ESP CHEVROLET VOLT 2011 Owner's Guide

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-27
Sport Mode
Sport Mode provides more
responsive acceleration than
Normal Mode, but can reduce
efficiency. Use Normal Mode
whenever possible.
Press the DRIVE MODE button to
select Sport Mode.
Press the DRIVE MODE button
again to return to Normal Mode
and it becomes active after
three seconds.
The Sport light comes on when
Sport Mode is selected. SeeSport
Mode Light on page 5‑26.
Each time the vehicle is started,
it will return to Normal Mode.
Mountain Mode
Mountain Mode should be selected
at the beginning of a trip before
climbing steep, uphill grades and
when expecting to drive in very
hilly or mountainous terrain.
This mode maintains a reserve
electrical charge of the high voltage
battery to provide better grade
climbing performance. While driving
in Mountain Mode, the vehicle will
have less responsive acceleration. Mountain Mode will not change
normal vehicle braking performance
for steep downhill grades. See
Hill
and Mountain Roads on page 9‑10
and Electric Drive Unit on
page 9‑32.
Press the DRIVE MODE button
to select Mountain Mode. If steep
hill driving is expected, it is
recommended to select Mountain
Mode at least 20 minutes before
driving on steep grades. This will
allow the vehicle time to build a
sufficient battery charge reserve.
The engine may run when Mountain
Mode is selected. If Mountain
Mode is entered before four bars
of battery charge, the engine will
run at a higher speed to build
battery charge reserve. If Mountain
Mode is entered above four bars
of battery charge reserve, the
estimated electric range will
adjust accordingly.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
9-28 Driving and Operating
Press the Drive Mode button again
to return to Normal Mode and it
becomes active in three seconds.
If Mountain Mode is not selected
for these conditions, propulsion
power may be reduced and the
engine speed may increase. See
Propulsion Power Messages on
page 5‑50.
The vehicle returns to Normal Mode
at each start to maintain a smaller
battery charge reserve for normal
driving.
Out of Fuel/Engine
Unavailable
If the vehicle runs out of fuel,
or the engine will not start due
to a malfunction, the vehicle can
continue to be driven in Electric
Mode. The vehicle will have
less responsive acceleration.DIC messages indicate reduced
propulsion power, that the engine
is not available, and the need for
fuel or service.
Once the vehicle is refueled, or the
malfunction is corrected, the engine
will start the next time the vehicle is
turned on to perform a self test, and
DIC messages will not be displayed.
Once the engine starts successfully,
normal operation will continue in
either Electric or Extended Range
Mode. The engine will stop running
after the self test is completed,
and based on the current mode
of operation. See
Fuel System
Messages on page 5‑48 and
Service Vehicle Messages on
page 5‑51.
Maintenance Modes
Engine Maintenance Mode (EMM)
Engine Maintenance Mode
(EMM) runs the engine to keep
it in good working condition after
approximately six weeks of no or
very limited engine operation. EMM
will force the engine to run, even
if there is a charge to power the
vehicle. When EMM is needed,
the EMM Request screen appears
on the center stack display at
vehicle start.
If Yes is selected, EMM will begin.
The engine will run for a set
amount of time without turning off.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-33
N (Neutral):In this position, the
propulsion system does not connect
with the wheels.
D (Drive): This position is for
normal driving. It provides the
best fuel economy. If more power
is needed for passing, and the
vehicle is:
.Going less than 56 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 56 km/h (35 mph)
or more, push the accelerator
all the way down.
Notice: If the vehicle seems to
accelerate slowly or not respond
when you go faster, and you
continue to drive the vehicle
that way, you could damage
the electric drive unit. Have the
vehicle serviced right away. L (Low):
This position reduces
vehicle speed without using the
brakes. You can use L (Low) on
hills. It can help control vehicle
speed going down steep mountain
roads along with using the brakes
off and on. You can use L (Low)
on very steep hills, in deep snow,
or in mud.
Notice: Spinning the tires or
holding the vehicle in one
place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage
the electric drive unit. The repair
will not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. If you are stuck, do not
spin the tires. When stopping on
a hill, use the brakes to hold the
vehicle in place.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has the Antilock
Brake System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When propulsion is active and
the vehicle begins to drive away,
ABS checks itself. A momentary
motor or clicking noise might be
heard while this test is going on,
and it might even be noticed that
the brake pedal moves a little.
This is normal.

Black plate (52,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
10-52 Vehicle Care
Curb Weight:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings
:A code
molded into the sidewall of
a tire signifying that the tire
is in compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and
date of production.
GVWR
:Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑14. GAWR FRT
:Gross Axle
Weight Rating for the front axle.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑14.
GAWR RR
:Gross Axle
Weight Rating for the rear axle.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑14.
Intended Outboard Sidewall
:
The side of an asymmetrical tire,
that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa)
:The metric
unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT‐Metric) Tire
:A
tire used on light duty trucks and
some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index
:An assigned
number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire. Maximum Inflation Pressure
:
The maximum air pressure to
which a cold tire can be inflated.
The maximum air pressure is
molded onto the sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating
:
The load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible inflation
pressure for that tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle
Weight
:The sum of curb
weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight, and
production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight
:
The number of occupants a
vehicle is designed to seat
multiplied by 68 kg (150 lbs).
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑14.
Occupant Distribution
:
Designated seating positions.

Black plate (56,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
10-56 Vehicle Care
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low
tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires is significantly
under‐inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure. Driving on
a significantly under‐inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under‐inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and
tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle's handling and stopping
ability.
Please note that the TPMS is
not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct
tire pressure, even if under‐inflationhas not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been
equipped with a TPMS malfunction
indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure
telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then
remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start‐ups as
long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator
is illuminated, the system may
not be able to detect or signal low
tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation
of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly.Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑57 for
additional information.
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and
Industry Canada
See Radio Frequency
Statement on page 13‑28 for
information regarding Part 15
of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) rules and
Industry Canada Standards
RSS-210/220/310.

Black plate (66,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
10-66 Vehicle Care
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-type snow tires,
space-saver, or temporary use
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 safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition
To These Grades.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified
government test course.
For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a
half (1½) times as well on
the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices
and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
–AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from
highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions
on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based
on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.

Black plate (67,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-67
Temperature–A, B, C
The temperature grades
are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and
its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Warning: The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels were
aligned and balanced at the
factory to provide the longest tire
life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and
tire balancing will not be necessary
on a regular basis. However, check
the alignment if there is unusual tire
wear or the vehicle is pulling to one
side or the other. If the vehicle is
vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels may need
to be rebalanced. See your dealer
for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or
corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts and
wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it.
Some aluminum wheels can be
repaired. See your dealer if any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of
wheel that is needed.
Each new wheel should have
the same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset and be
mounted the same way as the
one it replaces.

Black plate (69,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-69
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(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
parts. The area damaged by
the tire chains could cause
loss of control and a crash.
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
This vehicle has a tire sealant and
compressor kit. SeeTire Sealant
and Compressor Kit on page 10‑71.
There is no spare tire, no tire
changing equipment, and no
place to store a tire.
To properly lift this vehicle, see
Lifting the Vehicle on page 10‑5.
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while driving, especially if the
tires are maintained properly.
See Tires on page 10‑48.
If air goes out of a tire, it is much
more likely to leak out slowly.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-1
Service and
Maintenance
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Scheduled Maintenance
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . 11-2
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-6
Maintenance Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Maintenance Records
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 11-8
General Information
Notice: Maintenance
intervals, checks, inspections,
recommended fluids, and
lubricants are necessary to
keep this vehicle in good
working condition. Damage
caused by failure to follow
scheduled maintenance might
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
As the vehicle owner, you are
responsible for the scheduled
maintenance in this section.
We recommend having your
dealer perform these services.
Proper vehicle maintenance helps
to keep the vehicle in good working
condition, improves fuel economy,
and reduces vehicle emissions for
better air quality. Because of all the different ways
people use vehicles, maintenance
needs vary. The vehicle might need
more frequent checks and services.
Please read the information under
Scheduled Maintenance. To keep
the vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer.
The maintenance schedule is for
vehicles that:
.Carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. See
Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑14.
.Are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits.
.Use the required fuel. See Fuel
on page 9‑57.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Customer Information 13-1
Customer
Information
Customer Information
Customer SatisfactionProcedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Assistance Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-3
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . . 13-4
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . 13-4
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-5
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-6
Scheduling Service Appointments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-8
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-8
Collision Damage Repair . . . 13-10
Service Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . 13-12
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-13
Open Source Information . . . 13-24
Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-24
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-25
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . 13-25
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy
Vehicle Data Recording andPrivacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-26
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . 13-26
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-27
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . 13-27
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) . . . . . . . 13-27
Radio Frequency Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-28
Customer Information
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure
Your satisfaction and goodwill are
important to your dealer and to
Chevrolet. Normally, any concerns
with the sales transaction or the
operation of the vehicle will be
resolved by your dealer's sales or
service departments. Sometimes,
however, despite the best intentions
of all concerned, misunderstandings
can occur. If your concern has not
been resolved to your satisfaction,
the following steps should be taken:
STEP ONE: Discuss your concern
with a member of dealership
management. Normally, concerns
can be quickly resolved at that level.
If the matter has already been
reviewed with the sales, service,
or parts manager, contact the owner
of your dealership or the general
manager.