
Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9803785) - 2017 - CRC - 4/13/16
Driving and Operating 231
Second Gear Start Feature
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
you may want to shift into
2 (Second) gear. A higher gear
allows you to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces.
With the DSC feature, the vehicle
can be set to pull away in
2 (Second) gear.1. Move the shift lever from D (Drive) to L (Low).
2. With the vehicle stopped, press the + (plus) end of the button to
select 2 (Second) gear. The
vehicle will start from a stop
position in 2 (Second) gear.
3. Once moving, select the desired drive gear.Manual Transmission
Shift Pattern
Caution
Do not rest your hand on the shift
lever while driving. The pressure
could cause premature wear in
the transmission. The repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Caution
Do not rest your foot on the clutch
pedal while driving or while
stopped. The pressure can cause
premature wear in the clutch. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
1 : Press the clutch pedal fully to
the pedal stop and shift into
1 (First). Then slowly let up on the
clutch pedal as the accelerator
pedal is pressed.
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 fully to
the pedal stop while letting up on
the accelerator pedal and shifting
into 2 (Second). Then, slowly let up
on the clutch pedal as the
accelerator pedal is pressed.

Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9803785) - 2017 - CRC - 4/13/16
232 Driving and Operating
3, 4, 5, and 6 :Shift into 3 (Third),
4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth), and 6 (Sixth) the
same way as for 2 (Second). Slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as the
accelerator pedal Is pressed.
For the best fuel economy, use
6 (Sixth) gear whenever vehicle
speed and driving conditions allow.
An up-shift light in the instrument
cluster indicates when to shift to the
next higher gear for the best fuel
economy.
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. The
shift lever is in Neutral when it is
centered in the shift pattern, not in
any gear.
R : To back up, with the vehicle at a
complete stop, press down the
clutch pedal. Then pull up the shift
lever release button, and shift into
R (Reverse). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the
accelerator pedal.
If the gear does not engage, shift
the transmission to Neutral, release
the clutch pedal, and press it back
down. Repeat the gear selection.
{Warning
If you skip a gear when
downshifting, 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 downshifting.
Caution
Do not skip gears while
upshifting. This can cause
premature wear in the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.

Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9803785) - 2017 - CRC - 4/13/16
Driving and Operating 237
To turn off only TCS, press and
release
g. The traction off lighti
displays in the instrument cluster. To
turn TCS on again, press and
release
g. The traction off lighti
displayed in the instrument cluster
will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
g
is pressed, the system will not turn
off until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold
guntil the traction
off light
iand StabiliTrak OFF light
gcome on and stay on in the
instrument cluster. To turn TCS and
StabiliTrak on again, press and
release
g. The traction off lighti
and StabiliTrak OFF lightgin the
instrument cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and
Modifications 0265.
Cruise Control
The cruise control lets the vehicle
maintain a speed of about 40 km/h
(25 mph) or more without keeping
your foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
If equipped with a manual
transmission, the cruise control will
remain active when the gears are
shifted. The cruise is deactivated if
the clutch is pressed for several
seconds. With the Traction Control System
(TCS) or Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), the system may begin to
limit wheel spin while you are using
cruise control. If this happens, the
cruise control will automatically
disengage. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0235.
If a collision alert occurs when
cruise control is activated, cruise
control is disengaged. See Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System 0243.
When road conditions allow you to
safely use it again, cruise control
can be turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.

Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9803785) - 2017 - CRC - 4/13/16
Driving and Operating 239
.To slow down in small
increments, briefly press -SET.
For each press, the vehicle goes
about 1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster 0116.
The increment value used depends
on the units displayed.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed. While
pressing the accelerator pedal or
shortly following the release to
override cruise control, briefly
pressing -SET will result in cruise
control set to the current vehicle
speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills. When going up steep hills,
you might have to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep your
speed down. If the brake pedal is
applied, cruise control will
disengage.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press the clutch pedal for
several seconds or shift to
Neutral (manual transmissions).
. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. Press
*.
. Press
5.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
5is pressed
or if the vehicle is turned off.
Driver Assistance
Systems
This vehicle may have features that
work together to help avoid crashes
or reduce crash damage while
driving, backing, and parking. Read
this entire section before using
these systems.
{Warning
Do not rely on the Driver
Assistance Systems. These
systems do not replace the need
for paying attention and driving
safely. You may not hear or see
alerts or warnings provided by
these systems. Failure to use
proper care when driving may
result in injury, death, or vehicle
damage. See Defensive
Driving 0201.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9803785) - 2017 - CRC - 4/13/16
250 Driving and Operating
control system performance may be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehicle
may not pass a smog-check test.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
0 126. If this occurs, return to your
authorized dealer for diagnosis. If it
is determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries (Gasoline)
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post
fuel octane ratings in anti-knock
index (AKI). For fuel not to use in a
foreign country, see “Prohibited
Fuels” inFuel (Gasoline) 0249.
Fuel Additives (Gasoline)
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel
(Gasoline) 0249. If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is
not available, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment Cleaner added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. GM Fuel System
Treatment Cleaner is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Fuel for Diesel Engines
The selection of a high quality fuel
is important for maintaining optimum
performance. Do not use diesel fuel
with more than 15 ppm sulfur
content. Do not use a diesel blend
containing more than 20% biodiesel
by volume. Both diesel and
biodiesel blends must meet all the
requirements as defined in the most
current versions of the local fuel
standards. See the recommended
fuels under
What Fuel to Use in the
U.S. (Diesel) 0251 andWhat Fuel
to Use in Canada (Diesel) 0252.
Caution
Engine damage may occur if
recommended fuels are not used,
which may void the vehicle
warranty. Some improper
fuels are:
. Diesel fuel with the addition
of gasoline.
. Diesel fuel mixed with
engine oil or automatic
transmission fluid.
. Triglyceride fuels, such as
raw vegetable oil or animal
fat, in any form, including
with blends of diesel or
biodiesel.
. Marine diesel fuel and
fuel oils.
. Diesel-water emulsions,
such as Aquazole
®.
. Aftermarket diesel fuel
additives, which contain
alcohols, organo-metallic
additives, or water
emulsifiers.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9803785) - 2017 - CRC - 4/13/16
Vehicle Care 263
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 264
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 264
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 273
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 275
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 276
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 281
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 Battery - North America . . . . . . 285
Fuel Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 286
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 287
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 288
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Headlamps and Front Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 293
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 294
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294 Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 319

Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9803785) - 2017 - CRC - 4/13/16
Vehicle Care 275
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
The vehicle is not equipped with a
transmission fluid level dipstick.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at the dealer. Contact the
dealer for additional information.
Change the fluid at the intervals
listed inMaintenance Schedule
0 352, and be sure to use the fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0361.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Manual
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
manual transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0361 for the
proper fluid to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is not necessary to
regularly check brake/clutch fluid
unless there is a leak suspected.
Adding fluid will not correct a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What
to Use
The hydraulic brake/clutch fluid
reservoir cap has either a symbol or
text specifying the type of brake
fluid. The common brake/clutch fluid
reservoir is filled with GM approved
DOT 3 brake fluid as indicated on
the reservoir cap. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0267 for
reservoir location.
How to Check and Add Fluid
Visually check the brake/clutch fluid
reservoir to make sure the fluid level
is between the MIN (minimum) and
MAX (maximum) lines on the side of
the reservoir. The hydraulic brake/
clutch fluid system should be closed
and sealed.

Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9803785) - 2017 - CRC - 4/13/16
284 Vehicle Care
proper sequence to torque
specifications inCapacities and
Specifications 0366.
If the vehicle has rear drum brakes,
they do not have wear indicators,
but if a rear brake rubbing noise is
heard, have the rear brake linings
inspected immediately. Rear brake
drums should be removed and
inspected each time the tires are
removed for rotation or changing.
Drum brakes have an inspection
hole to inspect lining wear during
scheduled maintenance. When the
front brake pads are replaced, have
the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
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 may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts
with new, approved replacement
parts. If this is not done, the brakes may not work properly. The braking
performance expected can change
in many other ways if the wrong
replacement brake parts are
installed or parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake/clutch master cylinder
reservoir is filled with GM approved
DOT 3 brake fluid as indicated on
the reservoir cap. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0267 for
the location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
Place the vehicle in P (Park) or
Neutral with the parking brake
applied if equipped with a manual
transmission. On a level surface,
the brake fluid level should be between the minimum and
maximum marks on the brake fluid
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
.
Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the
fluid level goes back up.
. A fluid leak in the brake/clutch
hydraulic system. Have the
brake/clutch hydraulic system
fixed. With a leak, the brakes will
not work well.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake/clutch 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 fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake/clutch hydraulic
system.