warning light CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2003 5.G Owner's Manual

Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and
you're going fast enough. When your vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn't happen often. But it can if
your tires do not have much tread or if the pressure is
one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is
standing on the road. If you can see re¯ections
from trees, telephone poles, or other vehicles, and
raindrops ªdimpleº the water's surface, there could be
hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just isn't a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.
The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
Notice:If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can come in
through your engine's air intake and badly damage
your engine. Never drive through water that is
slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle. If
you can't avoid deep puddles or standing water,
drive through them very slowly.
Driving Through Flowing Water
{CAUTION:
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
If you try to drive through ¯owing water, as you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can
be carried away. As little as six inches of
¯owing water can carry away a smaller vehicle.
If this happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Don't ignore police
warning signs, and otherwise be very cautious
about trying to drive through ¯owing water.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
·Besides slowing down, allow some extra following
distance. And be especially careful when you
pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear
room ahead, and be prepared to have your
view restricted by road spray.
·Have good tires with proper tread depth. SeeTires
on page 5-54
.
4-21

City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You'll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention
to traffic signals.Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
·Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get a city map and plan your trip into
an unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
·Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross
most large cities. You'll save time and energy.
See the next part, ªFreeway Driving.º
·Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
light is there because the corner is busy enough
to need it. When a light turns green, and just before
you start to move, check both ways for vehicles
that have not cleared the intersection or may
be running the red light.
4-22

Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a
supply of windshield washer ¯uid, a rag, some winter
outer clothing, a small shovel, a ¯ashlight, a red
cloth and a couple of re¯ective warning triangles. And, if
you will be driving under severe conditions, include a
small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of
burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you
properly secure these items in your vehicle.
Driving On Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet
the road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and
the road, you can have a very slippery situation.
You'll have a lot less traction or ªgripº and will need to
be very careful.
4-28

How to Check and Add Fluid
Fluid should be added if the ¯uid level is below the step
on the inside of the reservoir. There are additional
instructions on the reservoir cap. Put the rubber seal
and cap back on. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page 5-12for more information on location.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is ®lled with
DEX-COOLžengine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs ®rst, if you add
only DEX-COOL
žextended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating on
page 5-26.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
žcoolant will:
·Give freezing protection down to-34ÉF (-37ÉC).
·Give boiling protection up to 265ÉF (129ÉC).
·Protect against rust and corrosion.
·Help keep the proper engine temperature.
·Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
5-23

Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOLž
coolant mixtureat the surge tank,but only when the
engine is cool.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don't spill coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight.
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Notice:Your pressure cap is a pressure-type
cap and must be tightly installed to prevent coolant
loss and possible engine damage from overheating.
See ªCapacities and Speci®cationsº for more
information.
See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will ®nd an engine coolant temperature gage on the
instrument panel cluster and a COOLANT OVER
TEMP message on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-38andDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-53.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
If an overheated engine condition exists and the
messages COOLANT OVER TEMP and REDUCED
ENGINE POWER are displayed, along with the Check
Engine light, an overheat protection mode which
alternates ®ring groups of cylinders helps prevent engine
damage. In this mode, you will notice a loss in power
and engine performance. This operating mode
allows your vehicle to be driven to a safe place in an
emergency; you may drive up to 50 miles (80 km).
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any
repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant loss, change the oil
and reset the oil life system. See ªEngine Oilº in
the Index.
5-26

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal ®rmly).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes won't work well. That could
lead to an accident. When you hear the brake
wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Z06 models are equipped with high performance front
brake linings designed for improved brake performance
under severe use. They will normally exhibit some
low speed noise and you may notice an increase in the
amount of brake dust.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are ®rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See
Brake System Inspection on page 6-13.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
As you make brake stops, your disc brakes
automatically adjust for wear.
5-39

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a speci®ed government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signi®cantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction ± AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on speci®ed government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-60

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-20
Accessory Power Plug.....................................5-84
Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature................3-76
Active Handling System Light...........................3-37
Active Handling System...................................4-10
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-36
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-84
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)......3-65, 3-69
Air Bag System..............................................1-39
Air Bag Off Switch.......................................1-44
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-42
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-47
What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?....................1-42
What Will You See After an
Air Bag In¯ates?......................................1-43
When Should an Air Bag In¯ate?...................1-42
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-40
Air Bag .........................................................3-33
Off Light.....................................................3-33
Readiness Light..........................................3-32
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Air Compressor..............................................5-71
Air Dam, Front...............................................2-19
AM ...............................................................3-77
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-79
Antenna, Power Antenna Mast Care..................3-79Antennas, Integrated Windshield and Rear
Window......................................................3-80
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)............................ 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-36
Appearance Care............................................5-75
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-77
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-81
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-75
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-78
Fiberglass Springs.......................................5-81
Finish Damage............................................5-81
Titanium Exhaust System..............................5-81
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-81
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-82
Weatherstrips..............................................5-77
Arming the System.........................................2-16
Ashtrays........................................................3-21
Audio System(s).............................................3-62
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-78
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-79
Care of Your CDs........................................3-79
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-79
Integrated Windshield and Rear Window
Antennas................................................3-80
Power Antenna Mast Care............................3-79
Radio with Cassette.....................................3-63
Radio with CD............................................3-67
Setting the Time..........................................3-62
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-75
Trunk-Mounted CD Changer..........................3-71
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-77
Automatic Transmission Check........................... 6-9
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control
System Check.............................................6-10
Automatic Transmission...................................2-21
Fluid..........................................................5-20
Operation...................................................2-24
B
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-8
Battery Run-Down Protection............................3-17
Battery..........................................................5-40
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-24
Body Lubrication Service................................... 6-9
Brake Fluid....................................................5-37
Brake Wear...................................................5-39
Brake............................................................2-30
Parking......................................................2-30
System Inspection.......................................6-13
System Warning Light..................................3-35
Brakes..........................................................5-37
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-19
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-47
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-51
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Headlamps.................................................5-47
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-51
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps..................5-49
Buying New Tires...........................................5-59
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canada ± Customer Assistance.......................... 7-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-7
Capacities and Speci®cations............................5-92
Carbon Monoxide...................4-27, 4-35, 2-11, 2-35
Care of.........................................................5-77
Safety Belts................................................5-77
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-78
Your CD Player...........................................3-79
Your CDs ...................................................3-79
Cargo Cover..................................................2-42
Cassette Tape Messages.................................3-66
Cassette Tape Player Service............................. 6-8
CD Adapter Kits.............................................3-66
CD Changer, Trunk-Mounted............................3-71
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-39
Chains, Tires..................................................5-64
Check Engine Light.........................................3-38
Checking Coolant............................................5-25
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-13
2

Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-48
Check...........................................................3-38
Engine Light...............................................3-38
Gages Warning Light...................................3-42
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-81
Child Restraints..............................................1-26
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-26
Infants and Young Children...........................1-23
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-31
Older Children.............................................1-21
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-33
Securing a Child Restraint in the Passenger
Seat Position...........................................1-34
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-31
Top Strap...................................................1-30
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-21
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-80
Cleaning Coated Moldings................................5-76
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-78
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-75
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-77
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-77
Cleaning Leather............................................5-76
Cleaning Removable Roof Panel.......................5-79
Cleaning the Convertible Top............................5-80
Cleaning the Security Shade and
Convenience Net.........................................5-77Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-76
Cleaning Tires................................................5-80
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-79
Cleaning........................................................5-81
Fiberglass Springs.......................................5-81
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-75
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-78
Titanium Exhaust System..............................5-81
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-81
Weatherstrips..............................................5-77
Climate Control System...................................3-22
Dual Automatic............................................3-22
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-28
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-22
Compact Disc Messages..........................3-70, 3-75
Competitive Driving Mode................................4-11
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Convenience Net............................................2-42
Convertible Top..............................................2-49
Lowering the Convertible Top........................2-50
Raising the Convertible Top..........................2-53
Coolant.........................................................3-38
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-38
Heater, Engine............................................2-23
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-26
Cooling System..............................................5-29
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-16
Cruise Control.................................................. 3-9
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-39
Current and Past Model Order Forms................7-11
3