CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2001 5.G Owners Manual

2-79 Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in either
miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h).
There is only one scale for mph and km/h. When you
press the E/M (English/metric) button on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), the cluster will calculate the
proper speed and move the needle to the correct position.
Either the MPH or the km/h telltale will illuminate,
depending on which measurement you choose.
To read the odometer with the ignition off, turn on the
parking lamps.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. The mileage total of the new
odometer will be set to the original miles (kilometers) of
the old odometer. See your dealer if a new odometer
must be replaced in your vehicle.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in thousands
of revolutions per minute (rpm).
Fuel will shut off at about 6200 rpm (6500 rpm for Z06).
If you continue to drive your vehicle at the fuel shut off
rpm, you could damage your engine. Be sure to operate
your vehicle below the fuel shut off rpm or reduce your
rpm quickly when the fuel shuts off.

2-80
Warning Lights, Gages and Messages
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there's a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They're a big help.
Your vehicle also has a driver information center that
works along with the warning lights and gages.
See ªDriver Information Centerº in the Index.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver's safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
until the driver's belt
is buckled.

2-81 Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows a deployed air bag symbol. The
system checks the air bag's electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the air bag
modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see
ªAir Bagº in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your vehicle,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds 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.

2-82
Air Bag Off Light
When you turn the passenger's air bag off, this light will
come on and stay on to remind you that the air bag has
been turned off. This light will go off when you turn the
air bag back on again. See ªAir Bag Off Switchº in
the Index for more on this, including important
safety information.CAUTION:
If the passenger's air bag is turned off for a
person who isn't in a risk group identified by the
national government, that person won't have the
extra protection of an air bag. In a crash, the air
bag wouldn't be able to inflate and help protect
the person sitting there.
Don't turn off the passenger's air bag unless the
person sitting there is in a risk group identified
by the national government. See ªAir Bag Off
Switchº in the Index for more on this, including
important safety information.

2-83
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on when
you have turned off the air bag, it means that
something may be wrong with the air bag system.
The passenger's air bag could inflate even though
the switch is off. If this ever happens, don't let
anyone whom the national government has
identified as a member of a passenger air bag
risk group sit in the passenger's position
(for example, don't secure a rear
-facing child
restraint in your vehicle) until you have your
vehicle serviced.
Voltmeter
When the key is in ON with
the engine not running, the
voltmeter shows the voltage
output of your battery.
When the engine is running,
it shows the voltage output
of the charging system.
The reading will change as the rate of charge changes
(with engine speed, for example), but if the voltmeter
reads at 9 volts or below, your instrument panel cluster
and other systems may shut down. The Driver
Information Center (DIC) will read LOW VOLTAGE
when your vehicle is at 10 volts or below. Have it
checked right away. Driving with the voltmeter reading
at 10 volts or below could drain your battery and disable
your vehicle.

2-84
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
This light should come on
when you turn the ignition
key to START. If it doesn't
come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there's a problem.
If this warning light stays on after you start the engine,
the parking brake may still be set or there could be a
brake problem. Refer to ªParking Brakeº in the Index to
see if it is set. If the parking brake is not set, have your
brake system inspected right away.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 ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
CAUTION:
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.

2-85 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light will come
on when your engine is
started 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 vehicle 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 ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section. Also see ªService
ABSº under ªDriver Information Center (DIC)
Messagesº in the Index.
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.
Traction Control System (TCS) Light
This light should come
on briefly as you start the
engine. If the light doesn't
come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there's a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on and the DIC shows a
SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM message when you're
driving, there's a problem with your TCS system and
your vehicle needs service. When this light is on, the
system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly. If the driver turns off the Traction Control
System by pressing the button on the console, the
TCS system light will come on and the TRACTION
SYSTEM OFF message will show on the DIC.

2-86
Active Handling System Light
The Active Handling System light will come on briefly
as you start the engine. If the light does not come on
then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem. The light will also come on while the
system warms up and the ACT HNDLING WARMING
UP message will be displayed in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If it stays on or comes
on while you are
driving, the DIC shows
a SERVICE ACTIVE
HNDLG message and a
chime sounds, there is a
problem with your
Active Handling
System and your
vehicle needs service.The driver can acknowledge this message by pressing
the RESET button. When the SERVICE ACTIVE
HNDLG message is displayed, the Active Handling
System will not assist you in controlling the vehicle.
You should have the system serviced as soon as
possible. Adjust your driving accordingly.
When the system is working, you will see the ACTIVE
HANDLING message displayed in the DIC. You may
also feel or hear the system working. This is normal.
If the driver turns off the Active Handling System by
pressing the button on the console, the Active Handling
System light will come on, a chime will sound, and the
TRAC/ACT HNDLG OFF message will be displayed in
the DIC. The Traction Control System will also be
turned off. See ªDriver Information Center Messagesº
in the Index for more information.
If the Active Handling System and the Traction Control
System are off, pressing the console button momentarily
will turn both systems on. The DIC will display the
TRAC/ACT HNDLG ON message, the instrument
cluster light will be off, and a chime will sound. See
ªDriver Information Center Messagesº in the Index for
more information.

2-87 Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States Canada
This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.
If the gage pointer moves into the shaded area, your
engine is too hot.
This means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible. (The
larger tic marks are in increments of 30
below 220
F
(104
C) and in increments of 10
above 220
F (104
C).)
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index for
more information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On
-Board
Diagnostics
-Second Generation) and is intended to assure
that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the
vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. The
CHECK ENGINE light comes on to indicate that there is
a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will
be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent.
This may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle.
This system is also designed to assist your service
technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.

2-88
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, intake 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.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see
ªIf the Light Is On Steadyº following.