automatic transmission CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2001 5.G User Guide

2-36
Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
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.
If you have 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, use the steps
that follow.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by holding in the
button on the lever and pushing the lever all the way
toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
remove the key from the ignition, the vehicle is
in PARK (P).

2-37 Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission Only)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don't leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you've moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold down
the regular brake pedal. See if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) without first pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn't fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque lock.º
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver's seat. To find out how, see ªShifting Into
PARK (P)º in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).

2-38
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brake before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in ON. See ªAutomatic Transmission
Operationº in the Index.
As a reminder, you will see a message in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) that will say PRESS BRAKE
BEFORE SHIFT within 15 seconds unless the brake
is pressed.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) and release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever
button and move the shift lever into the gear you wish.If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't
shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACC.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have your vehicle inspected by your dealer as soon
as possible.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, move the shift lever
into REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the parking brake.
Once the shift lever has been placed into REVERSE (R)
with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can turn the ignition
key to OFF, remove the key and release the clutch.

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.

2-63
NOTICE:
To avoid damage to the roof panel, paint and
weatherstripping, do not drop or rest it on its
edges. Place the roof panel in the egg
-shaped
stowage receivers after removing it from
the vehicle.
1. Park on a level surface, set the parking brake firmly
and shift an automatic transmission into PARK (P).
Shift a manual transmission into REVERSE (R).
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF. Lower both sun visors
and turn them toward the door glass.
3. Open the rear liftgate and remove any items that may
interfere with proper storage of the roof panel.
4. Make sure to install the two egg-shaped stowage
receivers into the floor of the rear storage
compartment. Secure both receivers into their proper
positions by turning them counterclockwise.
5. Lower the windows and open the doors.

2-70
When lowering and raising the convertible top, you will
use the following:
A. Front Edge of the Convertible Top
B. Rear Edge of the Convertible Top
C. Storage Compartment Lid
Lowering the Convertible Top
NOTICE:
Don't leave the convertible out with the top down
for any long periods of time. The sun and rain
can damage the seat material and other things
inside the vehicle.
1. Set the parking brake firmly. Shift an automatic
transmission into PARK (P). Shift a manual
transmission into REVERSE (R).
2. Turn the ignition key to OFF. Lower both sun visors
and turn them toward the door glass.
NOTICE:
Before lowering the convertible top into the
storage area, be sure there are no objects in the
way of the folded, stored top. The weight of a
stored top on items in the storage area may cause
the convertible top back glass to break.

2-74
Raising the Convertible Top
1. Park on a level surface, set the parking brake firmly
and shift an automatic transmission into PARK (P).
Shift a manual transmission into REVERSE (R).
Lower both windows and sun visors and turn the
ignition key to OFF.
2. Tilt the driver's seat forward and press the storage
compartment release button, or use the manual
release cable if battery power has been lost. Lift the
storage compartment lid (C). (After pressing the
release button, the driver and passenger door glass
should retract to the full
-down position, if they have
not already been lowered.)
3. Pull the top up by firmly gripping the front edge (A)
of the convertible top with your hand and applying a
brisk, firm upward and forward motion to get the top
in the full
-up position.

2-93
Driver Information Center (DIC)
The Driver Information Center (DIC) will display
information about how your vehicle is functioning, as
well as warning messages if a system problem is
detected. The DIC display area is located in the
instrument panel cluster below the speedometer and
tachometer, directly above the steering column.
The following buttons are located on the DIC control panel
which is located to the right of the instrument panel cluster.
1 FUEL: Press this button to display fuel information
such as fuel economy and range.
2 GAGES: Use this button to display gage information
like oil pressure and temperature, coolant temperature,
automatic transmission fluid temperature, battery
voltage and front/rear tire pressures.
3 TRIP: Use this button to display your total and trip
miles, the elapsed time function, your average speed and
the engine oil life.
4 OPTIONS: This button allows you to choose personal
options that are available on your vehicle, depending on
the options your vehicle is equipped with, such as
security, door locks, easy entry seats and language.
5 E/M: Use this button to change the display between
English and metric units.
RESET: This button, used along with the other buttons,
will reset system functions and turn off or acknowledge
messages on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
At the top of the DIC control buttons is a light sensor.
Be sure not to block the sensor or your lighting
functions may be disrupted.

2-96
Press the GAGE button again to display the oil
temperature, such as:

OIL TEMP 234 F or

OIL TEMP 112 C
Press the GAGE button again to display the coolant
temperature, such as:

COOLANT TEMP 123 F or

COOLANT TEMP 51 C
Press the GAGE button again to display the automatic
transmission fluid temperature, such as:

TRANS FLUID 123 F or

TRANS FLUID 51 C
Press the GAGE button again to display the battery
voltage, such as:

BATTERY VOLTS 13.5Press the GAGE button again to display the tire pressure
for the front tires, such as:

FRONT L34 R33 PSI or

FRONT L234 R228 kPa
Press the GAGE button again to display the tire pressure
for the rear tires, such as:

REAR L34 R33 PSI or

REAR L234 R228 kPa
Tire pressure is not available until the vehicle has
reached a speed of 15 mph (24 km/h) or more.

2-101
Approach Lights
Press the OPTIONS button until APPROACH LIGHTS
appears on the display, then use the RESET button to
page through the following choices:

APPROACH LIGHTS ON

APPROACH LIGHTS OFF
If you choose APPROACH LIGHTS ON, the fog lamps,
front turn signal, rear back
-up and courtesy lamps will
come on for 30 seconds when you press UNLOCK on
the remote keyless entry transmitter. This will occur
only when it is dark outside.
APPROACH LIGHTS OFF turns off this option.
See ªRemote Keyless Entry (RKE) Systemº in the Index
for more information.
Auto Lock
Press the OPTIONS button until AUTO LOCK appears
on the display, then use the RESET button to page
through the following choices:

AUTO LOCK ON

AUTO LOCK OFFIf you choose AUTO LOCK ON, both doors will
automatically lock when the vehicle exceeds 10 mph
(16 km/h) in a manual transmission. In a vehicle with an
automatic transmission, both doors will automatically
lock when you move the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Choose AUTO LOCK OFF to turn this option off.
Auto Unlock
The AUTO UNLOCK will be available only if AUTO
LOCK is set to ON as described previously.
Press the OPTIONS button until AUTO UNLOCK
appears on the display, then use the RESET button to
page through the following choices:

AUTO UNLOCK DRIVER

AUTO UNLOCK BOTH

AUTO UNLOCK OFF
If you choose AUTO UNLOCK DRIVER, the driver's
door will automatically unlock when you turn the
vehicle off and pull the key out of the ignition.
Choose AUTO UNLOCK BOTH, and both doors will
automatically unlock when you turn the vehicle off and
pull the key out of the ignition.
AUTO UNLOCK OFF turns off this option.