
Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Aveo Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-7
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. SeeTires on
page 10‑42.
.Turn off cruise control.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Aveo Owner Manual - 2011
9-18 Driving and Operating
LOCK (STOPPING THE ENGINE/
LOCK/OFF):When the vehicle is
stopped, turn the ignition switch to
LOCK/OFF to turn the engine off.
This position locks the steering
wheel, ignition, shift lever and
transmission. This is the only
position in which you can insert or
remove the key.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
In an emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to neutral. This can be done while the vehicle is
moving. After shifting to neutral,
firmly apply the brakes and steer
the vehicle to a safe location. 3. Come to a complete stop. Shift
to P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or neutral with a
manual transmission. Turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 9‑31.
The steering can bind with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the
key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this
doesn't work, then the vehicle needs
service.
ACC (ACC/ACCESSORY): This
position operates some of the
electrical accessories, such as the
radio, but not the climate control
system. ON (ON/RUN):
This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories, and to display some
instrument panel cluster warning
and indicator lights. The switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running. If you leave the
key in the ACC/ACCESSORY or
ON/RUN position with the engine
off, the battery could be drained.
You may not be able to start the
vehicle if the battery is allowed to
drain for an extended period of time.
START: This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
cranks, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for
driving. Do not turn the key to
START if the engine is running.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Aveo Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-27
Notice:Shifting out of P (Park)
or N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
D4 (Automatic Overdrive): This
position is for normal driving.
When operating the vehicle in
severe cold conditions, the
transmission may be prevented
from shifting into D4 gear until the
transmission fluid has warmed up to
its operational temperature.
Notice: If the vehicle seems to
start up rather slowly or not shift
gears when you go faster, and
you continue to drive the vehicle
that way, you could damage the
transmission. Have the vehicle
serviced right away. You can
drive in 2 (Second) when you are
driving less than 55 km/h (35 mph)
and D4 (Automatic Overdrive) for
higher speeds until then. 2 (Second):
This position gives you
more power but lower fuel economy.
You can use 2 (Second) on hills.
It can help control vehicle speed as
you go down steep mountain roads,
while using the brakes off and on.
Notice: Do not drive in
2 (Second) at speeds over
105 km/h (65 mph), or you can
damage the transmission. Use
D4 (Automatic Overdrive) as
much as possible. Do not shift
into 2 (Second) unless you are
going slower than 105 km/h
(65 mph) or you can damage the
engine.
1 (First): This position gives you
even more power but lower fuel
economy than 2 (Second). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep
snow or mud. If the shift lever is put
in 1 (First), the transmission will not
shift into first gear until the vehicle is
going slowly enough. Notice:
Spinning the tires
or holding the vehicle in one
place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage
the transmission. The repair will
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. If you are stuck, do not
spin the tires. When stopping on
a hill, use the brakes to hold the
vehicle in place.
If there is a malfunction with
the automatic transmission, the
malfunction indicator lamp or the
HOLD indicator light will turn on or
flash. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 5‑14.
Have the vehicle fixed as soon as
possible.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Aveo Owner Manual - 2011
9-30 Driving and Operating
Up‐Shift Light
Vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission may have an up-shift
light. This light indicates when to
shift to the next higher gear for
better fuel economy.
For the best fuel economy,
accelerate slowly and shift when the
light comes on, and if the weather,
road, and traffic conditions allow.
It is normal for the light to go on
and off if the accelerator position
changes quickly. Ignore the light
during downshifts.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
The vehicle might have the Antilock
Brake System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
If the vehicle has ABS, this warning
light comes on briefly when the
vehicle is started.
The warning light is on the
instrument panel cluster. See
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 5‑17.Let us say the road is wet and you
are driving safely. Suddenly, an
animal jumps out in front of you.
You slam on the brakes and
continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
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.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Aveo Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-31
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
antilock work. You might feel a slight
brake pedal pulsation or hear some
noise, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver
gets into a situation that requires
hard braking.
If the vehicle has ABS, it allows the
driver to steer and brake at the
same time. However, if the vehicle
does not have ABS, the first
reaction—to hit the brake pedal hard and hold it down
—might be
the wrong thing to do. The wheels
can stop rolling. Once they do, the
vehicle cannot respond to the
driver's steering. Momentum will
carry it in whatever direction it was
headed when the wheels stopped
rolling. That could be off the road,
into the very thing the driver was
trying to avoid, or into traffic.
If the vehicle does not have ABS,
use a “squeeze” braking technique.
This gives maximum braking while
maintaining steering control. Do this
by pushing on the brake pedal with
steadily increasing pressure. In an
emergency, you will probably want
to squeeze the brakes hard without
locking the wheels. If you hear or
feel the wheels sliding, ease off the
brake pedal. This helps retain
steering control.
In many emergencies, steering can
help more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located
between the bucket seats.
To set the parking brake, hold the
brake pedal down and pull up on the
parking brake lever. If the ignition is
on, the brake system warning light
will come on. See Brake System
Warning Light on page 5‑16.

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Aveo Owner Manual - 2011
9-32 Driving and Operating
To release the parking brake, hold
the brake pedal down. Pull the
parking brake lever up until you can
press the release button. Hold the
release button in as you move the
brake lever all the way down.
Notice:Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system
parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before
driving.Cruise Control
For vehicles with cruise control, a
speed of about 39 km/h (24 mph)
or more can be maintained
without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. Cruise control does not
work at speeds below 39 km/h
(24 mph).
When the brakes are applied, or the
clutch pedal if you have a manual
transmission, the cruise control
turns off.
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
The cruise control buttons are
located on the right side of the
steering wheel.
I/O(On/Off): Press to turn the
cruise control on or off.
RES+ (Resume/Accelerate):
Press briefly to make the vehicle
resume to a previously set speed,
or press and hold to accelerate.
SET− (Set/Coast): Press to set the
speed and activate cruise control or
make the vehicle decelerate.

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Aveo Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-33
Setting Cruise Control
If the cruise button is on when not in
use, it could get bumped and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep the
cruise control switch off when cruise
is not being used.
The cruise control light on the
instrument panel cluster will come
on after the cruise control has been
set to the desired speed.
1. Press
I/Oto turn cruise
control on.
2. Accelerate to the speed desired.
3. Press the SET− button and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerate pedal. Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied, or the clutch pedal if
you have a manual transmission,
the cruise control is disengaged
without erasing the set speed from
memory.
Once the vehicle speed reaches
about 39 km/h (24 mph) or more,
press the RES+ button on the
steering wheel. The vehicle returns
to the previous set speed and stays
there.
If the RES+ button is held, the
vehicle speed will continue to
increase until the button is released
or the brake pedal is applied. Do not
hold in the RES+ button, unless you
want the vehicle to go faster. Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated,
.Press and hold the RES+ button
on the steering wheel until the
desired speed is reached, then
release it.
.To increase the vehicle speed in
small amounts, press the RES+
button. Each time this is done,
the vehicle goes about 1.6 km/h
(1 mph) faster.
The accelerate feature only works
after the cruise control is turned on
by pressing the SET− button.

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Aveo Owner Manual - 2011
9-34 Driving and Operating
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated,
.Press the SET−button until the
lower speed desired is reached,
then release it.
.To slow down in small amounts,
briefly press the SET− button.
Each time this is done, the
vehicle goes about 1.6 km/h
(1 mph) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal,
the vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills. When going up steep hills, you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain
the vehicle speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake
or shift to a lower gear to keep the
vehicle speed down. When the
brakes are applied the cruise control
turns off.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal,
or press the clutch pedal, if you
have a manual transmission.
.PressI/Oon the cruise
control pad.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory by pressing
the
I/Obutton or if the ignition is
turned off.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel
is an important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, we
recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Look for the TOP TIER label on the
fuel pump to ensure gasoline meets
enhanced detergency standards
developed by auto companies. A list
of marketers providing TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline can be found at
www.toptiergas.com.