brakes CHEVROLET SPARK 2020 Owner's Guide
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Driving and Operating 189
{Warning
AEB is an emergency crash
preparation feature and is not
designed to avoid crashes. Do
not rely on AEB to brake the
vehicle. AEB will not brake
outside of its operating speed
range and only responds to
detected vehicles.
AEB may not:. Detect a vehicle ahead on
winding or hilly roads.
. Detect all vehicles,
especially vehicles with a
trailer, tractors, muddy
vehicles, etc.
. Detect a vehicle when
weather limits visibility, such
as in fog, rain, or snow.
. Detect a vehicle ahead if it
is partially blocked by
pedestrians or other objects.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes and/or steer
the vehicle to avoid crashes.
AEB may slow the vehicle to a stop
to try to avoid a potential crash.
A system unavailable message may
display if:
. The front of the vehicle or
windshield is not clean.
. Heavy rain or snow is interfering
with object detection.
. There is a problem with the
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system.
The AEB system does not need
service.
{Warning
AEB may automatically brake the
vehicle suddenly in situations
where it is unexpected and
undesired. It could respond to a
turning vehicle ahead, guardrails,
signs, and other non-moving
objects. To override AEB, firmly
press the accelerator pedal, if it is
safe to do so.
AEB can be disabled through
vehicle personalization. See
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0105.
Lane Departure
Warning (LDW)
If equipped, LDW may help avoid
crashes due to unintentional lane
departures. LDW uses a camera
sensor to detect the lane markings
at speeds of 56 km/h (35 mph) or
greater. It may provide an alert if the
vehicle is crossing a lane without
using a turn signal in that direction.
LDW light will not alert if the turn
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196 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 197
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 198
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 204
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 206
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 207
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 211
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Battery - North America . . . . . . 215
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 216
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 217
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 218
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 219
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 224
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 225
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 226
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 233
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Wheel Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
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198 Vehicle Care
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
electronic keys, may contain
perchlorate materials. Perchlorate
Material–special handling may
apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/
hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. Damage to suspension components
caused by modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 054.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have
the proper knowledge, service
manual, tools, or parts. Always
follow owner ’s manual procedures
and consult the service manual
for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see
Publication Ordering Information
0 300.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 054.
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Vehicle Care 213
Caution (Continued)
for fluid expansion if
freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or can
be heard all the time when the
vehicle is moving, except when
applying the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications. See Capacities and
Specifications 0288.
Brake pads should be replaced as
complete sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts
with new, approved replacement
parts. If this is not done, the brakes
may not work properly. The braking
performance expected can change
in many other ways if the wrong
replacement brake parts are
installed or if parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake/clutch master cylinder
reservoir is filled with GM approved
DOT 4 brake fluid as indicated on
the reservoir cap. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0201 for
the location of the reservoir.
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214 Vehicle Care
Checking Brake Fluid
Place the vehicle in P (Park) or
Neutral with the parking brake
applied if equipped with a manual
transmission. On a level surface,
the brake fluid level should be
between the minimum and
maximum marks on the brake fluid
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
.Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the
fluid level goes back up.
. A fluid leak in the brake/clutch
hydraulic system. Have the
brake/clutch hydraulic system
fixed. With a leak, the brakes will
not work well.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake/clutch fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake/clutch hydraulic
system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake/clutch
hydraulic system.
When the brake/clutch fluid falls to a
low level, the brake warning light
comes on. See Brake System
Warning Light 091.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid
at the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0275. What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See
Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0284.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
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Vehicle Care 247
The Tire and Loading
Information Label indicates the
original equipment tires on the
vehicle. SeeVehicle Load Limits
0 156.
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If wheels or tires are installed that
are a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction
control, electronic stability control,
or All-Wheel Drive, the performance
of these systems can also be
affected.
{Warning
If different sized wheels are used,
there may not be an acceptable
level of performance and safety if
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
tires not recommended for those
wheels are selected. This
increases the chance of a crash
and serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems
developed for the vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires 0245 and
Accessories and Modifications
0 198.
Wheel Covers
Installation
Tighten the wheel nut caps by hand
while pressing on the center of the
wheel cover with the other hand.
Then tighten an additional
one-quarter turn with the wheel
wrench.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in
the United States. The grades
are molded on the sidewalls of
most passenger car tires. The
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) system does not apply
to deep tread, winter tires,
compact spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production
tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they
must also conform to federal
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250 Vehicle Care
Used Replacement Wheels
{Warning
Replacing a wheel with a used
one is dangerous. How it has
been used or how far it has been
driven may be unknown. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash.
When replacing wheels, use a
new GM original equipment
wheel.
Tire Chains
{Warning
Do not use tire chains. There is
not enough clearance. Tire chains
used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes,
suspension, or other vehicle
parts. The area damaged by the
tire chains could cause loss of
control and a crash.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Use another type of traction
device only if its manufacturer
recommends it for the vehicle's
tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that
manufacturer's instructions. To
avoid vehicle damage, drive slow
and readjust or remove the
traction device if it contacts the
vehicle. Do not spin the wheels.
If traction devices are used, install
them on the front tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out
while driving, especially if the tires
are maintained properly. See Tires
0 231. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if there ever is 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 off the
road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction as
used in a skid. Stop pressing the
accelerator pedal and steer to
straighten the vehicle. It may be
very bumpy and noisy. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.
{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been
driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
(Continued)
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Service and Maintenance 273
Service and
Maintenance
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 273
Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 275
Special Application Services
Special ApplicationServices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Additional Maintenance
and Care
Additional Maintenanceand Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Maintenance Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Maintenance Records
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 286
General Information
Your vehicle is an important
investment. This section describes
the required maintenance for the
vehicle. Follow this schedule to help
protect against major repair
expenses resulting from neglect or
inadequate maintenance. It may
also help to maintain the value of
the vehicle if it is sold. It is the
responsibility of the owner to have
all required maintenance performed.
Your dealer has trained technicians
who can perform required
maintenance using genuine
replacement parts. They have
up-to-date tools and equipment for
fast and accurate diagnostics. Many
dealers have extended evening and
Saturday hours, courtesy
transportation, and online
scheduling to assist with service
needs.
Your dealer recognizes the
importance of providing
competitively priced maintenance
and repair services. With trained
technicians, the dealer is the place for routine maintenance such as oil
changes and tire rotations and
additional maintenance items like
tires, brakes, batteries, and wiper
blades.
Caution
Damage caused by improper
maintenance can lead to costly
repairs and may not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Maintenance intervals, checks,
inspections, recommended fluids,
and lubricants are important to
keep the vehicle in good working
condition.
Do not have chemical flushes that
are not approved by GM
performed on the vehicle. The
use of flushes, solvents, cleaners,
or lubricants that are not
approved by GM could damage
the vehicle, requiring expensive
repairs that are not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
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Service and Maintenance 281
Additional
Maintenance and Care
Your vehicle is an important
investment and caring for it properly
may help to avoid future costly
repairs. To maintain vehicle
performance, additional
maintenance services may be
required.
It is recommended that your dealer
perform these services—their
trained dealer technicians know
your vehicle best. Your dealer can
also perform a thorough
assessment with a multi-point
inspection to recommend when your
vehicle may need attention.
The following list is intended to
explain the services and conditions
to look for that may indicate
services are required. Battery
The 12-volt battery supplies power
to start the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.
To avoid break-down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
. Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion-free.
Belts
. Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the belts and
recommend adjustment or
replacement when necessary. Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.
Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0284 for GM approved
fluids.
. Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
. Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.
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300 Customer Information
.Vehicle make, model, and
model year
. Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)
. Insurance company and policy
number
. General description of the
damage to the other vehicle
Choose a reputable repair facility
that uses quality replacement parts.
See “Collision Parts” earlier in this
section.
If the airbag has inflated, see What
Will You See after an Airbag
Inflates? 048.
Managing the Vehicle Damage
Repair Process
In the event that the vehicle requires
damage repairs, GM recommends
that you take an active role in its
repair. If you have a pre-determined
repair facility of choice, take the
vehicle there, or have it towed there.
Specify to the facility that any
required replacement collision parts
be original equipment parts, either
new Genuine GM parts or recycled original GM parts. Remember,
recycled parts will not be covered by
the GM vehicle warranty.
Insurance pays the bill for the repair,
but you must live with the repair.
Depending on your policy limits,
your insurance company may
initially value the repair using
aftermarket parts. Discuss this with
the repair professional, and insist on
Genuine GM parts. Remember,
if the vehicle is leased, you may be
obligated to have the vehicle
repaired with Genuine GM parts,
even if your insurance coverage
does not pay the full cost.
If another party's insurance
company is paying for the repairs,
you are not obligated to accept a
repair valuation based on that
insurance company's collision policy
repair limits, as you have no
contractual limits with that company.
In such cases, you can have control
of the repair and parts choices as
long as the cost stays within
reasonable limits.
Publication Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service manuals have the diagnosis
and repair information on the
engine, transmission, axle,
suspension, brakes, electrical
system, steering system, body, etc.
Customer Literature
Owner
’s manuals are written
specifically for owners and are
intended to provide basic
operational information about the
vehicle. The owner ’s manual
includes the Maintenance Schedule
for all models.
Customer literature publications
available for purchase include
owner ’s manuals, warranty
manuals, infotainment manuals, and
portfolios. Portfolios include an
owner ’s manual, warranty manual,
infotainment manual, if applicable,
and zip lock bag or pouch.