light CHEVROLET VOLT 2012 1.G User Guide

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-29
Use Mountain Mode prior to
climbing long, steep grades in
mountainous areas. Be sure to
engage Mountain Mode before
starting to climb. Mountain Mode
reduces electric range and power
but may be needed to maintain
speeds above 96 km/h (60 mph)
when climbing grades of 5% or
greater.
Use L (Low) in heavy stop‐and‐go
traffic or when traveling downhill.
L (Low) requires less brake pedal
application and provides a
controlled, efficient way to slow
the vehicle down.
Climate Setting
Using the heat and air conditioning
systems decreases the energy
available for electric driving.
Optimal energy efficiency is
achieved with the heat, air
conditioning, and fan turned off.Less energy is used at low fan
speeds. When using the fan:
.Fan Only is the most energy
efficient climate setting as long
as
0is not selected.
.ECO is for moderate air
conditioning and heater
operation and is the next most
energy efficient setting as long
as
0is not selected.
.Comfort provides the most
comfort but is the least energy
efficient.
Use the auto heated seat feature
instead of climate settings. Heating
the seat uses less energy than
heating the vehicle interior.
Use remote start to heat or cool the
interior when the vehicle is plugged
in to maximize the electric range by
utilizing electricity from the electrical
outlet. Engine Assisted Heating operation,
if equipped, can be personalized.
See
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑56 for more information.
In hot weather, avoid parking in
direct sunlight or use sunshades
inside the vehicle.
Turn off the front and rear window
defog/defrost when they are no
longer needed.
Avoid driving with the windows open
at highway speeds.
Vehicle Charging/Maintenance
Charging
Keep the vehicle plugged in, even
when fully charged, to keep the
battery temperature ready for the
next drive. This is important when
outside temperatures are extremely
hot or cold.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-13
Delayed Locking
This vehicle may have a delayed
locking feature. If delayed locking is
enabled, a chime will sound to
indicate a door or hatch is open
when the doors are locked with the
power door lock switch. The doors
will automatically lock and the
theft-deterrent system will arm after
all doors are closed and
five seconds have passed. Press
the lock button again to make the
doors lock immediately. Press the
unlock switch to cancel the delayed
lock operation. To enable this
feature, see“Power Door Locks” in
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑56. To arm and disarm the
theft-deterrent system, see Anti-theft
Alarm System on page 2‑15.
Automatic Door Locks
Automatic Door Lock
The doors are programmed to
automatically lock when the shift
lever is moved out of P (Park).
The automatic door lock feature
cannot be disabled.
Automatic Door Unlock
The doors can be programmed to
automatically unlock when the shift
lever is moved into P (Park). See
“Power Door Locks” inVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑56.
Lockout Protection
If the power door lock switch is
pressed when the driver door is
open and the vehicle is on, all the
doors will lock and then the driver
door will unlock.
This feature can also be enabled to
function when the vehicle is off. To
enable this feature, see “Unlocked
Door Anti Lock Out” inVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑56.
Safety Locks
The rear door safety locks prevent
passengers from opening the rear
doors from inside the vehicle.
Press
o {to activate the rear door
safety locks. The LED light (A)
comes on when activated.
Press
o {again to deactivate the
safety locks.

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
2-16 Keys, Doors, and Windows
To turn off the system alarm:
.PressKon the RKE transmitter.
.Or, start the vehicle by pressing
POWER
Oon the center stack
with the brake pedal applied and
the RKE transmitter in the
vehicle.
Charge Cord Theft Alert
To arm or disarm the charge cord
theft alert, lock or unlock the vehicle
with the RKE transmitter.
If there is an attempt to remove the
charge cord while the vehicle is
locked, the system alarm will be
activated. To turn off the system
alarm, press
Kon the RKE
transmitter.
This feature may be disabled
through the vehicle personalization.
See “Charge Cord Theft Alert” under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑56.
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑17 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
Immobilizer Operation
This vehicle has a passive
theft-deterrent system. The system
does not have to be manually
armed or disarmed.
The vehicle is automatically
immobilized when the vehicle is
turned off.
The system is automatically
disarmed when the vehicle is
started with a valid RKE transmitter
in the vehicle. The RKE transmitter
uses electronic coding that matches
an immobilizer control unit in the
vehicle and automatically disarms the system. Only a correct
transmitter can be used to turn the
vehicle on.The security light in the instrument
cluster comes on if there is a
problem with arming or disarming
the theft-deterrent system.
When trying to start the vehicle, the
security light comes on briefly when
the vehicle is turned on.
If the vehicle does not start and the
security light stays on, there is a
problem with the system. Attempt to
turn the vehicle off and try it again.
Do not leave the RKE transmitter in
the vehicle.

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-21
Remote Window Operation
The vehicle may have remote
operating windows that will open all
the windows from outside the
vehicle by pressing and holding
K
on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter.
This feature can be disabled by a
dealer technician.
Window Lockout
The rear window lockout switch is
on the driver door. This feature
prevents the rear passenger
windows from operating, except
from the driver position.
Press
o{to activate the rear
window lockout switch. The LED
light (A) comes on when activated.
Press
o {again to deactivate the
lockout switch.
Sun Visors
Pull the sun visor down to block
glare. Detach the sun visor from the
center mount to pivot to the side
window, or to extend along the rod,
if available.

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-7
Navigation System Shown, BaseSystem Similar
If available, the controls are on the
center stack. To operate, the vehicle
must be on.
Press
MorLto heat the driver or
passenger seat cushion and
seatback.
Press the button once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the button, the heated seat will
change to the next lower setting,
and then the off setting. Three lights
indicate the highest setting and one
light the lowest.
Auto Heated Seats
If available, the controls can be
accessed while the vehicle is on by
pressing the CLIMATE button on the
center stack.
Press the touch screen
MAUTO or
LAUTO button. The button color
will change to green when this
feature is on. When the vehicle is on, this feature
will automatically activate the
heated seats at the level required by
the vehicle's interior temperature.
The active high, medium, low, or off
heated seat level will be indicated
by the manual heated seat button
lights on the center stack. Use the
touch screen buttons or the manual
heated seat buttons on the center
stack to turn auto heated seats off.
If the passenger seat is unoccupied,
the auto heated seats feature will
not activate that seat.
The auto heated seats feature can
be programmed to always be
enabled when the vehicle is on. See
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑56
for more information.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
3-8 Seats and Restraints
Remote Start Heated Seats
When it is cold outside, the heated
seats can be programmed to turn on
automatically during a remote
vehicle start. Unless the auto
heated seats feature is available
and enabled, the heated seats will
be canceled when the vehicle is
turned on. If the vehicle has auto
heated seats and the feature is
enabled, the seat heating level will
automatically change to the level
required by the vehicle's interior
temperature when the vehicle is
turned on.
The indicator lights on the heated
seat buttons do not turn on during a
remote start.
The temperature performance of an
unoccupied seat may be reduced.
This is normal.
The heated seats will not turn on
during a remote start unless the
heated seats feature is enabled in
the vehicle personalization menu.
SeeVehicle Personalization on
page 5‑56 for more information.Rear Seats
Folding the Seatback
{WARNING
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
{WARNING
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached,
or twisted will not provide the
protection needed in a crash. The
person wearing the belt could be
seriously injured. After raising the
rear seatback, always check to be
sure that the safety belts are
properly routed and attached, and
are not twisted.
To fold the seatback down:
Notice: Folding a rear seat with
the safety belts still fastened may
cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the
safety belts and return them to
their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-13
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle
have a lap-shoulder belt.
The following instructions explain
how to wear a lap-shoulder belt
properly.
1. If the seat has a safety beltguide, and the safety belt is not
routed through the guide, slide
the edge of the belt webbing
through the opening on the
guide. Be sure the belt is not
twisted.
2. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up
straight. To see how, see “Seats”
in the Index. 3. Pick up the latch plate and pull
the belt across you. Do not let it
get twisted.
The lap-shoulder belt may lock if
you pull the belt across you very
quickly. If this happens, let the
belt go back slightly to unlock it.
Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a
passenger belt is pulled out all
the way, the child restraint
locking feature may be engaged.
If this happens, let the belt go
back all the way and start again.
4. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to
make sure it is secure. If the belt
is not long enough, see Safety
Belt Extender on page 3‑17.
Position the release button on
the buckle so that the safety belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-17
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone,
including pregnant women. Like all
occupants, they are more likely to
be seriously injured if they do not
wear safety belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a
lap-shoulder belt, and the lap
portion should be worn as low as
possible, below the rounding,
throughout the pregnancy.The best way to protect the fetus is
to protect the mother. When a safety
belt is worn properly, it is more likely
that the fetus will not be hurt in a
crash. For pregnant women, as for
anyone, the key to making safety
belts effective is wearing them
properly.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle's safety belt will fasten
around you, you should use it.
But if a safety belt is not long
enough, your dealer will order you
an extender. When you go in to
order it, take the heaviest coat you
will wear, so the extender will be
long enough for you. To help avoid
personal injury, do not let someone
else use it, and use it only for the
seat it is made to fit. The extender
has been designed for adults. Never
use it for securing child seats. To
wear it, attach it to the regular safety
belt. For more information, see the
instruction sheet that comes with
the extender.
Safety System Check
Now and then, check that the safety
belt reminder light, safety belts,
buckles, latch plates, retractors, and
anchorages are all working properly.
Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts
that might keep a safety belt system
from doing its job. See your dealer
to have it repaired. Torn or frayed
safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under
impact forces. If a belt is torn or
frayed, get a new one right away.
Make sure the safety belt reminder
light is working. See
Safety Belt
Reminders on page 5‑16 for more
information.
Keep safety belts clean and dry.
See Safety Belt Care on page 3‑18.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
3-18 Seats and Restraints
Safety Belt Care
Keep belts clean and dry.
{WARNING
Do not bleach or dye safety belts.
It may severely weaken them. In
a crash, they might not be able to
provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and lukewarm water.
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts after a
Crash
{WARNING
A crash can damage the safety
belt system in the vehicle.
A damaged safety belt system
may not properly protect the
person using it, resulting in
serious injury or even death in a
crash. To help make sure the
safety belt systems are working
properly after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible.After a minor crash, replacement of
safety belts may not be necessary.
But the safety belt assemblies that
were used during any crash may
have been stressed or damaged.
See your dealer to have the safety
belt assemblies inspected or
replaced.
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the safety belt
system was not being used at the
time of the crash.
Have the safety belt pretensioners
checked if the vehicle has been in a
crash, or if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start the vehicle
or while you are driving. See
Airbag
Readiness Light on page 5‑17.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
3-20 Seats and Restraints
{WARNING
Because airbags inflate with great
force and faster than the blink of
an eye, anyone who is up
against, or very close to any
airbag when it inflates can be
seriously injured or killed. Do not
sit unnecessarily close to any
airbag, as you would be if sitting
on the edge of the seat or leaning
forward. Safety belts help keep
you in position before and during
a crash. Always wear a safety
belt, even with airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of
the vehicle.
Occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door or side
windows in seating positions with
seat-mounted side impact airbags
and/or roof-rail airbags.
{WARNING
Children who are up against,
or very close to, any airbag when
it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Airbags plus
lap-shoulder belts offer protection
for adults and older children, but
not for young children and infants.
Neither the vehicle's safety belt
system nor its airbag system is
designed for them. Young
children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint
system can provide. Always
secure children properly in the
vehicle. To read how, seeOlder
Children on page 3‑33 orInfants
and Young Children on
page 3‑36.
There is an airbag readiness light
on the instrument cluster, which
shows the airbag symbol. The
system checks the airbag electrical
system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See Airbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑17 for more
information.