towing CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1997 5.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When starting your engine in very cold weather (below
0°F or -18”C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there. When the
engine starts, let go of the key. Use the accelerator
pedal to maintain engine speed, if you have to, until
your engine has
run for a while.
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding
it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds.
If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
2. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do
it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
For your convenience and to avoid damage to your
starter, your vehicle is equipped with a starter interlock
feature. This feature will not allow you to crank the
engine when the vehicle is already running.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If the light comes on while you are driving, and you
have a LOW BRAKE FLUID message showing on the
DIC, pull off the road and stop carefully. You may
notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may
go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop. If the
light
is still on, have the vehicle towed for service. (See
“Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
A C WTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake warning light is on. Driving with the
brake warning light
on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you’ve pulled off the
road and stopped carefully, have the vehicle
towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light will come
on when you start your
engine and may stay on
for several seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to
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 section.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to
ON. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine e
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also
included
many other useful tips on driving.
4-2 4-2
4-6
4-6
4-1 1
4-13
4-13
4-15
4-16 Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control
of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Off-Road Recovery
Passing
Loss
of Control
Driving at Night 4-
18
4-2 1
4-22
4-23
4-24
4-24
4-26
4-30
4-3 1 Driving
in Rain and on Wet Roads
City Driving
Freeway Driving
Before Leaving on a Long
Trip
Highway Hypnosis
Hill and Mountain Roads
Winter Driving
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing
A Trailer

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ' A CA"T1ON:
-
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, or
it can change the way your vehicle
handles. These could cause you to lose control.
Also, overloading can shorten the life of
your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading.
~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~ ~
If you put things inside your vehicle -- like suitcases,
tools, packages or anything else
-- they will go as fast as
the vehicle goes.
If you have to stop or turn quickly, or
if there is a crash, they'll keep going.
__ --_I ,
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn,
or in
a crash.
0 Put things in the rear area of your vehicle.
Try to spread the weight evenly.
0 Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops
of the seats.
0 Don't leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
0 When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure
it whenever you can.
Towing A Trailer
Your Corvette is neither designed nor intended to tow
a trailer.
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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.
5-2
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 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.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I
’
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.
5-9

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Front Towing
Tow Limits -- 35 mph (55 kd), 50 miles (80 km)
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling type equipment or bumper,
fog lamps and
air dam damage will occur. Use
wheel-lift or car-carrier equipment. Additional
ramping may be required for car-carrier
equipment. Use safety chains and wheel straps.
Use the shipping slots for car-carrier securing.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the rear wheels
unless you have to. If the vehicle must be towed
on the rear wheels, don’t exceed the tow limits or
your transmission will be damaged.
Towing
a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage the vehicle. Damage can occur from
vehicle to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift
equipment.
To help avoid damage, install a
towing dolly and raise the vehicle until adequate
clearance
is obtained between the ground and/or
wheel-lift equipment.
NOTICE: (Continued)
NOTICE: (Continued)
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car-carrier
equipment. Always use R-hooks inserted in the
shipping
slots.
NOTICE:
When using wheel-lift equipment, front
tire-to-ground clearance distance must be
a
minimum of 17 inches and a maximum of
22 inches or damage will occur.
SLOT
5-10

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Rear Towing
NOTICE:
Do not tow with sling-type equipment or the rear
bumper will be damaged. Use wheel-lift or
car-carrier equipment. Additional ramping may
be required for car-carrier equipment. Use safety
chains and wheel straps. Use the shipping slots
for car-carrier securing. When using wheel-lift
equipment, a towing dolly must be used under
the front wheels. Rear tire-to-ground clearance
distance must be a minimum of
13 inches and a
maximum of
18 inches or damage will occur.
Towing
a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage the vehicle. Damage can occur from
vehicle to ground or vehicle to wheel-lift
equipment. Install a towing dolly and raise the
vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained
between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
NOTICE: (Continued)
5-11

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle
as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. You should
turn your TCS
off. (See “Traction Control System”
in the Index.) Then shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. For a manual transmission, shift
slowly between either FIRST
(1) or SECOND (2) and
REVERSE (R), allowing the wheels to stop before
shifting into gear. Release the accelerator pedal while
you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
If that doesn’t get you
out after a few tries, you may need to be towed out.
If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Vehicle”
in the Index.
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