
Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/11/12
9-16 Driving and Operating
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the acceleratorpedal, turn the ignition to START.
When the engine cranks, let go
of the key. The idle speed will go
down as the engine gets warm.
The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. It assists in starting the
engine and protects
components. If the ignition key is
turned to START and then
released when the engine
begins cranking, the engine will
continue cranking for a
few seconds or until the engine
starts. If the engine does not
start and the key is held in
START, cranking will be stopped
after 15 seconds to prevent
damage. To prevent gear
damage, cranking is not allowed
if the engine is running. Engine
cranking can be stopped by
turning the ignition key to ACC/
ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF. Notice:
Holding the key in START
for longer than 15 seconds at a
time will cause the battery to be
drained much sooner. And the
excessive heat can damage the
starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to
help avoid draining the battery or
damaging the starter.
2. If the engine does not start, wait
about 15 seconds and try again.
Wait about 15 seconds between
each try.
When the engine has run about
10 seconds to warm up, the
vehicle is ready to be driven. Do
not run the engine at high speed
when it is cold.
If the weather is below freezing
(0°C or 32°F), let the engine run
for a few minutes to warm up.
3. If the engine still will not start, or starts but then stops, it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as you hold the key in START for
about three seconds. If the
vehicle starts briefly but then
stops again, do the same thing,
but this time keep the pedal
down for five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine.
Notice: If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment
on page 9‑37.
Engine Heater
The engine heater can provide
easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up in
cold weather conditions at or below
−18°C (0°F). Vehicles with an
engine heater should be plugged in
at least four hours before starting.
1. Turn off the engine.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/11/12
9-20 Driving and Operating
3. Insert a tool into the opening asfar as it will go and move the
shift lever out of P (Park).
If P (Park) is selected again, the
shift lever will be locked again.
Have the cause of the problem
fixed by your dealer.
4. Close the cover.
Parking
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, before getting out of
the vehicle, move the shift lever into
R (Reverse) if parking on a downhill
slope. On a level surface or an uphill slope, use 1 (First) gear.
Firmly apply the parking brake. Turn
the wheels toward the curb for a
downhill slope, or away from the
curb for an uphill slope. Once the
shift lever has been placed into gear
with the clutch pedal pressed in,
turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF,
remove the key, and release the
clutch.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{WARNING
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
{WARNING
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation (parking
garages, tunnels, deep snow
that may block underbody
airflow or tail pipes).
.The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
.The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
.The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified, damaged,
or improperly repaired.
(Continued)

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/11/12
Driving and Operating 9-21
WARNING (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle:
.Drive it only with the windows
completely down.
.Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed
area such as a garage or a
building that has no fresh air
ventilation.
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
See Shifting Into Park on page 9‑17
and Engine Exhaust on page 9‑20.
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, see Parking on
page 9‑20.
Automatic
Transmission
The automatic transmission is an
electronically controlled four-speed
transmission. Fourth gear is
overdrive. A display in the
instrument cluster indicates the
selected gear.
P (Park): This position locks the
front wheels. It is the best position
to use when you start the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/11/12
9-24 Driving and Operating
If you have come to a complete stop
and it is hard to shift into 1 (First),
put the shift lever in Neutral and let
up on the clutch. Press the clutch
pedal back down. Then shift into
1 (First).
2 (Second):Press the clutch pedal
as you let up on the accelerator
pedal and shift into 2 (Second).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator
pedal.
3 (Third), 4 (Fourth), and 5 (Fifth):
Shift into 3 (Third), 4 (Fourth), and
5 (Fifth) the same way as for
2 (Second). Slowly let up on the
clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brake pedal.
Just before the vehicle stops, press
the clutch pedal and the brake
pedal, and shift to Neutral.
Neutral: Use this position when
you start or idle the engine. R (Reverse):
To back up, press
down the clutch pedal and shift into
R (Reverse). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the
accelerator pedal.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only
after the vehicle is stopped.
Shift Speeds
{WARNING
If you skip a gear when you
downshift, you could lose control
of the vehicle. You could injure
yourself or others. Do not shift
down more than one gear at a
time when you downshift.
Up-Shift Light
Vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission may have an up-shift
light. This light indicates when to
shift to the next higher gear for
better fuel economy.
For the best fuel economy,
accelerate slowly and shift when the
light comes on, and if the weather,
road, and traffic conditions allow.
It is normal for the light to go on and
off if the accelerator position
changes quickly. Ignore the light
during downshifts.

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/11/12
9-26 Driving and Operating
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the
brake pedal down and pull up on the
parking brake lever. If the ignition is
on, the brake system warning light
will come on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 5‑14. To release the parking brake, hold
the brake pedal down. Pull the
parking brake lever up until you can
press the release button. Hold the
release button in as you move the
brake lever all the way down.
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
brake warning light is off before
driving.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a brake assist
feature designed to assist the driver
in stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal as
the driving situation dictates. The
brake assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/11/12
Driving and Operating 9-27
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
This vehicle has a Hill Start Assist
(HSA) feature, which may be useful
when the vehicle is stopped on a
grade. This feature is designed to
prevent the vehicle from rolling,
either forward or rearward, during
vehicle drive off. After the driver
completely stops and holds the
vehicle in a complete standstill on a
grade, HSA will be automatically
activated. During the transition
period between when the driver
releases the brake pedal and starts
to accelerate to drive off on a grade,
HSA holds the braking pressure to
ensure that there is no rolling. The
brakes will automatically release
when the accelerator pedal is
applied within the two-second
window. It will not activate if the
vehicle is in a drive gear and facing
downhill, or if the vehicle is facing
uphill and in R (Reverse).
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The vehicle has a TCS that limits
wheel spin. On a front-wheel-drive
vehicle, the system operates if it
senses that one or both of the front
wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens,
the system brakes the spinning
wheel(s), and/or reduces engine
power to limit wheel spin.
The system may be heard or felt
while it is working, but this is
normal.
TCS is on whenever the vehicle is
started. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road
conditions, the system should
always be left on. But, TCS can be
turned off if needed.TCS/StabiliTrak Light
dflashes to indicate that the
traction control system is active.
If there is a problem detected with
TCS,
dcomes on in the instrument
cluster 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 at a
speed above 20 km/h (13 mph), see
your dealer for service.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/11/12
9-28 Driving and Operating
Notice:Do not repeatedly brake
or accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle's driveline could
be damaged.
TCS/StabiliTrak Button
To turn TCS off, press the TCS/
StabiliTrak button on the center
stack.
Traction Off Light
The Traction Off Light comes on to
indicate that TCS has been
turned off.
When TCS is turned off, the system
will not limit wheel spin. Driving
should be adjusted accordingly.
Press and release the TCS/
StabiliTrak button again to turn the
system back on. The Traction Off
Light will go off.
It may be necessary to turn the
system off if the vehicle gets stuck
in sand, mud, or snow and rocking
the vehicle is required. See If the
Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9‑8. See
also Winter Driving on page 9‑7 for
information on using TCS when
driving in snowy or icy conditions. If cruise control is being used when
TCS activates, cruise control will
automatically disengage. Press the
appropriate cruise control button to
reengage when road conditions
allow. See
Cruise Control on
page 9‑30.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 10‑2.
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has a vehicle stability
enhancement system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer controlled system that
assists with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a difference
between the intended path, and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle's brakes to help steer
the vehicle in the intended direction.

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual - 2013 - crc - 9/11/12
Driving and Operating 9-29
StabiliTrak is on automatically
whenever the vehicle is started. To
assist with directional control of the
vehicle, the system should always
be left on.
TCS/StabiliTrak Light
When the stability control system
activates,
dflashes on the
instrument cluster. This also occurs
when traction control is activated.
A noise may be heard or vibration
may be felt in the brake pedal. This
is normal. Continue to steer the
vehicle in the intended direction.
If there is a problem detected with
StabiliTrak,
dcomes on in the
instrument cluster 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,
see your dealer for service.
TCS/StabiliTrak Button
The TCS/StabiliTrak button is on the
center stack.
StabiliTrak Off Light
StabiliTrak can be turned off if
needed by pressing and holding
the
gbutton untiliandgcome on
in the instrument cluster. When
StabiliTrak is turned off, the system
will not assist with directional control
of the vehicle or limit wheel spin.
TCS will also be turned off. Driving
should be adjusted accordingly.
Press and release the
gbutton
again to turn both systems back on.
If cruise control is being used when
StabiliTrak activates, cruise control
will automatically disengage. Press
the appropriate cruise control button
to reengage when road conditions
allow. See Cruise Control on
page 9‑30.