Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
CRC - 8/24/15
216 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious—or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time. Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.
Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering
messages under Service Vehicle
Messages 0115
ii. See your dealer if
there is a problem.
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CRC - 8/24/15
Driving and Operating 217
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge. 3. Turn the steering wheel to go
straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
. Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
CRC - 8/24/15
222 Driving and Operating
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0242
ii.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0239
ii.
. Allow greater following distance
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.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0365
ii. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
(Continued)
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
CRC - 8/24/15
Driving and Operating 223
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0233
ii.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 242
ii.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see
Towing the Vehicle 0334
ii.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it may
properly carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.
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Driving and Operating 237
On the bottom of the display, M and
the currently selected gear appear
as long as A/S mode is selected.
Alternatively, the paddles can be
used to shift to the required gear:
To shift up a gear, briefly pull the
+ (Plus) paddle toward the steering
wheel and release it.
To shift down a gear, briefly pull the
−(Minus) paddle toward the steering
wheel and release it.
. The transmission will shift to a
selected gear only if the engine
speed is within a suitable range. If not suitable, SHIFT DENIED
will be displayed in the DIC, and
the transmission will not shift
gears. Continuing to hold the
lever in the
−(Minus) position
will select the requested gear as
soon as the vehicle speed
decreases to the allowed speed
for that gear.
. If the engine speed becomes too
low for the currently selected
gear, the transmission will
automatically shift down, even
though A/S mode is still
selected.
. While in A/S mode, 2 (Second)
or 3 (Third) gear starts can be
selected from a standing start.
This is useful for gentle
acceleration on slippery
surfaces.
To disable A/S mode and return to
Normal Shift mode, push the shift
lever to the left, to position D (Drive).
On the bottom of the display, D is
displayed. To disable A/S mode and return to
Sport Shift mode, hold the shift lever
in the + (Plus) position for more than
one second. On the bottom of the
display, S is displayed.
Temporary Active Select
(A/S) Mode
A/S can also be operated from
D (Drive) using the steering wheel
paddles only. With the vehicle in
motion, briefly pulling the + (Plus) or
−
(Minus) steering wheel paddles at
any time will engage Temporary
A/S mode.
In this mode A/S functions as if
activated from Sport mode, except
that the transmission will
automatically exit Temporary A/S
mode to Normal Shift mode if any of
the following conditions are met:
. The vehicle speed drops below
approximately 10 km/h (6 mph).
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
CRC - 8/24/15
238 Driving and Operating
.No shift paddle is pressed, and
steady driving without
accelerating, decelerating,
or cornering is detected for
approximately seven seconds.
. The + (Plus) steering wheel
paddle is pulled and held for
more than one second.
. The shift lever is moved out of
D (Drive) to Sport Shift mode.Manual Transmission
To operate the transmission:
1 :Press the clutch pedal and shift
into 1 (First). Then slowly let up on
the clutch pedal while pressing the
accelerator pedal.
Shift into 1 (First) when going less
than 64 km/h (40 mph). If the vehicle
comes 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 :
Press the clutch pedal while
letting up on the accelerator pedal
and shift into 2 (Second). Then,
slowly let up on the clutch pedal
while pressing the accelerator
pedal.
3, 4, 5, and 6 : Shift into 3 (Third),
4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth), and 6 (Sixth) the
same way as 2 (Second). Slowly let
up on the clutch pedal while
pressing 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
starting or idling the engine. The
shift lever is in Neutral when it is
centered in the shift pattern, not in
any gear.
R : To back up, press the clutch
pedal and shift into R (Reverse).
Apply pressure to get the lever past
5 (Fifth) and 6 (Sixth) into
R (Reverse). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the
accelerator pedal.
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
CRC - 8/24/15
240 Driving and Operating
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses the wheels are
slowing down. If one of the wheels
is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at
each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
you steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You may hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate. This is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The switch is on the
center console. The EPB can
always be activated, even if the
ignition is off. To prevent draining
the battery, avoid repeated cycles of
the EPB when the engine is not
running.
The system has a red parking brake
status light and an amber parking
brake warning light. SeeElectric
Parking Brake Light 0100
iiand
Service Electric Parking Brake Light
0 100
ii. There are also parking
brake-related Driver Information
Center (DIC) messages. See Brake
System Messages 0110
ii. In case of
insufficient electrical power, the EPB
cannot be applied or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the red parking brake status light to
ensure that the parking brake is
applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
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Driving and Operating 245
The modes and available settings are:Driver Mode Torque Vectoring MRC EPS Bi Modal ExhaustTouring Off Touring Sport Touring
Sport Off Sport Sport Sport
Performance On Performance / Track Competitive Sport
Driver Mode Settings
Changes to TCS/StabiliTrak, Pedal
Mode, and Launch Control
performance settings are available
in Track Driver Mode. See Track
Driver Mode 0246
ii.
Torque Vectoring
This feature uses StabiliTrak to
detect when the vehicle is starting to
understeer and helps to correct it.
Torque is transferred across the rear
axle from the inside wheel to the
outside wheel. If StabiliTrak is
turned off Torque Vectoring will be
unavailable. Magnetic Ride Control (MRC)
Touring: Use for normal city and
highway driving.
Sport: Use where road conditions or
personal preference demand more
control. This setting selects a
suspension calibration that provides
a firmer reaction to road conditions.
Performance/Track: This is the
firmest setting. This setting is for
smoother road surfaces and when a
more performance-oriented
suspension style is preferred.
It provides better high speed
stability, handling response, and
body control.Based on road conditions, steering
wheel angle, and vehicle speed, the
system automatically adjusts to
provide the best handling while
providing a smooth ride. The
Touring and Sport modes will feel
similar on a smooth road. These
settings can be changed when
driving conditions change.
If a malfunction occurs with the
MRC system, the appropriate
message will display in the DIC.
See
Ride Control System Messages
0 114
ii.
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