
Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
2-4 Keys, Doors, and Windows
7(Panic Alarm):Press and
release one time to locate the
vehicle. The exterior lamps flash
and the horn chirps three times.
Press and hold for three seconds to
sound the panic alarm. The horn
sounds and the turn signals flash for
30 seconds. Press again to cancel
the panic alarm.
B(Remote Start): 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. The auto heated seats, if equipped,
can be programmed to come on
when the vehicle is remotely
started. See
Vehicle Personalization
on page 5‑56 for more information.
Also see “Auto Heated Seats” under
Heated Front Seats on page 3‑6.
A(Charge Port Door): Press to
open the charge port door. See
Plug-In Charging on page 9‑48 for
more information.
Keyless Access Operation
With the keyless access system,
you can lock and unlock the doors
and access the hatch without
removing the RKE transmitter from
your pocket, purse, briefcase, etc.
The RKE transmitter should be
within 1 m (3 ft) of the door or hatch
being opened. Keyless Unlocking/Locking from
the Driver Door
When the doors are locked and the
RKE transmitter is within 1 m (3 ft) of
the driver door handle, pressing the
lock/unlock button on the driver door
handle will unlock the driver door.
If the lock/unlock button is pressed
again within five seconds, all
passenger doors will unlock.
Pressing the lock/unlock button will
cause all doors to lock if any of the
following occur:.It has been more than
five seconds since the first
lock/unlock button press.
.Two lock/unlock button presses
were used to unlock all doors.
.Any vehicle door has opened
and all doors are now closed.
The vehicle can be customized to
always unlock all doors on the first
lock/unlock button press.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-1
Instruments and
Controls
Instrument Panel Overview
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . 5-3
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-5
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-5
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Pedestrian Friendly Alert . . . . . . 5-6
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-6
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Battery Gauge (High Voltage) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . 5-15 Total Vehicle Range . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-16
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-17
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Charging System Light (12-Volt Battery) . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Sport Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Mountain Mode Light . . . . . . . . 5-24
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
StabiliTrak
®OFF Light . . . . . . . 5-24
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . 5-25
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-26
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 5-27
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27 Vehicle Ready Light . . . . . . . . . 5-27
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Door, Hood, or Hatch Open
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Information Displays
Center Stack Display . . . . . . . . 5-29
Power Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Energy Information . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-44
Driver InformationCenter (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Battery and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47
Brake System Messages . . . . 5-48
Cruise Control Messages . . . . 5-49
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-49
Drive Mode Messages . . . . . . . 5-49
Electric Drive Unit Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-49
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-49
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-50

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
5-4 Instruments and Controls
A.Air Vents on page 8‑8.
B. Turn and Lane‐Change Lever. See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑4.
Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
Pedestrian Friendly Alert on
page 5‑6.
C. Instrument Cluster on page 5‑9.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Display. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑45.
D. Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑6.
E. Heated Front Seats on page 3‑6
(If Equipped).
F. Center Stack Display on
page 5‑29.
G. Charging Status Indicator. See Charging Status Feedback on
page 9‑52. H. Light Sensor. See
Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL) on
page 6‑2.
I. Instrument Panel Storage on
page 4‑1.
J. Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1.
K. Driver Information Center (DIC) Controls. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑45.
L. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑4.
M. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑19.
N. Cruise Control on page 9‑40.
O. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑5.
P. Horn on page 5‑6. Q.
Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑5 (If Equipped).
R. Leaf Button. See Center Stack
Display on page 5‑29.
S. DRIVE MODE Button. See Driver Selected Operating
Modes on page 9‑25.
T. Power Button on page 9‑18.
U. Shift Lever. See Electric Drive
Unit on page 9‑31.
V. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
Navigation System. See the
separate navigation system
manual.
W. Electric Parking Brake on
page 9‑34.
X. Power Door Locks on
page 2‑12.
Y. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑3.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-9
When one of the warning lights
comes on and stays on while
driving, or when one of the gauges
shows there may be a problem,
check the section that explains what
to do. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly and even dangerous.
Instrument Cluster
The instrument cluster displays a
preview of information that includes
electric range, charging, odometer,
and battery status. This happens
upon entry when the driver door is
opened, and following the welcome
animation, before starting the
vehicle.A CHARGING OVERRIDE/
INTERRUPTION OCCURRED
message may display on the lower
left of the screen to indicate that a
charging override or interruption has
occurred due to one or more of the
following events:
.Override of the charge settings
by the owner using OnStar.
.Unintended interruption of AC
power at the vehicle's
charge port.
.Interruption of charging by the
utility company using OnStar as
authorized by vehicle owner.
The following screens may appear,
depending on the status.
This screen indicates that the
charge cord is not connected. Plug
the charge cord in to charge the
vehicle.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
5-10 Instruments and Controls
This screen indicates that the
charge cord is connected and
charging is complete.
This screen indicates that charging
is active and the estimated charge
completion time is 10:00 a.m.
This screen indicates that charging
is programmed to be delayed with
an estimated completion time of
7:00 a.m.
This screen indicates that the
vehicle is fully charged and the
charge cord is not connected.
This screen indicates that the
charge cord is connected, but the
vehicle cannot be charged.

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 (29,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-29
Hood Open
Hatch OpenThe DIC indicates when a door, the
hood, or the hatch is open. The light
displays the open area as shaded.
The DIC and the light both display
when the vehicle is moving. Only
the light displays if the vehicle is
stopped.
Information Displays
Center Stack Display
The center stack screen displays
Charging, Power Flow, and Energy
Information. See the information that
follows.
Climate Control, Infotainment, and
Vehicle Personalization information
also displays in this screen. For
more information on these
systems, see:
.Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1.
.The navigation system manual
and
Infotainment on page 7‑1.
.Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑56.