battery CHEVROLET CORVETTE 2012 6.G User Guide

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
2-24 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Removable Roof Panel
Notice:If you use a glass
treatment and/or conditioner that
contains ethyl sulfate on the roof
panel, you could damage the
panel. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Only
use a GM-approved glass cleaner
on the roof panel.
Special care is necessary when
cleaning, removing, and/or storing
the roof panel.
.Flush with water to remove dust
and dirt, then dry the panel.
.Clean a transparent roof panel
with GM Glass Cleaner. Leave
the cleaner on the panel for
one minute, then wipe the panel
with a soft, lint-free cloth. Do not
use glass cleaner on a painted
roof panel.
.Do not use abrasive cleaning
materials on either type of panel.
If water drops are frequently allowed
to dry on the roof panel, impurities
in the water will adhere to the top. These impurities may etch or mar
the finish. When the panel gets wet,
dry it off.
Convertible Top
After a power reconnect such as
battery replacement, the power
windows need to be initialized for
the convertible top to work. See
“Power Window Initialize”
inPower
Windows on page 2‑18.
Manual Operation
For care and cleaning of the
convertible top, see “Cleaning the
Convertible Top” in this section.
High pressure car washes may
cause water to enter the vehicle.
If the vehicle has this feature, the
following procedures explain the
proper operation of the manual
convertible top. The parts of the manual convertible
top that are used when lowering and
raising it are:
A. Front Edge of the
Convertible Top
B. Rear Edge of the Convertible Top
C. Tonneau Cover
Notice: Leaving the convertible
top down and exposing the
interior of the vehicle to outdoor
conditions may cause damage.
Always close the convertible top
if leaving the vehicle outdoors.

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
2-26 Keys, Doors, and Windows
7. Tilt the driver seatback forwardand press the tonneau cover
release button located on the
underside of the tonneau
cover (C) behind the driver seat.
After pressing the release
button, the driver and passenger
door glass will retract to the
full-down position. Then raise
the tonneau cover (C).
If the tonneau cover does not
release and three chimes are
heard, check to make sure the
trunk lid is closed. Also, the
tonneau cover will not release if
the vehicle alarm is armed. If battery power has not been
lost, continue to Step 9.
If battery power has been lost,
the tonneau cover (C) can be
opened using the manual
release cable.
The tonneau cover manual
release cable is located
underneath the carpeting behind
the passenger seat head
restraint, on the underside
forward edge of the tonneau
cover. To access the cable, lift
and pull back the carpeting.
Notice: If you lower the
convertible top into the storage
compartment and the rear edge of
the top is not in the full-down position, you could damage the
top. Always verify that the rear
edge of the convertible top is in
the full-down position before
lowering the top into the storage
compartment.
8. Pull the cable to release the
tonneau cover, continue with
Step 9.
9. Push forward on the frontedge (A) of the convertible top to
allow the rear edge (B) of the
convertible top to be moved to
its full-down position.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-27
10. Then move the convertible toprearward to its fully stored
position.
11. After the convertible top is stored, apply one even push on
the center of the front edge (A)
of the convertible top to ensure
that the convertible top is fully
retracted.
12. Close the tonneau cover (B) by pressing down on it with a
swift, firm motion. Raising the Manual
Convertible Top
1. Park on a level surface. Shift an
automatic transmission into
P (Park) and set the parking
brake. Shift a manual
transmission into Neutral and
set the parking brake.
2. Lower both windows.
3. Make sure the ignition is off.4. Tilt the driver seat forward and press the tonneau cover release
button. After pressing the
release button, the driver and
passenger door glass will
retract to the full-down position.
If battery power has been lost,
see Step 7 under “Lowering the
Manual Convertible Top” in
this section.
After pressing the release
button, the driver and passenger
door glass should retract to the
full-down position, if they have
not already been lowered.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
2-30 Keys, Doors, and Windows
5. Push and holdªon the
convertible top switch.
The convertible top will lower into
the rear of the vehicle. A chime will
sound when the convertible top has
lowered completely. If the radio is
on, the sound may be muted for a
brief time due to a new audio
system equalization being loaded.
If the convertible top is operated
multiple times, the engine should be
running to prevent drain on the
vehicle's battery. Under certain
conditions, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) may display a message regarding the convertible
top. See
Convertible Top Messages
on page 5‑38 for more information.
Raising the Power Convertible Top
Notice: If you raise or lower the
convertible top while the vehicle
is in motion, you could damage
the top or the top mechanism.
The repairs would not be covered
by the warranty. Always put an
automatic transmission in
P (Park) or a manual transmission
in Neutral before raising or
lowering the convertible top.
1. Park on a level surface. Start the engine. Shift an automatic
transmission into P (Park) and
set the parking brake. Shift a
manual transmission into Neutral
and set the parking brake.
2. Make sure the trunk lid is closed, the rear trunk partition in the rear
storage area is in the fastened
upright position, and no objects
are forward of the divider. See
“Rear Trunk Partition” under
Rear Storage on page 4‑2.3. Push and hold«on the
convertible top switch. The
convertible top will raise and the
windows will lower if they were
in the raised position. A chime
will sound when the convertible
top is raised completely.
4. After the convertible top is completely raised, release the
convertible top switch.
5. Pull the convertible top front latch down and turn it
counterclockwise to lock the
convertible top.

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
2-32 Keys, Doors, and Windows
5. Then follow the steps underraising the manual convertible
top. See “Manual Operation” or
“Power Operation” in this
section.
When power is restored to the
vehicle, the hydraulic bolt must be
tightened, by turning it clockwise.
The convertible top switch can then
be used to lower or raise the
convertible top.
If the convertible top is operated
multiple times, the engine should
be running to prevent drain on the
vehicle's battery. Under certain
conditions, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) may display a
message regarding the convertible
top. See Convertible Top Messages
on page 5‑38 for more information. If the battery has been
disconnected, the power windows
must be initialized for the power
convertible top to operate. See
Power Windows on page 2‑18
for
more information.
Cleaning the Convertible Top
The convertible top should be
cleaned often. However, high
pressure car washes may cause
water to enter the vehicle.
When hand washing the convertible
top, do it in partial shade. Use a
mild soap, lukewarm water, and a
soft sponge. A chamois or cloth may
leave lint on the top, and a brush
can chafe the threads in the top
fabric. Do not use detergents,
harsh cleaners, solvents,
or bleaching agents. Wet the entire vehicle and wash the
top evenly to avoid spots or rings.
Let the soap remain on the fabric
for a few minutes. When the top is
really dirty, use a mild foam-type
cleaner. Thoroughly rinse the
entire vehicle, then let the top dry
in direct sunlight.
To protect the convertible top:
.After washing the vehicle, make
sure the convertible top is
completely dry before lowering it.
.Do not get any cleaner on the
vehicle's painted finish; it could
leave streaks.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-25
Additional Factors Affecting
System Operation
Safety belts help keep the
passenger in position on the seat
during vehicle maneuvers and
braking, which helps the passenger
sensing system maintain the
passenger airbag status. See
“Safety Belts”and“Child Restraints”
in the Index for additional
information about the importance
of proper restraint use.
If the shoulder portion of the belt is
pulled out all the way, the child
restraint locking feature will be
engaged. This may unintentionally
cause the passenger sensing
system to turn the airbag(s) off for
some adult size occupants. If this
happens, let the belt go back all the
way and start again.
A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion,
or aftermarket equipment such as
seat covers, seat heaters, and
seat massagers can affect how well
the passenger sensing system operates. We recommend that
you not use seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment except when
approved by GM for your specific
vehicle. See
Adding Equipment to
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑26 for more information
about modifications that can affect
how the system operates.
{WARNING
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle
should be serviced. There are parts
of the airbag system in several
places around the vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the vehicle and the airbag system.
To purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑17.
{WARNING
For up to 10 seconds after the
vehicle is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you
are close to an airbag when it
inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
4-2 Storage
Rear Storage
Convertible Shown, CoupeSimilar
There are two storage
compartments in the floor of the
hatch/trunk area; pull up to open
the cover. For the Z06 and ZR1, the right
compartment stores the battery and
cannot be used for storage.
Notice:
Do not store heavy or
sharp objects in the rear storage
compartments located in the
hatch/trunk area. The objects
could damage the underbody.
Rear Trunk Partition
For vehicles with the power
convertible top option only, there is
a trunk partition to keep cargo from
getting in the way of the convertible
top. The trunk partition must be in
place for the convertible top to
move. If the trunk partition is not
properly in place, a message will
display. See Convertible Top
Messages on page 5‑38 for
more information. The trunk partition is a flat carpeted
board with a horizontal flap that can
be attached to the top of the trunk
to divide the storage compartment.
It can be stored flat when not in use.
Pull the divider up and snap it onto
place on both sides of the trunk.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-1
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-2
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-3
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-4
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Boost Gauge (ZR1) . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14 Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-17
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-18
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
One-to-Four Shift Light (Manual Transmission) . . . . . 5-23
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
StabiliTrak
®OFF Light . . . . . . . 5-24
Active Handling System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . 5-27
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . 5-32
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Battery Voltage and Charging Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Brake System Messages . . . . 5-37
Convertible Top Messages . . . 5-38
Cruise Control Messages . . . . 5-39
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-41
Engine Power Messages . . . . 5-42
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . 5-43
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 5-43
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Ride Control System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Safety Belt Messages . . . . . . . 5-49
Anti-theft Alarm System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50
Service Vehicle Messages . . . 5-50
Starting the Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50
Tire Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51
Transmission Messages . . . . . 5-53
Vehicle Reminder Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-54
Washer Fluid Messages . . . . . 5-54

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-7
Notice:Leaving electrical
equipment plugged in for an
extended period of time while
the vehicle is off will drain the
battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
Certain electrical accessories
may not be compatible with the
accessory power outlet and could
overload vehicle or adapter fuses.
If a problem is experienced, see
your dealer.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included
with the equipment. See Add-On
Electrical Equipment on page 9‑54. It is recommended that a qualified
technician or dealer be seen for the
proper installation of your
equipment.
Notice:
Hanging heavy
equipment from the power outlet
can cause damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. The
power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such
as cell phone charge cords.
Cigarette Lighter
To use the cigarette lighter, push it
in all the way and let go. When it is
ready, it will pop back out by itself.
Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter
in while it is heating does not let
the lighter back away from the
heating element when it is hot.
Damage from overheating can
occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be
blown. Do not hold a cigarette
lighter in while it is heating.
Ashtrays
The ashtray and cigarette lighter are
located on the instrument panel, in
front of the shift lever. To use the
ashtray, press on the indentation
at the top of the door.
Notice: If papers, pins, or other
flammable items are put in the
ashtray, hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite
them and possibly damage the
vehicle. Never put flammable
items in the ashtray.
Loose objects, such as paper clips,
can lodge behind and beneath the
ashtray lid and prevent movement of
the lid. You should avoid putting
small, loose objects near the
ashtray.

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-17
Voltmeter Gauge
Base and Z06, Metric and English
The voltmeter shows the voltage
output of the battery. It shows the
voltage output of the charging
system while the engine is running. The reading changes as the rate of
charge changes (with engine speed,
for example), but if the voltmeter
reads at 9 volts or below, the
instrument panel cluster and other
systems may shut down. The Driver
Information Center (DIC) reads
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW when
the vehicle is at 10 volts or below.
Have it checked right away. Driving
with the voltmeter reading at
10 volts or below could drain the
battery and disable the vehicle.
Safety Belt Reminders
When the engine is started, this light
flashes and a chime may come on
to remind the driver to fasten their
safety belt. Then the light stays on
solid until the belt is buckled.
This cycle may continue several
times if the driver remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.
If the driver safety belt is buckled,
neither the light nor the chime
comes on.