
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 (28,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
5-28 Instruments and Controls
Lamps On Reminder
This light comes on when the
parking lamps, headlamps,
or taillamps are on.
Cruise Control Light
The cruise control light comes on
when the cruise control is turned on
and turns green when cruise control
is engaged.
SeeCruise Control on page 9‑40 for
more information.
Door, Hood, or Hatch
Open Light
If a door, hood, or hatch is not
completely closed, a light comes on
together with a graphic in the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
Door(s) Open

Black plate (49,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-49
Cruise Control Messages
CRUISE SET TO XXX
This message displays when the
cruise control is set and shows the
speed it was set to. SeeCruise
Control on page 9‑40 for more
information.
Door Ajar Messages
DOOR(S) OPEN, HOOD OPEN,
HATCH OPEN
A symbol will appear on the display
showing the area that is open. See
Door, Hood, or Hatch Open Light on
page 5‑28.
Drive Mode Messages
MOUNTAIN MODE NOT
AVAILABLE
This message displays when in
Mountain Mode and the mode
becomes unavailable. See “Mountain Mode”
underDriver
Selected Operating Modes on
page 9‑25.
SPORT MODE NOT
AVAILABLE
This message displays when in
Sport Mode and the mode becomes
unavailable. See “Sport Mode”
under Driver Selected Operating
Modes on page 9‑25.
Electric Drive Unit
Messages
SHIFT TO PARK
This message displays when the
vehicle should be shifted to
P (Park). This may appear when
attempting to turn off the vehicle
when it is not in P (Park).
Engine Cooling System
Messages
ENGINE
OVERHEATED —REDUCE
SPEED
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature or
engine oil is too hot. Reduce speed
and allow the vehicle to cool down.
ENGINE
OVERHEATED —TURN
VEHICLE OFF
This message displays and a
continuous chime sounds if the
engine cooling system reaches
unsafe temperatures for operation.
Stop and turn off the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so to avoid
severe damage. This message
clears when the engine has cooled
to a safe operating temperature.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better EnergyEfficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-9
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-12
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-17
Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Electric Vehicle Operating
Modes
System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Electric Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Extended Range Mode . . . . . . 9-24
Driver Selected OperatingModes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Out of Fuel/Engine Unavailable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Maintenance Modes . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Electric Drive Unit
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . 9-34
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 9-36
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 9-42
Rear VisionCamera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Charging
Plug-In Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Delayed ChargingOverride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Charging Status Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
9-2 Driving and Operating
Charge Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
Utility Interruption ofCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-58
Electrical Requirements for Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . 9-58
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59
Gasoline Specifications (U.S.
and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-60
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Towing
General Towing
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Driving Information
Driving for Better Energy
Efficiency
Use the following tips to help
maximize energy efficiency and
range.
Driving Style
Efficiency Gauge (Instrument
Cluster)
The ball indicator should be kept
green and in the center of the
gauge.
Inefficient acceleration is indicated
when the ball turns yellow and
travels above the center of the
gauge.
Aggressive braking is indicated
when the ball turns yellow and
travels below the center of the
gauge. Acceleration/Braking/Coasting
Avoid unnecessary rapid
accelerations and decelerations.
Electric range is maximized at
80 km/h (50 mph) and below. Higher
speeds use more energy and can
significantly reduce electric range.
Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Plan ahead for decelerations and
coast whenever possible. For
example, do not rush to traffic
signals.
Do not shift to N (Neutral) to coast.
The vehicle recovers energy while
coasting and braking in D (Drive)
or L (Low).
Drive Mode and PRNDL Selection
Use Normal Mode when possible.
Sport Mode provides more
responsive acceleration than
Normal Mode but can reduce
efficiency.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-9
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. SeeTires on
page 10‑44.
.Turn off cruise control.
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention to
your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, find a
safe place to park the vehicle
and rest. Other driving tips include:
.Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
.Keep the interior
temperature cool.
.Keep your eyes moving
—scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
.Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. See
“Mountain Mode” underDriver
Selected Operating Modes on
page 9‑25. Tips for driving in these
conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
electric drive unit.
.Keep the vehicle in gear when
going down steep or long hills.
{WARNING
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the vehicle turned off is
dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down
the vehicle and could become too
hot. Hot brakes may not be able
to slow the vehicle enough to
maintain speed and control. You
could crash. Always have the
vehicle running and in gear
(preferably LOW range) when
going downhill. This will allow the
electric drive unit to assist in
slowing and maintaining speed.
.Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
.Top of hills: Be
alert —something could be in
your lane (stalled car, accident).

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
9-10 Driving and Operating
.Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C
(32°F) when freezing rain begins to
fall, resulting in even less traction.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops on slippery roads, but
apply the brakes sooner than when
on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in
shaded areas. The surface of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
Turn off cruise control on slippery
surfaces.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use the Roadside
Assistance Program. To get help
and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-39
If a problem is detected with
StabiliTrak, SERVICE
STABILITRAK is displayed on the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeRide Control System Messages
on page 5‑53. When this message
is displayed and
dcomes on and
stays on, the vehicle is safe to drive
but the system is not operational.
Driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on, reset
the system:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
If
dstill comes on and stays on, the
vehicle needs service.
.To turn off both StabiliTrak and
TCS, press and hold the TCS/
ESC button, located on the
overhead console, until
iand
gilluminate and the appropriate
DIC message is displayed. See
Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑53. When StabiliTrak is turned off,
the system will not assist with
directional control of the vehicle
or limit wheel spin. Driving
should be adjusted accordingly.
See
StabiliTrak
®OFF Light on
page 5‑24 for more information.
.Press and release the TCS/ESC
button again to turn the system
back on.
If cruise control is being used when
StabiliTrak activates, cruise control
will automatically disengage. Press
the cruise control RES/+ button to
reengage when road conditions
allow. See Cruise Control on
page 9‑40 for more information.