traction control CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1994 4.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Features and Controls
RIDE CONTROL
SPORT
To@F
fl
-
PS c
Selective Ride Control
(OPTION)
This knob is on the center console. Turn i
to select the ride control of your choice:
TOUR: Use for city and highway driving
Provides a smooth, soft ride.
SPORT: Use where road conditions or
personal preference demand more control
Provides more “feel,” or response to the
road conditions.
PERF: Use for performance driving.
Provides tight, firm ride and precise
response to road conditions. ‘TOUR” and “SPORT” will
provide a
imilar ride at low speeds around town,
md both settings will increase control
tnd firmness at higher speeds. “SPORT,”
lowever, will adjust more at ‘higher
;peeds than “TOUR” will.
,‘PERF” will provide much more
Zontrol and a firmer ride at all speeds.
You can select a setting at any time.
Based on your speed,
the system
wtomatically adjusts to provide the best
aide and handling. Select a new setting
whenever driving conditions change.
The “SERVICE
RIDE CONTROL” light
monitors the system. Refer to “Service
Ride Control Light” in the Index.
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Your rear axle can give you additional
traction on snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel.
It works like a standard axle most
of the
time, but when one of the rear wheels
has no traction and the other does,
the
limited-slip feature will allow the wheel
with traction to move the vehicle.
Parking
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake: Hold the brak
pedal down. Pull the parking brake lever
up, then move it back down. This sets
your parking brake, even though the leve
is down. If the ignition is on, the parking
brake indicator light will come on.
... 56

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 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 Your Driving and the Road
0
0
..
If other cars are lined up to pass a
slow vehicle, wait your turn. But take
care that someone isn’t trying to pass
you as you pull out to pass the slow
vehicle. Remember to glance over
your shoulder and check the blind
spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and start your left lane
change signal before moving out of
the right lane to pass. When you are
far enough ahead
of the passed vehicle
to see its front
in your inside mirror,
activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane.
(Remember that your right outside
mirror is convex. The vehicle you just
passed may seem to be farther away
from you than it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle
at a time on two-lane roads.
Reconsider before passing the next vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving
vehicle too rapidly. Even though the
brake lights are not flashing, it may be
slowing down or starting
to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy
for the following driver to get ahead
of you. Perhaps you can ease a little
to the right.
,130
Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say
about what happens when the three
control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep
trying to steer and constantly seek an
escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the
vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most
skids by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to
your Corvette’s three control systems.
In the braking skid your wheels aren’t
rolling. In the steering or cornering skid,
too much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose cornering
force. And in the acceleration skid too
much throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
A cornering skid
is best handled by
easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal. Remember: Any
ASR system helps avoid
only the acceleration skid. If your ASR
system is
off, then an acceleration skid is
also best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your
foot
off the accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way you want the vehicle to go.
If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be
ready for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on
the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow
down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down
on slippery surfaces because stopping
distance will be longer and vehicle
control more limited.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
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
2/32 inch (1.6 mm) or less of tread
remaining.
You need a new tire if
0 You can see the indicators at three or
You can see cord or fabric showing
0 The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut
more places around the
tire.
through the tire’s rubber.
or snagged deep enough to show cord
or fabric.
0 The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
0 The tire has a puncture, cut, or other
damage that can’t be repaired well
because of the size or location of the
damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires
you need, look at the Tire-Loading
Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it
was new had a Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec) number on each
tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec
number. That way, yobr vehicle will
continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling,
speed rating, traction, ride and other
things during normal service on your
vehicle. If your tires have an all-season
tread design, the TPC number will be
followed by a
“MS” (for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those
not having a TPC Spec number, make
sure they are the same size, load range,
speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original
tires.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature
performance. (This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions
207. . .

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Service and Appearance Care
on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
iowest are:
A, B, and C. They represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on braking
(straight-ahead) traction tests and does
not include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s
resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
. . .208
indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level
of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on
the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buiidup
and possible tire failure.
These grades are molded on the sidewalls
of passenger car tires.
While the tires available as standard or
optional equipment on General Motors
vehicles may vary with respect to these
grades, all such tires meet General Motors
performance standards and have been
approved for use on General Motors
vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric)
tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to
give you the longest tire life and best
overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have
your wheels aligned again. However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling one way or
the other, the
alignment may need to be reset. If you
notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, your wheels may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel- Replacement - . -
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or
badly rusted. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts should be replaced. If the wheel
leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes
be repaired). See your Chevrolet dealer
if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel
you need.
Each new wheel should have the same
load carrying capacity, diameter, width,
offset, and be mounted
the same way as
the one it replaces.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Index
Shift Speeds .................... 54
Shifting into P (Park)
............. 57
Shifting out of P (Park)
........... 58
Six-Speed Manual Transmission
.... 53
Skidding
...................... 130
Smaller Children and Babies
(Safety Belts)
................. 28
Snow or Ice. Driving on
.......... 138
Spare Tire. Compact
............. 169
Speakers. Adjusting the
AM/FM Stereo with Cassette
AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Tape
Tape Player
................ 114
and Compact Disc Player
..... 11 5
Specifications. Capacities and
..... 224
Speedometer and Odometer
........ 80
Sport Seat ...................... 13
Springs. Fiberglass
.............. 21 6
Starting Your Engine
............. 47
Starting. Jump
................. 143
Steam Coming from Your Engine.
If There Is
................... 150
Steam. If There Is No
............ 151
Steering
...................... 127
Fluid. Power
................. 191
In Emergencies
............... 128
Power
...................... 127
Tips
........................ 127
Compartments
................ 72
Door
........................ 73
Storage
... 268
Storage
Rear
........................ 73
Vehicle
..................... 195
Storing a Flat Tire
.......... 167. 168
Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow . . 169
Sun Visors
..................... 74
Switch. Ignition
................. 46
Symbols. Safety Warnings and
...... 8
Symbols. Vehicle ................ 10
System Problems (Electrical)
....... 82
Tachometer
................... 8 1
Tank. Filling Your
.............. 174
Temperature Control Lever
....... 106
Theft
.......................... 43
Theft Deterrent. PASS-Key
........ 45
Theft Deterrent. Universal
......... 44
Thermostat
.................... 190
Tilt Wheel
...................... 61
Tips, Steering
.................. 127
Tips. Ventilation
................ 1 12
Tire Loading
................... 202
Tires
......................... 204
Balance. Wheel Alignment and
. . 208
Buying New
................. 207
Chains
..................... 209
Changing a Flat
.............. 159
Cleaning
.................... 2 1 5
Compact Spare ............... 169
Extended Mobility
............ 205
Inflation Pressure
............. 206 Tires
Inspection and Rotation
........ 206
Low Tire Pressure Warning System
.................... 87
Storing a Flat
............ 167. 168
Temperature Grades
........... 208
Traction Grades
.............. 208
Treadwear
................... 207
When It’s Time for New
....... 207
AM/FM Stereo with Cassette
AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Compact Disc
Uniform Quality Grading
....... 207
Tone. Setting the
Tape Player
................ 11 3
Player .................. 115
Top. Convertible
................. 96
Torque Lock
.................... 58
Towing A Trailer
.................... 139
Top
Strap (Child Restraints)
........ 29
Front Hook-Ups
.............. 148
Rear Hook-Ups
.............. 149
Your Vehicle
................. 146
Track Use.
Off Road ............. 49
Trailer. Towing a
............... 139
Transmission
Automatic
.................... 51
Fluid. Automatic
............. 184
Fluid. Manual
................ 186
Manual
...................... 53