2012 CHEVROLET VOLT ECO mode

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
2-20 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Express‐Down/Up Windows
Windows with an express-down or
up feature allow the window to be
lowered or raised without holding
the switch. The driver window has
express-down and up; the
passenger and rear windows have
only express-down.
Pull a window switch up or push it
down all the way, release it, and the
window goes up or down
automatically. Stop the window by
pushing or pulling the switch.
Express Window Anti-Pinch
Feature
If any object is in the path of the
window when the express-up is
active, the window will stop at the
obstruction and auto-reverse to a
preset factory position. Weather
conditions such as severe icing may
also cause the window to
auto-reverse. The window will return
to normal operation once the
obstruction or condition is removed.
Express Window Anti-Pinch
Override
In an emergency, the anti-pinch
feature can be overridden in a
supervised mode. Hold the window
switch all the way up to the second
position. The window will rise for as
long as the switch is held. Once the
switch is released, the express
mode is re-activated.
In this mode, the window can still
close on an object in its path. Use
care when using the override mode.
Programming the Power
Windows
Programming the power windows
may be necessary if the 12-volt
battery has been disconnected or
discharged.To program the window:
1. Close all doors with the vehicle
on, or when Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) is active. See
Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 9‑21.
2. Pull the window switch to completely close the window.
Continue to hold the window
switch two seconds after the
window is closed.
3. Repeat for each window.

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
3-22 Seats and Restraints
Driver Side Shown, PassengerSide Similar
The roof-rail airbags for the driver,
front outboard passenger, and
second row outboard passengers
are in the ceiling above the side
windows.
{WARNING
If something is between an
occupant and an airbag, the
airbag might not inflate properly
or it might force the object into
that person causing severe injury
or even death. The path of an
inflating airbag must be kept
clear. Do not put anything
between an occupant and an
airbag, and do not attach or put
anything on the steering wheel
hub or on or near any other
airbag covering.
Do not use seat accessories that
block the inflation path of a
seat-mounted side impact airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof
of a vehicle with roof-rail airbags
by routing a rope or tie‐down
through any door or window
opening. If you do, the path of an
inflating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked.
When Should an Airbag
Inflate?
Frontal airbags are designed to
inflate in moderate to severe frontal
or near frontal crashes to help
reduce the potential for severe
injuries, mainly to the driver's or
front outboard passenger's head
and chest. However, they are only
designed to inflate if the impact
exceeds a predetermined
deployment threshold. Deployment
thresholds are used to predict how
severe a crash is likely to be in time
for the airbags to inflate and help
restrain the occupants.
Whether the frontal airbags will or
should inflate is not based primarily
on how fast the vehicle is traveling.
It depends on what you hit, the
direction of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
3-24 Seats and Restraints
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or
near frontal collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the steering
wheel or the instrument panel. In
moderate to severe side collisions,
even belted occupants can contact
the inside of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts by
distributing the force of the impact
more evenly over the
occupant's body.
Rollover capable roof‐rail airbags
are designed to help contain the
head and chest of occupants in the
outboard seating positions in the
first and second rows. The rollover
capable roof‐rail airbags are
designed to help reduce the risk of
full or partial ejection in rollover
events, although no system can
prevent all such ejections.But airbags would not help in many
types of collisions, primarily
because the occupant's motion is
not toward those airbags. See
When
Should an Airbag Inflate? on
page 3‑22 for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement
to safety belts.
What Will You See after
an Airbag Inflates?
After the frontal airbags and
seat-mounted side impact airbags
inflate, they quickly deflate, so
quickly that some people may not
even realize an airbag inflated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least
partially inflated for some time after
they inflate. Some components of
the airbag module may be hot for
several minutes. For location of the
airbags, see Where Are the
Airbags? on page 3‑21.
The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There may be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deflated
airbags. Airbag inflation does not
prevent the driver from seeing out of
the windshield or being able to steer
the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.
{WARNING
When an airbag inflates, there
may be dust in the air. This dust
could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of
asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as
it is safe to do so. If you have
breathing problems but cannot
get out of the vehicle after an
airbag inflates, then get fresh air
by opening a window or a door.
If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag
deployment, you should seek
medical attention.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-25
The vehicle has a feature that may
automatically unlock the doors, turn
on the interior lamps and hazard
warning flashers, and shut off the
fuel system after the airbags inflate.
You can lock the doors, and turn off
the interior lamps and hazard
warning flashers by using the
controls for those features.
{WARNING
A crash severe enough to inflate
the airbags may have also
damaged important functions in
the vehicle, such as the fuel
system, brake and steering
systems, etc. Even if the vehicle
appears to be drivable after a
moderate crash, there may be
concealed damage that could
make it difficult to safely operate
the vehicle.
Use caution if attempting to
restart the vehicle after a crash
has occurred.In many crashes severe enough to
inflate the airbag, windshields are
broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may
also occur from the front outboard
passenger airbag.
.Airbags are designed to inflate
only once. After an airbag
inflates, you will need some new
parts for the airbag system.
If you do not get them, the
airbag system will not be there
to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly
other parts. The service manual
for the vehicle covers the need
to replace other parts.
.The vehicle has a crash sensing
and diagnostic module which
records information after a
crash. See
Vehicle Data
Recording and Privacy on
page 13‑15 andEvent Data
Recorders on page 13‑16.
.Let only qualified technicians
work on the airbag systems.
Improper service can mean that
an airbag system will not work
properly. See your dealer for
service.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
5-12 Instruments and Controls
A.Battery Gauge (High Voltage)
on page 5‑14.
B. Fuel Gauge on page 5‑15.
C. Service Electric Parking Brake
Light on page 5‑23.
D. Security Light on page 5‑27.
E. Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light on page 5‑25.
F. Charging System Light (12-Volt
Battery) on page 5‑19.
G. Engine Oil Pressure Light on
page 5‑26.
H. High-Beam On Light on
page 5‑27.
I. Second Row Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light. See Safety
Belt Reminders on page 5‑16.
J. Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 6‑4.
K. Compass on page 5‑14.
L. Speedometer on page 5‑14. M.
Cruise Control Light on
page 5‑28.
N. Electric Parking Brake Light on
page 5‑22.
O. Door, Hood, or Hatch Open
Light on page 5‑28.
P. Low Fuel Warning Light on
page 5‑27.
Q. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 5‑23.
R. Electric Drive Unit Positions. See Electric Drive Unit on
page 9‑31.
S. Driver Efficiency Gauge on
page 5‑15.
T. Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑22.
U. Driver Safety Belt Reminder Light. See Safety Belt
Reminders on page 5‑16.
V. Airbag Readiness Light on
page 5‑17. W.
Total Vehicle Range on
page 5‑15.
X. Vehicle Ready Light on
page 5‑27.
Y. StabiliTrak
®OFF Light on
page 5‑24.
Z. Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑45.
AA. Traction Off Light on page 5‑24.
AB. Sport Mode Light on page 5‑24
and Mountain Mode Light on
page 5‑24.
AC. Lamps On Reminder on
page 5‑28.
AD. Odometer on page 5‑14.
AE. Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑19.
AF. Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak
®Light on page 5‑25.
AG. Tire Pressure Light on
page 5‑25.

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-19
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 9‑18for more
information.
If the malfunction indicator lamp
comes on and stays on, while the
engine 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 dealer 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.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-31
Engine Power‐Vehicle is stationary
in extended range mode and no
power is flowing to the wheels.
Engine and Battery Power ‐Both
the engine and battery are active
with energy flowing to the wheels.
Regen Power Recovery ‐Power
from the wheels returns to the
battery during regenerative braking
or coasting.
Power Off ‐No power is flowing to
the wheels.

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-43
Energy Information
To view the Energy Usage, Energy
Efficiency, and Efficiency Tips, press
the
[button on the center stack
and then press the Energy Info
button at the top of the touch
screen.
Energy Usage
The Energy Usage screen displays
information for the total of all drive
cycles since the last time the high
voltage battery was fully charged. This includes distance traveled in
Electric Mode, distance traveled in
Extended Range Mode, total
distance traveled, electric energy
used from the battery, total fuel
used, and average fuel economy.
There are maximum limits to some
of the values that can be displayed.
When these values are replaced
with dashes, the value limits have
been reached. To reset these
values, the high voltage battery will
need to be fully recharged. The
circle graph also represents
the percentage of distance traveled
using Electric Mode versus
Extended Range Mode. The
Lifetime Fuel Economy is a total
over the life of the vehicle and can
only be reset by the dealer.
The Energy Usage information will
also appear automatically on power
off when Retained Accessory Power
is active. This automatic pop-up can
be disabled through vehicle
personalization. See
“Energy
Summary Exit Pop-up” under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑56.