2012 CHEVROLET VOLT engine

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-21
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to warn
of engine overheating.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance Program on
page 13‑6.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, the fans
should be running. If they are not,
do not continue to run the vehicle
and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When adding windshield washer
fluid to the vehicle, be sure to read
the manufacturer's instructions
before use. If operating the vehicle
in an area where the temperature
may fall below freezing, use a fluid
that has sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The WASHER FLUID LOW ADD
FLUID message will appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
when the fluid level is low. See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑45 for more information.
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑8 for reservoir location.

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-22 Vehicle Care
Notice
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
for adding water.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer fluid.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for
fluid expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is
completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system
and paint.
Brakes
This vehicle has disc brakes. Disc
brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{WARNING
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could result
in costly brake repair. Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications in
Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.

Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-23
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be
required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time the brakes are applied,
with or without the vehicle moving,
the brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is
complex. Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. The vehicle was designed
and tested with top-quality brake
parts. When parts of the braking
system are replaced, be sure to get
new, approved replacement parts.If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example,
installing disc brake pads that are
wrong for the vehicle, can change
the balance between the front and
rear brakes
—for the worse. The
braking performance expected can
change in many other ways if the
wrong replacement brake parts are
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 10‑8 for the location of the
reservoir. There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir
might go down:
.The brake fluid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system can also cause
a low fluid level. Have the brake
hydraulic system fixed, since a
leak means that sooner or later
the brakes will not work well.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-24 Vehicle Care
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
{WARNING
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 5‑22. Checking Brake Fluid
Check brake fluid by looking at the
brake fluid reservoir. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑8.
With the vehicle not running for at
least one minute, the maximum fluid
level (A) is at the top of the reservoir
body. With the vehicle running, the
fluid level should be in the proper
operating range (B) between the
MIN and MAX marks. If it is not,
have the brake hydraulic system
checked to see if there is a leak. After work is done on the brake
hydraulic system, make sure the
level, with the vehicle running, is in
the proper operating range (B)
between the MIN and MAX marks.
What to Add
Use only new DOT 3 brake fluid
from a sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering the
reservoir.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-25
{WARNING
With the wrong kind of fluid in the
brake hydraulic system, the
brakes might not work well. This
could cause a crash. Always use
the proper brake fluid.
Notice
.Using the wrong fluid can
badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts. For
example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as
engine oil, in the brake
hydraulic system can
damage brake hydraulic
system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in
the wrong kind of fluid.
.If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces,
the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to
spill brake fluid on the
vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately.
Battery
This vehicle has a high voltage
battery and a standard 12‐volt
battery.
If the vehicle is in a crash, the
sensing system may shut down the
high voltage system. When this
occurs, the high voltage battery is
disconnected and the vehicle will
not start. The SERVICE VEHICLE
SOON message in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will be
displayed. Before the vehicle can be
operated again, it must be serviced
at your dealer.
See “If a Crash Occurs” under
Collision Damage Repair on
page 13‑10 for additional
information. If an airbag has inflated, see
What Will You See
after an Airbag Inflates? on
page 3‑24.
Only a trained service technician
with the proper knowledge and tools
should inspect, test, or replace the
high voltage battery. See your
dealer if the high voltage battery
needs service. The dealer has
information on how to recycle the
high voltage battery. There is
also information available at
http://www.recyclemybattery.com.
Keep the vehicle plugged in, even
when fully charged, to keep the high
voltage battery temperature ready
for the next drive. This is important
when outside temperatures are
extremely hot or cold.
A vehicle cover, which can reduce
sun loading on the vehicle and
improve high voltage battery life, is
available from your dealer.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-30 Vehicle Care
Passenger Side Headlamps
To replace the high/low‐beam
headlamp:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood on
page 10‑7.
2. Remove the air cleaner cover. See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑13. 3. Remove the air cleaner
assembly by pulling up to
release the rear two retention
posts from the securing
grommets. Then pull it forward to
remove the remaining retention
post from the securing grommet.
4. Remove the cover from the back
of the headlamp assembly by
turning it counterclockwise.
5. Remove the bulb from the headlamp assembly by turning it
counterclockwise. 6. Disconnect the bulb from the
wiring harness connector.
7. Install the new bulb in the headlamp assembly by turning it
clockwise.
8. Reconnect the wiring harness connector.
9. Install the cover on the back of the headlamp assembly by
turning it clockwise.
10. Install the air cleaner assembly by lowering the three retention
posts into the grommets.
11. Install the engine air cleaner/ filter assembly cover. See
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑13.

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
10-34 Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
To open the fuse block cover, press
the clips at the front and back and
rotate the cover up to the side.
Notice:Spilling liquid on any
electrical component on the
vehicle may damage it. Always
keep the covers on any electrical
component.
Engine Compartment Fuse Block
A fuse puller is located in the engine
compartment fuse block.
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown. Mini Fuses Usage
1 Engine Control
Module
–Switched
Power
2 Emissions
3 Not Used

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-35
Mini Fuses Usage4 Ignition Coils/
Injectors
5 Not Used
6a Empty
6b Not Used 7 Empty
8 Empty
9 Heated Mirrors
10 Air Conditioning
Control Module
11 Traction Power
Inverter
Module
–Battery
12 Not Used
13 Cabin Heater Pump
and Valve
14 Not Used Mini Fuses Usage
15 Traction Power
Inverter Module and
Transmission
Control
Module
–Battery
17 Engine Control
Module
–Battery
22 Left High‐Beam
Headlamp
24 Empty
25 Empty
26 Not Used
31 Not Used
32 Run/
Crank
–Sensing
Diagnostic Module
(SDM), Instrument
Cluster, Passenger
Airbag Display,
Automatic Dimming
Inside Rearview
Mirror (If Equipped) Mini Fuses Usage
33 Run/Crank for
Vehicle Integration
Control Module
34 Vehicle Integration
Control
Module
–Battery
35 Not Used
36 Power Electronics
Coolant Pump
37 Cabin Heater
Control Module
38 Rechargeable
Energy Storage
System (High
Voltage Battery)
Coolant Pump