tow CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2010 6.G Owner's Guide

Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle. . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Braking in Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Active Handling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Competitive Driving Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Selective Ride Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18 Racing or Other Competitive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Driving at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Before Leaving on a Long Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Loading the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Towing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
5-1

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the area
around the front wheels. Turn the traction control
system off. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse)
and a forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as
possible. For a manual transmission, shift slowly
between either 1 (First) or 2 (Second) and R (Reverse),
allowing the wheels to stop before shifting into gear.
To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinning
the wheels in the forward and reverse directions causes
a rocking motion that could free the vehicle. If that does
not get the vehicle out after a few tries, it might need to
be towed out. If the vehicle does need to be towed out,
see Towing Your Vehicle on page 5‑33.
Loading the Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo and all nonfactory‐installed
options. Two labels on your vehicle show
how much weight it may properly carry, the
Tire and Loading Information label and the
Certification label.
{WARNING:
Do not load the vehicle any heavier than
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts
on the vehicle can break, and it can change
the way the vehicle handles. These could
cause you to lose control and crash.
Also, overloading can shorten the life
of the vehicle.
5-28

4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX”amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400 −750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended
to tow a trailer.
Example 1
Item Description Total
A Vehicle Capacity
Weight for
Example 1 = 400 lbs (181 kg)
B Subtract Occupant
Weight @ 150 lbs
(68 kg) x 1 = 150 lbs (68 kg)
C Available Occupant
and Cargo Weight =
250 lbs (113 kg)
5-30

If you put things inside your vehicle—like
suitcases, tools, packages or anything
else —they will go as fast as the vehicle goes.
If you have to stop or turn quickly, or if there is
a crash, they will keep going.
{WARNING:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn,
or in a crash.
.Put things in the rear area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly.
.Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that some
of them are above the tops of the seats.
.Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
.When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
To avoid damage, the disabled vehicle should be
towed with all four wheels off the ground. Consult your
dealer/retailer or a professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed. See Roadside
Assistance Program on page 8‑7.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Notice: Dolly towing or dinghy towing the vehicle
may cause damage because of reduced ground
clearance. Always put the vehicle on a flatbed truck
or trailer.
The vehicle was neither designed nor intended to be
towed with any of its wheels on the ground. If the
vehicle must be towed, see “Towing Your Vehicle”
earlier in this section.
Towing a Trailer
The vehicle is neither designed nor intended to
tow a trailer.
5-33

A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 6‑27.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power
Steering Fluid on page 6‑41.
C. Engine Compartment Fuse Block on page 6‑104.
D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Out of View). See Jump Starting on page 6‑50.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑19.
F. Dry Sump Engine Oil Tank. See “Changing Engine
Oil and Filter” Engine Oil on page 6‑19.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑19.
H. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine Coolant on page 6‑34.
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on
page 6‑42.
J. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”under
Brakes on page 6‑43.
K. Clutch Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Hydraulic
Clutch on page 6‑31.
Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
(Except ZO6, ZR1, and Grand Sport)
If the CHECK OIL LEVEL message displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC), check the engine oil
level right away. For more information, see Driver
Information Center (DIC)
on page 4‑47. Check the
engine oil level regularly; this is an added reminder.
It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each
fuel fill. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 6‑14for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If this is not done,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a lint‐free paper towel or a cloth, then push it back in all
the way.
3. Remove the dipstick again, keeping the tip down and read the level on the cross‐hatched area.
Oil levels that fall in the cross‐hatched area are
normal.
4. Push the dipstick back in all the way.
6-19

cold engine dipstick readings. The engine oil level on
the dipstick will also be inaccurate if checked while the
engine is running. 1. To obtain an accurate engine oil level reading, warm up the engine to at least 80°C (175°F).
Cold oil will not give a correct oil level reading.
2. Once the engine is warm, turn off the engine. Checking the oil while the engine is running will
result in an incorrect oil level reading.
3. Wait at least five minutes (but not more than 20 minutes) to allow oil to drain and settle in the
engine.
4. Remove the dipstick from the external engine oil tank and clean it with a lint‐free paper towel or a
cloth. Re‐insert the dipstick into the external oil
tank, pushing it all the way in until it stops.
5. Remove the dipstick from the oil tank and read the level on the cross‐hatched area. Oil levels that fall
in the cross‐hatched area are normal.When to Add Engine Oil
(ZO6, ZR1, and Grand Sport)
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip
of the dipstick, add at least one liter/quart of the
recommended oil through the oil fill cap opening in the
oil tank. This section explains what kind of oil to use.
For engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications on page 6‑108.
See Racing or Other Competitive Driving
on page 5‑19for additional information on engine oil.
Notice: Do not add too much oil. If the engine
has so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating
range, the engine could be damaged.
6-22

The engine coolant surge
tank is located toward
the rear of the engine
compartment on the
driver side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment
Overview
on page 6‑14for more information on
location.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the FULL COLD mark on the coolant surge tank.
When the engine is hot, the level could be higher
than the FULL COLD line. If the coolant is below the
FULL COLD line when the engine is hot, there could
be a leak in the cooling system.
If the coolant is low, add the coolant or take the vehicle
to a dealer/retailer for service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
{WARNING:
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.
Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
{WARNING:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn the coolant surge
tank pressure cap —even a little —they can come
out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and coolant surge tank pressure cap to cool if you
ever have to turn the pressure cap.
6-36

Taillamps, Turn Signal, and
Stoplamps
To replace a stoplamp, taillamp/turn signal bulb: 1. Remove the screw from the top of the lamp assembly.
2. Tilt the lamp assembly toward you.
3. Turn the bulb socket one-quarter turn counterclockwise and pull it out. 4. Pull the bulb straight out to remove it from the
socket.
5. Push the new bulb in the bulb socket until it snaps into place.
6. Reinstall the lamp assembly by first lining up the tabs on the bottom of the lamp assembly with the
tabs in the vehicle, then slide it in.
7. Replace the screw at the top of the lamp assembly.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb Number
Front Parking/Turn Signal/Daytime
Running Lamp (DRL) 5702KA
Headlamp, High‐Beam Lamp H9
Sidemarker Lamp W3W
Stoplamp/Taillamp/Turn
Signal Lamp 3057KX
For replacement bulbs not listed here, contact your
dealer/retailer.
6-58

If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have
the right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your
vehicle.
{WARNING:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts,
or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose air and make you
lose control. You could have a collision in which
you or others could be injured. Always use the
correct wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for
replacement.
{WARNING:
Putting a used wheel on the vehicle is dangerous.
You cannot know how it has been used or how
far it has been driven. It could fail suddenly and
cause a crash. If you have to replace a wheel,
use a new GM original equipment wheel. Notice:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire clearance to the
body and chassis.
{WARNING:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause a crash. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to the
vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a
cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be sure
to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt off.
6-82

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out while you are driving,
especially if you maintain the tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out slowly.
See Tires
on page 6‑62for additional information.
But if you should ever have a blowout, here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates a drag that pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake
to a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you would
use in a skid. In any rear blowout remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.
The vehicle has no spare tire, no tire changing
equipment, and no place to store a tire. The vehicle, when new, had run-flat tires. This type of
tire can operate effectively with no air pressure, so you
will not need to stop on the side of the road to change
a flat tire. You can just keep on driving. The shorter
the distance you drive and the slower the speed, the
greater the chance that the run-flat tire will not have to
be replaced. Run-flat tires perform so well without any
air that a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) is used
to alert you if a tire has lost pressure. See
Run-Flat
Tires
on page 6‑69and Tire Pressure Monitor Systemon page 6‑72.
{WARNING:
Special tools and procedures are required to
service a run-flat tire. If these special tools and
procedures are not used you or others could
be injured and the vehicle could be damaged.
Always be sure the proper tools and procedures,
as described in the service manual, are used.
To order a service manual, see Service Publications
Ordering Information on page 8‑16.
6-89