2017 CHEVROLET VOLT drive unit

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
186 Driving and Operating
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
propulsion system running.
If the vehicle is left with the
propulsion system running,
follow the proper steps to be sure
the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park0177 andEngine
Exhaust 0185.
Electric Drive Unit
The vehicle uses an electric
drive unit.
P : This position locks the front
wheels. It is the best position to use
when starting the propulsion system
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
{Warning
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 0177.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the
propulsion system. The vehicle has
an electric drive unit shift lock
control system. The regular brake
must be fully applied first and then
the shift lever button pressed before
shifting from P (Park) when the
vehicle is in ON/RUN. If you cannot
shift out of P (Park), ease pressure

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Driving and Operating 187
on the shift lever, then push the shift
lever all the way into P (Park) as
you maintain brake application.
Then press the shift lever button
and move the shift lever into
another gear. SeeShifting out of
Park 0178.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the electric drive unit.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the electric drive unit, see
If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0171. N :
In this position, the propulsion
system does not provide power to
the wheels. The high voltage battery
is neither charged or discharged
when in N (Neutral) at low vehicle
speeds.
D : This position is for normal
driving. It provides the best fuel
economy. If more power is needed
for passing, press the accelerator
pedal to gain the desired
acceleration
Caution
If the vehicle seems to accelerate
slowly or not respond when you
go faster, and you continue to
drive the vehicle that way, you
could damage the electric drive
unit. Have the vehicle serviced
right away. L :
This position reduces vehicle
speed without using the brakes. Use
L (Low) on very steep hills, in deep
snow, in mud, or in stop-and-go
traffic.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the electric drive
unit. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If you are stuck, do not spin the
tires. When stopping on a hill, use
the brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
196 Driving and Operating
regenerative braking depending on
vehicle conditions. At times you
might have to apply the brakes to
keep your speed down. If the brake
pedal is applied, cruise control will
disengage.
Ending Cruise Control
There are five ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Shift the electric drive unit to
N (Neutral).
. Press
5to turn the cruise
control system off completely.
. Press the Regen on Demand
paddles.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
5is pressed
or if the vehicle is turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), it allows you to
select the cruise control set speed
and following gap. Read this entire
section before using this system.
The following gap is the following
time between your vehicle and a
vehicle detected directly ahead in
your path moving in the same
direction. If no vehicle is detected in
your path, ACC works like regular
cruise control. ACC uses camera
and radar sensors. See Radio
Frequency Statement 0351.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can apply acceleration or
limited, moderate braking to
maintain the selected following gap.
To disengage ACC, apply the brake.
If ACC is controlling your vehicle
speed when the Traction Control
System (TCS) or StabiliTrak system
activates, the ACC may
automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0192. When road conditions allow ACC to be safely
used, the ACC can be turned
back on.
ACC will not engage if the TCS or
StabiliTrak system is disabled.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability
and may not have time to slow
the vehicle down enough to avoid
a collision with another vehicle
you are following. This can occur
when vehicles suddenly slow or
stop ahead, or enter your lane.
Also see
“Alerting the Driver” in
this section. Complete attention is
always required while driving and
you should be ready to take
action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving 0166.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Vehicle Care 235
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 236
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 236
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 245
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 246
Cooling System (Engine) . . . . . 248
Cooling System (High Voltage Battery) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Cooling System (Power Electronics and Charger
Modules) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 253
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Battery - North America . . . . . . 256
Electric Drive Unit Shift Lock
Control Function Check . . . . . 258
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 258
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 258
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 261
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Electrical System Overload . . . 262
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 273
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 289
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Vehicle Care 243
1. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer
Fluid 0253.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0246.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0243.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0243.
5. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
(Engine) 0248 orCooling
System (High Voltage Battery)
0 248 orCooling System
(Power Electronics and
Charger Modules) 0249.
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0254.
7. Electric Drive Unit Fluid Cap.
8. High Voltage Battery Coolant Reservoir and Pressure Cap.
See Cooling System (Engine)
0 248 orCooling System (High
Voltage Battery) 0248 or
Cooling System (Power
Electronics and Charger
Modules) 0249. 9. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0250.
10. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North
America 0305.
11. Power Electronics Coolant Reservoir and Pressure Cap.
SeeCooling System (Engine)
0 248 orCooling System (High
Voltage Battery) 0248 or
Cooling System (Power
Electronics and Charger
Modules) 0249.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0263.
13. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North
America 0305.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0245.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
258 Vehicle Care
Electric Drive Unit Shift
Lock Control Function
Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Electric Parking
Brake 0188.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move. 3. With the vehicle off and the
brake not applied, press and
hold POWER
Ofor more than
five seconds to place the
vehicle in Service Only Mode.
See Power Button 0175.
Without applying the regular
brake, try to move the shift
lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{Warning
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move. Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the Electric Parking Brake (EPB).
.
To check the EPB's holding
ability: With the propulsion
system active and the electric
drive unit in N (Neutral), slowly
remove foot pressure from the
regular brake pedal. Do this until
the vehicle is held by the
EPB only.
. To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the propulsion system
active, shift to P (Park). Then
release the EPB followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear and cracking.
See the Maintenance
Schedule 0326.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Vehicle Care 275
(2) Temporary Use Only:The
compact spare tire or temporary
use tire should not be driven at
speeds over 80 km/h (50 mph).
The compact spare tire is for
emergency use when a regular
road tire has lost air and gone
flat. If the vehicle has a compact
spare tire, see Compact Spare
Tire 0304 andIf a Tire Goes
Flat 0291.
(3) Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
:The letters and numbers
following the DOT (Department
of Transportation) code are the
Tire Identification Number (TIN).
The TIN shows the
manufacturer and plant code,
tire size, and date the tire was
manufactured. The TIN is
molded onto both sides of the
tire, although only one side may
have the date of manufacture. (4) Maximum Cold Inflation
Load Limit
:Maximum load that
can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load.
(5) Tire Inflation
:The
temporary use tire or compact
spare tire should be inflated to
420 kPa (60 psi). For more
information on tire pressure and
inflation see Tire
Pressure 0278.
(6) Tire Size
:A combination of
letters and numbers define a
tire's width, height, aspect ratio,
construction type, and service
description. The letter T as the
first character in the tire size
means the tire is for temporary
use only.
(7) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specification)
:Original
equipment tires designed to
GM's specific tire performance
criteria have a TPC specification
code molded onto the sidewall. GM's TPC specifications meet or
exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
Tire Designations
Tire Size
The following is an example of a
typical passenger vehicle
tire size.
(1) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:
The United States version of a
metric tire sizing system. The
letter P as the first character in
the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to
standards set by the U.S. Tire
and Rim Association.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
276 Vehicle Care
(2) Tire Width:The three-digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from
sidewall to sidewall.
(3) Aspect Ratio
:A two-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size
aspect ratio is 60, as shown in
item 3 of the illustration, it would
mean that the tire's sidewall is
60 percent as high as it is wide.
(4) Construction Code
:A letter
code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply
construction; the letter D means
diagonal or bias ply
construction; and the letter B
means belted-bias ply
construction.
(5) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches. (6) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load
index and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents
the load carrying capacity a tire
is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount of
air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of
the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch).
Accessory Weight
:The
combined weight of optional
accessories. Some examples of
optional accessories are, electric
drive unit, power windows,
power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire's height to its width. Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords that is located between
the plies and the tread. Cords
may be made from steel or other
reinforcing materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch)
before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See Tire
Pressure 0278.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the