Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
2011 Chevrolet Volt Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Battery and Efficiency . . . . . . . . 1-18
Performance and
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Keys, Doors and Windows . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-2
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . 5-4
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-53
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-60
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18 Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39
Voice Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-77
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-85
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-18
Electric Vehicle Operating Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-37
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-43
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-63
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-1
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 1-9
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Sensing System for Passenger Airbag . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11 Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-12
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Vehicle Features
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-15
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-16
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Battery and Efficiency
High Voltage Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Fueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Total Vehicle Range . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 1-22
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-23
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-24
Driving for Better Energy Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-27
Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
1-4 In Brief
Initial Drive
Information
This section provides a brief
overview about some of the
important features that may
or may not be on your specific
vehicle.
For more detailed information, refer
to each of the features which can be
found later in this owner manual.
Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter will work up to 60 m
(195 ft) away from the vehicle.
Press the key release button to
extend the key. The key can be
used for all locks.
K:Press once to unlock the driver
door. Press a second time within
five seconds to unlock all doors.
Q: Press to lock all doors.
Lock and unlock feedback can
be personalized. See Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑53.
7: Press and release to locate
the vehicle. Press and hold for
three seconds to sound the panic
alarm. Press again to cancel the
panic alarm.
B: PressQand then press and
hold
Bwithin five seconds to
start the vehicle's heating or air
conditioning systems and rear
window defogger from outside the
vehicle using the RKE transmitter.
See Remote Start on page 2‑8 for
more information.
A: Press to open the charge
port door. See Plug-In Charging on
page 9‑49 for more information.
See Keys on page 2‑2 andRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3.
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-5
Remote Start
This feature starts the heating or
air conditioning systems and rear
window defogger from outside the
vehicle. Normal operation of the
system will return after the vehicle
has been turned on. The engine
may start to support the climate
control operation.
Activating the Remote Start
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at thevehicle.
2. Press
Qon the RKE transmitter;
the doors will lock.
3. Within five seconds, press and hold
Buntil the turn signal
lamps flash or for approximately
four seconds. Pressing
Bagain
during a remote start will turn the
feature off. After entering the vehicle during a
remote start, press the POWER
O
button on the center stack with the
brake pedal applied to operate as
normal.
Canceling Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do any of
the following:
.Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and press and hold
B
until the parking lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Press the POWERObutton on
the center stack, with the brake
pedal applied, then press the
POWER
Obutton again to turn
the vehicle off.
See Remote Start on page 2‑8.
Door Locks
To lock or unlock the door, use
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter or the key from outside
the vehicle. Use the door lock knob
or switch from inside the vehicle.
SeeDoor Locks on page 2‑10.
Power Door Locks
The power door lock switches are
on the center stack.
K:Press to unlock the doors.
Q:Press to lock the doors.
Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
1-6 In Brief
SeePower Door Locks on
page 2‑11.
Hatch
To open the hatch, with all doors
unlocked, press the button on the
underside of the hatch and lift up.
Always close the hatch before
driving. Do not press the button
while closing the hatch; it will unlock
it again.
See Hatch on page 2‑12.
Windows
The power window switches
are on the driver door armrest.
Each passenger door has a switch
that controls only that window.
Press the front of the switch to lower
the window. Pull the switch up to
raise it.
The driver and passenger windows
have an express-down feature and
the driver window has express-up.
SeePower Windows on page 2‑17.
Seat Adjustment
Seat Position
To adjust the seat position:
1. Pull the handle at the front of the
seat cushion to unlock it.
2. Move the seat forward or rearward and release the
handle.
3. Try to move the seat back and forth to be sure it is locked in
place.
See Seat Adjustment on page 3‑4.
Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
1-10 In Brief
Sensing System for
Passenger Airbag
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag and passenger knee
airbag under certain conditions.
The driver airbags, seat‐mounted
side impact airbags, and roof‐rail
airbags are not affected by the
passenger sensing system. See
Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑33for more information.
The passenger airbag status
indicator will be visible on the
overhead console when the vehicle
is started. See Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator on page 5‑20.
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior
Mirrors can be folded inward toward
the vehicle to prevent damage when
going through an automatic car
wash. Push the mirror outward to
return it to the original position.
See Folding Mirrors on page 2‑16.
Controls for the outside power
mirrors are on the driver door. To adjust a mirror:
1. Move the selector switch to
L (left) or R (right) to choose
the driver or passenger mirror.
2. Press the arrows on the control pad to move each mirror in the
desired direction.
3. Return the selector switch to the center position.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑15.
When the rear window defogger
is activated, the heated mirriors,
if equipped, will also come on.
See Heated Mirrors on page 2‑16.
Interior
The vehicle has an automatic
dimming inside rearview mirror.
Automatic dimming reduces the
glare from the headlamps of the
vehicle behind you. The dimming
feature and the indicator light come
on each time the vehicle is started.
Hold the mirror in the center to
adjust it. See Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror on page 2‑16.
Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-13
Climate Controls
Heating, cooling, and ventilation can be controlled by using the climate
control buttons and the climate touch screen.
Climate Control Buttons
A. Temperature Control
B. Driver and Passenger Heated Seats
C. Defrost D. Climate
E. Auto (Automatic Operation)
F. Rear Window Defogger
G. Manual Fan Control
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.