Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
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)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-1
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-2
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-2
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-3
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Engine Oil Pressure Gauge . . . 5-9
Engine Oil Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11 Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Transmission Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-14
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-15
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Charging System Light . . . . . . 5-17
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . 5-22
Traction Control System (TCS) OFF/StabiliTrak
®OFF
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-24
Immobilizer Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . 5-25
Taillamp Indicator Light . . . . . . 5-25
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . 5-29
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Battery Voltage and Charging Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Brake System Messages . . . . 5-34
Compass Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Cruise Control Messages . . . . 5-35
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-36
Engine Power Messages . . . . 5-37
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . 5-37
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 5-37
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Ride Control System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Airbag System Messages . . . . 5-39
Safety Belt Messages . . . . . . . 5-39
Anti-Theft Alarm System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Service Vehicle Messages . . . 5-39
Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-21
When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light also comes
on when the parking brake is set.
The light stays on if the parking
brake does not fully release. If it
stays on after the parking brake is
fully released, it means the vehicle
has a brake problem.
If, while driving, the light comes on
and a brake message comes on
the Driver Information Center (DIC),
pull off the road and stop carefully.
The pedal could be harder to push
or the pedal can go closer to the
floor. It could take longer to stop.
If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. See
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 5‑21and
Towing the Vehicle on page 10‑95.{WARNING
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after
the vehicle has been pulled off
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
The brake message remains on
until the menu button is pressed.
The brake light remains until the
problem is fixed. See Brake System
Messages on page 5‑34 for more
information.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the
ignition off.
Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
5-22 Instruments and Controls
If the light comes on while driving,
stop as soon as it is safely possible
and turn off the vehicle. Then start
the engine again to reset the
system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving,
the vehicle needs service. A chime
may also sound when the light
comes on steady.
If the ABS light is the only light on,
the vehicle has regular brakes,
but the antilock brakes are not
functioning.
If both the ABS and the Brake
System Warning Light are on, the
vehicle's antilock brakes are not
functioning and there is a problem
with the regular brakes. See your
dealer for service.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 5‑20.
See Brake System Messages on
page 5‑34 for all brake related DIC
messages.Traction Off Light
This light comes on when the
Traction Control System (TCS) has
been turned off by pressing and
releasing the traction control button.
This light also comes on and the
system turns off if there is a problem
with the TCS.
If the light comes on and stays on
for an extended period of time while
the system is turned on, the vehicle
needs service.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑38 andStabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑39 for more
information.
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak®Light
The StabiliTrak system or the
Traction Control System (TCS)
indicator/warning light comes on
briefly while starting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light will then go off.
The indicator/warning light flashes
while the StabiliTrak or TCS system
is working to control the vehicle on
a low traction surface.
If the TCS indicator/warning light
comes on and stays on while
driving, the vehicle needs service.
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Competitive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . 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 . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-18
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Shifting Into Park (Automatic Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Shifting Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Parking (Manual Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Parking Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Active Fuel Management
®. . . 9-28
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-30
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . 9-34
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
StabiliTrak
®System . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Competitive Driving Mode . . . 9-41
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . 9-43
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 9-46
Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
9-10 Driving and Operating
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)
on page 9‑36 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 (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑7 orRoadside
Assistance Program (Mexico) on
page 13‑10. 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 (36,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
9-36 Driving and Operating
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 the engine is started 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 5‑21.
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.
Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-37
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.
Parking Brake
To apply the parking brake, pull up
on the parking brake handle. It is
not necessary to push in on therelease button while applying the
parking brake. If the ignition is in
the ON/RUN position, the brake
system warning light will come on.
See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑20.
To release the parking brake:
1. Hold the brake pedal down.
2. Pull the parking brake handle up
until you can press the release
button.
3. Hold the release button in as you move the brake handle 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. Driving with the parking brake
applied will cause a warning
chime to sound and the RELEASE
PARKING BRAKE message to
appear in the DIC. The message
will remain on until:
.the parking brake is released
.the vehicle comes to a stop.
If you are towing a trailer and you
are parking on a hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9‑54.