
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10122735) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
188 Climate Controls
To allow outside air to enter in these
conditions, press the recirculation
button twice. The recirculation
indicator will not be lit.
M/L:If equipped, press to heat
the driver or passenger seat. See
Heated Front Seats 056.
Rear Window and Outside
Mirror Defogger
1:Press to turn the rear window
and outside mirror defogger on or
off. An indicator light comes on to
show that the feature is on.
The rear window defogger turns off
after about 10 minutes. It can also
be turned off by pressing
1again
or by turning the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF.
If turned on again it runs for about
five minutes before turning off.
If equipped with heated outside
mirrors, they turn on with the rear
window defogger and help to clear
fog or frost from the surface of the
mirror. See Heated Mirrors 045.
Caution
Using a razor blade or sharp
object on the inside rear window
can damage the antenna or
defogger. Repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Do not stick anything to the rear
window.
Air Vents
Use the air vents in the center and
on the side of the instrument panel
to direct the airflow. Move the slats
on the center air vents to direct
airflow.
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
the performance of the system.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10122735) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
Driving and Operating 191
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Driving Environment . . . . . . . . . . 192
Vehicle Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 196
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 197
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 198
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 203
Ignition Positions (KeyAccess) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Ignition Positions (Keyless Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 214
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 216
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 220
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Driver Assistance Systems
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 225
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 234
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10122735) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
Driving and Operating 197
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (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 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 0221.
. 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) 0219.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10122735) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
Driving and Operating 199
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 0221.
{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 0308.
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 TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10122735) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
Driving and Operating 207
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
while starting the vehicle, damage
may occur to the hydraulic power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the vehicle
when it is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped. Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in Neutral
and the parking brake engaged.
Hold the clutch pedal down to the
floor and start the engine.
Starting Procedure (Key Access)
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When
the engine starts, let go of the
ignition.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission gently
to allow the oil to warm up and
lubricate all moving parts.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you hold the key in START for
up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try,
to allow the cranking motor to
cool down. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and the
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do
the same thing. This clears the
extra gasoline from the engine.
Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10122735) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
208 Driving and Operating
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Starting Procedure (Keyless
Access) 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or if the RKE
transmitter battery is low, the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
will display a message. See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
0125 andRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation
(Keyless Access) 031 or
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key
Access) 028.Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you hold ENGINE START/
STOP, for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try,
to allow the cranking motor to
cool down.
When the engine starts, let go
of the button and the
accelerator. If the vehicle starts briefly but then stops again,
follow the same steps. This
clears the extra gasoline from
the engine.
Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Engine Heater
Vehicles with the 1.4L engine may
have an engine heater. The engine
heater can help in cold weather
conditions at or below
−18 °C (0 °F)
for easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
Plug in the heater at least four hours
before starting the vehicle. An
internal thermostat in the plug end
of the cord will prevent engine
heater operation at temperatures
above −18 °C (0 °F).
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10122735) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
Driving and Operating 209
2. Open the hood and unwrap theelectrical cord. The cord is
located in the driver side of the
engine compartment, near the
battery. It is shipped from the
factory with a tie holding it in
place. Use care in removing
the tie so that the cord is not
damaged.
Check the heater cord for
damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
. Plug the cord into a
three-prong electrical utility
receptacle that is protected
by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded
outlet could cause an
electric shock.
. Use a weatherproof,
heavy-duty, 15 amp-rated
extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the
recommended extension
cord in good operating
condition, or using a
damaged heater or
extension cord, could make
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
it overheat and cause a fire,
property damage, electric
shock, and injury.
. Do not operate the vehicle
with the heater cord
permanently attached to the
vehicle. Possible heater
cord and thermostat
damage could occur.
. While in use, do not let the
heater cord touch vehicle
parts or sharp edges. Never
close the hood on the
heater cord.
. Before starting the vehicle,
unplug the cord, reattach
the cover to the plug, and
securely fasten the cord.
Keep the cord away from
any moving parts.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10122735) - 2017 - crc - 7/12/16
210 Driving and Operating
away from moving engine
parts. If you do not it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer in the
area where you will be parking the
vehicle for the best advice on this.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories may be
used for up to 10 minutes after the
engine is turned off:
. Audio System
. Power Windows
. Sunroof
The power windows and sunroof will
continue to work for up to
10 minutes or until any door is
opened. The radio will work when
the ignition is on or in ACC/
ACCESSORY. Once the ignition is
turned from on to off, the radio will
continue to work for 10 minutes,
or until the driver door is opened.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake 0219.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pressing the button
on the shift lever and pushing
the lever all the way toward the
front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running (Automatic
Transmission)
{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. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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).
SeeShifting Into Park 0210.
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 you have moved
the shift lever into P (Park), hold the
brake pedal down. Then see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pushing the
button on the shift lever. If you can,
it means that the shift lever was not
fully locked into P (Park).