front
wheel and at the rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change
the
brake pressure faster than any driver
could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions. of
you.
125..,

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
You can steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed and
controls braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the
time you need to get your foot up to the
brake pedal.
If you get too close to the
vehicle
in front of you, you won’t have
time to apply your brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down and let anti-lock work
for you. You may hear a motor or clicking
. . .I26
noise and feel the brake pedal move a
little during a hard stop, but this is
normal. When your anti-lock system is
adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a
braking skid, the “ABS ACTIVE” light
will come on. See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Active Light” in the Index.
ASR (Accelerated Slip Regulation)
System
Your vehicle has an ASR system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially
useful in slippery road conditions. The
system operates only if it senses that the
rear wheels are spinning too much or
are beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system works
the rear brakes
and reduces engine power (by closing the
throttle and managing spark) to limit
wheel spin.
The “ASR ACTIVE” light will come on
when the ASR system is limiting wheel
spin. See “ASR Active Light”
in the
Index. You may feel the system working,
or you may notice some noise, but this is
normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when
the ASR system begins to limit wheel
spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. When road conditions allow
you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage cruise control. (See “Cruise
Control” in the Index.)

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path
when you
turn the front wheels. If there’s
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going in the same direction. If you’ve
ever tried to steer a vehicle
on wet ice,
you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve
depends on the condition of your tires and
the road surface, the angle at which
the
curve is banked, and,your speed. While
you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor
you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp
curve. Then you suddenly accelerate.
Both control systems
- steering and
acceleration
- have to do their work
where the tires meet the road. Unless
your
ASR system is on, adding the
sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose
control.
What should you do if this ever happens?
Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the
vehicle the way you want it to go, and
slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of course,
the posted speeds are based on good
weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions
you’ll want to go
slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as
you
approach a curve, do it before you enter
the curve, while your front wheels are
straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can
“drive”. through the curve. Maintain
a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of
the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more
effective than braking. For example, you
come over a hill and find a truck stopped
in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out
from nowhere, or a child darts out from
between parked cars and stops right in
front of you. You can avoid these problems
by braking
- if you can stop in time. But
sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room.
That’s the time for evasive action
-
steering around the problem.
Your Corvette can perform very well in
emergencies like these. First apply your
brakes. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision.
Then steer around the problem, to the left
or right depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close
attention and a quick decision. If you are
holding the steering wheel at the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions,
you can turn it a full
180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations
are always possible is
a good reason to
practice defensive driving at all times and
wear safety belts properly.