engine coolant CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2003 5.G Owners Manual

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System.........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation...........2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-9
Door Locks....................................................2-9
Power Door Locks........................................2-10
Lockout Protection........................................2-10
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-10
Hatch/Trunk.................................................2-11
Windows........................................................2-14
Power Windows............................................2-15
Sun Visors...................................................2-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent System..................................2-16
PASS-Key
ž..................................................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-19
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-19
Front Air Dam..............................................2-19
Ignition Positions..........................................2-20
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-21
Engine Coolant Heater (Canada Only).............2-23
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-24
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-27
Parking Brake..............................................2-30Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-31
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-33
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)...............................2-34
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-34
Engine Exhaust............................................2-35
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
(Automatic Transmission)............................2-36
Mirrors...........................................................2-37
Manual Rearview Mirror.................................2-37
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-37
Outside Power Heated Mirrors........................2-38
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror..................2-38
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-38
Storage Areas................................................2-39
Glove Box...................................................2-39
Cupholder(s)................................................2-39
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-39
Floor Mats...................................................2-40
Rear Storage Area........................................2-41
Convenience Net..........................................2-42
Cargo Cover................................................2-42
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Engine Coolant Heater
(Canada Only)
The engine coolant heater is located on the driver's side
of the engine under the manifold.
In very cold weather, 0ÉF (-18ÉC) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At
temperatures above 32ÉF (0ÉC), use of the coolant
heater is not required.
To Use The Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The electrical cord is attached to the generator
bracket assembly, between the generator and the
windshield washer ¯uid tank. With the headlamps
closed, route the cord in the opening between
the headlamp door and the fender panel on
the driver's side of the vehicle. Do not pinch the
cord when closing the hood.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a ®re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord
won't reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
2-23

4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don't it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead
of trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It's
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can't move easily.
2-24

If your engine speed drops below 900 rpm, or if the
engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift to
the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two
or more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or
for good engine performance.
Notice:When you are shifting gears, don't move
the gearshift lever around needlessly. This can
damage parts of the transmission and may require
costly repair. Shift directly into the next appropriate
gear.
One to Four Shift Light
(Manual Transmission)
When this light comes on,
you can only shift from
FIRST (1) to FOURTH (4)
instead of FIRST (1) to
SECOND (2).
You must complete the shift into FOURTH (4) to turn off
this feature. This helps you get the best possible fuel
economy.After shifting to FOURTH (4), you may downshift to a
lower gear if you prefer.
Notice:Do not try to force the shift lever into
SECOND (2) or THIRD (3) when the 1 TO 4 SHIFT light
comes on. Do not try to re-engage FIRST (1) after
starting to shift into FOURTH (4). You will damage
your transmission. Shift only from FIRST (1) to
FOURTH (4) when the light comes on.
This light will come on when:
·The engine coolant temperature is higher than
169ÉF (76ÉC),
·you are going 15 to 19 mph (24 to 31 km/h) and
·you are 21 percent throttle or less.
Downshifting (Manual Transmission)
If your vehicle is a coupe or convertible, do not downshift
into the gear shown below at a speed greater than
shown in the table:
FIRST (1) 50 mph (80 km/h)
SECOND (2) 74 mph (119 km/h)
THIRD (3) 101 mph (163 km/h)
FOURTH (4) 130 mph (209 km/h)
2-29

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-4
Other Warning Devices...................................3-4
Horn.............................................................3-5
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-5
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-6
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-12
Interior Lamps..............................................3-15
Head-Up Display (HUD).................................3-17
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-20
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-21
Climate Controls............................................3-22
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-22
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-28
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-29
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-30
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-31
Tachometer.................................................3-31
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-31
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-32
Air Bag Off Light..........................................3-33
Voltmeter Gage............................................3-34
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-35
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-36
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light . . .3-36Active Handling System Light.........................3-37
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-38
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-38
Engine Oil Pressure Gage.............................3-41
Security Light...............................................3-42
Check Gages Warning Light...........................3-42
Fuel Gage...................................................3-42
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-44
DIC Controls and Displays.............................3-45
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-53
Other Messages...........................................3-61
Audio System(s).............................................3-62
Setting the Time...........................................3-62
Radio with Cassette......................................3-63
Radio with CD..............................................3-67
Trunk-Mounted CD Changer...........................3-71
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-75
Understanding Radio Reception......................3-77
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-78
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-79
Care of Your CD Player................................3-79
Fixed Mast Antenna (Z06)..............................3-79
Power Antenna Mast Care (Convertible)...........3-79
Integrated Windshield and Rear Window
Antennas (Coupe).....................................3-80
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
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 30É below
220ÉF (104ÉC) and in increments of 10É above
220ÉF (104ÉC).)
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-26for 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.
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. United States
Canada
3-38

Security Light
This light comes on to
remind you to arm your
theft-deterrent system. If it
comes on and stays on
when your ignition is
on, there may be a
problem with your
theft-deterrent system.
See
Theft-Deterrent System on page 2-16andPASS-Keyžon page 2-17.
Check Gages Warning Light
This light will come on
brie¯y when you are
starting the engine. If the
light comes on and
stays on while you are
driving, check your gages
to see if they are in the
warning areas.This light can come on for the following reasons:
·Low Oil Pressure
·High Coolant Temperature
·High or Low Battery Voltage
·Low Fuel Level
Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left when the
ignition is on.
When the needle approaches the red zone, RESERVE
FUEL will appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
display. When the needle approaches the E, LOW
FUEL will appear on the display. At this time, you still
have a little fuel left, but you should get more soon.
3-42

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:Press this button to display gage information
like oil pressure and temperature, coolant temperature,
automatic transmission ¯uid temperature, battery
voltage and front/rear tire pressures.
3 TRIP:Press 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 (English/Metric):Press 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.
3-44

REDUCED ENGINE POWER:You will hear chimes
continuously when this message is displayed. To
acknowledge that you have read the message and to
remove it from the display, press RESET. The message
will reappear every 15 seconds until this condition
changes.
If the Driver Information Center (DIC) displays the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER message and the CHECK
ENGINE light comes on, a noticeable reduction in the
vehicle's performance may occur. If the REDUCED
ENGINE POWER message is displayed but there is no
reduction in performance, proceed to your destination.
The performance may be reduced the next time
the vehicle is driven.
The vehicle may be driven at a reduced speed while the
REDUCED ENGINE POWER message is displayed,
but acceleration and speed may be reduced. Anytime
the CHECK ENGINE light stays on, the vehicle
should be taken to an authorized dealer as soon as
possible for diagnosis and repair.
Also, refer to
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-38.
If the REDUCED ENGINE POWER message is
displayed in combination with the COOLANT OVER
TEMP message, see
Engine Overheating on page 5-26.
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON:If this message appears
on the DIC, there may be an electrical or another system
problem with your vehicle. Have your vehicle checked
by your dealer if this message keeps appearing.CHARGE SYSTEM FAULT:Press RESET to
acknowledge that you have read the message and to
remove it from the display. The message will reappear
every 10 minutes until this condition changes. You
will hear two chimes when this message is displayed.
If this message comes on while you are driving, you may
have a problem with the electrical charging system. It
could indicate that you have a loose or broken drive belt
or another electrical problem. Have it checked right
away. Driving while this light is on could drain your
battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the message on,
be certain to turn off your accessories, such as the
radio and air conditioner.
TRACTION SYS ACTIVE:When your Traction Control
System is limiting wheel spin, the TRACTION SYS
ACTIVE message will be displayed. Slippery road
conditions may exist if this message is displayed, so
adjust your driving accordingly. The message will
stay on for a few seconds after the Traction Control
System stops limiting wheel spin.
TRACTION SYSTEM ± ON:This message is displayed
when you decide to turn on the Traction Control
System by pressing the switch on the console. This
message will shut off automatically on its own.
3-56

COOLANT OVER TEMP:You will hear four chimes
and the CHECK GAGES telltale will come on when this
message is displayed. To acknowledge the warning,
press the RESET button. After you press the RESET
button, a message will be displayed and you will hear a
chime every minute until this condition changes. If
you do not press RESET, the message will remain on
the digital display until the condition changes.
If the engine coolant exceeds 255ÉF (124ÉC), this
message is displayed. 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. You can monitor the coolant
temperature with the GAGES button on the DIC or
the engine coolant gage on the instrument panel cluster.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-26.
REDUCE ENGINE RPM:You will hear four chimes
when this message is displayed. To acknowledge
the warning, press the RESET button. After you press
the RESET button, a message will be displayed and you
will hear a chime every minute until this condition
changes. If you do not press RESET, the message will
remain on the digital display until the condition
changes.
If the engine oil temperature exceeds 320ÉF (160ÉC),
this message is displayed. You should check the engine
coolant temperature and engine oil level. If your
engine is too hot, see
Engine Overheating on page 5-26.Your vehicle may need service, so see your dealer. You
can monitor the oil temperature with the GAGES
button on the DIC.
HIGH TRANS TEMP (Automatic Transmission
Only):You will hear four chimes when this message is
displayed. To acknowledge this warning, press the
RESET button. After you press the RESET button, the
message will be displayed every 10 minutes until
the condition changes. If you do not press RESET, the
message remains on the display until the condition
changes.
If the transmission ¯uid temperature rises above 270ÉF
(132ÉC) or rises rapidly, this message is displayed.
The transmission may shift gears or apply the torque
converter clutch to reduce the ¯uid temperature. Driving
aggressively or driving on long hills can cause the
transmission ¯uid temperature to be higher than normal.
If this message appears, you may continue to drive at
a slower speed. You should also monitor the
transmission ¯uid temperature and allow it to cool to at
least 230ÉF (110ÉC). The transmission ¯uid temperature
can be monitored with the GAGES button on the
DIC. See
Automatic Transmission Fluid on page 5-20.
You should also check the engine coolant temperature.
If it is also hot, see
Engine Overheating on page 5-26.
If the HIGH TRANS TEMP message is displayed during
normal vehicle operation on ¯at roads, your vehicle
may need service. See your dealer for an inspection.
3-58