
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-5
Keyless Unlocking
With the RKE transmitter within
1 m (3 ft), approach the front door
and pull the handle to unlock and
open the door. If the transmitter is
recognized, the door will unlock
and open.
Entering any door other than the
driver door will always cause all of
the doors to unlock. This is not
customizable.
To customize which doors unlock
when the driver door is opened, see
“Door Unlock Options”under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑34. Keyless Locking
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this feature allows
you to select whether the doors
automatically lock during normal
vehicle exit. When the vehicle is
turned off and all doors become
closed, the vehicle will determine
how many keyless access
transmitters remain in the vehicles
interior. If at least one keyless
access transmitter has been
removed from the interior of the
vehicle, the doors will lock after
eight seconds.
If there are two keyless access
transmitters in the vehicle and one
is removed, the other will be locked
in. A person approaching the
outside of the locked vehicle without
an authorized keyless access
transmitter will not be able to open
the door, even with the transmitter in
the vehicle.Lock Sensor
When all doors are closed and the
ignition is off, the vehicle can be
locked by pressing this area on the
door handle. This feature will be
available for several minutes after
the vehicle has been turned off.
Keyless Trunk Opening
Lift up on the touch pad located
above the license plate to open the
trunk if the RKE transmitter is
within range.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
2-6 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Programming Transmitters to
the Vehicle
Only RKE transmitters programmed
to the vehicle will work. If a
transmitter is lost or stolen, a
replacement can be purchased and
programmed through your dealer.
The vehicle can be reprogrammed
so that lost or stolen transmitters no
longer work. Any remaining
transmitters will need to be
reprogrammed. Each vehicle can
have up to five transmitters matched
to it.
Programming with a Recognized
Transmitter (Keyless Access
Vehicles Only)
A new transmitter can be
programmed to the vehicle when
there is one recognized transmitter.
To program, the vehicle must be off
and all of the transmitters, both
currently recognized and new, must
be with you.
1. Remove the plastic trim piecefrom the small storage area next
to the accessory power outlet
towards the front of the console,
to access the transmitter slot.
Push the button on the
recognized transmitter to extend
the key blade. Insert the key
blade into the transmitter slot.
2. Insert the vehicle key of the new transmitter into the key lock
cylinder located on the outside
of the driver door and turn the
key to the unlock position
five times within 10 seconds. The Driver Information
Center (DIC) displays READY
FOR REMOTE #2, 3, 4 or 5.
3. Remove the recognized key and place the new transmitter into
the transmitter slot.
4. Press the ignition. When the transmitter is learned, the DIC
will show that it is ready to
program the next transmitter.
5. Remove the transmitter from the transmitter pocket and pressK.
To program additional
transmitters, repeat Steps 3
through 5.
When all additional transmitters
are programmed, press and hold
the ignition for 10 seconds to
exit programming mode.
Replace the plastic trim piece
from the small storage area.

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-7
Programming without a
Recognized Transmitter
(Keyless Access Vehicles Only)
If there are no currently recognized
transmitters available, follow this
procedure to program up to five
transmitters. This feature is not
available in Canada. This procedure
will take approximately 30 minutes
to complete. The vehicle must be off
and all of the transmitters you wish
to program must be with you.
1. Insert the vehicle key of thetransmitter into the key lock
cylinder located on the outside
of the driver door and turn the
key to the unlock position five
times within 10 seconds.
The Driver Information Center
(DIC) displays REMOTE LEARN
PENDING, PLEASE WAIT.
2. Wait for 10 minutes until the DIC displays PRESS ENGINE
START BUTTON TO LEARN
and then press the ignition. The DIC displays will again
show REMOTE LEARN
PENDING, PLEASE WAIT.
3. Repeat Step 2 two additional times. After the third time all
previously known transmitters
will no longer work with the
vehicle. Remaining transmitters
can be relearned during the
next steps.
The DIC display should
now show READY FOR
REMOTE # 1.4. Remove the plastic trim piecefrom the small storage area next
to the accessory power outlet
towards the front of the console,
to access the transmitter slot.
Push the button on the
recognized transmitter to extend
the key blade. Insert the key
blade into the transmitter slot.
5. Press the ignition. When the transmitter is learned the DIC
will show that it is ready to
program the next transmitter.
6. Remove the transmitter from the transmitter slot and press
K.
To program additional
transmitters, repeat Steps 4
through 6.
When all additional transmitters
are programmed, press and hold
the ignition for 10 seconds to
exit programming mode.
Replace the plastic trim piece
from the small storage area.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
2-8 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery
If the transmitter battery is weak, the
DIC may display NO REMOTE
DETECTED when you try to start
the vehicle. The REPLACE
BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY
message may also be displayed
at this time.
To start the vehicle:
1. Remove the plastic trim piecefrom the small storage area next
to the accessory power outlet
towards the front of the console,
to access the transmitter slot.
2. Push the button on the recognized transmitter to extend
the key blade. Insert the key
blade into the transmitter slot.
3. With the vehicle in P (Park) or N (Neutral), press the brake
pedal and the ignition button.
See Starting the Engine on
page 9‑20 for additional
information about the vehicle's
keyless ignition with pushbutton
start.
Replace the transmitter battery
as soon as possible.Battery Replacement
Replace the battery if the REPLACE
BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY
message displays in the DIC. See
“Replace Battery in Remote Key”
under Key and Lock Messages on
page 5‑31.
The battery is not rechargeable.
To replace the battery:
1. Push the button on the transmitter to extend the
key blade.
2. Remove the battery cover byprying it with a finger.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-9
3. Remove the battery by pushingon the battery and sliding it
toward the key blade.
4. Insert the new battery, positive side facing up. Push the battery
down until it is held in place.
Replace with a CR2032 or
equivalent battery.
5. Snap the battery cover back on to the transmitter.
Remote Vehicle Start
The vehicle may have this feature
that allows you to start the engine
from outside the vehicle.
/(Remote Vehicle Start):
This button will be on the
RKE transmitter if the vehicle has
remote start.
Vehicles with an automatic climate
control system will default to a
heating or cooling mode depending
on the outside temperature during a
remote start. A vehicle without
automatic climate control will
default to the last used heating or cooling mode. Once the key is
turned to ON/RUN, the climate
control system will turn on at the
setting the vehicle was last set to.
If the vehicle has heated seats, they
may come on during a remote start.
See
Heated Front Seats on
page 3‑7 for more information.
Laws in some local communities
may restrict the use of remote
starters. For example, some laws
require a person using remote start
to have the vehicle in view. Check
local regulations for any
requirements.
There are other conditions which
can affect the performance of the
transmitter. See Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 2‑3 for
additional information.
Starting the Vehicle
To start the engine using the remote
start feature:
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press and release
Q. 3. Immediately after completing
Step 2, press and hold
/until
the turn signal lamps flash, or for
about two seconds if the vehicle
is not in view.
When the engine starts, the parking
lamps will turn on and remain on as
long as the engine is running. The
doors will be locked and the climate
control system may come on.
The engine will continue to run for
10 minutes. Repeat the steps for a
10-minute time extension. Remote
start can be extended only once.
Insert the key and turn it to ON/RUN
before driving.
Extending Engine Run Time
For a 10-minute extension, repeat
Steps 1 through 3 while the engine
is still running. The remote start can
be extended once.
When the remote start is extended,
the second 10 minutes will start
immediately.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
2-10 Keys, Doors, and Windows
For example, if the engine has
been running for five minutes, and
10 minutes are added, the engine
will run for a total of 15 minutes.
A maximum of two remote starts,
or a single start with an extension,
are allowed between ignition cycles.
After this, the vehicle's ignition
switch must be turned to ON/RUN
and then back to LOCK/OFF using
the key, before the remote start
procedure can be used again.
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do one of
the following:
.Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and press and hold
/
until the parking lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Turn the vehicle on and then off.Conditions in Which Remote Start
Will Not Work
The remote vehicle start feature will
not operate if:
.The key is in the ignition.
.The hood is not closed.
.The hazard warning flashers
are on.
.The malfunction indicator lamp
is on.
.The engine coolant temperature
is too high.
.The oil pressure is low.
.Two remote vehicle starts, or a
single remote start with an
extension, have already
been used.
.The vehicle is not in P (Park).
Door Locks
{WARNING
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
.Passengers, especially
children, can easily open the
doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. The chance of being
thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash is increased if the
doors are not locked. So, all
passengers should wear
safety belts properly and the
doors should be locked
whenever the vehicle is
driven.
.Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child can
be overcome by extreme heat
and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Always lock the
vehicle whenever leaving it.
(Continued)

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-11
WARNING (Continued)
.Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when slowing or stopping the
vehicle. Lock the doors to
help prevent this from
happening.
To lock or unlock a door from
outside the vehicle, use the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
From inside the vehicle, use the
power door lock switch or the
manual lock knob. Pushing down
the manual lock knob on the driver
door will lock all doors.
The doors can also be unlocked
from the inside by pulling the door
handle. Pulling the door handle
again unlatches the door.
Power Door Locks
The power door lock switch is on
the instrument panel.
Q(Lock): Press to lock the doors.
K(Unlock): Press to unlock
the doors.
Automatic Door Locks
Automatic Door Lock
The doors are programmed to
automatically lock when the shift
lever is moved out of P (Park).
The automatic door lock feature
cannot be disabled.
Automatic Door Unlock
The doors will automatically unlock
when the shift lever is moved into
P (Park).
See Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑34.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual - 2012
2-12 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Safety Locks
The rear door safety locks prevent
passengers from opening the rear
doors from inside the vehicle.
Presso{to activate the safety
locks on the rear doors. The LED
light (A) comes on when activated.
The rear door power windows are
also disabled.
Press
o {again to deactivate the
lockout switch.
If the LED light flashes, the feature
may not be working properly.
Doors
Trunk
{WARNING
Exhaust gases can enter the
vehicle if it is driven with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch open, or with
any objects that pass through the
seal between the body and the
trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine
exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with
the liftgate, or trunk/hatch open:
.Close all of the windows.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air and
set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See “Climate
Control Systems” in the
Index.
.If the vehicle has a power
liftgate, disable the power
liftgate function.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑27.