2011 CHEVROLET VOLT Owner's Manual

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-19
Charging
Start Charge
1. The charge port door releasebutton is on the driver door inner
trim panel. With the vehicle in
P (Park), press the button for
one second and release to open
the charge port door. The charge
port door can also be opened
using the RKE transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation on
page 2‑3. In cold weather conditions, ice
may form around the charge port
door. The charge port door may
not open on the first attempt.
Remove ice from the area and
repeat attempting to open the
charge port door.
2. Open the rear hatch, lift the load
support floor covering (A), and
remove the charge cord (D). It is located near the tire sealant
and compressor kit (C). Pull up
on the charge cord handle (D)
to release it from the handle
clip (E). Lift the charge cord up
and rearward to remove it from
the vehicle. The vehicle plug (B)
is stored as shown.
3. Plug the charge cord into the electrical outlet. See Electrical
Requirements for Battery
Charging on page 9‑56. Verify
that the charge cord status
indicators are both green.
See Charge Cord on page 9‑54
for more information.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
1-20 In Brief
4. Then plug in the vehicle plug ofthe charge cord into the charge
port on the vehicle. Verify that
the charging status indicator
illuminates on top of the
instrument panel and a horn
chirp occurs. See Charging
Status Feedback on page 9‑52
for more information.
5. To arm the charge cord theft alert, lock the vehicle with the
RKE transmitter. This feature
can be disabled by a service
technician. End Charge
1. Unlock the vehicle with the RKE
transmitter to disarm the charge
cord theft alert.
2. Unplug the vehicle plug of thecharge cord from the vehicle by
squeezing the vehicle plug lever
and pull to remove.
3. Close the charge port door by pressing firmly in the center to
latch properly. 4. Unplug the charge cord from the
electrical outlet.
5. Before storing the charge cord, have the charge cord face up
and wrap the charge cable
neatly counterclockwise around
the body of the charge cord.

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-21
6. Place the charge cord,face down, into the storage
compartment with the front
edge (F) of the charge cord
body under the clips (G) located
in the front of the storage
compartment. The vehicle
plug (B) should be on the
right side of the charge cord.
7. Push the charge cord handle down until it locks into the
handle clip at the rear of the
storage compartment. While the charge cord is plugged
into the vehicle, the vehicle cannot
be driven.
Fueling
The fuel system on this vehicle
requires a refueling process to
control evaporative emissions.
To refuel the vehicle:
1. Press the fuel door button on
the driver door for one second.
A WAIT TO REFUEL message
displays on the Driver
Information Center.
2. When the READY TO REFUELmessage displays, the fuel door
on the passenger side will
unlock. Push the rearward edge
of the fuel door in and release to
open the door.

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
1-22 In Brief
3. Turn the fuel capcounterclockwise to remove.
While refueling, hang the fuel
cap tether from the hook on
the inside of the fuel door.
Complete refueling within
30 minutes of pushing the
fuel door button found on the
driver side door. If refueling
more than 30 minutes, push
the fuel door button again.
4. After refueling, reinstall the fuel cap by turning it clockwise until it
clicks. Close the fuel door.
See Filling the Tank on page 9‑60.Total Vehicle Range
Total vehicle range is the remaining
distance the vehicle can be driven
combining the electric range and
fuel range.
SeeDriving for Better Energy
Efficiency on page 9‑2.
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.
See Regenerative Braking on
page 9‑37.

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-23
Service
{WARNING
Never try to do your own service
on high voltage components.
You can be injured and the
vehicle can be damaged if you
try to do your own service work.
Service and repair of these high
voltage components should
only be performed by a trained
service technician with the proper
knowledge and tools. SeeDoing
Your Own Service Work on
page 10‑8.
Performance and
Maintenance
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The Traction Control System limits
wheel spin. The system turns on
automatically every time the vehicle
is on and cannot be turned off.
For more information, see Traction
Control System (TCS) on
page 9‑37.
Electronic Stability
Control (ESC)
Electronic Stability Control assists
with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
The system turns on automatically
every time the vehicle is on and
cannot be turned off.
For more information, see Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) on
page 9‑39.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts you
to a significant loss in pressure of
one of the vehicle's tires. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑14. The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
1-24 In Brief
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early
indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑55.Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
This vehicle may have a tire sealant
and compressor kit that can be used
to seal small punctures in the tread
area of the tire. Significant sidewall
damage will require the tire to be
replaced.
See Tire Sealant and Compressor
Kit on page 10‑71 for complete
operating information.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message when it is time
to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset
to 100% only following an oil
change. Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Use the SELECT knob to select
OIL LIFE on the DIC menu.
2. Press SELECT to start the OIL LIFE reset procedure.
3. The DIC menu will display “Are
you sure that you want to reset?”
Use SELECT to choose YES to
reset oil life or NO to exit and
return to the previous menu.
4. If YES is selected, the DIC menu will display RESET OIL LIFE for
a short time and then 100% OIL
LIFE will be displayed when
OIL LIFE is successfully reset.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑15.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-25
Driving for Better Energy
Efficiency
Use the following tips to help
maximize energy efficiency and
range.
Driving Style
Efficiency Gauge
(Instrument Cluster)
The ball indicator should be kept
green and in the center of the
gauge.
Inefficient acceleration is indicated
when the ball turns yellow and
travels above the center of the
gauge.
Aggressive braking is indicated
when the ball turns yellow and
travels below the center of the
gauge.Acceleration/Braking/Coasting
Avoid unnecessary rapid
accelerations and decelerations.
Electric range is maximized at
80 km/h (50 mph) and below. Higher
speeds use more energy and can
significantly reduce electric range.
Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Plan ahead for decelerations
and coast whenever possible.
For example, do not rush to traffic
signals.
Do not shift to N (Neutral) to coast.
The vehicle recovers energy while
coasting and braking in D (Drive)
or L (Low).
Drive Mode and PRNDL Selection
Use Normal Mode when possible.
Sport Mode provides more
responsive acceleration than
Normal Mode but can reduce
efficiency.
Use Mountain Mode prior to
climbing long, steep grades in
mountainous areas. Be sure to
engage Mountain Mode before
starting to climb. Mountain Mode
reduces electric range and power
but may be needed to maintain
speeds above 96 km/h (60 mph)
when climbing grades of 5% or
greater.
Use L (Low) in heavy stop‐and‐go
traffic or when traveling downhill.
L (Low) requires less brake
pedal application and provides
a controlled, efficient way to
slow the vehicle down.

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
1-26 In Brief
Climate Setting
Using the heat and air conditioning
systems decreases the energy
available for electric driving.
Optimal energy efficiency is
achieved with the heat, air
conditioning, and fan turned off.
Less energy is used at low fan
speeds. When using the fan:
.Fan Only is the most energy
efficient climate setting as long
as
0is not selected.
.ECO is for moderate air
conditioning and heater
operation and is the next most
energy efficient setting as long
as
0is not selected.
.Comfort provides the most
comfort but is the least energy
efficient.Use the auto heated seat feature
instead of climate settings. Heating
the seat uses less energy than
heating the vehicle interior.
Use remote start to heat or cool
the interior when the vehicle is
plugged in to maximize the electric
range by utilizing electricity from the
electrical outlet.
In hot weather, avoid parking in
direct sunlight or use sunshades
inside the vehicle.
Turn off the front and rear window
defog/defrost when they are no
longer needed.
Avoid driving with the windows open
at highway speeds.Vehicle Charging/Maintenance
Charging
Keep the vehicle plugged in, even
when fully charged, to keep the
battery temperature ready for the
next drive. This is important when
outside temperatures are extremely
hot or cold. Maintenance
Always keep the tires properly
inflated and the vehicle properly
aligned.
The weight of excess cargo in the
vehicle affects efficiency and range.
Avoid carrying more than is needed.
If fuel is not regularly used, consider
keeping the fuel tank only one‐third
full. Excess fuel weight impacts
efficiency and range.
Use premium fuel.
Avoid unnecessary use of electrical
accessories. Power used for
functions other than propelling the
vehicle will reduce EV range.
Using a rooftop carrier will reduce
efficiency due to additional weight
and drag.