
Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-29
During EMM, a DIC message
displays to show the
EMM percentage complete.
If No is selected, the EMM Request
screen will appear when the vehicle
is next started. The EMM request
can be delayed for only one day.
If the EMM request was delayed
for one day, EMM will automatically
start the engine at the next vehicle
start. An EMM Notification screen
will appear in the center stack
display.
If the vehicle shuts off during EMM,
it will restart the next time the
vehicle is driven. A message
displays to indicate that EMM
is active.
If EMM is required and the fuel level
is low, EMM may eventually empty
the fuel tank if fuel is not added.
This will result in reduced, or no
power. An adequate fuel level must
be maintained in the vehicle to keep
it operational. SeePropulsion Power
Messages on page 5‑50.Fuel Maintenance Mode (FMM)
Fuel Maintenance Mode (FMM)
tracks average fuel age. Old
fuel can cause engine problems.
If low engine usage causes average
fuel age to exceed approximately
one year, FMM will run the engine to
use up the old fuel. The engine will
run until enough fresh fuel is added
to bring the average fuel age into
an acceptable range. Allowing more
old fuel to be used up by FMM and
adding a larger amount of fresh fuel
will maximize the length of time
before another fuel maintenance
mode is needed. During FMM the
engine may turn on and off.

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-35
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The
Yswitch is
on the center stack. The EPB can
always be activated, even if the
vehicle is off. To prevent draining
the 12‐volt battery, avoid repeated
cycles of the EPB system when
the vehicle is off.
In case of insufficient electrical
power, the EPB cannot be applied
or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the Electric Parking Brake Light to
ensure the parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
The EPB can be applied anytime
the vehicle is stopped. The EPB is
applied by momentarily lifting up on
the
Yswitch. Once fully applied,
the Electric Parking Brake Light will
be on. While the brake is being
applied, the Electric Parking Brake
Light will flash until full apply is
reached. If the light does not come
on, or remains flashing, have the
vehicle serviced. Do not drive the
vehicle if the Electric Parking Brake
Light is flashing. See your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the
vehicle is in motion, a chime will
sound, and the DIC message
RELEASE PARKING BRAKE
will be displayed. The vehicle
will decelerate as long as the
switch is held in the up position. Releasing the
Yswitch during the
deceleration will release the parking
brake. If the
Yswitch is held in
the up position until the vehicle
comes to a stop, the EPB will
remain applied.
If the Electric Parking Brake Light
flashes continuously, the EPB is
only partially applied or released,
or there is a problem with the EPB.
The DIC message SERVICE
PARKING BRAKE will be displayed.
If this light flashes continuously,
release the EPB, and attempt to
apply it again. If this light continues
to flash, do not drive the vehicle.
See your dealer.
If the Service Electric Parking Brake
Light is on, the EPB has detected a
system problem and is operating
with reduced functionality.

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
9-36 Driving and Operating
To apply the EPB when this
light is on, lift up on the
Yswitch
and hold it in the up position.
Full application of the parking brake
by the EPB system may take a
longer period of time than normal
when this light is on. Continue to
hold the
Yswitch until the Electric
Parking Brake Light remains on.
If the Service Electric Parking
Brake Light is on, see your dealer.
If the EPB fails to apply, the rear
wheels should be blocked to
prevent vehicle movement.
For maximum EPB force when
parking on a hill, pull the EPB
switch twice.
EPB Release
To release the EPB, place the
vehicle in ON/RUN, apply and hold
the brake pedal, and push down
momentarily on the
Yswitch.
If attempting to release the EPB
without the brake pedal applied,
a chime will sound, and the DIC
message STEP ON BRAKE TO
RELEASE PARK BRAKE will be
displayed. The EPB is released
when the Electric Parking Brake
Light is off.
If the Service Electric Parking
Brake Light is on, the EPB has
detected a system problem, and is
operating with reduced functionality.
To release the EPB when this light
is on, push down on the
Yswitch
and hold it in the down position.
EPB release may take a longer
period of time than normal when
this light is on. Continue to hold
the
Yswitch until the Electric
Parking Brake Light is off. If the
light is on, see your dealer. 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
Electric Parking Brake Light is
off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release
if the vehicle is running, placed
into gear, and an attempt is
made to drive away. Avoid rapid
acceleration when the EPB is
applied, to preserve parking
brake lining life.
See Electric Parking Brake Light on
page 5‑25, Service Electric Parking
Brake Light on page 5‑25, and
Brake System Messages on
page 5‑46.

Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-37
Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking takes some of
the energy from the moving vehicle
and turns it back into electrical
energy. This energy is then stored
back into the high voltage battery
system, contributing to increased
energy efficiency.
The hydraulic disc brakes work with
the regenerative braking to ensure
effective braking, such as when a
high braking demand is requested.
The braking system is
computer controlled and
blends the regenerative braking
with the conventional hydraulic disc
brakes to meet any requirements
for deceleration. The controllerinterprets the braking request
and uses regenerative braking,
conventional hydraulic braking, or a
combination of both as necessary.
Because the controller applies the
hydraulic brakes through its high
pressure accumulator, you may
occasionally hear the motor‐driven
pump when it recharges the system.
This is normal.
See
Warning Lights, Gauges,
and Indicators on page 5‑9 and
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑43. In the event of a
controller problem, the brake pedal
may be harder to push and the
stopping distance may be longer.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) that limits wheel
spin. The system operates if it
senses that one or both of the drive
wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens,
the system brakes the spinning
wheel(s) and/or reduces power
to limit wheel spin.
The system may be heard or felt
while it is working, but this is
normal.
To assist with directional control
of the vehicle, TCS comes on
automatically whenever the vehicle
is started and cannot be turned off.

Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
9-38 Driving and Operating
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 32 km/h
(20 mph). In some cases, it may
take approximately 3.2 km (2 mi) of
driving before the system initializes.
The Traction Control System may
activate on dry or rough roads or
under conditions such as heavy
acceleration while turning or abrupt
changes in output from the electric
drive unit. When this happens,
a reduction in acceleration may
be noticed, or a noise or vibration
may be heard. This is normal.
The TCS/StabiliTrak warning light
will flash to indicate that the traction
control system is active.
If there is a problem detected, the
SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL
message displays in the DIC.
SeeRide Control System Messages
on page 5‑50. When this message
is displayed and
dcomes on and
stays on, the vehicle is safe to drive
but the system is not operational. If
dcomes on and stays on, reset
the system:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the vehicle off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the vehicle.
If
dstill comes on and stays on,
the vehicle needs service.
Adding non‐GM accessories
can affect vehicle performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑4 for more information.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-39
Electronic Stability
Control (ESC)
The vehicle has an Electronic
Stability Control system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer‐controlled system that
assists with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
StabiliTrak comes on automatically
whenever the vehicle is started and
cannot be turned off.
The system may be heard or felt
while it is working, but this is
normal.StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a difference
between the intended path and
the direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure to help
steer the vehicle in the intended
direction.
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 32 km/h
(20 mph). In some cases, it may
take approximately 3.2 km (2 mi) of
driving before the system initializes.
When the stability control system
activates, the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak light
flashes on the instrument cluster.
This also occurs when traction
control is activated. This is normal.
Continue to steer the vehicle in the
intended direction.
If there is a problem detected,
the SERVICE STABILITRAK
message displays in the DIC.
When this message is displayed
and the StabiliTrak light comes
on and stays on, the vehicle is
safe to drive but the system is
not operational. See
Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑50.

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-41
The cruise control buttons are on
the steering wheel.
1(On/Off):Press to turn the
cruise control system on and off.
An indicator light will turn on or
off in the instrument cluster.
*(Cancel): Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory. RES/+ (Resume/Accel):
Move
the thumbwheel up to resume
to a previously set speed or to
accelerate.
SET/− (Set/Coast): Move the
thumbwheel down to set a speed
and activate cruise control or to
make the vehicle decelerate.
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 button off when cruise
is not being used.
To set a speed:
1. Press
1to turn cruise
control on.
2. Get up to the speed desired. 3. Move the thumbwheel down
toward SET/− and release it.
The desired set speed briefly
appears in the instrument
cluster.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
When the brakes are applied, the
cruise control shuts off.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the
brakes are applied, the cruise
control is disengaged without
erasing the set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle speed is about
40 km/h (25 mph) or greater,
move the thumbwheel up toward
RES/+ briefly and then release it.
The vehicle returns to the previously
set speed and stays there.

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-43
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal;
when cruise control disengages,
the indicator light will not be lit.
.Press*.
.Press1to turn the cruise
control system off completely.
The cruise control cannot be
resumed.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed
is erased from memory by
pressing
1or if the vehicle
is turned off.
Object Detection
Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
For vehicles with the Ultrasonic
Front and Rear Parking Assist
(UFRPA) system, it assists the
driver with parking and avoiding
objects. UFRPA operates at
speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph).
The sensors on the front and rear
bumper detect objects up to 1.2 m
(4 ft) in front of the vehicle, 2.5 m
(8 ft) behind the vehicle, and at
least 25.4 cm (10 in) off the ground.
{WARNING
The Ultrasonic Front and Rear
Parking Assist (UFRPA) system
does not replace driver vision.
It cannot detect:
.Objects that are below the
bumper, underneath the
vehicle, or if they are too
close or far from the vehicle.
.Children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, or pets.
If you do not use proper care
before moving forward and while
backing; vehicle damage, injury,
or death could occur. Even with
UFRPA, always check in front of
the vehicle before moving forward
and behind the vehicle before
backing up. While moving forward
and backing, be sure to look for
objects and check the vehicle
mirrors.