steering CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1994 4.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The right-front passenger’s air bag is
located in the instrument panel on the
passenger’s side.
When is an air bag expected to inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate in
moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
crashes. The air bag will only inflate
if the
velocity of
the impact is above the
designed threshold level. When impacting straight into a wall that does not move or
deform, the threshold level for most
GM
vehicles is between 9 and 15 mph (14 and
23 kdh). However, this velocity
threshold depends on the vehicle design
and may be several miles-per-hour faster
or slower. In addition,
this threshold
velocity
will be considerably higher if the
vehicle strikes an object such as a parked car which will move and deform
on
impact. The air bag is also not designed to
inflate in rollovers, side impacts, or rear
impacts where the inflation would provide
no occupant protection benefit.
It is possible that
in a crash, only one of
the two air bags in your Corvette will
deploy. This is rare, but can happen
in a
crash just severe enough to make an air
bag inflate.
In any particular crash, the determination
of whether the air bag should have
inflated cannot be based solely on the level of damage on the vehicle(s).
Inflation is determined by
the angle of the
impact and the vehicle’s deceleration, of
which vehicle damage is only one
indication. Repair cost is not a good
indicator of whether an air bag should
have deployed.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In a frontal or near-frontal impact of
sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that
the vehicle is suddenly
stopping as a result
of a crash. The
sensing system triggers a chemical
reaction of
the sodium azide sealed in the
inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen
gas, which inflates a cloth bag. The inflator,
cloth bag, and related hardware
are all part of the air bag inflator modules
packed inside the steering wheel and
in
the instrument panel in front of the
passenger.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the steering
wheel
or the instrument panel. The air bag
supplements the protection provided by
safety belts.
Air bags distribute the force
of the impact more evenly over the
occupant’s upper body, stopping the
occupant more gradually. But air bags
would not provide protection in many
types of collisions, including rollovers
and rear and side impacts, primarily
because an occupant’s motion is not
toward the air bag. Air bags should never
be regarded as anything more than a
supplement to safety belt protection in
moderate to severe frontal and
near-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag
inflation?
After the air bag has inflated, it will then
quickly deflate. This occurs
so quickly
that some people
may not even realize
25 . ,

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Seats and Restraint Systems
that the air bag inflated. Some
components of the air bag module
in the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag
or the instrument panel for the
passenger’s bag may be hot for a short
time, but the portion of the bag that comes
into contact with you will not be hot to
the touch. There will be small amounts of
smoke and dust coming from vents in the
deflated air bags. The air bag will
not
impede the driver’s vision or ability to
steer the vehicle, nor will it hinder
‘the
occupants from exiting the vehicle.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate
an air bag, windshields are broken by
vehicle deformation. Additional
windshield breakage may occur in
vehicles with passenger air bags because
the windshield acts as a reaction surface
for the inflating air bag.
The air bags are designed to inflate
only once. After they inflate, you’ll
need some new parts for your air bag
system. If you don’t get them,
the air
bag system won’t be there to help
protect you in another crash. A new
system will include air bag modules
and possibly other parts. The service
... 26
manual has information about the
need to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a
diagnostic module, which records
information about the air bag system
if the air bag deploys in a crash. The
module records information about the
readiness of the system, which sensors
activated the deployment, and whether
the driver’s safety belt was in use.
Let only qualified technicians work on
your air bag system. Improper service
can mean that your air bag system
won’t work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the
driver’s or the right-front passenger’s
air bag, they may not work properly.
You may have to replace the air bag
on the steering
wheel or both the air
bag and the instrument panel for the
passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or
break the air bag covers.
Is the smoke from an air bag inflation
harmful?
The particles emitted during air bag
inflation are not harmful to most people.
Some people with respiratory ailments may experience difficulty breathing
if
they stay in the vehicle with the windows
closed after air bag inflation.
So, if your
air bag inflates, you and any passengers
should exit the vehicle
if and when it is
safe to do
so. If you or your passengers
can’t get out of the vehicle, try to get
fresh air by opening a window, turning on
the fan, or opening a door.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Corvette
Air bags affect how your Corvette should
be serviced. There are parts of the air bag
system in several places around your
vehicle. You don’t want
the system to
inflate while someone is working on your
vehicle. Your Chevrolet dealer and the 1994 Corvette Service Manual have
information about servicing your vehicle
and
the air bag system. The air bag
system does not need regular
maintenance.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
If you put things in the hatchback
area, be sure they won’t break the
glass when
you close it.
Never slam the hatch down. You
could break the glass or damage the
defogger grid.
When you close the hatch, make sure
you pull down from the center, not
the sides. If you pull the hatch down
1 from the side too often, the weather-
1 strip can be damaged.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in
;ome cities. Although your Corvette has a
lumber of theft-deterrent features, we
mow that nothing we put on
it can make
It impossible to steal. However, there are
ways you can help.
Key in the Ignition
[f you walk away from your vehicle with
the keys inside, it’s an easy target for joy
riders or professional thieves
- so don’t
do it.
When you park your Corvette and open
the driver’s door, you’ll hear a tone
reminding you to remove your key from
the ignition and take it with you. Always
do this. Your steering wheel will be
locked, and
so will your ignition. If you
have an automatic transmission, taking
your key out also locks your transmission.
And remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows
and lock your vehicle. Remember to keep
your valuables out of sight. Put them in a
storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be
watching your vehicle, it’s best to lock it
up and take your keys. But what if you
have to leave your ignition key? What
if
you have to leave something valuable in
your vehicle?
0 Put your valuables in a storage area,
0 Lock the storage area.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
0 Then take the door key with you.
like the rear area or center console.
43 ...

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features and Controls
NOTICE:
Your modern Corvette doesn’t need
an elaborate “break-in.” But it will
perform better in the long run if you
follow these guidelines:
0 Keep your speed at 55 mph
(88 km/h) or less for the first
500 miles (804 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed
- fast or slow - for the
fist
500 miles (804 km).
Don’t make full-throttle
starts.
Avoid malung hard stops for
the first
200 miles (322 km)
or so. During this time your
new brake linings
aren’t yet
broken in.
Hard stops with
new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
“breaking-in” guideline
every time you get new
brake linings.
I
Ignition Switch
With the ignition key in the ignition
switch, you can turn the switch to five
positions:
Acc (A): Position in which you can
operate your electrical power accessories.
Press in the ignition switch as you turn
the top of it toward you.
Lock (B): The only position in which
you can remove the key. This locks your
steering wheel, ignition and automatic
transmission.
If you have an automatic transmission, tht
ignition switch can’t be turned to “Lock”
unless the shift lever
is in the “P” (Park)
position.
... 46
Off (C): Unlocks the steering wheel,
ignition and automatic transmission, but
does not send electrical power to any
accessories. Use
this position if your
vehicle must be pushed
or towed.
Run (D): Position to which the switch
returns after you start your engine and
release the switch. The switch stays in
the “Run” position when the engine is
running. But even when the engine is not
running, you can use “Run” to operate
your electrical power accessories and to
display some instrument panel warning
and indicator lights.
Start (E): Starts the engine. When the
engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
switch will return to “Run” for normal
driving.
When the engine is not running, “Acc”
and “Run” allow you to operate your
slectrical accessories, such as the radio.
A warning tone will sound if you open
the driver’s door when the ignition is in
“Off,’’ “Lock” or “Acc” and the key is in
the ignition.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features and Controls
Follow the proper steps to be sure your
vehicle won’t move. See “Shifting into
‘P’ (Park)” in the Index.
... 60
Windows
Power Windows
With power windows, switches on the
door control each window when the
ignition is on or when DAB is present.
(See “Delayed Accessory Bus”
in the
Index.)
The switch for the driver’s window has ai
Express Down feature. Press the switch
for at least one third
of a second, and the
window will lower completely.
To stop
Express Down, press the switch again.
You can also open this window any
amount by quickly pressing and releasint
the switch.
I Horn
:o sound the horn, press either horn
ymbol
on your steering wheel.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust
the steering wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to
give your legs more room
when you exit
and enter
the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel
and pull the lever. Move the steering
wheel to a comfortable level, then release
the lever to lock the wheel
in place.
The Turn
Signal/Headlight Beam
Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering
:olumn includes your:
D Turn Signal and Lane Change
D Headlight High/Low Beam
D Windshield Wipers
D Windshield Washer
D Cruise Control Indicator
rurn Signal and Lane Change
ndicator
:he
turn signal has two upward (for
tight) and two downward (for Left)
kositions. These positions allow you to
ignal a
turn or a lane change.
10 signal a turn, move the lever all the
vay up or down. When the turn
is
inished, the lever will return
.utomatically.
4 chime will remind you if you leave
'our turn signal on for more than one
nile
(1.6 km) of driving.
61 . .
r

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 The
comc
prob
Whe
will
drivi Systc
SERVICE
ASR
“SERVICE ASR“ warning light will
2 on
to let you know if there’s a
lem with the ASR system. See “ASR
:m Warning Light” in the Index.
n this warning light is on, the system
not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
ng accordingly. The
ASR system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit
wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, you should always leave the
system on. But you can turn the ASR
system off
if you ever need to. (You
should turn the system off if your vehicle
ever gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice or snow.
See “Rocking Your Vehicle” in the
Index.)
To
turn the system off, press the button
located above the headlight switch. The
“ASR
OFF’ light will come on and stay
on. If the ASR system is limiting wheel
spin when you press the button, the
system won’t turn off right away. It will
wait until there’s no longer a current
need
to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any
time by pressing the button again. The
“ASR
OFF’ light should go off.
Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when
you need to. With anti-lock, you can steer
and brakG at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
; .1
,.
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because
the engine stops or the system is not
functioning, you can steer but it will take
much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
A lot
of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned
on the news happen on curves.
Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each
of
us is subject to the same laws of physics
when driving on curves. The traction of
127 ...

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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Off-Road Recovery
You may find sometime that your right
wheels have dropped off the edge of a
road onto the shoulder (A) while you’re
driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slight11
below the pavement, recovery should be
fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and
then,
if there is nothing in the way, steer
so that your vehicle straddles the edge of
the pavement.
You can turn the steering
wheel up to
1/4 turn (B) until the right
front tire contacts the pavement edge.
Then turn your steering wheel to
go
straight down the roadway.
Passing
fhe driver of a vehicle about to pass
mother on a two-lane highway waits for
ust the right moment, accelerates, moves
tround the vehicle ahead, then goes back
.nto the right lane again.
A simple
naneuver?
Vot necessarily! Passing another vehicle
In a two-lane highway is a potentially
langerous move, since the passing
fehicle occupies the same lane as
Incoming traffic for several seconds. A
niscalculation, an error in judgment, or
brief surrender to frustration or anger
:an suddenly put the passing driver face
:o face with the worst of all traffic
lccidents
- the head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
“Drive ahead.” Look down the road,
to the sides, and
to crossroads for
situations that might affect your
passing patterns. If you have any
doubt whatsoever about making a
successful pass, wait for a better time.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement
markings, and lines. If you can see a
sign up ahead that might indicate a
turn or an intersection, delay your
pass. A broken center line usually indicates
it’s all right to pass
(providing the road ahead
is clear).
Never cross a solid line on your side
of the lane or a double solid line, even
if the road seems empty of
approaching traffic.
Do not get too close to the vehicle you
want to pass while you’re awaiting an
opportunity. For one thing, following
too closely reduces your area of
vision, especially if you’re following
a larger vehicle. Also, you won’t have
adequate space if the vehicle ahead
suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass
is coming up, start to accelerate but
stay in the right lane and don’t get too
close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to
move into the other lane. If the way is
clear to pass, you will have a “running
start” that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping
back. And if something happens to
cause you to cancel your pass, you
need only slow down and drop back
again and wait for another
opportunity.