CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2001 5.G Owners Manual

2-39
Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
Engine Exhaust
CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you can't see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:

Your exhaust system sounds strange
or different.

Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.

Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.

Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over
road debris.

Repairs weren't done correctly.

Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:

Drive it only with all the windows down to
blow out any CO; and

Have your vehicle fixed immediately.

2-40
Running Your Engine While You're
Parked (Automatic Transmission)
It's better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control system
off could allow dangerous exhaust into your
vehicle. See the earlier Caution under
ªEngine Exhaust.º
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
See ªBlizzardº in the Index.
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you've left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Your limited-slip 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, this feature will allow the
wheel with traction to move the vehicle.

2-41
Selective Real Time Damping
(SRTD) (Option)
You may have a ride control system on your vehicle
called Selective Real Time Damping (SRTD). The
system provides the following performance benefits:

Reduced Impact Harshness

Improved Road Isolation

Improved High
-Speed Stability

Improved Handling Response
This switch is located on the center console. Turn it to
select the suspension of your choice.TOUR: Use for normal city and highway driving.
This setting provides a smooth, soft ride.
SPORT: Use where road conditions or personal
preference demand more control. This setting provides
more ªfeel,º or response to the road conditions.
PERF: Use for performance driving. This setting
provides a tight, firm ride and precise response to
road conditions.
You can select a setting at any time. Based on road
conditions, steering wheel angle and your vehicle speed,
the system automatically adjusts to provide the best ride
and handling. Select a new setting whenever driving
conditions change.
There are three Driver Information Center (DIC)
messages that are displayed when a malfunction occurs
with the SRTD system. Refer to ªDIC Warnings and
Messagesº in the Index.
Horn
To sound the horn, press either horn symbol on the
steering wheel.

2-42
Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
The lever is located on the left side of the steering
column. To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and
pull the lever toward you. Move the steering wheel to a
comfortable level, then release the lever to lock the
steering wheel into place.
Telescopic Steering Wheel (If Equipped)
The telescopic steering wheel switch is located on the
right side of the steering column.
To operate the telescopic
steering wheel, push the
switch forward and the
wheel will move away from
you. Pull the switch
rearward and the wheel will
move toward you.
The telescopic steering wheel position can be stored
with your memory settings. See ªMemoryº in the
Index for more information.

2-43
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The multifunction lever on the left side of the steering
column includes the following:

Turn and Lane Change Signals

Headlamps

Headlamp High/Low
-Beam Changer

Flash
-to-Pass Feature

Cruise Control
Turn and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and
two downward (for left) positions. These positions allow
you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the multifunction lever all the
way up or down. When the turn is finished, the lever
will return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will flash in
the direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
If you signal a turn or a lane change and the arrows flash
faster than normal, a signal bulb may be burned out.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuses and check for burned
-out
bulbs. See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index.

2-44
Turn Signal on Chime
A chime will remind you if you leave the turn signal on
for more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km) of driving.
If you need to leave the turn signal on for more than
3/4 mile (1.2 km), turn off the signal and then turn it
back on.
Headlamps
The headlamp band on the turn signal/multifunction
lever controls the following:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking lamps

Sidemarker lamps
Turn the band to this symbol to turn on the
parking and other operating lamps except for the
headlamps.
Turn the band to this symbol to turn on the
headlamps and other operating lamps.
Turn the band to OFF to turn off the lamps.Headlamp Doors
The headlamp doors are designed to open when you
turn the headlamps on, and close when you turn the
headlamps and parking lamps off. If you turn the
headlamps on, then turn back to the parking lamps
setting, the headlamp doors will stay open.

2-45
You can open the doors manually using the knob next to
the headlamp assembly. Turn the knob counterclockwise
until the doors are open. Turn the knob clockwise to
close the doors manually.
The headlamp doors should be open when driving in
icy or snowy conditions to prevent the doors from
freezing closed and when washing the vehicle to help
clean the headlamps.
NOTICE:
In order to avoid possible contact of the hood to
the headlamp doors, either take care in raising
the hood with the headlamps up, or turn off the
headlamps prior to opening the hood.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high or high
to low, push the turn signal lever all the way forward.
When the high beams
are on, this light on the
instrument panel cluster
also will be on. To change
the headlamps from high to
low, pull the lever rearward.
Lamps on Reminder
If you turn the ignition off and leave the headlamps or
parking lamps on and open a door, you will hear a chime
reminding you to turn off the lamps.
Flash-to-Pass Feature
To use the flash-to-pass feature, momentarily pull the
turn signal lever toward you. The high
-beam indicator
will flash to indicate to the other driver that you intend
to pass. If the low
-beam headlamps are off and you have
the optional fog lamps on, the fog lamps will flash.

2-46
Windshield Wipers
You can control the windshield wipers by moving the
lever with the wiper symbol on it. This lever is located
on the right side of the steering column.
For a single wiping cycle, push the lever down to MIST.
Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go. The
wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the lever on MIST longer.You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Push the lever up to INT (intermittent), then turn
the band, located on the lever, to adjust the delay time.
Turn the band up for a shorter delay or down for a
longer delay. The wiper speed can only be adjusted
when the lever is in the INT position, not in HI or LO.
For steady wiping at low speed, move the lever up to the
LO position. For steady high
-speed wiping, move the
lever up further, to HI. To stop the wipers, move the
lever down to OFF.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they're frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If the blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.

2-47 Windshield Washer
The lever on the right side of the steering column also
controls the windshield washer. There is a pushbutton at the
end of the lever. To spray washer fluid on the windshield,
push the button and hold it. The washer will spray until you
release the button. The wipers will continue to clear the
window for about six seconds after the button is released and
then stop or return to your preset speed.
CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
If the fluid in the windshield washer fluid reservoir is low,
the message LOW WASHER FLUID will appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) display. It will take
60 seconds after the bottle is refilled for this message to
turn off. For information on the correct washer fluid
mixture to use, see ªWindshield Washer Fluidº and
ªRecommended Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index.
Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise control
does not work at speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h).

2-48
When using cruise control, the accelerator pedal will
return to its fully
-released position and will not move
while cruise control is engaged.
The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display the
cruise set speed in a digital number. For example, the
DIC will say CRUISE SET 60 mph (97 km/h). The
cruise set speed and the speedometer indicated speed
may not always be exactly the same. When you
apply the brakes or push the clutch pedal, the cruise
control disengages. The DIC will show CRUISE
DISENGAGED. See ªDIC Warnings and Messagesº
in the Index.CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control.
Don't use cruise control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the Traction
Control System begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. See ªTraction
Control Systemº in the Index. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise
control back on.