
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 3/29/16
158 Lighting
Flash-to-Pass
This feature is used to signal to the
vehicle ahead that you want
to pass.
If the headlamps are off or in the
low-beam position, pull the turn
signal lever toward you to
momentarily switch to high beams.
Release the lever to turn the
high-beam headlamps off.
Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL)/Automatic
Headlamp System
DRL can make it easier for others to
see the front of your vehicle during
the day. Fully functional DRL are
required on all vehicles first sold in
Canada.
The DRL system makes the
low-beam headlamps come on at a
reduced brightness when the
following conditions are met:
.The ignition is in the ON/RUN
position. .
The exterior lamp control is
in AUTO.
. The engine is running.
When the DRL are on, the regular
headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker,
and other lamps will not be on. The
instrument cluster will also not be lit.
The headlamps automatically
change from DRL to the regular
headlamps depending on the
darkness of the surroundings. The
other lamps that come on with the
headlamps will also come on.
When it is bright enough outside,
the headlamps will go off and the
DRL will come on.
When the DRL are active and a turn
signal is operated, the DRL on the
side the turn signal is activated, will
turn off until the turn signal is
turned off.
The regular headlamp system
should be turned on when needed.
Do not cover the light sensor on top
of the instrument panel because it
works with the DRL.
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are
activated in daylight with the engine
on, and the exterior lamp control is
in AUTO, the headlamps, parking
lamps, and other exterior lamps
come on. The transition time for the
lamps coming on varies based on
wiper speed. When the wipers are
not operating, these lamps turn off.
Move the exterior lamp control to
P
or;to disable this feature.
Delayed Headlamps
Delayed headlamps provide a
period of exterior lighting as you
leave the area around the vehicle.
This feature is activated when the
headlamps are on due to the
automatic headlamps control feature
and when the ignition is turned off.
The headlamps remain on until the
exterior lamp control is moved to the
parking lamps position or until the
pre-selected delayed headlamp
lighting period has ended.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 3/29/16
206 Climate Controls
Air Delivery Mode Control :Turn
clockwise or counterclockwise to
change the current airflow mode.
By positioning the right knob
between two modes, a combination
of those two modes is selected.
H: Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
): Air is divided between the
instrument panel and floor outlets.
Some air is directed toward the
windshield and side window outlets.
Cooler air is directed to the upper
outlets and warmer air to the floor
outlets.
6: Air is directed to the floor
outlets, with some of the air directed
to the windshield, side window, and
second row floor outlets. In this
mode, the system automatically
selects outside air. Recirculation
cannot be selected while in
floor mode.
-: This clears the windows of fog
or moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield, floor outlets, and side
window vents. When this mode is
selected, the system turns off recirculation and runs the air
conditioning unless the outside
temperature is less than 4 °C (40 °
F). Recirculation cannot be selected
while in the defog mode. Do not
drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
0:
This clears the windshield of
fog or frost more quickly. Air is
directed to the windshield and side
window vents, with some to the floor
vents. In this mode, outside air is
pulled inside the vehicle.
Recirculation cannot be selected
while in the defrost mode. The air
conditioning system runs
automatically in this setting, unless
the outside temperature is less than
4 °C (40 °F). Do not drive the
vehicle until all windows are clear.
#: Press to turn the air
conditioning system on or off. An
indicator light comes on when A/C is
on. The air conditioning system
does not operate when the outside
temperature is below 4 °C (40 °F).
The indicator light flashes three
times and turns off when outside
conditions affect air conditioning
operation. This is normal. For quicker cool down on hot days:
1. Open the windows to let hot air escape.
2. Select
Hmode.
3. Select
#.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
5. Select the highest fan speed.
6. Close the windows after the hot air has escaped.
7. Once the vehicle's interior temperature is below the
outside temperature, select
@mode for faster cooling.
Using recirculation for long periods
of time could cause the air inside
the vehicle to become too dry. To
prevent this from happening, after
the inside of the vehicle has cooled,
turn the recirculation mode off.
The air conditioning system
removes moisture from the air, so
water might drip under the vehicle
while idling or after turning off the
engine. This is normal.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 3/29/16
210 Climate Controls
Changing the air delivery mode
while in automatic control places the
system into manual control. The air
delivery mode button indicator
displays, and the AUTO button
indicator light turns off.
H:Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
): Air is divided between the
instrument panel and floor outlets.
Some air is directed towards the
windshield and side window outlets.
Cooler air is directed to the upper
outlets and warmer air to the floor
outlets.
6: Air is directed to the floor
outlets, with some of the air directed
to the windshield, side window, and
second row floor outlets. In this
mode, the system uses outside air.
-: This mode clears the windows
of fog or moisture. Air is directed to
the windshield, floor outlets, and
side window vents. When this mode
is selected, the system turns off
recirculation and runs the air
conditioning compressor unless the outside temperature is less than 4 °
C (40 °F). Do not drive the vehicle
until all the windows are clear.
0:
Press to turn the defrost on or
off. This mode quickly clears the
windshield of fog or frost. Air is
directed to the windshield, side
window, and floor vents. In this
mode, outside air is pulled inside
the vehicle. The air conditioning
system runs automatically in this
setting, unless the outside
temperature is less than 4 °C (40
°F).
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
Air Conditioning
A/C : Press to turn the air
conditioning on and off. An indicator
light comes on when A/C is on.
The A/C does not work when the
outside temperature is below 4 °C
(40 °F). If A/C is pressed the
indicator flashes three times and
turns off to show that the A/C mode
is not available. If the A/C is on and
the outside temperature drops
below a temperature which is too cool for air conditioning to be
effective, the A/C indicator turns off
to show that the A/C mode has
been canceled.
On hot days, open the windows
briefly to let hot inside air escape.
This helps reduce the time it takes
for the interior of the vehicle to
cool down.
The air conditioning system
removes moisture from the air, so
water might drip under the vehicle
while idling or after turning off the
engine. This is normal.
@:
Press to alternate between
recirculating air inside the vehicle or
pulling in outside air. An indicator
light comes on when recirculation
mode is active. With each ignition
cycle, the recirculation mode is
reset to automatic. When the engine
is turned on, outside air or
recirculation is automatically
selected for better performance.
When recirculation is activated, the
air conditioning compressor comes
on and helps to quickly cool the air

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
216 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 220
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 221
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
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
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 235
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 240
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Driver Assistance Systems
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 244
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 254
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
Driving and Operating 223
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. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0240.
{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 0329.
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/Tire 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 Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
Driving and Operating 225
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how
this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.”
See Trailer Towing 0260 for
important information on towing
a trailer, towing safety rules and
trailering tips.
Example 1
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 1 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant
Weight @ 68 kg (150 lbs)
× 2 = 136 kg (300 lbs).
3.Available Occupant and
Cargo Weight = 317 kg
(700 lbs).
Example 2
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 2 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant
Weight @ 68 kg (150 lbs)
× 5 = 340 kg (750 lbs).
3.Available Cargo Weight
= 113 kg (250 lbs).

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
228 Driving and Operating
In order to shift out of P (Park), the
ignition must be in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the brake pedal
must be applied.
Caution
Using a tool to force the key to
turn in the ignition could cause
damage to the switch or break the
key. Use the correct key, make
sure it is all the way in, and turn it
only with your hand. If the key
cannot be turned by hand, see
your dealer.
((STOPPING THE ENGINE/
LOCK/OFF) : When the vehicle is
stopped, turn the ignition switch to
LOCK/OFF to turn the engine off.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
will remain active. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) 0231.
This position locks the ignition,
transmission, and the steering
wheel when the key Is removed
from the ignition. The key can be
removed in LOCK/OFF. The steering can bind with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the
key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this
does not work, then the vehicle
needs service.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF. On vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever
must be in P (Park) to turn the
ignition switch to the LOCK/
OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0239.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
ACC (ACC/ACCESSORY) : This is
the position in which you can
operate the electrical accessories or
items plugged into the accessory
power outlets. This position unlocks
the ignition and steering wheel. Use
this position if the vehicle must be
pushed or towed.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9955676) - 2017 - crc - 4/1/16
232 Driving and Operating
All these features will work when the
key is in the ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY positions.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down andset the parking brake. See
Parking Brake 0239.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by holding in the
button on the shift lever and
pushing the shift lever all the
way toward the front of the
vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the
vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, the vehicle is in
P (Park).
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
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0232.
If you are towing a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0256. If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After moving the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pressing the
button.
If you can, it means that the shift
lever was not fully locked in
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.