Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
216 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 217Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 218Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 219Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 222Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 223Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 225Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 229Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 231Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232Shifting Into Park (AutomaticTransmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234Parking over ThingsThat Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 236Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 240
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 242Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 244
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 247Track Driver Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . 249Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . . 251
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 253Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 254Assistance Systems forDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259Forward Collision Alert (FCA)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259Side Blind ZoneAlert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261Lane DepartureWarning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 266Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Trailer Towing
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
Driving and Operating 217
Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many formsand can take your focus from thetask of driving. Exercise goodjudgment and do not let otheractivities divert your attention awayfrom the road. Many localgovernments have enacted lawsregarding driver distraction. Becomefamiliar with the local laws inyour area.
To a v o i d d i s t r a c t e d d r i v i n g , k e e pyour eyes on the road, keep yourhands on the steering wheel, andfocus your attention on driving.
.Do not use a phone indemanding driving situations.Use a hands-free method toplace or receive necessaryphone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read,take notes, or look upinformation on phones or otherelectronic devices.
.Designate a front seatpassenger to handle potentialdistractions.
.Become familiar with vehiclefeatures before driving, such asprogramming favorite radiostations and adjusting climatecontrol and seat settings.Program all trip information intoany navigation device prior todriving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parkedto retrieve items that have fallento the floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tendto children.
.Keep pets in an appropriatecarrier or restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversationswhile driving, whether with apassenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Ta k i n g y o u r e y e s o f f t h e r o a d t o o
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment section formore information on using thatsystem and the navigation system,if equipped, including pairing andusing a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means“alwaysexpect the unexpected.”The firststep in driving defensively is to wearthe safety belt. SeeSafety Belts051.
.Assume that other road users(pedestrians, bicyclists, andother drivers) are going to becareless and make mistakes.Anticipate what they might doand be ready.
.Allow enough following distancebetween you and the driver infront of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
220 Driving and Operating
The vehicle may straighten out.Be ready for a second skid if itoccurs.
.Slow down and adjust yourdriving according to weatherconditions. Stopping distancecan be longer and vehiclecontrol can be affected whentraction is reduced by water,snow, ice, gravel, or othermaterial on the road. Learn torecognize warning clues—suchas enough water, ice, or packedsnow on the road to make amirrored surface—and slowdown when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,acceleration, or braking,including reducing vehicle speedby shifting to a lower gear. Anysudden changes could causethe tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes helpavoid only the braking skid.
Track Events and
Competitive Driving
{Danger
High-performance features are
intended for use only on closed
tracks by experienced and
qualified drivers and should not
be used on public roads.
High-speed driving, aggressive
cornering, hard braking, and other
high-performance driving can be
dangerous. Improper driver inputs
for the conditions may result in
loss of control of the vehicle,
which could injure or kill you or
others. Always drive safely.
Track events or competitive drivingmay affect the vehicle warranty. Seethe warranty manual before usingthe vehicle for track testing or othercompetitive 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 Oil0275.
Engine Oil
Be sure to check the oil level oftenduring racing or other competitivedriving and keep the level at or nearthe upper mark that shows theproper operating range on theengine oil dipstick.
For track events or competitivedriving, it is recommended that thebrake fluid be replaced with a highperformance brake fluid that has adry boiling point greater than 279 °C(534 °F). After conversion to thehigh performance brake fluid, followthe brake fluid service
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
222 Driving and Operating
Rear Axle
Axles must have 885 km (500 mi)before being used in track driving
The rear axle fluid temperaturesmay be higher when driving insevere conditions. Drain and refillwith new fluid after the first racing orcompetitive driving event, and thenafter every 24 hours of racing orcompetitive driving. SeeRecommended Fluids andLubricants0358.
Caution
During a first time track or racing
event, high rear axle
temperatures can occur. Damage
could be caused to the rear axle
and would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Do not drive as
long or as fast the first time the
vehicle is driven on the track or
raced.
For extended track use, GMrecommends installing a reardifferential cooler to protect therear axle.
Wheel Alignment
For racing and competitive driving,the vehicle load should be limited tothe driver only and no cargo. Thetires should be inflated cold to atleast 250 kPa (36 psi).
Caution
Using these wheel alignment
settings may cause excessive tire
wear. Only use these wheel
alignment settings for racing or
competitive driving. Excessive tire
wear is not covered under the
vehicle warranty.
Front Alignment Specification
.Caster: 6.0 +/- 1.25 degrees
.Camber: -0.9 +/- 0.1 degrees
.To t a l o r S u m To e : 0 . 1 7 + / -0.17 degrees
Rear Alignment Specification
.Camber: -0.4 +/- 0.10 degrees
.To t a l o r S u m To e : 0 . 2 + / -0.20 degrees
Thrust Angle: 0 +/- 0.20 degrees
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reducevehicle traction and affect yourability to stop and accelerate.Always drive slower in these typesof driving conditions and avoiddriving through large puddles anddeep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
224 Driving and Operating
.Pay attention to special roadsigns (e.g., falling rocks area,winding roads, long grades,passing or no-passing zones)and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires andthe road creates less traction orgrip, so drive carefully. Wet ice canoccur at about 0 °C (32 °F) whenfreezing rain begins to fall. Avoiddriving on wet ice or in freezing rainuntil roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Acceleratingtoo quickly causes the wheels tospin and makes the surfaceunder the tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. SeeTr a c t i o n C o n t r o l / E l e c t r o n i cStability Control0245.
.The Antilock Brake System(ABS) improves vehicle stabilityduring hard stops, but thebrakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.SeeAntilock Brake System(ABS)0241.
.Allow greater following distanceand watch for slippery spots. Icypatches can occur on otherwiseclear roads in shaded areas.The surface of a curve or anoverpass can remain icy whenthe surrounding roads are clear.Avoid sudden steeringmaneuvers and braking whileon ice.
.Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place andsignal for help. Stay with the vehicleunless there is help nearby.If possible, use RoadsideAssistance. SeeRoadsideAssistance Program0368.Togethelp and keep everyone in thevehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warningflashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outsidemirror.
{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 ofthe vehicle, especially anyblocking the exhaust pipe.
.Open a window about 5 cm(2 in) on the vehicle sidethat is away from the wind,to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets onor under the instrumentpanel.
.Adjust the climate controlsystem to circulate the airinside the vehicle and set
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Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
Driving and Operating 225
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the highestsetting. See“ClimateControl Systems.”
For more information about CO,
seeEngine Exhaust0235.
To s a v e f u e l , r u n t h e e n g i n e f o rshort periods to warm the vehicleand then shut the engine off andpartially close the window. Movingabout to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,when running the engine, push theaccelerator pedal slightly so theengine runs faster than the idlespeed. This keeps the batterycharged to restart the vehicle and tosignal for help with the headlamps.Do this as little as possible, tosave fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin thewheels to free the vehicle whenstuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the tractionsystem to free the vehicle, turn thetraction system off and use therocking method. SeeTr a c t i o nControl/Electronic Stability Control0245.
{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 andright to clear the area around thefront wheels. Turn off any tractionsystem. Shift back and forthbetween R (Reverse) and a lowforward gear, spinning the wheelsas little as possible. To preventtransmission wear, wait until thewheels stop spinning before shiftinggears. Release the acceleratorpedal while shifting, and presslightly on the accelerator pedalwhen the transmission is in gear.Slowly spinning the wheels in theforward and reverse directionscauses a rocking motion that couldfree the vehicle. If that does not getthe vehicle out after a few tries, itmight need to be towed out. If thevehicle does need to be towed out,seeTo w i n g t h e V e h i c l e0337.
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
Driving and Operating 245
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction ControlSystem (TCS) and StabiliTrak®,anelectronic stability control system.These systems help limit wheel slipand assist the driver in maintainingcontrol, especially on slippery roadconditions.
TCS activates if it senses that anyof the drive wheels are spinning orbeginning to lose traction. When thishappens, TCS applies the brakes tothe spinning wheels and reducesengine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when thevehicle senses a difference betweenthe intended path and the directionthe vehicle is actually traveling.StabiliTrak selectively appliesbraking pressure to any one of the
vehicle wheel brakes to assist thedriver in keeping the vehicle on theintended path.
If cruise control is being used andtraction control or StabiliTrak beginsto limit wheel spin, cruise control willdisengage. Cruise control may beturned back on when roadconditions allow.
Both systems come onautomatically when the vehicle isstarted and begins to move. Thesystems may be heard or felt whilethey are operating or whileperforming diagnostic checks. Thisis normal and does not mean thereis a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave bothsystems on for normal drivingconditions, but it may be necessaryto turn TCS off if the vehicle getsstuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.SeeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck0225and“Turning the Systems Off andOn”later in this section.
The indicator light for both systemsis in the instrument cluster. Thislight will:
.Flash when TCS is limitingwheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak isactivated.
.Turn on and stay on when eithersystem is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or toactivate, a message displays in theDriver Information Center (DIC),
anddcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactiveand is not assisting the driver inmaintaining control. The vehicle issafe to drive, but driving should beadjusted accordingly.
Ifdcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
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Driving and Operating 249
Sport: Exhaust valves operate toprovide a sporty exhaust character.
Track Driver Mode
Track Driver Mode and LaunchControl are systems designed toallow increased performance whileaccelerating and/or cornering. Thisis accomplished by regulating andoptimizing the engine, brakes, andsuspension performance. Thesemodes are for use at a closedcourse race track and are notintended for use on public roads.These systems will not compensatefor driver inexperience or lack offamiliarity with the race track.
{Warning
Track Driver Mode and Launch
Control change the way
StabiliTrak and TCS perform and
should not be used on public
roads. These modes should only
be used on closed courses by
experienced drivers.
Caution
Attempting to shift when the drive
wheels are spinning and do not
have traction may cause damage
to the transmission. Damage
caused by misuse of the vehicle
is not covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not attempt to shift
when the drive wheels do not
have traction.
Racing will result in the prematurewear of brakes, tires, and drivelinecomponents. Inspect and replacecomponents as necessary.