towing CHEVROLET TRAVERSE 2017 1.G Owners Manual

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 3/29/16
In Brief 19
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
1. Driver and Passenger SideTemperature Controls
2. Air Delivery Mode Controls
3. SYNC (Synchronized Temperature)
4. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
5. REAR (Rear Climate Control)
6. A/C (Air Conditioning)
7. Recirculation
8. Fan Control
9. Rear Window Defogger
10. Defrost See
Climate Control Systems 0205
or Dual Automatic Climate Control
System 0208 (If Equipped). For
more information about the rear
climate control, see Rear Climate
Control System 0212 orRear
Climate Control System (with Rear
Seat Audio) 0213.
Transmission
Electronic Range Select
(ERS) Mode
ERS mode allows you to choose the
top-gear limit of the transmission
and the vehicle's speed while
driving downhill or towing a trailer.
The vehicle has an electronic shift
position indicator within the
instrument cluster. When using the
ERS mode a number will display
next to the L, indicating the current
gear that has been selected.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to L (Low).
2. Press the + (Plus) or −(Minus)
button on the shift lever, to
increase or decrease the gear
range available.
See Manual Mode 0236.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 3/29/16
82 Seats and Restraints
passenger airbag while a child
restraint or child occupant is on
the seat. If the passenger airbag
is turned on, the on indicator will
be lit.
If the passenger seat gets wet, dry
the seat immediately. If the airbag
readiness light is lit, do not install a
child restraint or allow anyone to
occupy the seat. See Airbag
Readiness Light 0122 for important
safety information.
The on indicator may be lit if an
object, such as a briefcase,
handbag, grocery bag, laptop or
other electronic device, is put on an
unoccupied seat. If this is not
desired remove the object from
the seat.
{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 0368.
{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.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Adding accessories that change the
vehicle's frame, bumper system,
height, front end, or side sheet
metal may keep the airbag system
from working properly.
The operation of the airbag system
can also be affected by changing
any parts of the front seats, safety
belts, airbag sensing and diagnostic
module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules,
ceiling or pillar garnish trim,
overhead console, front sensors,
side impact sensors, airbag wiring,
or the front center console if the
vehicle has a front center airbag.
Your dealer and the service manual
have information about the location
of the airbag sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module, and airbag
wiring.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
front outboard passenger position,
which includes sensors that are part
of the passenger's seat. The

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 3/29/16
Instruments and Controls 125
If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as
soon as possible.
If the light continues to flash, find a
safe place to park. Turn the vehicle
off and wait at least 10 seconds
before restarting the engine. If the
light is still flashing, follow the
previous guidelines and see your
dealer for service as soon as
possible.
If the light is on steady :A
malfunction has been detected.
Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Check the following:
. A loose or missing fuel cap may
cause the light to come on. See
Filling the Tank 0254. A few
driving trips with the cap
properly installed may turn the
light off.
. Poor fuel quality can cause
inefficient engine operation and
poor driveability, which may go
away once the engine is warmed
up. If this occurs, change the
fuel brand. It may require at least one full tank of the proper
fuel to turn the light off. See
Fuel
0253.
If the light remains on, see your
dealer.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
If the vehicle requires an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test, the
test equipment will likely connect to
the vehicle's Data Link
Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
wheel. Connecting devices that are
not used to perform an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test or to
service the vehicle may affect
vehicle operation. See Add-On
Electrical Equipment 0264. See
your dealer if assistance is needed. The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
.
The light is on when the engine
is running.
. The light does not come on
when the ignition is in ON/RUN
while the engine is off.
. Critical emission control systems
have not been completely
diagnosed. If this happens, the
vehicle would not be ready for
inspection and might require
several days of routine driving
before the system is ready for
inspection. This can happen if
the 12-volt battery has recently
been replaced or run down, or if
the vehicle has been recently
serviced.
See your dealer if the vehicle will
not pass or cannot be made ready
for the test.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 3/29/16
126 Instruments and Controls
Brake System Warning
Light
The vehicle brake system consists
of two hydraulic circuits. If one
circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the
vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working
If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected right away.
MetricEnglish
This light should come on briefly
when the engine is started. If it does
not come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is
a problem.
This light may also come on due to
low brake fluid. See Brake
Fluid 0283. When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light also comes on
when the parking brake is set. The
light will stay on if the parking brake
does not release fully. If it stays on
after the parking brake is fully
released, it means there is a brake
problem.
If the light comes on while driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released. The pedal may be harder
to push or, the pedal may go closer
to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. See
Towing the Vehicle
0329.{Warning
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after
the vehicle has been pulled off
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
The brake message remains on until
any DIC button is pressed. The
brake light remains on until the
problem is fixed. See Brake System
Messages 0138.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
The ABS warning light comes on
briefly when the ignition key is
turned to ON/RUN. This is normal.
If the light does not come on then,
have it fixed so it will be ready to
warn you if there is a problem.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
216 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 220
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 221
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 223
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 227
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 235
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 240
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Driver Assistance Systems
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 244
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 254
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
Driving and Operating 223
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0240.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. 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 the Vehicle 0329.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the 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 the vehicle may
show how much weight it may properly carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire 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).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
Driving and Operating 225
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, 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.”
See Trailer Towing 0260 for
important information on towing
a trailer, towing safety rules and
trailering tips.
Example 1
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 1 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant
Weight @ 68 kg (150 lbs)
× 2 = 136 kg (300 lbs).
3.Available Occupant and
Cargo Weight = 317 kg
(700 lbs).
Example 2
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 2 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant
Weight @ 68 kg (150 lbs)
× 5 = 340 kg (750 lbs).
3.Available Cargo Weight
= 113 kg (250 lbs).

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
232 Driving and Operating
All these features will work when the
key is in the ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY positions.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down andset the parking brake. See
Parking Brake 0239.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by holding in the
button on the shift lever and
pushing the shift lever all the
way toward the front of the
vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the
vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, the vehicle is in
P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0232.
If you are towing a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0256. If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After moving the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pressing the
button.
If you can, it means that the shift
lever was not fully locked in
P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of
the vehicle puts too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not
done properly and then it is difficult
to shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park). To find
out how, see
“Shifting Into Park”
listed previously.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
234 Driving and Operating
Engine Exhaust
{Warning
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:. The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation
(parking garages, tunnels,
deep snow that may block
underbody airflow or tail
pipes).
. The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
. The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
. The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified,
damaged, or improperly
repaired.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle: . Drive it only with the
windows completely down.
. Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
See Shifting Into Park 0232 and
Engine Exhaust 0234.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0256.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
Driving and Operating 235
Automatic
Transmission
P :This position locks the front
wheels. It is the best position to use
when starting the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park 0232 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0256.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. With the ignition in ON/
RUN, fully apply the regular brake,
then press the button on the back of
the shift lever before shifting from
P (Park). If you cannot shift out of
P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever, then push the shift lever all
the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever into another
gear. See
Shifting out of Park 0233.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0223.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use N (Neutral)
only. Also, use N (Neutral) when the
vehicle is being towed.