Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
iv Introduction
Using this Manual
To quickly locate information
about the vehicle, use the Index
in the back of the manual. It is an
alphabetical list of what is in the
manual and the page number
where it can be found.
Danger, Warnings, and
Cautions
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
Dangerindicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result in
serious injury or death.
Warning orCaution indicates a
hazard that could result in injury or
death.
{WARNING
These mean there is something
that could hurt you or other
people.
Notice: This means there is
something that could result
in property or vehicle damage.
This would not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty.
A circle with a slash through it
is a safety symbol which means
“Do Not,” “Do not do this,” or
“Do not let this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M: This symbol is shown
when you need to see your owner
manual for additional instructions
or information.
*: This symbol is shown when
you need to see a service manual
for additional instructions or
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 (35,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-35
For some children, including
children in child restraints,
and for very small adults, the
passenger sensing system may
or may not turn off the right front
passenger frontal airbag and
passenger knee airbag, depending
upon the person’s seating posture
and body build. Everyone in the
vehicle who has outgrown child
restraints should wear a safety
belt properly —whether or not
there is an airbag for that person.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑19 for more
information, including important
safety information.
If the On Indicator is Lit for a
Child Restraint
If a child restraint has been installed
and the on indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items from the seat such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat
heaters, or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directions
provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and refer to
Securing Child Restraints
(Rear Seat) on page 3‑57 or
Securing Child Restraints (Front
Passenger Seat) on page 3‑60. 5. If, after reinstalling the child
restraint and restarting the
vehicle, the on indicator is
still lit, turn the vehicle off.
Then slightly recline the vehicle
seatback and adjust the seat
cushion, if adjustable, to make
sure that the vehicle seatback
is not pushing the child restraint
into the seat cushion.
Also make sure the child
restraint is not trapped under
the vehicle head restraint.
If this happens, adjust the head
restraint. See Head Restraints
on page 3‑2.
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing system
may or may not turn off the
airbags for a child in a child
restraint depending upon the
child's seating posture and body
build. It is better to secure a
child restraint in a rear seat.
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-1
Instruments and
Controls
Instrument Panel Overview
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . 5-4
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-6
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-6
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-7
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16 Battery Gauge (High
Voltage) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . 5-17
Total Vehicle Range . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-18
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-19
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Charging System Light (12-Volt Battery) . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Sport Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Mountain Mode Light . . . . . . . . 5-26 Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . 5-27
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-28
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 5-28
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Door, Hood, or Hatch Open
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Information Displays
Center Stack Display . . . . . . . . 5-31
Power Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Energy Information . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42
Driver InformationCenter (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-13
A.Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑24.
B. Battery Gauge (High Voltage)
on page 5‑16.
C. Fuel Gauge on page 5‑16.
D. Service Electric Parking Brake
Light on page 5‑25.
E. Security Light on page 5‑29.
F. Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light on page 5‑27.
G. Charging System Light
(12-Volt Battery) on page 5‑21.
H. Engine Oil Pressure Light on
page 5‑28.
I. High-Beam On Light on
page 5‑29.
J. Second Row Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light. See Safety
Belt Reminders on page 5‑18. K.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 6‑4.
L. Compass on page 5‑16.
M. Speedometer on page 5‑15.
N. Cruise Control Light on
page 5‑29.
O. Electric Parking Brake Light on
page 5‑25.
P. Door, Hood, or Hatch Open
Light on page 5‑30.
Q. Low Fuel Warning Light on
page 5‑28.
R. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 5‑26.
S. Electric Drive Unit Positions. See Electric Drive Unit on
page 9‑32.
T. Driver Efficiency Gauge on
page 5‑17. U.
Tire Pressure Light on
page 5‑27.
V. Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak
®Light on page 5‑27.
W. Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑21.
X. Odometer on page 5‑15.
Y. Lamps On Reminder on
page 5‑29.
Z. Sport Mode Light on page 5‑26
and Mountain Mode Light on
page 5‑26.
AA. Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑43.
AB. Total Vehicle Range on
page 5‑17.
AC. Airbag Readiness Light on
page 5‑19.
AD. Driver Safety Belt Reminder Light. See Safety Belt
Reminders on page 5‑18.
Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
5-20 Instruments and Controls
A message may also display in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeAirbag System Messages on
page 5‑51 for more information.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system. See Passenger
Sensing System on page 3‑33
for important safety information.
The passenger airbag status
indicator is in the overhead console.
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF for several
seconds as a system check. Then, after several more seconds,
the status indicator will light either
ON or OFF to let you know the
status of the right front passenger
frontal airbag and the passenger
knee airbag.
If the word ON is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it
means that the right front passenger
frontal airbag and the passenger
knee airbag are enabled and may
inflate.
If the word OFF is lit on the airbag
status indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has
turned off the right front passenger
frontal airbag and the passenger
knee airbag.
Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-21
If, after several seconds, both
status indicator lights remain on,
or if there are no lights at all, there
may be a problem with the lights
or the passenger sensing system.
See your dealer for service.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑19 for more
information, including important
safety information.
Charging System Light
(12-Volt Battery)
The charging system light comes
on briefly when the vehicle is in
ON/RUN, as a check to show the
light is working.
If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, there could be a
problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked by your
dealer. Driving while this light is
on could drain the 12‐volt battery.
If a short distance must be driven
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio.
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
A computer system called OBD II
(On-Board Diagnostics-Second
Generation) monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition, and emission
control systems. It ensures that
emissions are at acceptable levels
for the life of the vehicle, helping
to produce a cleaner environment.
This light comes on when the
vehicle is placed in Service Only
Mode, as a check to show it is
working. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
See Power Button on page 9‑18
for more 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.