Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
9-18 Driving and Operating
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Follow these
recommended guidelines during
the first 2 414 km/1,500 miles of
driving this vehicle. Parts have a
break‐in period and performance
will be better in the long run.
.For the first 2 414 km/
1,500 miles:
.Avoid full throttle starts and
abrupt stops.
.Do not exceed
4,000 engine rpm.
.Avoid driving at any one
constant speed, fast or slow.
.Do not drive above
160 km/h (100 mph).
.Avoid downshifting to brake
or slow the vehicle when the
engine speed will exceed
4000 RPM.
.Do not let the engine labor.
Never lug the engine in high
gear at low speeds. With a
manual transmission, shift to
the next lower gear. This rule
applies at all times, not just
during the break‐in period.
.Do not participate in racing
events, sport driving
schools, or similar activities
during this break‐in period.
.Check engine oil with
every refueling and add
if necessary. Oil and fuel
consumption may be higher
than normal during the first
2 414 km/1,500 miles.
.To break in new tires, drive at
moderate speeds and avoid
hard cornering for the first
322 km/200 miles. New tires
do not have maximum
traction and may tend to slip.
.New brake linings also need
a break‐in period. Avoid
making hard stops during
the first 322 km/200 miles.
This is recommended
every time brake linings
are replaced.
.Should the vehicle be used
for racing or competitive
driving (after break‐in), the
rear axle lubricant must be
replaced before hand.
Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
9-32 Driving and Operating
4 (Fourth) Gear Hold (V6 Engine)
If, during highway driving, you
wish to pass another vehicle, but
then change your mind (quickly
pushing the accelerator pedal
all the way to the floor and then
immediately releasing the pedal),
the transmission will shift to a
lower gear and then upshift to
4 (Fourth). This leaves the
transmission prepared with
increased responsiveness for
additional driver input. The passing
maneuver can then be resumed
from 4 (Fourth) gear, or 4 (Fourth)
gear hold can be canceled by lightly
pressing on the accelerator pedal.
Notice:If the vehicle seems to
accelerate 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. M (Manual Mode):
This position
allows the driver to select the range
of gears appropriate for current
driving conditions.
In M (Manual Mode) the
transmission will shift as an
automatic until the Tap Shift
controls are used. Tap Shift
activates driver manual gear
selection.
While driving in M (Manual Mode),
if Tap Shift has not been activated,
the transmission determines when
the vehicle is being driven in a
competitive manner. It selects and
holds the transmission in lower
gears and has more noticeable
upshifts for sportier vehicle
performance.
See Manual Mode on page 9‑32 for
more information.Manual Mode
Tap Shift
Back of Steering Wheel
Tap Shift allows the driver to
manually control the automatic
transmission. To use Tap Shift, the
shift lever must be in M (Manual
Mode). Vehicles with this feature
have indicators on the steering
wheel. The controls are on
the back of the steering wheel.
Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-33
Tap the left control to downshift, and
the right control to upshift. A Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
indicates the gear the vehicle is in.
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑25.
When in Tap Shift mode with a
V8 model, the driver can exit
Tap Shift by holding the right
(upshift) control for two seconds.
The transmission will return to
automatic shifting.
On V8 models, the driver may
choose to briefly enter Tap Shift
mode while in D (Drive). Tapping
either the upshift or downshift
control will place the transmission
in Tap Shift mode. The driver may
then exit Tap Shift mode by holding
the upshift control for two seconds.
The system will return to automatic
shifting after 10 seconds of cruising
at a steady speed, or when the
vehicle comes to a stop. While using the Tap Shift feature,
the vehicle will have firmer, quicker
shifting for increased performance.
You can use this for sport driving
or when climbing or descending
hills, to stay in gear longer, or to
downshift for more power or engine
braking. The transmission will
only allow you to shift into gears
appropriate for the vehicle speed
and engine Revolutions Per Minute
(RPM). The transmission will not
automatically shift to the next higher
gear if the engine RPM is too high.
If shifting is prevented for any
reason, the message SHIFT
DENIED will appear in the DIC,
indicating that the transmission
has not shifted gears. While in the
Tap Shift mode, the transmission
will not automatically downshift on
hard acceleration.
When coasting to a stop, the
V6 transmission will automatically
downshift to 1 (First) gear, and the
V8 transmission will automatically
downshift to 2 (Second) gear.
A 1 (First) gear start can be selected
using the Tap Shift controls on
V8 models. When accelerating from
a stop, the transmissions will hold
these gears until the driver manually
selects higher gears using the Tap
Shift controls.
When accelerating the vehicle
from a stop in snowy and icy
conditions, you may want to shift
into 2 (Second) gear. A higher gear
ratio allows you to gain more
traction on slippery surfaces.
Black plate (56,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
10-56 Vehicle Care
DOT Markings:A code
molded into the sidewall of
a tire signifying that the tire
is in compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) motor vehicle safety
standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and
date of production.
GVWR
:Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑13.
GAWR FRT
:Gross Axle
Weight Rating for the front axle.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑13.
GAWR RR
:Gross Axle
Weight Rating for the rear axle.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑13. Intended Outboard Sidewall
:
The side of an asymmetrical tire,
that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa)
:The metric
unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT‐Metric) Tire
:A
tire used on light duty trucks and
some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index
:An assigned
number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire.
Maximum Inflation Pressure
:
The maximum air pressure to
which a cold tire can be inflated.
The maximum air pressure is
molded onto the sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating
:
The load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible inflation
pressure for that tire. Maximum Loaded Vehicle
Weight
:The sum of curb
weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight, and
production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight
:The
number of occupants a vehicle
is designed to seat multiplied
by 68 kg (150 lbs). See Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑13.
Occupant Distribution
:
Designated seating positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall
:
The side of an asymmetrical tire
that has a particular side that
faces outward when mounted
on a vehicle. The side of the
tire that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering, or bears
manufacturer, brand, and/or
model name molding that is
higher or deeper than the
same moldings on the other
sidewall of the tire.
Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
INDEX i-3
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 10-90
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Competitive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Competitive Driving Mode . . . . . 9-41
Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Coolant Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Engine TemperatureGauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18 Engine Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-10
Covers Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35 Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . 13-6
Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-4, 13-5
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-6
Customer Information Service PublicationsOrdering Information . . . . . . 13-15
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-1, 13-3
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . 13-12
Danger, Warnings, andCautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . 13-17
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41, 6-3
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Devices, Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
Displays
Head-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6 Door
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Driving
Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Competitive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7, 9-41
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . 9-9
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19