2008 CHEVROLET AVEO Owners Manual

Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will
assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems
performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR
in this vehicle is designed to record such data as:
•How various systems in your vehicle were
operating
•Whether or not the driver and passenger safety
belts were buckled/fastened
•How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
•How fast the vehicle was traveling
This data can help provide a better understanding of
the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is recorded
by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no
personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash
location) is recorded. However, other parties, such as
law enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the
type of personally identifying data routinely acquired
during a crash investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment
is required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they have access
to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access this data or share it with others
except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in
response to an official request of police or similar
government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process; or, as required by law.
Data that GM collects or receives may also be used for
GM research needs or may be made available to others
for research purposes, where a need is shown and the
data is not tied to a specific vehicle or vehicle owner.
7-19

OnStar®
If your vehicle has OnStar®and you subscribe to
the OnStar®services, please refer to the OnStar®
Terms and Conditions for information on data collection
and use.
Navigation System
If your vehicle has a navigation system, use of the
system may result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers, and other trip
information. Refer to the navigation system operating
manual for information on stored data and for
deletion instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some vehicles for functions
such as tire pressure monitoring and ignition system
security, as well as in connection with conveniences
such as key fobs for remote door locking/unlocking and
starting, and in-vehicle transmitters for garage door
openers. RFID technology in GM vehicles does not use
or record personal information or link with any other
GM system containing personal information.
7-20

A
Accessories and Modifications............................ 5-3
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-71
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-88
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-17
Air Conditioning..............................................3-20
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...................3-31, 3-46
Readiness Light..................................3-30, 3-45
Airbag System................................................1-56
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates?........1-64
When Should an Airbag Inflate?....................1-61
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-59
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-71
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-63
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-65
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-70
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?......................1-63
AM-FM Radio.........................................3-55, 3-56
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-80
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-80
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-4Antilock Brake, System Warning Light........3-34, 3-48
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-85
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-82
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-86
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-83
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-80
Finish Care.................................................5-83
Finish Damage............................................5-86
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-82
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-79
Leather......................................................5-81
Sheet Metal Damage...................................
5-85
Tires..........................................................5-85
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-86
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-87
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-83
Weatherstrips..............................................5-82
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-84
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray.........................................................3-19
Audio System.................................................3-54
AM-FM Radio.....................................3-55, 3-56
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-78
Backglass Antenna......................................3-80
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-79
1

Audio System (cont.)
Care of Your CDs........................................3-79
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-80
Radio Reception..........................................3-79
Radio with CD............................................3-60
Radio with Six-Disc CD................................3-66
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-21
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-80
Battery..........................................................5-35
Inadvertent Power Saver..............................3-18
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-5
System Inspection.......................................6-22
Brakes..........................................................5-32
System Warning Light..................................3-33
Braking........................................................... 4-3
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-5
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-17
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-41
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-46
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps.......5-43, 5-44
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-41Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-40
Headlamps.........................................5-41, 5-42
License Plate Lamps....................................5-48
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-48
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-47
Turn Signal Lamps......................................5-45
Buying New Tires...........................................5-64
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specifications............................5-99
Carbon Monoxide.....................2-9, 2-30, 4-13, 4-28
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-82
Your CD Player...........................................3-79
Your CDs ...................................................3-79
CD, MP3 ...............................................3-72, 3-75
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-46
Chains, Tire...................................................5-69
Charging System Light............................3-33, 3-47
2

Check
Engine Light.......................................3-36, 3-49
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-86
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-38
Infants and Young Children...........................1-34
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-42
Older Children.............................................1-32
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position...................................1-49
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-52
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-40
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-19
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-85
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-83
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-80
Finish Care.................................................5-83
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-82
Interior.......................................................5-79
Leather......................................................5-81
Tires..........................................................5-85
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-86Cleaning (cont.)
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-83
Weatherstrips..............................................5-82
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-84
Climate Control System...................................3-20
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-24
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-24
Clock....................................................3-20, 3-44
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-21
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-13
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-78
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage
............................3-35
Heater, Engine............................................2-20
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-25
Cooling System..............................................5-26
Cruise Control................................................3-13
Cruise Control Light................................3-40, 3-53
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-35
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation................................7-11
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-6
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-6
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
3

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-7
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors.......7-17
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-17
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-16
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-8
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-17
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-16
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light.............3-40
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Disc, MP3.............................................3-72, 3-75
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp...................................................3-18
Door
Ajar Light...........................................3-41, 3-53
Central Door Unlocking System....................... 2-7
Door Ajar Reminder....................................... 2-7
Locks.......................................................... 2-6
Rear Door Security Locks............................... 2-8Driver
Seat Height Adjuster...................................... 1-3
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-10
Before a Long Trip......................................4-12
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-12
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-12
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-10
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-17
Winter........................................................4-13
E
EDR .............................................................7-18
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-88
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-94
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-89
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-89
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-90
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-89
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-89
4

Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-17
Check and Service Engine Soon Light......3-36, 3-49
Coolant......................................................5-22
Coolant Heater............................................2-20
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-35
Cooling System Inspection............................6-22
Drive Belt Routing......................................5-101
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-30
Oil .............................................................5-13
Overheating................................................5-25
Running While Parked..................................2-31
Starting......................................................2-19
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-19
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-31
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-15
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-17
Finish Damage...............................................5-86
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-80
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-10Flat Tire........................................................5-69
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-70
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-78
Fluid.....................................................5-19, 5-21
Power Steering...........................................5-30
Windshield Washer......................................5-31
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-17
Fog Lamp Light......................................3-40, 3-53
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling the Tank............................................. 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-41
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specifications.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Light.......................................3-42
System Inspection.......................................6-22
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-94
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-89
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-90
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-89
5

G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-35
Fuel..........................................................3-41
Speedometer..............................................3-29
Tachometer.................................................3-29
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specifications............................................... 5-5
Glove Box.....................................................2-34
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-7
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-8
Head Restraints............................................... 1-6
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-40
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-89
Headlamps............................................5-41, 5-42
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-41
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-16
Exterior Lamps............................................3-15
Flash-to-Pass..............................................3-10Headlamps (cont.)
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps.......5-43, 5-44
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-41
High/Low Beam Changer..............................3-10
On Reminder..............................................3-16
Turn Signal Lamps......................................5-45
Heater...........................................................3-20
Height Adjuster, Driver Seat............................... 1-3
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-40
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-12
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-12
Hold Mode Light.....................................3-35, 3-48
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-10
Horn............................................................... 3-8
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-19
Hydraulic Clutch.............................................5-21
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-18
Immobilizer....................................................2-16
Immobilizer Operation......................................2-16
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.......................3-18
6