coolant temperature CHEVROLET VOLT 2011 Owner's Manual

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer
to the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
bg: Audio Steering Wheel
Controls or OnStar®
I: Brake System Warning
Light
A: Charge Port Door
":Charging System
(12‐Volt Battery)
I: Cruise Control
f: Electric Parking Brake
d:Electronic Stability
Control (ESC)
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
y:Fault
g:First Responder
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
_: High Voltage
j:LATCH System Child
Restraints
[: Leaf
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
O:Power
B:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
2-10 Keys, Doors and Windows
Conditions in Which Remote
Start May Not Work
Conditions in which a remote start
may not occur include:
.An open hood.
.Vehicle propulsion system
fault conditions, including an
emission control system
malfunction.
.High voltage battery fault
conditions.
A second remote start or extension
will not occur if the fuel level is low.
During a remote start, conditions
in which a remote start may be
canceled include:
.Vehicle propulsion system
or high voltage battery fault
conditions.
.Low engine oil pressure.
.Engine coolant temperature that
is too high.
Door Locks
{WARNING
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
.Passengers, especially
children, can easily open the
doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. The chance of being
thrown out of the vehicle in
a crash is increased if the
doors are not locked. So, all
passengers should wear
safety belts properly and
the doors should be locked
whenever the vehicle is
driven. (Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child can
be overcome by extreme heat
and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Always lock the
vehicle whenever leaving it.
.Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when slowing or stopping
the vehicle. Lock the doors
to help prevent this from
happening.
To lock or unlock the door, use
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter or the key from outside
the vehicle. Use the door lock knob
or switch from inside the vehicle.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-1
Instruments and
Controls
Instrument Panel Overview
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . 5-4
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-6
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-6
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-7
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16 Battery Gauge (High
Voltage) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . 5-17
Total Vehicle Range . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-18
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-19
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Charging System Light (12-Volt Battery) . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Sport Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Mountain Mode Light . . . . . . . . 5-26 Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . 5-27
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-28
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 5-28
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Door, Hood, or Hatch Open
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Information Displays
Center Stack Display . . . . . . . . 5-31
Power Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Energy Information . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Driver InformationCenter (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-13
A.Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑24.
B. Battery Gauge (High Voltage)
on page 5‑16.
C. Fuel Gauge on page 5‑16.
D. Service Electric Parking Brake
Light on page 5‑25.
E. Security Light on page 5‑29.
F. Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light on page 5‑27.
G. Charging System Light
(12-Volt Battery) on page 5‑21.
H. Engine Oil Pressure Light on
page 5‑28.
I. High-Beam On Light on
page 5‑29.
J. Second Row Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light. See Safety
Belt Reminders on page 5‑18. K.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 6‑4.
L. Compass on page 5‑16.
M. Speedometer on page 5‑15.
N. Cruise Control Light on
page 5‑29.
O. Electric Parking Brake Light on
page 5‑25.
P. Door, Hood, or Hatch Open
Light on page 5‑30.
Q. Low Fuel Warning Light on
page 5‑28.
R. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 5‑26.
S. Electric Drive Unit Positions. See Electric Drive Unit on
page 9‑32.
T. Driver Efficiency Gauge on
page 5‑17. U.
Tire Pressure Light on
page 5‑27.
V. Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak
®Light on page 5‑27.
W. Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑21.
X. Odometer on page 5‑15.
Y. Lamps On Reminder on
page 5‑29.
Z. Sport Mode Light on page 5‑26
and Mountain Mode Light on
page 5‑26.
AA. Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑43.
AB. Total Vehicle Range on
page 5‑17.
AC. Airbag Readiness Light on
page 5‑19.
AD. Driver Safety Belt Reminder Light. See Safety Belt
Reminders on page 5‑18.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-27
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak®Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the vehicle.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the light comes on and stays
on while driving, there could be a
problem with the TCS/StabiliTrak
system and the vehicle might need
service. When this warning light is
on, the TCS/StabiliTrak system is
off and does not limit wheel spin.
The light flashes if the system is
active and is working to assist the
driver with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning
Light
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on briefly when
the vehicle is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the light comes on and stays
on while driving, the vehicle may
have a problem with the cooling
system. Stop and turn off the
vehicle to avoid damage to the
engine. A warning chime sounds
when this light is on.
SeeEngine Overheating on
page 10‑23 for more information.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the vehicle is
in ON/RUN. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS.
When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or more
of the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) may also display.
SeeTire Messages on page 5‑52
for more information. Stop as soon
as possible, and inflate the tires to
the pressure value shown on the
Tire and Loading Information Label.
See Tires on page 10‑48 for more
information.

Black plate (47,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-47
Drive Mode Messages
MOUNTAIN MODE NOT
AVAILABLE
This message displays when
in Mountain Mode and the
mode becomes unavailable.
See“Mountain Mode” under
Driver Selected Operating
Modes on page 9‑26.
SPORT MODE NOT
AVAILABLE
This message displays when in
Sport Mode and the mode becomes
unavailable. See “Sport Mode”
under Driver Selected Operating
Modes on page 9‑26.
Electric Drive Unit
Messages
SHIFT TO PARK
This message displays when
the vehicle should be shifted to
P (Park). This may appear when
attempting to turn off the vehicle
when it is not in P (Park).
Engine Cooling System
Messages
ENGINE OVERHEATED —
REDUCE SPEED
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature or
engine oil is too hot. Reduce speed
and allow the vehicle to cool down.
ENGINE OVERHEATED —
TURN VEHICLE OFF
This message displays and a
continuous chime sounds if the
engine cooling system reaches
unsafe temperatures for operation.
Stop and turn off the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so to avoid
severe damage. This message
clears when the engine has cooled
to a safe operating temperature.
ENGINE RUNNING DUE TO
TEMPERATURE
This message displays when the
high voltage battery is charged but
the engine has to come on because
of the outside temperature or high
voltage battery temperature.

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-19
Cooling System
(High Voltage Battery)
During vehicle operation and
also during charging, the high
voltage battery cells in the
vehicle are kept within a normal
operating temperature range.
If the temperature rises above this
temperature, the battery cooling
system turns on the air conditioning
compressor and cools the coolant
until the correct temperature is
reached. If the temperature falls
below this temperature, a high
voltage heater, located in the
battery, heats the coolant until the
correct temperature is reached.
What to Use
The high voltage battery coolant
reservoir in the vehicle is filled
with a 50/50 mixture of DEX-COOL
engine coolant and deionized water.
If using this mixture, nothing else
needs to be added.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
The high voltage battery
coolant reservoir is located
on the passenger side of the
engine compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑10 for more information
on location.Check to see if coolant is visible
in the high voltage battery coolant
reservoir. If coolant is visible but the
coolant level is below the cold fill
line, there could be a leak in the
cooling system.
The high voltage battery coolant
should only be serviced by a
qualified technician.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
10-20 Vehicle Care
Cooling System
(Power Electronics and
Charger Modules)
The power electronics and charger
modules are cooled using the same
coolant loop.
The power electronics and charger
modules in the vehicle are kept
below a maximum temperature.
If the temperature rises above
this temperature, the electric
engine cooling fans will turn
on and cool the coolant until the
correct temperature is reached.
What to Use
The power electronics and charger
modules coolant reservoir in the
vehicle is filled with a 50/50 mixture
of DEX-COOL engine coolant
and deionized water. If using this
mixture, nothing else needs to
be added.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
The power electronics and
charger modules coolant reservoir
is located on the driver side of the
engine compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑10 for more information
on location.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the power electronics and charger
modules coolant reservoir. If coolant
is visible but the coolant level is
below the cold fill line, there could
be a leak in the cooling system.
The power electronics and charger
modules coolant should only be
serviced by a qualified technician.

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-21
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in the
vehicle is filled with DEX-COOL
engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in the vehicle for
5 years or 240 000 km (150,000 mi),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
seeEngine Overheating on
page 10‑23.
What to Use
{WARNING
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
.Gives freezing protection down
to −37°C (−34°F), outside
temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up
to 129°C (265°F), engine
temperature.
.Protects against rust and
corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Notice: If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other
parts.
Never dispose of engine coolant
by putting it in the trash, pouring
it on the ground, or into sewers,
streams, or bodies of water.
Have the coolant changed by an
authorized service center, familiar
with legal requirements regarding
used coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
10-24 Vehicle Care
Power Steering Fluid
The vehicle is equipped with an
electric power steering system.
No fluid or general maintenance
is required.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When adding windshield washer
fluid to the vehicle, be sure to read
the manufacturer's instructions
before use. If operating the vehicle
in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid
that has sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The WASHER FLUID LOW ADD
FLUID message will appear on
the Driver Information Center
(DIC) when the fluid level is low.
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑43 for more information.
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid
until the tank is full. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑10 for reservoir location. Notice
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
for adding water.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean
as well as washer fluid.
.Fill the washer fluid tank
only three-quarters full
when it is very cold. This
allows for fluid expansion
if freezing occurs, which
could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system
and paint.