steering CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2001 5.G Owner's Manual

2-104
COMPETITIVE DRIVING: When the Competitive
Driving mode is selected, this message will be displayed
in the DIC. The instrument panel cluster light will not be
on when the Competitive Driving mode is selected. The
Traction Control System will not be operating while in
the Competitive Driving mode. You should adjust your
driving accordingly.
SERVICE ABS (Anti
-Lock Brake System): If the
SERVICE ABS message is displayed when you are driving,
stop as soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then start
the engine again to reset the system. If the message stays
on, or comes back on again while you are driving, your
vehicle is in need of service. If the regular brake system
warning light isn't on, you still have brakes, but don't have
anti
-lock brakes. If the regular brake system light is also on,
you don't have anti
-lock brakes and there is a problem with
your brakes. See ªBrake System Warning Lightº earlier in
this section.
If the SERVICE ABS message is being displayed, your
traction control system and the optional active handling
system will also be disabled. The driver information
center will scroll three messages: SERVICE ABS,
SERVICE TRACTION SYS and SERVICE ACTIVE
HNDLG, and the instrument cluster car icon will be
illuminated. The driver can acknowledge these messages
by pressing the reset button three times. When the service message is displayed the computer
controlled systems will not assist the driver and you
should have the system repaired as soon as possible.
Adjust your driving accordingly.
SERVICE COLUMN LOCK
(Manual Transmission Only): If the system that
controls the locking and unlocking of the steering
column does not work properly, have the vehicle towed
to a dealer for service.
PULL KEY
- WAIT 10 SEC: If this message comes on,
the steering column lock system has detected a problem
while engaging the steering column lock. This message may
occur when the ignition key is removed and reinserted
before the steering column lock system fully locks or
unlocks the steering column. To acknowledge that you have
read this message, and to clear it from the display, remove
the ignition key and wait 10 seconds before reinserting the
key into the ignition. If you attempt to operate your vehicle
without removing the key for 10 seconds, the vehicle's fuel
system will shut off when you reach 1.5 mph (2.4 km/h).
If the message stays on after removing the key and waiting
10 seconds, have your vehicle taken to an authorized dealer
as soon as possible for diagnosis and repair.

2-115
The HUD controls are located to the left of the
steering wheel.To adjust the HUD so you can see it properly:
1. Start your engine and slide the HUD dimmer control
all the way up.
The brightness of the HUD image is determined by
the light conditions in the direction your vehicle is
facing and where you have the HUD dimmer control
set. If you are facing a dark object or a heavily
shaded area, your HUD may anticipate that you are
entering a dark area and may begin to dim.
It is possible for sunlight to enter the HUD causing
all of the graphics to light up. The display will return
to normal when the sunlight is no longer entering
the HUD.
2. Adjust the seat to your driving position. If you
change your seat position later, you may have to
re
-adjust your HUD.
3. Press the DISPLAY switch up or down to center the
HUD image in your view.
The HUD image can only be adjusted up and down,
not side
-to-side.
4. Slide the dimmer control downward until the HUD
image is no brighter than necessary. To turn HUD
off, slide the switch to OFF.

2-116
If the sun comes out or it becomes cloudy, you may need
to adjust the HUD brightness again using the dimmer
control. Polarized sunglasses could make the HUD
image harder to see.
To change from English to metric units, push the
E/M button located to the right of the steering wheel.
Clean the inside of the windshield as needed to remove
any dirt or film that reduces the sharpness or clarity of
the HUD image.
To clean the HUD, spray household glass cleaner on a
soft, clean cloth. Wipe the HUD lens gently, then dry it.
Do not spray cleaner directly on the lens because the
cleaner could leak into the unit.If the ignition is on and you can't see the HUD image,
check to see if:

Something is covering the HUD unit.

The HUD dimmer control is adjusted properly.

The HUD image is adjusted to the proper height.

Ambient light (in the direction your vehicle is
facing) is low.

A fuse is blown. See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in
the Index.
Keep in mind that your windshield is part of the HUD
system. If you ever have to have your windshield
replaced, be sure to get one that is designed for HUD or
your HUD image may look blurred and out of focus.

4-
4-1
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 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-9 Traction Control System (TCS)
4
-11 Active Handling System
4
-12 Steering
4
-14 Off-Road Recovery
4
-15 Passing
4
-16 Loss of Control
4
-17 Driving at Night4
-19 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4
-22 City Driving
4
-23 Freeway Driving
4
-24 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-25 Highway Hypnosis
4
-25 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-27 Winter Driving
4
-31 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-32 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-33 Towing A Trailer

4-6
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's
easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. That means you can lose control
of your vehicle. Also see ªTraction Control System
(TCS)º and ªActive Handling Systemº in the Index.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That's perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That's reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But
that's only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle
moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).
That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your vehicle and others
is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it's pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the
vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.

4-9
Remember: Anti-lock doesn't change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won't have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti
-lock brakes.
Using Anti
-Lock
Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti
-lock work for you. You may hear a
motor or clicking noise and feel the brake pedal move a
little during a stop, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system called TCS
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it
senses that the rear wheels are spinning too much or are
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the rear brakes and reduces engine power
(by closing the throttle and managing engine spark) to
limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION SYS ACTIVE message will come on
when the TCS system is limiting wheel spin. See
ªTraction Sys Active Messageº in the Index. You may
feel or hear the system working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS system
begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions allow
you to safely use it again, you may re
-engage the cruise
control. See ªCruise Controlº in the Index.

4-12 Competitive Driving Mode
The driver can select the optional handling mode by
pressing the ACTIVE HANDLING button on the
console for more than five seconds. Competitive
Driving mode allows the driver to have full control of
the rear wheels while the Active Handling System helps
steer the vehicle by selective brake application. The
instrument cluster light will not be on. The Traction
Control System will not be operating. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
When you press the ACTIVE HANDLING button
again, or turn the ignition to ACC, the Active Handling
and Traction Control Systems will be on. The
TRAC/ACT HNDLG
-ON message will be displayed
temporarily in the DIC and a chime will be heard.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Magnetic Speed Variable Assist Steering
Your vehicle is equipped with a steering system that
continuously adjusts the effort you feel when steering at
all vehicle speeds. It provides ease when parking yet a
firm, solid feel at highway speeds.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you've ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you're
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.

4-13
Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve. Then
you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
--steering
and acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires
meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can
demand too much of those places. You can lose control.
Refer to ªTraction Control Systemº in the Index.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you'll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can ªdriveº through
the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and
find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can
avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can stop
in time. But sometimes you can't; there isn't room.
That's the time for evasive action
-- steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies
like these. First apply your brakes. See ªBraking in
Emergenciesº earlier in this section. It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left
or right depending on the space available.

4-14
An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions, you can
turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and
just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have
avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
You may find that your right wheels have dropped
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you're driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so
that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You
can turn the steering wheel up to one
-quarter turn until the
right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your
steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.

4-16

Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)

Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two
-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.

Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.

If you're being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer and
constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
ªoverdrivingº those conditions. But skids are
always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid
only the acceleration skid.