Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
CRC - 8/24/15
Climate Controls 213
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from the air inlets at
the base of the windshield that
may block the flow of air into the
vehicle.
. Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors may adversely affect
performance of the system.
. Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside the
vehicle more effectively.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The vehicle has a passenger
compartment air filter that filters the
outside air entering the vehicle. The
filter removes contaminants, such
as pollen and dust. See your dealer
for more information about filter
replacement.
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
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214 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 220
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 221
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 223
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 227
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Shifting Into Park (Automatic Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 234
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 238
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 240
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 242
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 244
Track Driver Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . . 248
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 250
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 251
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 262
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Trailer Towing
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
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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
218 Driving and Operating
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.Track Events and
Competitive Driving
Track events or competitive driving
may affect the vehicle warranty. See
the warranty manual before using
the vehicle for track testing or other
competitive driving.
Caution
If the vehicle is used for track
events and competitive driving,
the engine may use more oil than
it would with normal use. Low oil
levels can damage the engine.
Check the oil level often and
maintain the proper level. See
Engine Oil 0271
ii.
Engine Oil
Be sure to check the oil level often
during racing or other competitive
driving and keep the level at or near
the upper mark that shows the
proper operating range on the
engine oil dipstick. For track events or competitive
driving, it is recommended that the
brake fluid be replaced with a high
performance brake fluid that has a
dry boiling point greater than 279 °C
(534 °F). After conversion to the
high performance brake fluid, follow
the brake fluid service
recommendations outlined by the
fluid manufacturer. Do not use
silicone or DOT-5 brake fluids.
To prepare the brake systems for
track events and racing, complete
the appropriate high performance
brake burnishing procedure
described below.
Brake Burnishing
New brake pads must be burnished
before racing or other competitive
driving.
Caution
The new vehicle break-in period
should be completed before
performing the brake burnish
procedure, otherwise damage
(Continued)
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
CRC - 8/24/15
Driving and Operating 219
Caution (Continued)
may occur to the powertrain/
engine. SeeNew Vehicle
Break-In 0227
ii.
When performed as instructed,
these procedures will not damage
the brakes. During the burnishing
procedure, the brake pads will
smoke and produce an odor. The
braking force and pedal travel may
increase. After the procedure, the
brake pads may appear white at the
rotor contact.
Perform this procedure on dry
pavement, in a safe manner, and in
compliance with all local and state
ordinances/laws regarding motor
vehicle operation. Racing/Track Brake Burnishing
Procedure
Caution
Brake pedal fade will occur during
this track burnish procedure and
can cause brake pedal travel and
force to increase. This could
extend stopping distance until the
brakes are fully burnished.
1. Apply the brakes 25 times starting at 100 km/h (60 mph)
to 50 km/h (30 mph) while
decelerating at 0.4 g. This is a
medium brake application.
Drive for at least 1 km (0.6 mi)
between applying the brakes.
This first step may be skipped
if there are more than 320 km
(200 mi) on the brake pads.
2. Repeatedly apply the brakes from 100 km/h (60 mph) to
25 km/h (15 mph) while
decelerating at 0.8 g. This is a
hard brake application, without
activating the Antilock Brake
System (ABS). Drive for at least 1 km (0.6 mi) between
stops. Repeat until the brake
pedal travel starts to increase.
Depending on conditions, this
should take no longer than 25
brake applications.
3. Cool down: Drive at 100 km/h (60 mph) for approximately
15 km (10 mi) without using the
brakes.
4. Apply the brakes 25 times from 100 km/h (60 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph) while decelerating at
0.4 g. This is a medium brake
application. Drive for at least
1 km (0.6 mi) between
applications.
Rear Axle
Axles must have 885 km (500 mi)
before being used in track driving
The rear axle fluid temperatures
may be higher when driving in
severe conditions. Drain and refill
with new fluid after the first racing or
competitive driving event, and then
after every 24 hours of racing or
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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 231
2. Hold the button on the shiftlever and push the lever toward
the front of the vehicle into
P (Park).
3. Turn the ignition off.
Leaving the Vehicle With the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) 0230
ii.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, the vehicle must
be in P (Park) and the parking
brake set.
Release the button and check that
the shift lever cannot be moved out
of P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of
the vehicle puts too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not
done properly and then it is difficult
to shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park). To find
out how, see “Shifting Into Park”
listed previously. If torque lock does occur, the
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic shift lock release system.
The shift lock release is designed to
prevent movement of the shift lever
out of P (Park), unless the ignition is
in ON/RUN and the brake pedal is
applied.
The shift lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See
Jump Starting - North
America 0331
ii.
To shift out of P (Park):
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Place the ignition in ON/RUN.
3. Press the shift lever button.
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-9234782) - 2016 -
CRC - 8/24/15
232 Driving and Operating
4. Move the shift lever to thedesired position.
If still unable to shift out of P (Park): 1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. Hold the brake pedal down and press the shift lever button
again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem
shifting, see your dealer.
Shift Lock Manual Release
If jump starting the vehicle did not
work, the shift lock manual release
must be used.
To access the shift lock manual
release: 1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Remove the trim from the center console, in front of the
shift lever.
3. Insert a tool into the opening asfar as it will go, while at the
same time, moving 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. Refit the trim to the center console.
Parking
With 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. 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 to
OFF, and release the clutch.
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