2012 CHEVROLET VOLT service

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
9-32 Driving and Operating
shifting from P (Park) when the
vehicle is in ON/RUN. If you cannot
shift out of P (Park), ease pressure
on the shift lever, then push the shift
lever all the way into P (Park) as
you maintain brake application.
Then press the shift lever button
and move the shift lever into
another gear. SeeShifting out of
Park on page 9‑23.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the electric
drive unit. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only
after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the electric drive unit, see
If the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9‑12. N (Neutral):
In this position, the
propulsion system does not connect
with the wheels.
D (Drive): This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If more power is
needed for passing, and the
vehicle is:
.Going less than 56 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 56 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
Notice: If the vehicle seems to
accelerate slowly or not respond
when you go faster, and you
continue to drive the vehicle that
way, you could damage the
electric drive unit. Have the
vehicle serviced right away. L (Low):
This position reduces
vehicle speed without using the
brakes. You can use L (Low) on
hills. It can help control vehicle
speed going down steep mountain
roads along with using the brakes
off and on. You can use L (Low) on
very steep hills, in deep snow,
or in mud.
Notice: Spinning the tires or
holding the vehicle in one place
on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage
the electric drive unit. The repair
will not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. If you are stuck, do not
spin the tires. When stopping on
a hill, use the brakes to hold the
vehicle in place.

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
9-34 Driving and Operating
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The
Yswitch is on
the center stack. The EPB can
always be activated, even if the
vehicle is off. To prevent draining
the 12‐volt battery, avoid repeated
cycles of the EPB system when the
vehicle is off. In case of insufficient electrical
power, the EPB cannot be applied
or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the Electric Parking Brake Light to
ensure the parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
The EPB can be applied anytime
the vehicle is stopped. The EPB is
applied by momentarily lifting up on
the
Yswitch. Once fully applied,
the Electric Parking Brake Light will
be on. While the brake is being
applied, the Electric Parking Brake
Light will flash until full apply is
reached. If the light does not come
on, or remains flashing, have the
vehicle serviced. Do not drive the
vehicle if the Electric Parking Brake
Light is flashing. See your dealer. If the EPB is applied while the
vehicle is in motion, a chime will
sound, and the DIC message
RELEASE PARKING BRAKE will be
displayed. The vehicle will
decelerate as long as the switch is
held in the up position. Releasing
the
Yswitch during the
deceleration will release the parking
brake. If the
Yswitch is held in
the up position until the vehicle
comes to a stop, the EPB will
remain applied.
If the Electric Parking Brake Light
flashes continuously, the EPB is
only partially applied or released,
or there is a problem with the EPB.
The DIC message SERVICE
PARKING BRAKE will be displayed.
If this light flashes continuously,
release the EPB, and attempt to
apply it again. If this light continues
to flash, do not drive the vehicle.
See your dealer.

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-35
If the Service Electric Parking Brake
Light is on, the EPB has detected a
system problem and is operating
with reduced functionality. To apply
the EPB when this light is on, lift up
on the
Yswitch and hold it in the
up position. Full application of the
parking brake by the EPB system
may take a longer period of time
than normal when this light is on.
Continue to hold the
Yswitch until
the Electric Parking Brake Light
remains on. If the Service Electric
Parking Brake Light is on, see your
dealer.
If the EPB fails to apply, the rear
wheels should be blocked to
prevent vehicle movement.
For maximum EPB force when
parking on a hill, pull the EPB
switch twice.
EPB Release
To release the EPB, place the
vehicle in ON/RUN, apply and hold
the brake pedal, and push down
momentarily on the
Yswitch.
If attempting to release the EPB
without the brake pedal applied, a
chime will sound, and the DIC
message STEP ON BRAKE TO
RELEASE PARK BRAKE will be
displayed. The EPB is released
when the Electric Parking Brake
Light is off.
If the Service Electric Parking Brake
Light is on, the EPB has detected a
system problem, and is operating
with reduced functionality. To
release the EPB when this light is
on, push down on the
Yswitch
and hold it in the down position.
EPB release may take a longer
period of time than normal when this
light is on. Continue to hold the
Y
switch until the Electric Parking
Brake Light is off. If the light is on,
see your dealer. Notice:
Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system
parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the
Electric Parking Brake Light is off
before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
See Electric Parking Brake Light on
page 5‑22, Service Electric Parking
Brake Light on page 5‑23, and
Brake System Messages on
page 5‑48.

Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-37
When the vehicle is started and
begins to move, the system
performs several diagnostic checks
to ensure there are no problems.
The system may be heard or felt
while it is working. This is normal
and does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle. The
system should initialize before the
vehicle reaches 32 km/h (20 mph).
In some cases, it may take
approximately 3.2 km (2 mi) of
driving before the system initializes.
The TCS may activate on dry or
rough roads or under conditions
such as heavy acceleration while
turning or abrupt changes in output
from the electric drive unit. When
this happens, a reduction in
acceleration may be noticed, or a
noise or vibration may be heard.
This is normal.dflashes to indicate that TCS is
active. See Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light on
page 5‑25 for more information.
If there is a problem detected with
TCS, SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL is displayed on the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Ride 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. Notice:
Do not repeatedly brake
or accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle's driveline could
be damaged.
TCS can be turned off by pressing
and releasing the TCS/ESC button
located on the overhead console.
When TCS is turned off,
icomes
on, and the appropriate DIC
message also displays. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5‑53. With TCS turned off, the
system does not limit wheel spin.

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.

Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
9-44 Driving and Operating
Objects Detected by Both the
Front and Rear Sensors
In general, if objects are detected at
the same time near both the front
and rear bumpers while backing up,
the beeps only sound to indicate
that objects are close to the rear
bumper.
However, if an object comes within
0.3 m (1 ft) of the front bumper while
the vehicle is backing up and at the
same time there is another object
further than 0.3 m (1 ft) from the rear
bumper, then the beeps only sound
to indicate the object that is closer
to the front bumper.Turning the System On and Off
The UFRPA system can be turned
on and off by pressing the park
assist button located in the
overhead console.
The LED next to the park assist
button lights up when the system is
on and turns off when it has been
disabled.
When the system is off, PARK
ASSIST OFF displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The
message disappears after a short
period of time.
UFRPA defaults to the on setting
each time the vehicle is started.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
The following messages may be
displayed on the DIC:
SERVICE PARKING ASSIST:If
this message occurs, take the
vehicle to your dealer to repair the
system.
PARK ASSIST OFF: If the UFRPA
system does not activate due to a
temporary condition, the message
displays on the DIC. This can occur
under the following conditions:
.The driver has disabled the
system.
.The ultrasonic sensors are not
clean. Keep the vehicle's
bumpers free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice, and slush. For cleaning
instructions, see Exterior Care
on page 10‑85.

Black plate (47,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-47
Rear Vision Camera Error
Messages
SERVICE REAR VISION CAMERA
SYSTEM:If this message appears
in the center stack display, the
system is not receiving information it
requires from other vehicle systems.
If any other problem occurs or if a
problem persists, see your dealer.
Rear Vision Camera Location
The RVC is located above the
license plate. The area displayed by the camera is
limited.
It does not display objects that are
close to either corner or under the
bumper and can vary depending on
vehicle orientation or road
conditions. The distance of the
image that appears on the screen is
different from the actual distance.
The following illustration shows the
field of view that the camera
provides.A. View displayed by the camera.
B. Corner of the rear bumper.

Black plate (55,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-55
Charge Cord
SeeRadio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑17 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
A. Charge Level Button
B. Charge Level Indicators
C. Charge Cord Status Indicators
D. Vehicle Plug
E. Wall Plug A portable charge cord used to
charge the vehicle high voltage
battery is stored under the rear
luggage compartment.
{WARNING
There is a risk of electric shock
that may cause personal injury or
death. Do not use the charge
cord if any part of the charge cord
is damaged. Do not open or
remove the charge cord cover.
Service by qualified personnel
only. Connect the charge cord to
a properly grounded outlet with
cords that are not damaged.
The charge cord used to charge the
vehicle is a high‐powered electrical
device. During normal operation, the
AC wall plug of the charge cord may
feel warm. The AC wall plug must fit
tightly into an AC outlet that is in
good condition.
{WARNING
Using the charge cord with a
worn or damaged AC outlet may
cause burns or start a fire.
Periodically, check the AC wall
plug and charge cord while the
vehicle is charging. If the AC wall
plug feels hot, unplug the charge
cord and have the AC outlet
replaced by a qualified electrician.
Replace the charge cord if the AC
wall plug or cord are damaged.
Do not use an AC outlet that is
worn or damaged.