Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159388) - 2016 - crc - 5/20/15
114 Instruments and Controls
feature(s) is no longer functioning
and whether the vehicle requires
service.
If the light is on and flashing, the
TCS and/or the StabiliTrak system
is actively working.
SeeTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0188.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning
Light
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on briefly when
the vehicle is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light then goes off. If the light comes on and stays on
while driving, the vehicle may have
a problem with the cooling system.
Stop and turn off the vehicle to
avoid damage to the engine.
A warning chime sounds when this
light is on.
See
Engine Overheating 0242 for
more information.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the vehicle is
in ON/RUN. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS.
When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated. A message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) may also display. See
Tire Messages
0137. Stop as soon
as possible, and inflate the tires to
the pressure value shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label.
See Tires 0261.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
This indicates that there may be a
problem with the TPMS. The light
flashes for about one minute and
stays on steady until the vehicle is
in OFF. This sequence repeats each
time the vehicle is in ON/RUN. See
Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 269.Engine Oil Pressure Light
Caution
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine oil
low can also damage the engine.
The repairs would not be covered
(Continued)
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159388) - 2016 - crc - 5/20/15
132 Instruments and Controls
Engine Cooling System
Messages
ENGINE OVERHEATED—
REDUCE SPEED
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature or
engine oil is too hot. Reduce speed
and allow the vehicle to cool down.
ENGINE OVERHEATED —
TURN VEHICLE OFF
This message displays and a
continuous chime sounds if the
engine cooling system reaches
unsafe temperatures for operation.
Stop and turn off the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so to avoid
severe damage. This message
clears when the engine has cooled
to a safe operating temperature.
ENGINE RUNNING DUE TO
TEMPERATURE
This message displays when the
high voltage battery is charged but
the engine has to come on because
of the outside temperature or high
voltage battery temperature.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
After changing the engine oil, the
Engine Oil Life System must be
reset. See Engine Oil Life System
0 234 andDriver Information Center
(DIC) 0128 for information on how
to reset the system. See Engine Oil
0 232 andMaintenance Schedule
0 315.
OIL PRESSURE LOW —TURN
VEHICLE OFF
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible
and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon as
possible and see your dealer for
service.
Fuel System Messages
CLOSE FUEL DOOR
This message displays when the
fuel door is open and the vehicle is
moving.
ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE
ADD FUEL
This message displays when the
engine is not available due to
running out of fuel. The vehicle can
continue to be driven in Electric
Mode until the battery is depleted,
but will have reduced acceleration.
When this message is displayed,
refuel the vehicle. See Out of Fuel/
Engine Unavailable 0179.
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays when the
vehicle is low on fuel. Refuel as
soon as possible.
READY TO REFUEL
This message displays when the
fuel system is depressurized and
the vehicle can be refueled.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
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168 Driving and Operating
To save fuel, start the vehicle 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 the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
The Traction Control System (TCS)
must be turned off by pressing the
TCS/ESC button. Traction control is
not completely off, but will only
engage if the maneuver can cause
damage to the electric drive unit.
{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. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, spinning the wheels as little as
possible. The Traction Control
System prevents the tires from
spinning at high speeds. To prevent
electric drive unit 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 electric drive unit 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,
seeTowing the Vehicle 0300.
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.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
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174 Driving and Operating
Restarting Procedure
If the vehicle must be restarted
while it is still moving, move the shift
lever to N (Neutral) and press
POWER
Otwice without pressing
the brake pedal. The propulsion
system will not restart in any other
position.
Forced Engine On
Some vehicle conditions that force
the engine to run:
. There are cold ambient
temperatures.
. The hood is open or not
completely latched.
. The high voltage battery has a
low charge.
. The engine needs to run for
maintenance.
See Maintenance Modes 0180.
A chime will sound if the driver door
is opened while the vehicle is in ON/
RUN. Always press POWER
Oto
turn the vehicle off before exiting.
Stopping Procedure
For information on how to turn the
vehicle off, see Power Button0171.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
The following features will operate
for up to 10 minutes or until the
driver door is opened:
.
Audio System
. Accessory Power Outlets
Power windows will operate for up
to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0185.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pushing the lever
all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
3. Turn the vehicle off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Propulsion System On
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the propulsion
system 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
propulsion system is running.
If you have left the propulsion
system 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
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0174.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the propulsion system on, be sure
the vehicle is in P (Park) and the
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 225
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 226
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 226
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 234
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 235
Cooling System (Engine) . . . . . 236
Cooling System (High Voltage Battery) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Cooling System (Power Electronics and Charger
Modules) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 242
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Battery - North America . . . . . . 245
Electric Drive Unit Shift Lock
Control Function Check . . . . . 247
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 247
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 248
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 250
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Electrical System Overload . . . 252
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 263
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 279
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
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Vehicle Care 237
{Warning
The electric fans under the hood
can start up even when the
engine is not running and can
cause injury. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant
surge tank is boiling, do not do
anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a
level surface.
The coolant level should be up to
the cold fill line. If it is not, there
might be a leak at the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump, or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
{Warning
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not run the vehicle if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with
the engine on, check to see if the
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, the fans
should be running. If it is not, the
vehicle needs service. Turn off the
vehicle.
Cooling System (High
Voltage Battery)
During vehicle operation and also
during charging, the high voltage
battery cells in the vehicle are kept
within a normal operating
temperature range. If the high
voltage battery cell temperature
rises above the normal operating
temperature range, the battery
cooling system turns on the air conditioning compressor and cools
the coolant until the correct battery
cell temperature is reached. If the
high voltage battery cell temperature
falls below the normal operating
temperature range, a high voltage
heater, located in the battery, heats
the coolant until the correct battery
cell temperature is reached.
During high voltage battery system
cooling, you may feel temperature
changes at the air vents due to the
extra load on the system.
What to Use
The high voltage battery coolant
reservoir in the vehicle is filled with
GM Premix DEX-COOL
®engine
coolant. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0324. If using this
mixture, nothing else needs to be
added.
The coolant needs to be replaced at
the appropriate interval. See
Maintenance Schedule 0315.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 239
1. High Voltage BatteryCoolant Reservoir Cold
Fill Line
2. Power Electronics Coolant Reservoir Cold Fill Line
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the power electronics coolant
reservoir. If coolant is visible but the
coolant level is below the cold fill
line (2), there could be a leak in the
cooling system.
The power electronics cooling
system supports the operation of
sensitive electronics. The power electronics cooling
system should only be serviced by a
qualified technician.
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in the
vehicle is filled with GM Premix
DEX-COOL engine coolant. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
0324. The coolant
requires changing at certain
intervals. See Maintenance
Schedule 0315.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating 0242.
What to Use
{Warning
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use GM
Premixed DEX-COOL coolant.
Use GM Premix DEX-COOL engine
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
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240 Vehicle Care
Caution
If improper coolant mixture,
inhibitors, or additives are used in
the vehicle cooling system, the
engine could overheat and be
damaged. Too much deionized
water or clean drinkable water
can freeze and crack engine
cooling parts. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Use only the proper
mixture of engine coolant for the
cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0324.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at or
above the cold fill mark, add GM
Premix DEX-COOL engine coolant
at the coolant surge tank, but be
sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done. See Engine
Overheating 0242.
The coolant reservoir is on the
passenger side of the engine
compartment. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0231.
The coolant level should be at or
above the cold fill line on the
coolant surge tank. If it is not, there
could be a leak in the cooling
system.
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Surge Tank
{Warning
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Caution
This vehicle has a specific
coolant fill procedure. Failure to
follow this procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and be
severely damaged.
{Warning
The electric fans under the hood
can start up even when the
engine is not running and can (Continued)