CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 2012 Owners Manual

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-7
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. SeeAdd-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 (8,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-8 Instruments and Controls
Warning Lights,
Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning lights and gauges can
signal that something is wrong
before it becomes serious enough
to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to the
warning lights and gauges could
prevent injury.
Warning lights come on when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Some warning lights come
on briefly when the engine is started
to indicate they are working.Gauges can indicate when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Often gauges and warning
lights work together to indicate a
problem with the vehicle.
When one of the warning lights
comes on and stays on while
driving, or when one of the gauges
shows there may be a problem,
check the section that explains what
to do. Follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
and even dangerous.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-9
Instrument Cluster
English Coupe and Convertible Shown, Metric Similar

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-10 Instruments and Controls
Z06–English Shown, Metric Similar

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-11
ZR1–English Shown, Metric Similar

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-12 Instruments and Controls
Speedometer
The speedometer shows the speed
in either kilometers per hour (km/h)
or miles per hour (mph). For more
information see“Personal Options”
under Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑54.
Odometer
To read the odometer with the
ignition off, turn on the parking
lamps.
If the vehicle needs a new odometer
installed, the mileage total of the
new odometer will be set to the
original kilometers (miles) of the old
odometer. See your dealer if the
odometer must be replaced in the
vehicle.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine
speed in thousands of revolutions
per minute (rpm). Notice:
Fuel shuts off at about
6500 rpm for the base model,
7000 rpm for the Z06 model, and
6600 rpm for the ZR1 model. If the
vehicle continues to be driven at
the fuel shut off rpm, the engine
could be damaged. Be sure to
operate the vehicle below the fuel
shut off rpm or reduce the
vehicle's rpm quickly when the
fuel shuts off.
Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows how much
fuel the vehicle has left while the
engine is on. An arrow on the fuel gauge
indicates the side of the vehicle the
fuel door is on.
When the needle approaches the
low fuel symbol, a chime sounds
and LOW FUEL appears on the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
display. There is still a little fuel left,
but the vehicle's fuel tank should be
filled soon.
Press the RESET button to
acknowledge a DIC message(s).
Pressing the RESET button also
turns off a DIC message but the
LOW FUEL message comes on
again in 10 minutes if fuel is not
added to the vehicle.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-13
Here are five things that some
owners ask about. All these things
are normal and do not indicate that
anything is wrong with the fuel
gauge.
.At the service station, the gas
pump shuts off before the gauge
reads the full.
.It takes a little more or less
fuel to fill up than the gauge
indicated. For example, the
gauge may have indicated half
full, but it took a little more or
less than half of the tank's
capacity to fill the tank.
.The gauge pointer may move
while cornering, braking or
speeding up.
.The gauge may not indicate the
tank is empty when the ignition
is turned off.
.The gauge reading may change
slightly within the first several
minutes after starting the
vehicle.See
“DIC Operation and Displays”
in Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑26 for more information.
Boost Gauge (ZR1)
Metric
English
This gauge indicates vacuum during
light to moderate throttle and boost
under heavier throttle.
It displays the air pressure level in
the intake manifold before it enters
the engine's combustion chamber.
The gauge is automatically centered
at zero every time the engine is
started. Actual vacuum or boost is
displayed from this zero point.
Changes in ambient pressure,
such as driving in mountains and
changing weather, will slightly
change the zero reading.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-14 Instruments and Controls
Engine Oil Pressure
Gauge
Metric
EnglishMetric—Z06 and ZR1 Models

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-15
English—Z06 and ZR1 Models
{WARNING
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced. Notice:
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine
oil low can also damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Check the oil level as soon as
possible. Add oil if required,
but if the oil level is within the
operating range and the oil
pressure is still low, have the
vehicle serviced. Always follow
the maintenance schedule for
changing engine oil.
The engine oil pressure gauge
shows the engine oil pressure
in kPa (kilopascals) or psi (pounds
per square inch) when the engine is
running. Oil pressure should be 140 to
550 kPa (20 to 80 psi). In certain
situations such as long, extended
idles on hot days, it could read as
low as 40 kPa (6 psi) and still be
considered normal. Oil pressure
may exceed 689 kPa (100 psi)
when first started or when
accelerating. It may vary with
engine speed, outside temperature
and oil viscosity, but readings above
the shaded area show the normal
operating range. Readings in the
shaded area tell you that the engine
is low on oil, or that you might have
some other oil problem. See
Engine
Oil on page 10‑14.
The engine oil pressure can also
be displayed using the GAGES
button on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑26.

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-16 Instruments and Controls
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric
English
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the gauge
pointer moves into the shaded area,
the engine is too hot.
This means that the engine coolant
has overheated. If the vehicle has
been operating under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle and turn off the engine as
soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑30 for more information.
Voltmeter Gauge
Base and Z06
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.