
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Instruments and Controls 139
TRACTION CONTROL ON
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
turned on.
Airbag System Messages
SERVICE AIRBAG
This message displays if there is a
problem with the airbag system. See
your dealer for service.
Security Messages
SERVICE THEFT ALARM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the alarm. See your
dealer for service.
SERVICE THEFT DETERRENT
SYSTEM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system. See your dealer for service.
Service Vehicle Messages
ENGINE MAINTENANCE XXX%
COMPLETE
This message displays when the
Engine Maintenance Mode is
running. See“Engine Maintenance
Mode (EMM)” underMaintenance
Modes 0183.
ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE
SERVICE SOON
This message displays when the
engine is not available due to a
malfunction that will not allow the
engine to start. The vehicle can
continue to be driven in Electric
Mode until the battery is depleted,
but will have reduced acceleration.
When this message is displayed,
the vehicle should be taken to your
dealer for service as soon as
possible. See Out of Fuel/Engine
Unavailable 0183.
SERVICE AC SYSTEM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the air conditioning
system. See your dealer for service.
SERVICE HEATER SOON
This message displays if there is a
problem with the heater system.
See your dealer for service.
SERVICE POWER STEERING
This message displays and a chime
may sound when there may be a
problem with the power steering
system. If this message displays
and a reduction in steering
performance or loss of power
steering assistance is noticed, see
your dealer for service.
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON
This message displays if there is a
problem with the vehicle. See your
dealer for service. Depending on the
severity of a crash, this message
may come on along with the airbag
readiness light.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
142 Instruments and Controls
Manage Settings
Select and the following may
display:
.Audio Volume Limit
. Teen Driver Speed Warning
Audio Volume Limit
This allows a maximum radio
volume to be set.
Select Off or On.
Teen Driver Speed Warning
This allows a warning to be set
when a certain speed is exceeded.
Select Off or On. If On is selected,
select a speed between 64 km/h
(40 mph) and 120 km/h (75 mph).
Change PIN
This allows the Personal
Identification Number (PIN) to be
changed. See “Teen Driver”in
“Settings” in the Infotainment
Manual. Key Registration
This allows the key to be registered.
See
“Teen Driver” in“Settings” in
the Infotainment Manual.
Clear All Teen Keys/PIN
This allows all Teen Driver keys and
PINs to be cleared.
Select Continue or Cancel.
Valet Mode
This will lock the infotainment
system and steering wheel controls.
It may also limit access to vehicle
storage locations (if equipped).
To enable valet mode:
1. Enter a four-digit code on the keypad.
2. Select Enter to go to the confirmation screen.
3. Re-enter the four-digit code.
Press LOCK or UNLOCK to lock or
unlock the system. Press Back to go
back to the previous menu.
Radio
Select and the following may
display:
. Manage Favorites
. Number of Favorites Shown
. Auto Volume
. Maximum Startup Volume
. Audio Cue Volume
Manage Favorites
This allows favorites to be edited.
See “Manage Favorites” in
“Settings” under“Radio” in the
infotainment manual.
Number of Favorites Shown
Select to set the number of favorites
to display.
Select the desired number or select
Auto and the infotainment system
will automatically adjust the number
of favorites shown.
Auto Volume
This feature adjusts the volume
based on vehicle speed and
ambient noise.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Lighting 149
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . 149
Headlamp High/Low-BeamChanger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 152
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel IlluminationControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Battery Power Protection . . . . . 155
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is on the
instrument panel to the left of the
steering column.
There are four positions.
O: Turns the exterior lamps off.
AUTO : Turns the exterior lamps on
and off automatically depending on
outside lighting.
;: Turns on the parking lamps
including all lamps, except the
headlamps.
5: Turns on the headlamps
together with the parking lamps and
instrument panel lights.
IntelliBeam®System
If equipped, this system turns the
vehicle's high-beam headlamps on
and off according to surrounding
traffic conditions.
The system turns the high-beam
headlamps on when it is dark
enough and there is no other traffic
present.
This light comes on in the
instrument cluster when the
IntelliBeam system is enabled.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Lighting 153
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
Move the lever all the way up or
down to signal a turn.
An arrow on the instrument cluster
will flash in the direction of the turn
or lane change.Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a lane
change. Hold it there until the lane
change is complete. If the lever is
moved momentarily to the lane
change position, the arrow will flash
three times.
The lever returns to its starting
position when it is released.
If after signaling a turn or lane
change, the arrow flashes rapidly or
does not come on, a signal bulb
may be burned out.
Have any burned out bulbs
replaced. If a bulb is not burned out,
check the fuse. See
Instrument
Panel Fuse Block 0266.
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
The brightness of the instrument
panel cluster display, infotainment
display and controls, steering wheel
controls, and all other illuminated
controls, as well as feature status
indicators can be adjusted.
The knob for this feature is on the
instrument panel beside the steering
column.
Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to brighten or dim
the lights.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
164 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 168
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 169
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 171
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 175
Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Starting and Stopping theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Electric Vehicle Operating
Modes
System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Electric Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Extended Range Mode . . . . . . . 180
Driver Selected OperatingModes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Out of Fuel/Engine Unavailable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Maintenance Modes . . . . . . . . . . 183
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Electric Drive Unit
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 188
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 190
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 190
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 193
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 196
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 203
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 204
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 211
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 213
Charging
Plug-In Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Delayed Charging Override . . . 217
Charging Status Feedback . . . 217
Charge Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Utility Interruption of Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Electrical Requirements for Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
166 Driving and Operating
Refer to the separate Infotainment
system manual for more information
on using that system, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
If equipped, refer to the navigation
manual for information on that
system, including pairing and using
a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means“always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the safety belt. See Safety
Belts 057.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
. Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
Power brake assist is available
unless the 12-volt battery drains or
there is a fault in the brake
computer.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Driving and Operating 167
Steering
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering
messages underService Vehicle
Messages 0139. See your dealer if
there is a problem.
Curve Tips
. Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
168 Driving and Operating
3. Turn the steering wheel to gostraight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
. Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go. The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a low gear or by
using Regen on Demand. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-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
happens, you and other vehicle (Continued)