
Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-9
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
slow down and adjust your driving
to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces
because stopping distance is longer
and vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing
vehicle speed by shifting to a lower
gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You might
not realize the surface is slippery
until the vehicle is skidding. Learn
to recognize warning clues—such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in
a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to
drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road
is wet enough and you are going
fast enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
9-10 Driving and Operating
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. SeeTires on
page 10‑48.
.Turn off cruise control.
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention
to your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, find
a safe place to park the vehicle
and rest.
Other driving tips include:
.Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
.Keep interior temperature cool.
.Keep your eyes moving —scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
.Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than
driving on flat or rolling terrain.
See “Mountain Mode” underDriver
Selected Operating Modes on
page 9‑26. Tips for driving in
these conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
electric drive unit.
.Keep the vehicle in gear when
going down steep or long hills.
{WARNING
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the vehicle turned off is
dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down
the vehicle and could become too
hot. Hot brakes may not be able
(Continued)

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
9-12 Driving and Operating
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be
a serious situation. Stay with
the vehicle unless there is help
nearby. If possible, use the
Roadside Assistance Program.
To get help and keep everyone
in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{WARNING
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
Carbon Monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
.Clear away snow from
around the base of the
vehicle, especially any that
is blocking the exhaust pipe.
.Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the side of the
vehicle that is away from
the wind to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets
on or under the instrument
panel.
.Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside
the vehicle and set the fan
speed to the highest setting.
See Climate Control Systems
in the Index.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑30.
To conserve energy, run the
vehicle for only short periods as
needed to warm the vehicle and
then shut the vehicle off and close
the window most of the way to
save heat. Repeat this until help
arrives but only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, start the vehicle. The engine
may start to charge the 12‐volt
battery. Turn off unnecessary
accessories to conserve energy.

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.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-39
Engine Compartment Fuse Block
A fuse puller is located in the engine
compartment fuse block.
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown. Mini Fuses Usage
1 Engine Control
Module
–Switched
Power
2 Emissions
3 Not Used Mini Fuses Usage
4 Ignition
Coils/Injectors
5 Empty
6a Empty
6b Rear Defogger
(Lower Grid)
7 Empty
8 Empty
9 Heated Mirrors
10 Air Conditioning
Control Module
11 Traction
Power Inverter
Module
–Battery
12 Cabin Heater Pump
and Valve
13 Empty
14 Empty

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-41
Mini Fuses Usage53 Traction
Power Inverter
Module
–Run/Crank
54 Run/Crank for Air
Conditioning Control
Module/Instrument
Cluster/Passenger
Airbag Display/
Accessory Power
Module
J‐Case Fuses Usage
16 Empty
18 Empty
19 Power
Window
–Front
20 Empty
21 Antilock Brake
System Electronic
Control Unit J‐Case
Fuses Usage
23 Charge Port Door
27 Empty
28 Empty
29 Empty
30 Antilock Brake
System Motor
42 Cooling Fan –Right
43 Front Wipers
44 Charger
45 Empty
48 Cooling Fan –Left
Mini Relays Usage 3 Powertrain
4 Rear Defog (Lower
Grid)/Heated Mirrors
7 Empty Mini Relays Usage
9 Empty
11 Empty
12 Empty
13 Empty
14 Run/Crank
Micro
Relays Usage
1 Empty
2 Empty
6 Empty
8 Empty
10 Empty
Ultra Micro Relays Usage
5 Charge Port Door

Black plate (46,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
10-46 Vehicle Care
A fuse puller is located in the engine
compartment fuse block.
The vehicle may not have all of the
fuses, relays, and features shown.Fuses Usage
F1 Empty
F2 Fuel System Control
Module Fuses Usage
F3 Passive Start
Module
F4 Heated Seats
(If Equipped)
F5 Driver Door
Switches (Outside
Rearview Mirror/
Charge Port Door
Release/Refuel
Request/Driver
Window Switch)
F6 Fuel (Diurnal
Valve and Evap.
Leak Check Module)
F7 Accessory Power
Module Cooling Fan
F8 Amplifier
(If Equipped)
F9 Empty

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
i-2 INDEX
Brake System Warning Light . . . 5-24
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . 9-37
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Back-up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . 10-36
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 9-58
Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3 Camera, Rear Vision . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . iii
Capacities and
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Hatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Cautions, Danger, and
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
CD/DVD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-69
Charge Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33 Delay Override . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Electrical Requirements . . . . . . 9-56
Plug-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Charging Status Screens . . . . . . 9-52
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . 5-21
Check Engine Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21 Child Restraints
Infants and Young
Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-43
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . 3-49
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-57, 3-60
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-45
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-89
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-93
Climate Control Systems Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . 13-10
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
Configure Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-66
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15