service CHEVROLET TRAVERSE 2011 1.G Workshop Manual

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-31
system. See“Traction Control
Operation” following for more
information.
When the traction control system
has been turned off, system noises
may be heard and felt as a result of
the brake-traction control working.
It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn the system off if the vehicle
is stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow,
and you want to “rock”the vehicle to
attempt to free it. It may also be
necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road
conditions where high wheel spin is
required. See If the Vehicle is Stuck
on page 9‑11.
Traction Control Operation
The traction control system is part of
the StabiliTrak system. Traction
control limits wheel spin by reducing
engine power to the wheels (engine
speed management) and by
applying the brakes as necessary. The traction control system is
enabled automatically when the
vehicle is started. It will activate and
the StabiliTrak light will flash if it
senses that any of the wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose
traction while driving. If traction
control is turned off, only the
brake-traction control portion of
traction control will work. The
engine speed management will be
disabled. In this mode, engine
power is not reduced automatically
and the driven wheels can spin
more freely. This can cause the
brake-traction control to activate
constantly.
Notice:
If the wheel(s) of one axle
is allowed to spin excessively
while the StabiliTrak
®, ABS, brake
warning lights, and any relevant
DIC messages are displayed, the
transfer case could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Reduce
engine power and do not spin the wheel(s) excessively while these
lights and messages are
displayed.
The traction control system may
activate on dry or rough roads or
under conditions such as heavy
acceleration while turning or abrupt
upshifts/downshifts of the
transmission. When this happens, a
reduction in acceleration may be
noticed, or a noise or vibration may
be heard. This is normal.
If cruise control is being used when
the system activates, the StabiliTrak
light will flash and cruise control will
automatically disengage. Cruise
control may be reengaged when
road conditions allow. See
Cruise
Control on page 9‑32.
StabiliTrak may also turn off
automatically if it determines that a
problem exists with the system.
If the problem does not clear itself
after restarting the vehicle, see your
dealer for service.

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-35
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
If the URPA system does not
activate due to a temporary
condition, the message PARK
ASSIST OFF or PARK ASST
BLOCKED SEE OWNERS
MANUAL will be displayed on
the DIC.
SERVICE PARK ASSIST:If this
message occurs, take the vehicle to
your dealer to repair the system.
PARK ASSIST OFF: This message
occurs if the driver disables the
system. PARK ASST BLOCKED SEE
OWNERS MANUAL:
This
message can occur under the
following conditions:
.The ultrasonic sensors are not
clean. Keep the vehicle's rear
bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice and slush. For cleaning
instructions, see Exterior Care
on page 10‑89.
.The park assist sensors are
covered by frost or ice. Frost or
ice can form around and behind
the sensors and may not always
be seen; this can occur after
washing the vehicle in cold
weather. The message may not
clear until the frost or ice has
melted.
.A trailer was attached to the
vehicle, or a bicycle or an object
was hanging out of the liftgate
during the last drive cycle. Once
the attached object is removed,
URPA will return to normal
operation.
.A tow bar is attached to the
vehicle.
.The vehicle's bumper is
damaged. Take the vehicle to
your dealer to repair the system.
.Other conditions may affect
system performance, such as
vibrations from a jackhammer or
the compression of air brakes on
a very large truck.
If the system is still disabled, after
driving forward at least 25 km/h
(15 mph), take the vehicle to
your dealer.

Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
9-38 Driving and Operating
The delay that is received
after shifting out of R (Reverse)
is approximately 10 seconds.
The delay can be cancelled by
performing one of the following:
.Pressing a hard key on the
navigation system.
.Shifting in to P (Park).
.Reach a vehicle speed of
5 mph (8 km/h).
There is a message on the rear
vision camera screen that states
“Check Surroundings for Safety”.
Adjusting the Brightness and
Contrast of the Screen
To adjust the brightness and
contrast of the screen, press the
MENU button while the rear vision
camera image is on the display. Any
adjustments made will only affect
the rear vision camera screen.
](Brightness) : Touch the
+ (plus) or –(minus) screen buttons
to increase or decrease the
brightness of the screen.
_(Contrast) : Touch the + (plus)
or –(minus) screen buttons to
increase or decrease the contrast of
the screen.
Symbols
The navigation system may have a
feature that lets the driver view
symbols on the navigation screen
while using the rear vision camera.
The Ultrasonic Rear Park Assist
(URPA) system must not be
disabled to use the caution symbols.
If URPA has been disabled and the
symbols have been turned on, the
Rear Parking Assist Symbols
Unavailable error message may
display. See Ultrasonic Parking
Assist on page 9‑34.
The symbols appear when an object
has been detected by the URPA
system. The symbol may cover the
object when viewing the navigation
screen. To turn the symbols on or off:
1. Make sure that URPA has not
been disabled.
2. Shift into P (Park).
3. Press the MENU hard key to enter the configure menu
options, then press the MENU
hard key repeatedly until Display
is selected or touch the Display
screen button.
4. Select the Rear Camera Options screen button. The Rear Camera
Options screen will display.
5. Touch the Symbols screen button. The screen button will be
highlighted when on.
Rear Vision Camera Error
Messages
Service Rear Vision Camera
System: This message can display
when the system is not receiving
information it requires from other
vehicle systems.
If any other problem occurs or if a
problem persists, see your dealer.

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-41
Recommended Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane rating of 87 or
higher. If the octane rating is less
than 87, an audible knocking noise,
commonly referred to as spark
knock, might be heard when driving.
If this occurs, use a gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If heavy knocking is heard
when using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, the engine
needs service.
Gasoline Specifications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet
ASTM specification D 4814 in the
United States or CAN/CGSB‐3.5 or
3.511 in Canada. Some gasolines
contain an octane-enhancing
additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeFuel Additives
on page 9‑42for additional
information.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions
standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle might fail a smog‐check test.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on
page 5‑16. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer for diagnosis.
If it is determined that the condition
is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs might not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-43
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines might be
available in your area. We
recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.Notice:
This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty. Some gasolines that are not
reformulated for low emissions
can contain an octane-enhancing
additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant
where you buy gasoline whether the
fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the
performance of the emission control
system could be affected. The
malfunction indicator lamp might
turn on. If this occurs, return to your
dealer for service.

Black plate (52,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
9-52 Driving and Operating
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See this
manual's Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things
that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system and
brake system. Inspect these before
and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 10‑18.
Trailer Towing
Three important considerations
have to do with weight:
.The weight of the trailer
.The weight of the trailer tongue
.The total weight on the
vehicle's tires
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
Speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, special
equipment, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry
must be considered. See “Weight of
the Trailer Tongue” later in this
section for more information. Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the
tow vehicle and it has all the
required trailering equipment.
The weight of additional optional
equipment, passengers and cargo in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted
from the maximum trailer weight.
Use the following chart to determine
how much the vehicle can weigh,
based upon the vehicle model
and options.

Black plate (56,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
9-56 Driving and Operating
Trailer Wiring Harness
Basic Trailer Wiring
The trailer wiring harness, with a
seven-pin connector, is located at
the rear of the vehicle and is tied to
the vehicle's frame. The harness
connector can be plugged into a
seven-pin universal heavy-duty
trailer connector available through
your dealer.The seven-wire harness contains
the following trailer circuits:.Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
.Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
.Brown: Taillamps
.Black: Ground
.Light Green: Back-up Lamps
.Red/Black: Battery Feed
.Dark Blue: Trailer Brake*
*The fuse for this circuit is installed
in the underhood electrical center,
but the wires are not connected.
They should be connected by your
dealer or a qualified service center. If the back-up lamp circuit is not
functional, contact your dealer.
If a remote (non-vehicle) battery is
being charged, press the Tow/Haul
mode switch located on the center
console near the climate controls.
This will boost the vehicle system
voltage and properly charge the
battery. If the trailer is too light for
Tow/Haul mode, turn on the
headlamps (Non‐HID only) as a
second way to boost the vehicle
system and charge the battery.

Black plate (57,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-57
Electric Trailer Brake Control
Wiring Provisions
These wiring provisions for an
electric trailer brake controller are
included with the vehicle as part of
the trailer wiring package. The
instrument panel contains blunt cut
wires behind the steering column for
the electric trailer brake controller.
The harness contains the
following wires:
.Red/Black: Power Supply
.White: Brake Switch Signal
.Gray: Illumination
.Dark Blue: Trailer Brake Signal
.Black: Ground
The electric trailer brake controller
should be installed by your dealer or
a qualified service center.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
Notice: Do not add anything
electrical to the vehicle unless
you check with your dealer first.
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle and the
damage would not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Some
add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from
working as they should. Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle 12‐volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicleon page 3‑44and
Adding
Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3‑45.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-11
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-12
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-18 Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-21
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-26
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-28
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Taillamps, Turn Signal,Sidemarker, and
Stoplamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and
Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-39
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual - 2011
10-2 Vehicle Care
Different Size Tires andWheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-57
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-69
Secondary Latch System . . . 10-78
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-80
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-81
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-85
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-85
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-89
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-92
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-95
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.