Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
2-8 Keys, Doors and Windows
Remote Start
This feature starts the heating or
air conditioning systems and rear
window defogger from outside the
vehicle. Use remote start to heat or
cool the interior when the vehicle
plugged in to maximize the electric
range by utilizing electricity from the
electrical outlet. Normal operation
of the system will return after the
vehicle has been turned on.
B(Remote Start):This button is
on the RKE transmitter.
During remote start:
.The climate control system
will typically default to the last
climate settings. If Fan Off or
Fan Only were selected, the
air conditioning or heat will turn
on as needed. See Automatic
Climate Control System on
page 8‑1 for more information.
.If the vehicle has heated
seats, and this feature has
been enabled through vehicle
personalization, the heated
seats will turn on during
colder outside temperatures.
See“Remote Start Heated
Seats” underHeated Front
Seats on page 3‑6 andVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑53
for additional information.
.The rear defogger will turn
on during colder outside
temperatures.
.Selecting1during colder
outside temperatures before
shutting the vehicle off will
help windshield clearing.
.Shutting the vehicle off in ECO
Mode without
1selected will
minimize the impact to electric
range. Shutting the vehicle off
in other modes will maximize
heating or air conditioning.
.The engine may start to provide
energy for heating and cooling,
independent of the vehicle being
plugged in or completely
charged.
.Vehicle range may decrease
if the vehicle is not plugged
into an electrical outlet. If the
vehicle is plugged in, much of
the energy needed to support
this feature will be provided from
the utility, not from the high
voltage battery.
Laws in some communities
may restrict the use of features
that remotely start the engine.
For example, some laws may
require a person using the remote
start feature to have the vehicle in
view when doing so. Check local
regulations for any requirements
on remote starting of vehicles.
Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
3-20 Seats and Restraints
5. To make the lap part tight, pullup on the shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull
stitching on the safety belt
through the latch plate to fully
tighten the lap belt on smaller
occupants.To unlatch the belt, push the button
on the buckle. The belt should
return to its stowed position.
Before a door is closed, be sure
the safety belt is out of the way. If a
door is slammed against a safety
belt, damage can occur to both the
safety belt and the vehicle.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has safety belt
pretensioners for front outboard
occupants. Although the safety
belt pretensioners cannot be seen,
they are part of the safety belt
assembly. They can help tighten
the safety belts during the early
stages of a moderate to severe
frontal, near frontal, or rear crash
if the threshold conditions for
pretensioner activation are met.
And, if the vehicle has side impact
airbags, safety belt pretensioners
can help tighten the safety belts in
a side crash or a rollover event.
Pretensioners work only once.
If the pretensioners activate in a
crash, they need to be replaced,
and other new parts for the vehicle's
safety belt system may be required.
See Replacing Safety Belt System
Parts after a Crash on page 3‑24.
Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-33
Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the right front
passenger position. The passenger
airbag status indicator will be visible
on the overhead console when the
vehicle is started.
The words ON and OFF are visible
during the system check. When the
system check is complete, either
the word ON or OFF will be visible.
SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 5‑20. The passenger sensing system
turns off the right front passenger
frontal airbag and the knee airbag
on the passenger side, under
certain conditions. The driver
airbag, the driver knee airbag, the
seat-mounted side impact airbags,
and the roof-rail airbags are not
affected by the passenger sensing
system.
The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part
of the right front passenger seat.
The sensors are designed to detect
the presence of a properly seated
occupant and determine if the right
front passenger frontal airbag and
passenger knee airbag should be
enabled (may inflate) or not.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
secured in a rear seat in a correct
child restraint for their weight
and size.
We recommend that children be
secured in a rear seat, including:
an infant or a child riding in a
rear-facing child restraint; a child
riding in a forward-facing child seat;
an older child riding in a booster
seat; and children, who are large
enough, using safety belts.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front.”
This is because the risk
to the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
Black plate (60,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
3-60 Seats and Restraints
Securing Child Restraints
(Front Passenger Seat)
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure
a forward-facing child restraint.
SeeWhere to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑47.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system which
is designed to turn off the right
front passenger frontal airbag
and passenger knee airbag under
certain conditions. See Passenger
Sensing System on page 3‑33 and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑20 for more information,
including important safety
information. A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front.”
This is because the risk
to the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
{WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right
front passenger airbag inflates.
This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating
airbag. A child in a forward-facing
child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates and the
passenger seat is in a forward
position.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger airbag(s), no
system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will
not deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the
airbag(s) are turned off.
Secure rear-facing child
restraints in a rear seat, even if
the airbag(s) are off. If you secure
a forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, always move
the front passenger seat as far
back as it will go. It is better to
secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
SeePassenger Sensing System
on page 3‑33 for additional
information.
Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
5-22 Instruments and Controls
If the malfunction indicator lamp
comes on and stays on, while the
vehicle is in ON/RUN, this indicates
that there is an OBD II problem and
service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by
the system before any problem is
apparent. Being aware of the light
can prevent more serious damage
to the vehicle. This system assists
the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:If the vehicle is
continually driven with this light
on, the emission controls might
not work as well, the vehicle fuel
economy might not be as good,
and the engine might not run
as smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Notice:
Modifications made
to the engine, electric drive unit,
exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of the vehicle or the replacement
of the original tires with other
than those of the same Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
can affect the vehicle emission
controls and can cause this
light to come on. Modifications
to these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by
the vehicle warranty. This could
also result in a failure to
pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance
test. See Accessories and
Modifications on page 10‑4. This light comes on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing:
A misfire condition
has been detected. A misfire
increases vehicle emissions and
could damage the emission control
system on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
The following can prevent more
serious damage to the vehicle:
.Reduce vehicle speed.
.Avoid hard accelerations.
.Avoid steep uphill grades.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so, stop the vehicle.
Find a safe place to park the
vehicle. Turn the vehicle off, wait at
least 10 seconds, and restart the
vehicle. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps and see
your dealer for service as soon as
possible.
Black plate (51,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-51
SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL
This message displays when there
is a problem detected with the
Traction Control System (TCS).
The vehicle is safe to drive, but the
TCS is not operational. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 9‑37
for information on resetting the
system.
Airbag System Messages
SERVICE AIRBAG
This message displays if there is
a problem with the airbag system.
Take the vehicle to your dealer for
service.
Anti-theft Alarm System
Messages
SERVICE THEFT ALARM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the alarm. See your
dealer for service.
SERVICE THEFT DETERRENT
SYSTEM
This message displays if there is
a problem with the theft-deterrent
system. See your dealer for service.
Service Vehicle Messages
ENGINE MAINTENANCE XXX%
COMPLETE
This message displays when
the Engine Maintenance Mode is
running. See “Engine Maintenance
Mode” underMaintenance Modes
on page 9‑28.
ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE
SERVICE SOON
This message displays when the
engine is not available due to a
malfunction that will not allow the
engine to start. The vehicle can
continue to be driven in Electric
Mode until the battery is depleted,
but will have reduced acceleration.
When this message is displayed,
the vehicle should be taken to
your dealer for service as soon as
possible. See Out of Fuel/Engine
Unavailable on page 9‑28.
SERVICE AC SYSTEM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the air conditioning
system. Take the vehicle to your
dealer for service.
SERVICE HEATER SOON
This message displays if there is
a problem with the heater system.
Take the vehicle to your dealer for
service.
Black plate (55,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-55
Climate and Air Quality
Select the Climate and Air Quality
menu to display:
.Auto Fan Speed
.Auto Heated Seats
.Remote Start Auto Heat Seats
.Auto Defog
Auto Fan Speed
This feature sets the automatic
fan speed to maintain the desired
interior tempurature. This selection
is available on vehicles with the
Automatic Climate Control system.
Choose a blower setting:
High: Increased speed.
Medium: Moderate speed.
Low: Reduced speed.
To select the auto fan speed:
1. Press the Vehicle menu.
2. Select Climate and Air Quality. 3. Select Auto Fan Speed.
4. Select the fan speed.
5. Press Back to return to the
previous menu.
Auto Heated Seats
When enabled, the auto heated
seat buttons on the touch screen
will be highlighted. This feature will
automatically activate heated seats
at the level required by the interior
temperature. The auto heated seats
can be turned off by using the
heated seat buttons on the center
stack.
To turn the auto heated seats on
or off:
1. Press the Vehicle menu.
2. Select Climate and Air Quality.
3. Turn the auto heated seats feature on or off.
4. Press Back to return to the previous menu. Remote Start Auto Heat Seats
When on, this feature will turn the
heated seats on when using remote
start.
To turn the remote start auto heat
seats on or off:
1. Press the Vehicle menu.
2. Select Climate and Air Quality.
3. Turn the remote start auto heat
seats feature on or off.
4. Press Back to return to the previous menu.
Auto Defog
When on and high humidity is
detected, the Climate Control
system will adjust the outside air,
air conditioner, or heat to decrease
fogging. The fan speed may
increase. When high humidity is
no longer detected, the system
will return to previous operation.
Black plate (70,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
7-70 Infotainment System
On Route
Press the On Route screen button
to display all events ahead on
the current active route. No traffic
events reported on route displays
if there are none to report.
Name
Press the Name screen button to
display traffic events in alphabetical
order.
Distance
Press the Distance screen button
to display traffic events in order of
distance with the closest event
shown first.Scrolling to Traffic Events on
the Map
While scrolling the map, the traffic
event icons can appear indicating a
traffic event within 125 km (75 mi)
from current position. To receive
information about the traffic event,
place the crosshairs over the
traffic condition icon. Traffic events
beyond 125 km (75 mi) from current
position will not be displayed.
Press the Info. button to display the
type of traffic, the street name, and
a description of the traffic event.
Traffic Event Display Categories
The following are traffic event
categories and symbols that
can appear on the display:
q(Road Closed):
Road and/or
ramps closed.
o(Stopped Traffic): Traffic
stopped, stop-and-go traffic,
delayed and congested traffic.
p(Alert): Object on the roadway,
disabled vehicle, or dangerous road
conditions.
t(Accident): Roadway obstructed
due to accident.
s(Road Work): Delayed traffic
due to construction.
j/r(Road Condition): Delayed
or stopped traffic, lane blocked or
closed due to a road condition.
k(Weather): Heavy rain, snow,
or fog weather condition.
m(Parking): Available
parking area.
l(Information): Special event,
general information, or warning.