2011 CHEVROLET HHR traction control

Black plate (42,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
ENG (Engine) PWR (Power) REDUCED
This message displays to inform you that the vehicle
has reduced engine power to avoid damaging the
engine. Reduced engine power can affect the vehicle's
ability to accelerate. If this message is on, but there is
no reduction in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may be reduced the next
time the vehicle is driven. The vehicle may be driven at
a reduced speed while this message is on, but
acceleration and speed may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, the vehicle should be taken to your
dealer for service as soon as possible.
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) ACTIVE
If your vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
this message displays and the ESC/TCS light on the
instrument panel cluster flashes when ESC is assisting
you with directional control of the vehicle. You may feel
or hear the system working and see this message
displayed in the DIC. Slippery road conditions may exist
when this message is displayed, so adjust your driving
accordingly. This message may stay on for a few
seconds after ESC stops assisting you with directional
control of the vehicle. This is normal when the system is
operating. SeeElectronic Stability Control (ESC)
on
page 5‑6and Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/
Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator/Warning Light
on page 4‑31for more information.
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) NOT
READY
If your vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
this message may display briefly after starting the
vehicle if the system's sensors are not yet calibrated.
The system is not functional until the message stops
displaying. Adjust your driving accordingly. When the
message is no longer displayed, the system is
functional. See Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
on
page 5‑6for more information.
ESC (Electronic Stability Control) OFF
If your vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
this message displays and the ESC/TCS light on the
instrument panel cluster comes on solid when ESC is
turned off. Adjust your driving accordingly. See
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
on page 5‑6and
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/Traction Control
System (TCS) Indicator/Warning Light
on page 4‑31for
more information.
GATE AJAR
This message displays when the liftgate is open. Make
sure that the liftgate is closed completely. See Liftgate
on page 3‑11for more information.
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Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
ICE POSSIBLE
This message displays when the outside air
temperature is cold enough to create icy road
conditions. Adjust your driving accordingly.
KEY FOB BATT (Battery) LOW
This message displays if the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter battery is low. Replace the battery in
the transmitter. See“Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation
on
page 3‑4.
LOW FUEL
This message displays when your vehicle is low on fuel.
Refill the fuel tank as soon as possible. See Fuel
Gauge
on page 4‑37, Fuelon page 6‑5, and Filling
the Tankon page 6‑9for more information.
LOW TRACTION
If your vehicle has the Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) or Traction Control System (TCS), this message
displays and the ETS light or the ESC/TCS light on the
instrument panel cluster flashes when the system is
actively limiting wheel spin. Slippery road conditions may exist if this message is displayed, so adjust your
driving accordingly. This message stays on for a few
seconds after the system stops limiting wheel spin. See
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
on page 5‑10or
Traction Control System (TCS)on page 5‑8and
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Indicator/Warning
Light
on page 4‑30or Electronic Stability Control
(ESC)/Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator/Warning
Light
on page 4‑31for more information.
PARKING BRAKE
This message displays if the parking brake is left
engaged. See Parking Brakeon page 3‑30for more
information.
POWER STEERING
This message displays if a problem has been detected
with the electric power steering. Have your vehicle
serviced by your dealer immediately.
SERVICE AIR BAG
This message displays when there is a problem with the
airbag system. Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer immediately.
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Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
SERVICE ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY
CONTROL)
If your vehicle has Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
this message displays and a chime sounds if there has
been a problem detected with ESC. The ESC/TCS light
also appears on the instrument panel cluster. This light
stays on solid as long as the detected problem remains
present. When this message displays, the system is not
working. Adjust your driving accordingly. SeeElectronic
Stability Control (ESC)
on page 5‑6and Electronic
Stability Control (ESC)/Traction Control System (TCS)
Indicator/Warning Light
on page 4‑31for more
information.
If this message turns on while you are driving, pull off
the road as soon as possible and stop carefully. Try
resetting the system by turning the ignition off and then
back on. If this message still stays on or turns back on
again while you are driving, your vehicle needs service.
Have the ESC inspected by your dealer as soon as
possible.
SERVICE TRACTION
If your vehicle has the Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) or Traction Control System (TCS), this message
displays and a chime sounds when the system is not
functioning properly. The ETS light or the ESC/TCS light
also appears on the instrument panel cluster. This light
stays on solid as long as the detected problem remains
present. When this message displays, the system is not
working. Adjust your driving accordingly. See Enhanced
Traction System (ETS)
on page 5‑10or Traction
Control System (TCS)on page 5‑8and Enhanced
Traction System (ETS) Indicator/Warning Lighton
page 4‑30or Electronic Stability Control (ESC)/Traction
Control System (TCS) Indicator/Warning Lighton
page 4‑31for more information. Have the system
serviced by your dealer as soon as possible.
SVC (Service) BRAKE SYSTEM
This message may display if you have a turbocharged
vehicle with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and if the
hydraulic brake boost is not working or is working
improperly. Have the brake system serviced by your
dealer as soon as possible.
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Black plate (45,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
SVC (Service) TIRE MONITOR
If your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), this message displays if a part on the TPMS is
not working properly. The tire pressure light also flashes
and then remains on during the same ignition cycle.
SeeTire Pressure Light
on page 4‑33. Several
conditions may cause this message to appear. See Tire
Pressure Monitor Operation
on page 6‑57for more
information. If the warning comes on and stays on,
there may be a problem with the TPMS. See your
dealer.
TIRE LOW ADD AIR
If your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), this message displays when the pressure in
one or more of the vehicle's tires is low. The low tire
pressure warning light will also come on. See Tire
Pressure Light
on page 4‑33. If a tire pressure
message appears on the DIC, stop as soon as you can.
Have the tire pressures checked and set to those
shown on the Tire Loading Information label. See Tires
on page 6‑47,Loading the Vehicleon page 5‑22, and
Inflation - Tire Pressureon page 6‑54. The DIC also
shows the tire pressure values. See DIC Operation and
Displays
on page 4‑38.
TRACTION OFF
If your vehicle has the Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) or Traction Control System (TCS), this message
displays and the ETS light or the ESC/TCS light on the
instrument panel cluster comes on solid when the
system is turned off. Adjust your driving accordingly.
See Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
on page 5‑10or
Traction Control System (TCS)on page 5‑8and
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Indicator/Warning
Light
on page 4‑30or Electronic Stability Control
(ESC)/Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator/Warning
Light
on page 4‑31for more information.
DIC Vehicle Personalization
Your vehicle has personalization capabilities that allow
you to program certain features to a preferred setting.
All of the features listed may not be available on your
vehicle. Only the features available will be displayed on
the DIC.
The default settings for the features were set when your
vehicle left the factory, but may have been changed
from their default state since that time.
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Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle. . . . . . . . . .5-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Braking in Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Racing or Other Competitive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15 Driving at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Before Leaving on a Long Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Loading the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Towing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Towing a Trailer (Automatic Transmission) . . . . . 5-31
Towing a Trailer (Manual Transmission) . . . . . . . . 5-37
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Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and
then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person's
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been drinking—driver or
passenger —is in a crash, that person's chance of
being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if
the person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control the vehicle
while driving —brakes, steering, and accelerator. At
times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask
more of those control systems than the tires and road
can provide. Meaning, you can lose control of the
vehicle. See Traction Control System (TCS)
on
page 5‑8, Enhanced Traction System (ETS)on
page 5‑10, and Electronic Stability Control (ESC)on
page 5‑6.
Adding non‐dealer/non‐retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. See Accessories and
Modifications on page 6‑3.
Braking
See Brake System Warning Light on page 4‑29.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three‐fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in three‐fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 feet). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between the
vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or
gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry,
or icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight
of the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts, heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking,
rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake.
The brakes might not have time to cool between hard
stops. The brakes will wear out much faster with a lot of
heavy braking. Keeping pace with the traffic and
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Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
until the ABS activates. Minor brake pedal pulsations or
pedal movement during this time is normal and the
driver should continue to apply the brake pedal as the
driving situation dictates The Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when the brake pedal is
released or brake pedal pressure is quickly decreased.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
The vehicle has an Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system which combines antilock brake, and traction and
stability control systems that help the driver maintain
directional control of the vehicle in most driving
conditions.
When the vehicle is started and begins to move, the
system performs several diagnostic checks to ensure
there are no problems. The system may be heard or felt
while it is working. This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with the vehicle. The system should
initialize before the vehicle reaches 20 mph (32 km/h).
If the system fails to turn on or activate, the ESC/TCS
light comes on, and the ESC OFF and/or SERVICE
ESC message displays.
For more information, seeDriver Information Center
(DIC)
on page 4‑38and Electronic Stability Control
(ESC)/Traction Control System (TCS) Indicator/Warning
Light on page 4‑31.
This light flashes on the
instrument panel cluster
when the ESC system is
on and activated.
ESC activates when the computer senses a
discrepancy between the intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually traveling. ESC
selectively applies braking pressure at any one of the
vehicle's brakes to help steer the vehicle in the intended
direction.
When the system activates, an ESC ACTIVE message
displays on the Driver Information Center. See DIC
Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑40. This light also
flashes on the instrument panel cluster when the ESC
system is on and activated. Noise or vibration may be
felt in the brake pedal. This is normal. Continue to steer
the vehicle in the desired direction.
When the light is on solid and the message(s),
SERVICE ESC, ESC OFF, or both display, the system
will not assist the driver in maintaining directional
control of the vehicle. Adjust your driving accordingly.
See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 4‑40.
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Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system is
automatically enabled whenever the vehicle is started.
To assist the driver with vehicle directional control,
especially in slippery road conditions, always leave the
system on. ESC can be turned off if needed.
If the vehicle is in cruise control when the system
begins to assist the driver maintain directional control of
the vehicle, the ESC/TCS light will flash and the cruise
control will automatically disengage. The cruise control
can be re-engaged when road conditions allow. See
Cruise Control on page 4‑8.
The ESC/TCS button is
located on the instrument
panel.
The traction control system can be turned off or back on
by pressing the ESC/TCS button. To disable both
traction control and ESC, press and hold the button
from five to ten seconds. When the ESC system is turned off, the TRACTION
OFF and ESC OFF messages appear, and the ESC/
TCS light comes on to warn the driver that both traction
control and ESC are disabled.
It is recommended that the system remain on for normal
driving conditions, but it may be necessary to turn the
system off if the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice or
snow, and you want to
“rock”your vehicle to attempt to
free it. It may also be necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road conditions where high
wheel spin is required. See If Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snowon page 5‑21.
ESC may also turn off automatically if it determines that
a problem exists with the system. The ESC OFF and
SERVICE ESC messages and the ESC/TCS light
comes on to warn the driver that ESC is disabled and
requires service. If the problem does not clear after
restarting the vehicle, see your dealer for service. See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑40for more
information.
Adding non‐dealer/non‐retailer accessories can affect
the vehicle's performance. See Accessories and
Modifications
on page 6‑3for more information.
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