CHEVROLET VOLT 2019 Owner's Manual

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163007) - 2019 - CRC - 11/5/18
170 Driving and Operating
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding POWER
Ofor
more than five seconds will place
the vehicle in Service Mode. The
instruments and audio systems will
operate as they do in ON/RUN, but
the vehicle will not be able to be
driven. The propulsion system will
not start in Service Mode. Press the
button again to turn the vehicle off.
Starting and Stopping the
Vehicle
Computers determine when the
engine needs to run. The engine
may start, if required, when the
propulsion system is on.
Starting Procedure
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The propulsion system
will not start in any other position.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving or the electric
drive unit could be damaged.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the vehicle operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment
0 233.
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle.
Press the brake pedal and press
and release POWER
O. If the RKE transmitter is not in the
vehicle or something is interfering
with the transmitter, a message
displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the vehicle will not start due to a
low RKE transmitter battery, the
vehicle can still be driven. See
“Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery”
inRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 031.
A Welcome, Ready, and Good-bye
audio message will be heard in the
vehicle and animated on the
instrument cluster when opening the
driver door upon entry, when the
vehicle is ready to be driven, and
when the vehicle is turned off.
The instrument cluster displays an
active fuel and/or battery gauge,
along with an audio startup cue,
when the vehicle is ready to be
driven. This could take up to
35 seconds at extremely cold
temperatures. The engine will only
start if needed. If the vehicle did not
start, the instrument cluster will

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Driving and Operating 171
display a screen with inactive fuel
and battery gauges. SeeStarting
and Stopping the Vehicle 0170.
Restarting Procedure
If the vehicle must be restarted
while it is still moving, move the shift
lever to N (Neutral) and press
POWER
Otwice without pressing
the brake pedal. The propulsion
system will not restart in any other
position.
Forced Engine On
Some vehicle conditions that force
the engine to run:
. There are cold ambient
temperatures.
. The hood is open or not
completely latched while the
vehicle is not in N (Neutral).
. The high voltage battery has a
low charge.
. The engine needs to run for
maintenance.
See Maintenance Modes 0177. A chime will sound if the driver door
is opened while the vehicle is on.
Always press POWER
Oto turn the
vehicle off before exiting.
Stopping Procedure
For information on how to turn the
vehicle off, see Power Button0168.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
Some vehicle accessories may be
used after the ignition is turned off.
The power windows and sunroof,
if equipped, will continue to work for
up to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
The infotainment system will
continue to work for 10 minutes,
until the driver door is opened,
or until the ignition is turned on or
placed in ACC/ACCESSORY.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down and
set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0183. 2. Press shift lever button.
3. Move the shift lever into
P (Park) by pushing the lever
all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
4. Turn the vehicle off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Propulsion System On
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the propulsion
system running. It could overheat
and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
propulsion system is running.
If you have left the propulsion
system running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the (Continued)

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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172 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park 0171.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the propulsion system on, be sure
the vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you have moved
the shift lever into P (Park), hold
down the regular brake pedal. See if
you can move the shift lever away
from P (Park) without first pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that
the shift lever was not fully locked
into P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of
the vehicle puts too much force on
the parking pawl in the electric drive
unit. This happens when parking on
a hill and shifting the electric drive
unit into P (Park) is not done
properly and then it is difficult to shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park).
If torque lock does occur, your
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
Ensure that the charge cord is
unplugged and the vehicle is on.
1. Press brake pedal.
2. Release the Electric Parking Brake. See Electric Parking
Brake 0183.
3. Press the shift lever button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired gear.
The vehicle has an electronic shift
lock release system. The shift lock
release is designed to:
. Prevent the vehicle from turning
off unless the shift lever is in
P (Park). .
Prevent moving the shift lever
out of P (Park), unless the
vehicle is on, the brake pedal is
applied, and the charge cord is
unplugged.
Parking the vehicle in extreme cold
for several days without the charge
cord connected may cause the
electric drive unit to be locked in
P (Park) until the propulsion system
has warmed sufficiently.
The shift lock is always functional
except in the case of an uncharged
or low charged 12-volt battery (less
than 9 volts).
If the vehicle has an uncharged
12-volt battery or a 12-volt battery
with low voltage, try charging or
jump starting the 12-volt battery.
See Battery - North America 0255
or Jump Starting - North America
0 299.
If the shift lever cannot be moved
out of P (Park): 1. Apply and maintain the regular brakes.

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Driving and Operating 173
2. Turn the vehicle on usingPOWER
O. See Power Button
0 168.
3. Release the shift lever, then push the shift lever all the way
into P (Park).
4. Press the shift lever button.
5. Move the shift lever into the desired gear.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), see your dealer
or a professional towing service.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Extended Parking
It is best not to park with the vehicle
running. If the vehicle is left running,
be sure it will not move and there is
adequate ventilation.
See Shifting Into Park 0171 and
Engine Exhaust 0180.
If the vehicle is left parked and
running with the RKE transmitter
outside the vehicle, it will continue
to run for up to half an hour.
If the vehicle is left parked and
running with the RKE transmitter
inside the vehicle, it will continue to
run for up to an hour.
The vehicle could turn off sooner if it
is parked on a hill, due to lack of
available fuel.
The timer will reset if the vehicle is
taken out of P (Park) while it is
running.
Electric Vehicle
Operating Modes
System Operation
This vehicle is an Extended Range
Electric Vehicle (EREV). It uses an
electric propulsion system to drive
the vehicle at all times. Electricity is
the vehicle's primary source of
energy, while gasoline is the
secondary source.
The vehicle has two modes of
operation: Electric and Extended
Range. In Electric Mode, the vehicle
is propelled by its electric drive unit
only. It converts electrical energy
into mechanical energy to drive the
wheels. In Extended Range Mode,
both the battery and the engine
power the vehicle. The vehicle's
performance remains nearly the
same in either mode. See Driving
for Better Energy Efficiency 027.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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174 Driving and Operating
Electric Mode
In Electric Mode, the vehicle does
not use fuel or produce tailpipe
emissions. During this primary
mode, the vehicle is powered by
electrical energy stored in the high
voltage battery. The vehicle can
operate in this mode until the
battery has reached a low charge.
There are some conditions when the
battery charge is high enough to
provide Electric Mode operation, but
the engine still runs. They are:
.Cold ambient temperatures.
. Hot or cold high voltage battery
temperatures.
. The hood being open or not
completely closed and latched.
. Certain high voltage battery fault
conditions.
. Engine Maintenance Mode or
Fuel Maintenance Mode
being run.
Extended Range Mode
When the vehicle reaches the end
of its electric range, it switches to
Extended Range Mode (ERM). In
this secondary mode, electricity is
produced by the fuel-powered
engine. This secondary source of
electric power extends the vehicle
range. Operation will continue in
ERM until the vehicle can be
plugged in to recharge the high
voltage battery and restore
Electric Mode.
The high voltage battery will
continue to provide some power and
work together with the engine to
provide peak performance when it is
required, such as driving up a steep
incline or for high acceleration
maneuvers. The battery will not be
charged nor will electric vehicle
range be restored by the engine.
In either Electric Mode or Extended
Range Mode, when the hood is
open and the vehicle is moving at
low speed or stopped, the engine
will run without turning off if the
vehicle is on, except when the electric drive unit is in N (Neutral).
The engine will turn off or remain off
at low vehicle speed in N (Neutral).
The high voltage battery is not
charged when this occurs. Under
these conditions, the high voltage
battery can still be discharged
based on the vehicle loads such as
A/C, or 12-volt loads.
In either Electric Mode or Extended
Range Mode, if there is a high
voltage battery fault, the engine may
run without turning off to generate
needed electricity. The malfunction
indicator lamp will turn on. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light)
0114.
Driver Selected Operating
Modes
While driving in Electric or Extended
Range Mode, additional operating
modes can be selected.

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Driving and Operating 175
Press MODE to display selectable
drive modes in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). Continue
pressing to scroll through the
modes.Highlight either the Sport, Mountain,
or Hold Mode, then release MODE.
After three seconds, the new drive
mode will become active.
Pressing MODE again will return to
Normal Mode, and it will become
active after three seconds.
During some conditions, certain
drive modes may be unavailable.
The unavailable mode is grayed out
in the DIC menu and cannot be
selected.
If in Sport, Mountain, or Hold Mode,
the mode may become unavailable
and the vehicle will return to NormalMode. The indicator light goes off
and a DIC message displays. See
Propulsion Power Messages
0136.
The vehicle will stay in Normal
Mode at the next restart.
Sport Mode
Sport Mode provides more
responsive acceleration than
Normal Mode, but can reduce
efficiency. Use Normal Mode
whenever possible.
Press MODE to select Sport Mode.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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176 Driving and Operating
Press MODE again to return to
Normal Mode and it becomes active
after three seconds.
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 climbingperformance. 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 0162
and Electric Drive Unit 0181.
Press MODE 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.
If Mountain Mode is not selected for
these conditions, propulsion power
may be reduced and the engine
speed may increase. See
Propulsion Power Messages 0136.
The engine may run when Mountain
Mode is selected, depending on the
high voltage battery charge, to build
reserve battery charge for uphill
climbs. If Mountain Mode is entered
with a sufficient battery charge
reserve, the battery charge reserve will appear grayed out and any
battery charge reserve still unused
upon exiting Mountain Mode will
return to normal appearance.
Press MODE again to return to
Normal Mode and it becomes active
after three seconds.
Each time the vehicle is started, it
will return to Normal Mode to
maintain a smaller battery charge
reserve for normal driving.
Hold Mode
Use Hold Mode on a trip where it is
expected that all of the electric
charge will be depleted. Use Hold

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 177
Mode mainly during highway or high
speed driving to maximize both EV
miles and fuel efficiency.
Hold Mode is only available when
the vehicle is in Electric Mode. This
mode places the remaining battery
charge into a reserve for the driver
to use as desired. Selecting this
mode transitions the vehicle to
Extended Range Mode to maintain
the battery charge reserve.
Upon exiting Hold Mode, the
reserved battery charge becomes
available again and the vehicle
returns to Electric Mode. If the
transition is from Hold Mode directly
to Mountain Mode, the electric
range displayed adjusts for the
Mountain Mode charge reserve.
Hold Mode will not change normal
vehicle acceleration or braking
performance.
Press MODE to select Hold Mode.
Press MODE again to return to
Normal Mode and it becomes active
after three seconds.Each time the vehicle is started, it
will return to Normal Mode.
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 until the current charge is
depleted. The vehicle will have less
responsive acceleration. Driver
Information Center (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 may stop running
after the self test is completed,
based on the current mode of
operation.
Maintenance Modes
Engine Maintenance Mode (EMM)
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
notification will display.
If Start is selected, EMM will begin.
The engine will not start until after a
short delay once shifted into
D (Drive). The engine will run for a
set amount of time without turning

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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178 Driving and Operating
off. During EMM, a DIC message
displays to show the
EMM percentage complete.
If More Info is selected, a pop-up
will show describing the Engine
Maintenance procedure. There will
be an option to Start or an option to
Postpone. Postpone will allow EMM
to be delayed for up to one day and
the EMM notification will re-appear
when the vehicle is next started.
If the EMM request was delayed for
one day, EMM will automatically
start the engine at the next vehicle
start, and a notification will display
stating that EMM is starting
maintenance. A More Info button will
also be available on the notification
which, when pressed, provides an
explanation of Engine Maintenance.The engine will not start until after a
short delay once shifted into
D (Drive).
If the vehicle is shut off during EMM,
it will restart the next time the
vehicle is driven and a notification
will display showing that
maintenance is being resumed now.
A message displays to indicate that
EMM is active and a notification will
display showing that maintenance is
being resumed now.
If EMM is required and the fuel level
is low, EMM may eventually empty
the fuel tank if fuel is not added.
This will result in reduced, or no
power. An adequate fuel level must
be maintained in the vehicle to keep
it operational. See
Propulsion Power
Messages 0136.
Fuel Maintenance Mode (FMM)
FMM tracks average fuel age. Old
fuel can cause engine problems.
If low engine usage causes average
fuel age to exceed approximately
one year, FMM will run the engine to
use up the old fuel. The engine will
run until enough fresh fuel is added
to bring the average fuel age into an
acceptable range. Allowing more old
fuel to be used up by FMM and
adding a larger amount of fresh fuel
will maximize the length of time
before another fuel maintenance
mode is needed. During FMM the
engine may turn on and off.

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Driving and Operating 179
When FMM is needed, the FMM
notification will display.
If Start is selected, FMM will begin.
The engine will not start until after a
short delay once shifted into
D (Drive). FMM will automatically
continue at each vehicle start until
fresh fuel is added.
If More Info is selected, a pop-up
will show describing the Fuel
Maintenance procedure. There will
be an option to Start or an option to
Postpone. Postpone will allow FMM
to be delayed for up to one day and
the FMM notification will re-appear
when the vehicle is next started.
If the FMM request was delayed for
one day, FMM will start at the next
vehicle start and display the FMM
Notification screen on the
infotainment display. The engine will
not start until after a short delay
once shifted into D (Drive).
A More Info button will also be
available on the notification which,
when pressed, provides an
explanation of Fuel Maintenance.
If the vehicle is shut off during FFM,
it will restart the next time the
vehicle is driven and a notification
will display showing that
maintenance is being resumed now.
If FMM is required and the fuel level
is low, FMM may eventually empty
the fuel tank if fuel is not added.
This will result in reduced, or no
power. An adequate fuel level must
be maintained in the vehicle to keep
it operational. SeePropulsion Power
Messages 0136. After FMM has
run it is recommended to fill the
fuel tank.