ABS CHEVROLET VOLT 2012 1.G Owners Manual

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
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)
b/g: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
g:StabiliTrak®Disable
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
i:Traction Control System (TCS)
Disable
Q: Vehicle Ready
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-1
Instruments and
Controls
Instrument Panel Overview
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . 5-3
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-5
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-5
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Pedestrian Friendly Alert . . . . . . 5-6
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-6
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Battery Gauge (High Voltage) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . 5-15 Total Vehicle Range . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-16
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-17
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Charging System Light (12-Volt Battery) . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Sport Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Mountain Mode Light . . . . . . . . 5-24
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
StabiliTrak
®OFF Light . . . . . . . 5-24
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . 5-25
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-26
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 5-27
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27 Vehicle Ready Light . . . . . . . . . 5-27
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Door, Hood, or Hatch Open
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Information Displays
Center Stack Display . . . . . . . . 5-29
Power Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Energy Information . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-44
Driver InformationCenter (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Battery and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Brake System Messages . . . . 5-48
Cruise Control Messages . . . . 5-49
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-49
Drive Mode Messages . . . . . . . 5-49
Electric Drive Unit Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-49
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-49
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-50

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
5-12 Instruments and Controls
A.Battery Gauge (High Voltage)
on page 5‑14.
B. Fuel Gauge on page 5‑15.
C. Service Electric Parking Brake
Light on page 5‑23.
D. Security Light on page 5‑27.
E. Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light on page 5‑25.
F. Charging System Light (12-Volt
Battery) on page 5‑19.
G. Engine Oil Pressure Light on
page 5‑26.
H. High-Beam On Light on
page 5‑27.
I. Second Row Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light. See Safety
Belt Reminders on page 5‑16.
J. Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 6‑4.
K. Compass on page 5‑14.
L. Speedometer on page 5‑14. M.
Cruise Control Light on
page 5‑28.
N. Electric Parking Brake Light on
page 5‑22.
O. Door, Hood, or Hatch Open
Light on page 5‑28.
P. Low Fuel Warning Light on
page 5‑27.
Q. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 5‑23.
R. Electric Drive Unit Positions. See Electric Drive Unit on
page 9‑31.
S. Driver Efficiency Gauge on
page 5‑15.
T. Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑22.
U. Driver Safety Belt Reminder Light. See Safety Belt
Reminders on page 5‑16.
V. Airbag Readiness Light on
page 5‑17. W.
Total Vehicle Range on
page 5‑15.
X. Vehicle Ready Light on
page 5‑27.
Y. StabiliTrak
®OFF Light on
page 5‑24.
Z. Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑45.
AA. Traction Off Light on page 5‑24.
AB. Sport Mode Light on page 5‑24
and Mountain Mode Light on
page 5‑24.
AC. Lamps On Reminder on
page 5‑28.
AD. Odometer on page 5‑14.
AE. Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑19.
AF. Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak
®Light on page 5‑25.
AG. Tire Pressure Light on
page 5‑25.

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-23
Service Electric Parking
Brake Light
The Service Electric Parking Brake
light should come on briefly when
the vehicle is in ON/RUN. If it does
not come on, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn if there is a
problem.
If this light stays on, there is a
problem with a system on the
vehicle that is causing the parking
brake system to work at a reduced
level. The vehicle can still be driven,
but should be taken to a dealer as
soon as possible. SeeElectric
Parking Brake on page 9‑34 for
more information. If a message
displays in the Driver Information Center (DIC), see
Brake System
Messages on page 5‑48 for more
information.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
This light should come on briefly
when the vehicle is in ON/RUN. If it
does not come on, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
If the ABS warning light stays on
longer than a few seconds after the
vehicle is in ON/RUN, or comes on
and stays on while driving, try
resetting the system. To reset the
system:
1. While driving, pull over when it is safe to do so.
2. Place the vehicle in P (Park). 3. Turn the vehicle off.
4. Restart the vehicle.
If the ABS warning light remains on
after resetting the system or comes
on again while driving, the vehicle
needs service. If the ABS warning
light is on, but the regular brake
system warning light is not on, the
antilock brakes are not working
properly, but the regular brakes are
still functioning. Have the vehicle
serviced right away. If both brake
lights are on, the vehicle does not
have antilock brakes, and there is a
problem with the regular brakes as
well. Have the vehicle towed for
service. See
Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑81.

Black plate (53,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-53
Ride Control System
Messages
LOW TRACTION
This message displays when the
Antilock Brake System (ABS) is
active and is working to assist the
driver with control of the vehicle in
difficult driving conditions.
SERVICE STABILITRAK
This message displays when there
is a problem detected with the
StabiliTrak system. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but the StabiliTrak
system is not operational. See
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on
page 9‑38for information on
resetting the system.
SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL
This message displays when there
is a problem detected with the
Traction Control System (TCS). The
vehicle is safe to drive, but the TCS
is not operational. See Traction
Control System (TCS) on page 9‑36
for information on resetting the
system.
STABILITRAK OFF
This message displays when
StabiliTrak is turned off. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
turned off. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
TRACTION CONTROL ON
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
turned on.
Airbag System Messages
SERVICE AIRBAG
This message displays if there is a
problem with the airbag system.
Take the vehicle to your dealer for
service.
Anti-theft Alarm System
Messages
SERVICE THEFT ALARM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the alarm. See your
dealer for service.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better EnergyEfficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-9
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-12
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-17
Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Electric Vehicle Operating
Modes
System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Electric Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Extended Range Mode . . . . . . 9-24
Driver Selected OperatingModes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Out of Fuel/Engine Unavailable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Maintenance Modes . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Electric Drive Unit
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . 9-34
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 9-36
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 9-42
Rear VisionCamera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Charging
Plug-In Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Delayed ChargingOverride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Charging Status Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
9-6 Driving and Operating
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three‐fourths of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
Your vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort.
See specific vehicle steering
messages under
Vehicle Messages
on page 5‑47.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
.Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
.The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
9-10 Driving and Operating
.Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C
(32°F) when freezing rain begins to
fall, resulting in even less traction.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops on slippery roads, but
apply the brakes sooner than when
on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in
shaded areas. The surface of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
Turn off cruise control on slippery
surfaces.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use the Roadside
Assistance Program. To get help
and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-33
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.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5‑23. If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You might hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate, but this is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-14 Vehicle Care
A. Retaining Clips
B. Air Duct Clamp
C. Electrical Connector
3. Disconnect the air duct by loosening the air duct clamp (B).
4. Disconnect the electrical connector (C).
5. Lift the retaining clips (A) from the engine air cleaner/filter
assembly.
6. Turn and tilt the air cleaner cover slightly upward and slide it out.
Remove the air filter.
How to Reinstall the Engine
Air Filter
1. Install the air filter into theengine air cleaner/filter
assembly. The outer air filter
seal must be fitted properly in
the engine air cleaner/filter
assembly.
2. Replace the air cleaner cover by lowering it to meet the bottom of
the engine air cleaner/filter
assembly. Place the retaining
clips (A) on the engine air
cleaner/filter assembly and
secure. The rear tabs must be
secured into the lower portion of
the air cleaner.
3. Reconnect the air duct and tighten the air duct clamp (B).
4. Reconnect the electrical connector (C).
{WARNING
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air; it
helps to stop flames if the engine
backfires. Use caution when
working on the engine and do not
drive with the air cleaner/filter off.
Notice: If the air cleaner/filter is
off, dirt can easily get into the
engine, which could damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/filter
in place when you are driving.