service CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2007 6.G Workshop Manual

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle
towed. SeeRoadside Assistance Program
on page 458.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your
vehicle behind another vehicle — such as behind
a motorhome. The two most common types
of recreational vehicle towing are known as“dinghy towing”, towing your vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, and “dolly towing”,
towing your vehicle with two wheels on the
ground and two wheels up on a device known
as a “dolly”.
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with
any of its wheels on the ground. If your vehicle
must be towed, see “Towing Your Vehicle” earlier
in this section.Towing a Trailer
Your Corvette is neither designed nor intended
to tow a trailer.
315

Service........................................................ 319
Accessories and Modications................... 319
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 320
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 320
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 321
Fuel............................................................. 321
Gasoline Octane........................................ 321
Gasoline Specications.............................. 322
California Fuel........................................... 322
Additives................................................... 323
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 324
Filling the Tank......................................... 324
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 327
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 328
Hood Release........................................... 329
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 330
Engine Oil................................................. 333
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 340
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 342
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 345
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 345
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 346
Engine Coolant.......................................... 347
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 350Engine Overheating................................... 350
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 352
Cooling System......................................... 353
Power Steering Fluid................................. 358
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 360
Brakes...................................................... 361
Battery...................................................... 364
Jump Starting............................................ 365
Rear Axle.................................................... 370
Bulb Replacement....................................... 371
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting..... 371
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 372
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps....................................... 372
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps...... 374
Replacement Bulbs................................... 374
Windshield Replacement............................ 375
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 375
Tires............................................................ 378
Winter Tires.............................................. 379
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 380
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 382
Extended Mobility Tires............................. 384
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 386
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
317

High-Speed Operation............................... 388
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 389
Tire Rotation............................................. 393
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 393
Buying New Tires...................................... 394
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 396
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 396
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 398
Wheel Replacement.................................. 398
Tire Chains............................................... 401
Lifting Your Vehicle................................... 402
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 406
Appearance Care........................................ 407
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 407
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 409
Coated Moldings....................................... 409
Leather...................................................... 410
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 410
Cargo Cover and Convenience Net........... 411
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 411
Weatherstrips............................................ 411
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 411
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 412Finish Care............................................... 412
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 413
Removable Roof Panel.............................. 413
Convertible Top......................................... 414
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim................................................ 414
Tires......................................................... 415
Finish Damage.......................................... 415
Underbody Maintenance............................ 416
Fiberglass Springs (Composite Springs)..... 416
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 416
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 417
Vehicle Identication.................................. 418
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 418
Service Parts Identication Label............... 418
Electrical System........................................ 418
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 418
Headlamp Wiring....................................... 419
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 419
Power Windows and Other Power Options ... 419
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 419
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 419
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............... 422
Capacities and Specications.................... 426
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
318

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and
wants you to be happy with it. We hope you will
go to your dealer for all your service needs.
You will get genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle
all GM. Genuine GM parts have one of these
marks:
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and
stability control. Some of these accessories may
even cause malfunction or damage not covered
by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer/retailer can accessorize your
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories. When
you go to your GM dealer/retailer and ask for
GM Accessories, you will know that GM-trained
and supported service technicians will perform
the work using genuine GM Accessories.
319

California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects
or other reproductive harm. Engine exhaust,
many parts and systems (including some
inside the vehicle), many uids, and some
component wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle
could be damaged if you try to do
service work on a vehicle without
knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient
knowledge, experience, the proper
replacement parts, and tools
before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts,
and other fasteners. English and
metric fasteners can be easily
confused. If you use the wrong
fasteners, parts can later break or
fall off. You could be hurt.
320

If you want to do some of your own service
work, you should use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to service
your vehicle than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 468.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work,
seeServicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
on page 64.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 447.
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important
part of the proper maintenance of your vehicle.
To help keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, GM recommends
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN) shows the code letter or number
that identies your vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at
the top left of the instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identication Number (VIN) on page 418.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 6.0L V8 engine (VIN Code U),
use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher. You may also use
regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may be
slightly reduced, and you may notice a slight
audible knocking noise, commonly referred to as
spark knock. If the octane is less than 87, you may
notice a heavy knocking noise when you drive.
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If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might
damage your engine. If you are using gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher and you hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
If your vehicle has the 7.0L V8 engine
(VIN Code E), use premium unleaded gasoline
with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher.
For best performance, use premium unleaded
gasoline with a posted octane rating of 93.
In an emergency, you can use regular unleaded
gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or higher.
If 87 octane fuel is used, do not perform any
aggressive driving maneuvers such as wide open
throttle applications. You may also hear audible
spark knock during acceleration. Rell your
tank with premium fuel as soon as possible to
avoid damaging your engine. If you are using
gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). General Motors recommends against the
use of gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives
on page 323for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate on
fuels that meet California specications. See the
underhood emission control label. If this fuel is not
available in states adopting California emissions
standards, your vehicle will operate satisfactorily
on fuels meeting federal specications, but
emission control system performance may be
affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn
on and your vehicle may fail a smog-check test.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 200.
322

If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer
for diagnosis. If it is determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used, repairs may not be
covered by your warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the
United States are now required to contain additives
that will help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing your emission
control system to work properly. In most cases,
you should not have to add anything to your
fuel. However, some gasolines contain only the
minimum amount of additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
To help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean,
or if your vehicle experiences problems due to
dirty injectors or valves, look for gasoline that is
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Also, your dealer has additives that will help
correct and prevent most deposit-related problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as
ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines
may be available in your area. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines if they
comply with the specications described earlier.However, E85 (85% ethanol) and other fuels
containing more than 10% ethanol must no
be used in vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not use
fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal
parts in the fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage would
not be covered under your warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for
low emissions may contain an octane-enhancing
additive called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant where you
buy gasoline whether the fuel contains MMT.
General Motors recommends against the use of
such gasolines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the performance of
the emission control system may be affected.
The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your dealer for service.
323

When the system has calculated that oil life has
been diminished, it will indicate that an oil change
is necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL message
will come on. Change your oil as soon as possible
within the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is
possible that, if you are driving under the best
conditions, the oil life system may not indicate
that an oil change is necessary for over a
year. However, your engine oil and lter must
be changed at least once a year and at this
time the system must be reset. Your dealer
has GM-trained service people who will perform
this work using genuine GM parts and reset
the system. It is also important to check your
oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you
must change your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km)
since your last oil change. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever the oil is changed.How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to
change your engine oil and lter based on vehicle
use. Anytime your oil is changed, reset the
system so it can calculate when the next oil
change is required. If a situation occurs where
you change your oil prior to a CHANGE ENGINE
OIL message being turned on, reset the system.
To reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message
after an oil change, do the following:
1. Press the TRIP button so the OIL LIFE
percentage is displayed.
2. Press RESET and hold for two seconds.
OIL LIFE REMAINING 100% will appear.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message comes
back on when you start your vehicle, the engine
oil life system has not reset. Repeat the procedure.
341

What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may
be unhealthy for your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on your skin for
very long. Clean your skin and nails with soap and
water, or a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly
dispose of clothing or rags containing used engine
oil. See the manufacturer’s warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from
the lter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead,
recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used
oil. If you have a problem properly disposing of
your used oil, ask your dealer, a service station,
or a local recycling center for help.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 330
for the location of the engine air cleaner/lters.Notice:If you spray water into the engine
air cleaner/lter intake and water enters
the engine air cleaner/lter housing, you
could damage your vehicle’s engine.
The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not spray water into the engine
air cleaner/lter intake and/or housing.
If you are cleaning your vehicle with the hood
open, take care not to spray water directly
into either end of the air cleaner/lter housing,
as shown in the illustration, as this could damage
your vehicle’s engine.
342