2012 CHEVROLET VOLT warning

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-4 Vehicle Care
Lifting the Vehicle with a
Service Jack
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle can cause an
injury. The vehicle can slip off the
jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be
badly injured. Find a level place
to lift your vehicle. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in P (Park).
3. Turn off the vehicle.
To be even more certain the
vehicle will not move, put blocks
in front of and behind the wheels.
{WARNING
Getting under a vehicle when it is
jacked up is dangerous. If the
vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed.
Never get under a vehicle when it
is supported only by a jack.
{WARNING
Raising the vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle or the vehicle
may fall and cause you or others
injury. When using a jack to lift the vehicle,
follow the instructions that came
with the jack and be sure to use the
correct lifting points to avoid
damaging the vehicle.
Notice:
Lifting the vehicle
improperly can cause damage
and result in costly repairs not
covered by the warranty. To lift
the vehicle properly, use this
procedure.
For additional information, see
your dealer and the service
manual.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-6 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{WARNING
Never try to do your own service
on high voltage battery
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 battery components
should only be performed by a
trained dealer technician with the
proper knowledge and tools.
Exposure to high voltage can
cause shock, burns, and even
death. The high voltage
components in the vehicle can
only be serviced by technicians
with special training.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
High voltage components are
identified by labels. Do not
remove, open, take apart,
or modify these components.
High voltage cable or wiring has
orange covering. Do not probe,
tamper with, cut, or modify high
voltage cable or wiring.
{WARNING
You can be injured and the
vehicle could be damaged if you
try to do service work on a vehicle
without knowing enough about it.
.Be sure you have sufficient
knowledge, experience, the
proper replacement parts,
and tools before attempting
any vehicle
maintenance task.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Be sure to use the proper
nuts, bolts, and other
fasteners. Metric and English
fasteners can be easily
confused. If the wrong
fasteners are used, parts can
later break or fall off. You
could be hurt.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see Service
Publications Ordering Information
on page 13‑13.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Airbag System
Check on page 3‑32.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-12 Vehicle Care
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer's warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the filter before disposal. Never
dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash or pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished, it
indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on.
Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 1 000 km (600 mi).It is possible that, if driving under
the best conditions, the oil life
system might indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to
two years. The engine oil and filter
must be changed at least once
every two years and, at this time,
the system must be reset. Your
dealer has trained service people
who will perform this work and reset
the system. It is also important to
check the oil regularly over the
course of an oil drain interval and
keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-14 Vehicle Care
A. Retaining Clips
B. Air Duct Clamp
C. Electrical Connector
3. Disconnect the air duct by loosening the air duct clamp (B).
4. Disconnect the electrical connector (C).
5. Lift the retaining clips (A) from the engine air cleaner/filter
assembly.
6. Turn and tilt the air cleaner cover slightly upward and slide it out.
Remove the air filter.
How to Reinstall the Engine
Air Filter
1. Install the air filter into theengine air cleaner/filter
assembly. The outer air filter
seal must be fitted properly in
the engine air cleaner/filter
assembly.
2. Replace the air cleaner cover by lowering it to meet the bottom of
the engine air cleaner/filter
assembly. Place the retaining
clips (A) on the engine air
cleaner/filter assembly and
secure. The rear tabs must be
secured into the lower portion of
the air cleaner.
3. Reconnect the air duct and tighten the air duct clamp (B).
4. Reconnect the electrical connector (C).
{WARNING
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air; it
helps to stop flames if the engine
backfires. Use caution when
working on the engine and do not
drive with the air cleaner/filter off.
Notice: If the air cleaner/filter is
off, dirt can easily get into the
engine, which could damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/filter
in place when you are driving.

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-15
Cooling System (Engine)
When it is safe to lift the hood:
A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap
B. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View)
{WARNING
The electric fans under the hood
can start up even when the
engine is not running and can
cause injury. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant
surge tank is boiling, do not do
anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a
level surface.
The coolant level should be up to
the cold fill line. If it is not, there
might be a leak at the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump, or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
{WARNING
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the vehicle if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with
the engine on, check to see if the
electric cooling fans are running.
If the engine is overheating, the fans
should be running. If it is not, the
vehicle needs service. Turn off the
vehicle.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-18 Vehicle Care
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in the
vehicle is filled with DEX-COOL
engine coolant. The coolant needs
to be replaced every 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
seeEngine Overheating on
page 10‑21.
What to Use
{WARNING
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of deionized water
and DEX-COOL coolant. Use a 50/50 mixture of deionized
water and DEX-COOL coolant.
If using this mixture, nothing else
needs to be added. This mixture:.Gives freezing protection down
to
−37°C (−34°F), outside
temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to
129°C (265°F), engine
temperature.
.Protects against rust and
corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Notice: If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other
parts.

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-19
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at or
above the cold fill mark, add a
50/50 mixture of deionized water
and DEX-COOL coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure thecooling system is cool before this is
done. See
Engine Overheating on
page 10‑21 for more information.
The coolant reservoir is located on
the passenger side of the engine
compartment. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑8 for more information on
location.
The coolant level should be at or
above the cold fill line on the
coolant surge tank. If it is not, there
could be a leak in the cooling
system.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
{WARNING
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine. Notice:
This vehicle has a
specific coolant fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged.
{WARNING
The electric fans under the hood
can start up even when the
engine is not running and can
cause injury. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-20 Vehicle Care
{WARNING
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn
the surge tank pressure
cap—even a little —they can
come out at high speed. Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the surge tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the
cooling system and surge tank
pressure cap to cool if you ever
have to turn the pressure cap. If coolant is needed, add the proper
DEX-COOL coolant mixture at the
coolant surge tank.
The coolant surge tank pressure
cap can be removed when the
cooling system, including the surge
tank pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot.
1. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise. If a hiss is
heard, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
2. Keep turning the cap and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with
the proper mixture to the cold
fill line.
4. Replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is
hand‐tight and fully seated.
Notice: If the pressure cap is not
tightly installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.