maintenance CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2000 5.G Owners Manual

Maintenance Schedule Service and Appearance Care
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Fuel
Checking Fluids and Lubricants
GM Oil Life System™
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Brakes
Bulb ReplacementWindshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires and Wheels
Appearance Care
Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Capacities and Specifications
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Section
7
Section
6
Scheduled Maintenance
Owner Checks and Services
Periodic Maintenance InspectionsRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
Maintenance Records
iv

1-26 Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle 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 dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system.
To purchase a service manual, see ªService and Owner
Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid yellow wires, wires wrapped
with yellow tape or yellow connectors. They are
probably part of the air bag system. Be sure to
follow proper service procedures, and make sure
the person performing work for you is qualified
to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! That includes
infants and all children smaller than adult size. Neither
the distance to be traveled nor the age and size of the
traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety
restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United
States and in every Canadian province says children up
to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle.
Smaller Children and Babies
CAUTION:
Children who are up against, or very close to, any
air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Air bags plus lap
-shoulder belts offer
the best protection for adults, but not for young
children and infants. Neither the vehicle's safety
belt system nor its air bag system is designed
for them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can
provide. Always secure children properly in
your vehicle.

1-39
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle's safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But if a safety belt isn't long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you an extender. It's free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don't let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)

2-80
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
NOTICE:
Modifications made to the engine, transmission,
exhaust or fuel system of your vehicle or the
replacement of the original tires with other than
those of the same Tire Performance Criteria
(TPC) can affect your vehicle's emission controls
and may cause the CHECK ENGINE light to
come on. Modifications to these systems could
lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass
a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn't come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:

Light Flashing
-- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.

Light On Steady
-- An emission control
system malfunction has been detected on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:

Reducing vehicle speed.

Avoiding hard accelerations.

Avoiding steep uphill grades.

2-82
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
may begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this
inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know in order to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the CHECK
ENGINE light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on
-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen
if you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is designed
to evaluate critical emission control systems during
normal driving. This may take several days of routine
driving. If you have done this and your vehicle still does
not pass the inspection for lack of OBD system
readiness, see your dealer or qualified service center to
prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Engine Oil Pressure Gage
United States Canada
The engine oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure
in psi (pounds per square inch) or kPa (kilopascals) when
the engine is running.
Oil pressure should be 20 to 80 psi (140 to 550 kPa). In
certain situations such as long, extended idles on hot days, it
could read as low as 6 psi (40 kPa) and still be considered
normal. It may vary with engine speed, outside temperature
and oil viscosity, but readings above the shaded area show
the normal operating range. Readings in the shaded area tell
you that the engine is low on oil, or that you might have
some other oil problem. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
The engine oil pressure can also be displayed using the
GAGES button the the Driver Information Center
(DIC). See ªDriver Information Centerºin the Index.

2-92
Odometer
The odometer shows how far your vehicle has been
driven in either miles or kilometers. Press the TRIP
button to display odometer readings such as:

ODOMETER 12345 MI or

ODOMETER 20008 km
Without the keys in the ignition, you can also display the
odometer by turning on the parking lamps.
Trip Odometers
There are two trip odometers. Press the TRIP button and
TRIP A will be displayed. Press it again and TRIP B
will be displayed. TRIP A could be used to track the
distance to a destination. TRIP B could be used to track
maintenance periods.

TRIP A 130.5 MI or

TRIP A 209.9 km

TRIP B 300.5 MI or

TRIP B 483.5 km
The trip odometers can be reset by pushing the RESET
button on the DIC. Both of the trip odometers can be
used simultaneously.Miles Since Last Ignition Feature
You can also display number of miles (kilometers)
driven since you last started the vehicle if you press and
hold the RESET button for two seconds, then release.
The miles (or kilometers) since the last ignition cycle
will be set into the trip odometer.
Elapsed Time
Press the TRIP button until ELAP. TIME is displayed,
such as ELAP. TIME 00:00:00.00
When the ignition is in ON, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) can be used as a stopwatch. The display
can show hours, minutes, seconds and hundredths of
a second. The elapsed time indicator will record up to
99 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds, then it will reset to
zero and continue counting. (Hundredths are shown up
to 59 minutes, 59 seconds and 99 hundredths). The
display appears as ELAP. TIME 00:00:00.00 in the
elapsed time function.
You can start or stop the elapsed time by pressing
RESET. To reset the elapsed time to zero, stop the
timer by pressing RESET. Then press and hold RESET
until ELAP. TIME 00:00:00.00 appears in the DIC.

2-93
Average Speed
Press the TRIP button until the average speed is
displayed, such as:

AVERAGE SPEED 62 MPH or

AVERAGE SPEED 100 km/h
Press reset in this mode to start calculating the average
speed. Press and hold RESET to clear.
Engine Oil Life
Press the TRIP button until the engine oil life is
displayed, such as OIL LIFE REMAIN 89%.
This is an estimate of the engine oil's remaining useful
life. It will show 99% when the system is reset after an
oil change. It will alert you to change your oil on a
schedule consistent with your driving conditions.
When the remaining oil life is low, the system will alert
you with the message CHANGE OIL SOON.
When the oil life is down to zero, you will receive the
message CHANGE OIL NOW.Remember, you must reset the OIL LIFE yourself after
each oil change. It will not reset itself. Also, be careful
not to reset the OIL LIFE accidentally at any time other
than when the oil has just been changed. It can't be reset
accurately until the next oil change.
To reset the system, see ªHow to Reset the Change Oil
Soon Messageº in the Index.
Also, see ªEngine Oil, When to Changeº and
ªMaintenance Scheduleº in the Index.
4 OPTIONS
This button allows you to choose personal options that
may be available on your vehicle, depending on the
options your vehicle is equipped with, such as easy entry
seats and language. Some of these functions work along
with the remote keyless entry transmitter.
When returning to the options menu, the first item of
the options list will always be displayed, not the one you
were last in when you changed buttons.

6-
6-1
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your vehicle. This section begins with service and fuel information,
and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6
-2 Service
6
-3 Fuel
6
-5 Filling Your Tank
6
-9 Checking Things Under the Hood
6
-12 Engine Oil
6
-17 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
6
-19 Automatic Transmission Fluid
6
-19 Manual Transmission Fluid
6
-21 Hydraulic Clutch
6
-22 Rear Axle
6
-23 Engine Coolant
6
-26 Surge Tank Pressure Cap
6
-26 Power Steering Fluid
6
-27 Windshield Washer Fluid
6
-29 Brakes
6
-32 Battery
6
-33 Bulb Replacement
6
-37 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement6
-40 Tires
6
-52 Lifting Your Corvette
6
-56 Appearance Care
6
-56 Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
6
-59 Cleaning a Removable Roof Panel
6
-60 Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle
6
-61 Cleaning Your Convertible Top
6
-62 Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
6
-62 Cleaning Tires
6
-62 Finish Damage
6
-63 Underbody Maintenance
6
-64 GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
6
-65 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
6
-65 Service Parts Identification Label
6
-66 Electrical System
6
-73 Replacement Bulbs
6
-74 Capacities and Specifications
6
-75 Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

6-2
Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to
be happy with it. We hope you'll go to your dealer for
all your service needs. You'll get genuine GM parts and
GM
-trained and supported service people.
We hope you'll want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you'll
want to use the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about how to service your vehicle than this manual
can. To order the proper service manual, see ªService
and Owner Publicationsº in the Index.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting
to do your own service work, see ªServicing Your
Air Bag
-Equipped Vehicleº in the Index.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
perform. See ªMaintenance Recordº in the Index.

6-3
CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.

Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.

Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. ªEnglishº and ªmetricº
fasteners can be easily confused. If you use
the wrong fasteners, parts can later break
or fall off. You could be hurt.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise
and affect windshield washer performance. Check with
your dealer before adding equipment to the outside of
your vehicle.
Fuel
Use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher for best performance. You may use middle grade
or regular unleaded gasolines, but your vehicle's
acceleration may be slightly reduced.
It is recommended that the gasoline meet specifications
which have been developed by the American
Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and
endorsed by the Canadian Motor Vehicle Manufacturers
Association for better vehicle performance and engine
protection. Gasolines meeting the AAMA specification
could provide improved driveability and emission
control system performance compared to
other gasolines.
Be sure the posted octane for premium is at least 91
(at least 87 for regular). If the octane is less than 87,
you may get a heavy knocking noise when you drive.
If it's bad enough, it can damage your engine.
If you're using fuel rated at the recommended octane or
higher and you hear heavy knocking, your engine needs
service. But don't worry if you hear a little pinging
noise when you're accelerating or driving up a hill.
That's normal, and you don't have to buy a higher
octane fuel to get rid of pinging. It's the heavy,
constant knock that means you have a problem.