Page 117 of 394

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-5
for more information on the
messages that may be displayed for
the compass.
Clock
The infotainment system controls
are used to access the time and
date settings through the menu
system. SeeOperation on page 7‑6
for information about how to use the
menu system. For vehicles with a
Navigation System, see the
separate Navigation System
Manual.
Setting the Time
1. Press the CONFIG button and select Time Settings.
2. Select Set Time.
3. Turn the MENU or MENU/SEL knob to adjust the highlighted
number. 4. Press the MENU or MENU/SEL
knob to select the next number.
5. To save the time and return to the Time Settings menu, press
the BACK button at any time or
press the MENU or MENU/SEL
knob after adjusting the minutes.
Setting the 12/24 Hour Format
1. Press the CONFIG button andselect Time Settings.
2. Highlight 12/24 Hour Format.
3. Press the MENU or MENU/SEL knob to select the 12 hour or
24 hour display format.
Power Outlets
The accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
There is one accessory power outlet
located on the center floor console
and one on the rear of the center
floor console. These outlets are
powered when the key is in ON/
RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY, or until
the driver door is opened within
10 minutes of turning off the vehicle.
See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 9‑21.
Remove the cover to access and
replace when not in use.
Notice: Leaving electrical
equipment plugged in for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is off will drain the
battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
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Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
5-6 Instruments and Controls
Certain electrical accessories may
not be compatible with the
accessory power outlet and could
overload vehicle or adapter fuses.
If a problem is experienced, see
your dealer.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the installation
instructions included with the
equipment. SeeAdd-On Electrical
Equipment on page 9‑52.
Notice: Hanging heavy
equipment from the power outlet
can cause damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. The
power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such
as cell phone charge cords.Cigarette Lighter
For vehicles with a cigarette lighter,
it is located on the front floor
console.
To activate the cigarette lighter,
push it into the heating element and
let go. When the lighter is ready it
will pop back out.
Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter
in while it is heating does not let
the lighter back away from the
heating element when it is hot.
Damage from overheating can
occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be
blown. Do not hold a cigarette
lighter in while it is heating.
Ashtrays
For vehicles with a removable
ashtray, the ashtray can be placed
into the front console cupholders.
To open the ashtray, lift the lid of the
ashtray. After using, close the lid.
To empty the ashtray for cleaning,
slightly turn the upper part of the
ashtray counterclockwise and
remove it.
Notice: If papers, pins, or other
flammable items are put in the
ashtray, hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite
them and possibly damage the
vehicle. Never put flammable
items in the ashtray.
Page 119 of 394
Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-7
Warning Lights,
Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning lights and gauges can
signal that something is wrong
before it becomes serious enough
to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to the
warning lights and gauges could
prevent injury.Warning lights come on when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Some warning lights come
on briefly when the engine is started
to indicate they are working.
Gauges can indicate when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Often gauges and warning
lights work together to indicate a
problem with the vehicle.
When one of the warning lights
comes on and stays on while
driving, or when one of the gauges
shows there may be a problem,
check the section that explains what
to do. Follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
and even dangerous.
Page 120 of 394
Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
5-8 Instruments and Controls
Instrument Cluster
English Automatic Transmission Cluster Shown, Metric Similar
Page 121 of 394

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-9
Speedometer
The speedometer shows the
vehicle's speed in either kilometers
per hour (km/h) or miles per
hour (mph).
Odometer
The odometer shows how far the
vehicle has been driven, in either
kilometers or miles.
This vehicle has a tamper‐resistant
odometer. The digital odometer will
read 999,999 if it is turned back.
If the vehicle needs a new odometer
installed, it must be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer.
If that is not possible, then it must
be set at zero and a label must be
put on the driver door to show the
old mileage reading when the new
odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can show how far
the vehicle has been driven since
the trip odometer was last reset.
The trip odometer is accessed and
reset through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑24 for more information.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine
speed in revolutions per
minute (rpm).
Notice:If the engine is operated
with the tachometer in the shaded
warning area, the vehicle could
be damaged, and the damages
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Do not operate
the engine with the tachometer in
the shaded warning area.
Fuel Gauge
When the ignition is on, the fuel
gauge tells you about how much
fuel you have left in your tank.
An arrow on the fuel gauge
indicates the side of the vehicle the
fuel door is on.
A FUEL LEVEL LOW message may
appear in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) and a single chime
sounds. See Fuel System
Messages on page 5‑31 for more
information.
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Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
5-10 Instruments and Controls
Here are four things that some
owners ask about. None of these
show a problem with your fuel
gauge:
.At the service station, the fuel
pump shuts off before the gauge
reads full.
.It takes a little more or less fuel
to fill up than the gauge
indicated. For example, the
gauge may have indicated the
tank was half full, but it actually
took a little more or less than
half the tank's capacity to fill
the tank.
.The gauge moves a little while
turning a corner or speeding up.
.The gauge takes a few seconds
to stabilize after the ignition is
turned on, and will go back to
empty when the ignition is
turned off.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the indicator needle moves to the
hot side of the gauge toward the H
or shaded area, the engine is
too hot.
If the vehicle has been operated
under normal driving conditions, pull
off the road, stop the vehicle, and
turn off the engine as soon as
possible.
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
When the engine is started, a chime
sounds for several seconds to
remind a driver to fasten the safety
belt, unless the driver safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt reminder light comes
on for several seconds, then flashes
for several more.
This chime and light sequence are
repeated if the driver remains
unbuckled and the vehicle is in
motion. If the driver safety belt is
already buckled, neither the chime
nor the light comes on.
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Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-11
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
Several seconds after the engine is
started, a chime sounds for
several seconds to remind the front
passenger to buckle their safety
belt. The passenger safety belt light
comes on and flashes for several
seconds.
This chime and light sequence is
repeated if the passenger remains
unbuckled and the vehicle is in
motion.
If the passenger safety belt is
buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on.The front passenger safety belt
warning light and chime may turn on
if an object is put on the seat such
as a briefcase, handbag, grocery
bag, laptop, or other electronic
device. To turn off the warning light
and/or chime, remove the object
from the seat or buckle the
safety belt.
Airbag Readiness Light
This light shows if there is an
electrical problem. The system
check includes the airbag sensor,
the pretensioners, the airbag
modules, the wiring, and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module. For
more information on the airbag
system, see
Airbag System on
page 3‑25.
The airbag readiness light comes on
and stays on for several seconds
when the vehicle is started. Then
the light goes out.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
Page 124 of 394

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2011
5-12 Instruments and Controls
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 3‑33 for
important safety information. The
instrument panel has a passenger
airbag status indicator.
United States
Canada When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the symbol
for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. If you are using
remote start, if equipped, to start the
vehicle from a distance you may not
see the system check. Then, after
several seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF,
or either the on or off symbol to let
you know the status of the right front
passenger frontal airbag and
passenger knee airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the right
front passenger frontal airbag and
passenger knee airbag are enabled
(may inflate).
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has
turned off the right front passenger
frontal airbag and passenger knee
airbag. If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system. See
your dealer for service.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See
Airbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑11 for more
information, including important
safety information.