
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
248 Vehicle Care
Cooling System (Engine)
1. Engine Cooling Fans (Outof View)
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
{Warning
The electric fans under the hood
can start up even when the
engine is not running and can
cause injury. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan. If the coolant inside the coolant
surge tank is boiling, do not do
anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a
level surface.
The coolant level should be up to
the cold fill line. If it is not, there
might be a leak at the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump, or somewhere else in the
cooling system.
{Warning
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the vehicle if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with
the engine on, check to see if the
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, the fans should be running. If it is not, the
vehicle needs service. Turn off the
vehicle.
Cooling System (High
Voltage Battery)
During vehicle operation and also
during charging, the high voltage
battery cells in the vehicle are kept
within a normal operating
temperature range. If the high
voltage battery cell temperature
rises above the normal operating
temperature range, the battery
cooling system turns on the air
conditioning compressor and cools
the coolant until the correct battery
cell temperature is reached. If the
high voltage battery cell temperature
falls below the normal operating
temperature range, a high voltage
heater, located in the battery, heats
the coolant until the correct battery
cell temperature is reached.
During high voltage battery system
cooling, you may feel temperature
changes at the air vents due to the
extra load on the system.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Vehicle Care 249
What to Use
The high voltage battery coolant
reservoir in the vehicle is filled with
GM Premix DEX-COOL
®engine
coolant. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0334. If using this
mixture, nothing else needs to be
added.
The coolant needs to be replaced at
the appropriate interval. See
Maintenance Schedule 0326.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
The high voltage battery coolant
reservoir is located in the engine
compartment. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0242.
1. High Voltage Battery
Coolant Reservoir
2. Power Electronics Coolant Reservoir
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the high voltage battery coolant
reservoir (1). If coolant is visible but
the coolant level is below the cold
fill line on the side of the reservoir,
there could be a leak in the cooling
system.
The high voltage battery cooling
system supports the operation of
sensitive electronics that are critical
to vehicle operation. The high voltage battery cooling
system should only be serviced by a
qualified technician.
Cooling System (Power
Electronics and Charger
Modules)
The power electronics and charger
modules are cooled using the same
coolant loop.
The power electronics and charger
modules in the vehicle are kept
below a maximum temperature
threshold. If the coolant temperature
rises above this temperature
threshold, the electric cooling fans
will turn on and cool the coolant
until the correct temperature is
reached.
What to Use
The power electronics and charger
modules coolant reservoir in the
vehicle is filled with GM Premix
DEX-COOL engine coolant. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
0334. If using this
mixture, nothing else needs to be
added.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
250 Vehicle Care
The coolant needs to be replaced at
the appropriate interval. See
Maintenance Schedule0326.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
The power electronics and charger
modules coolant reservoir is located
in the engine compartment. See
Engine Compartment
Overview 0242.
1. High Voltage Battery
Coolant Reservoir 2. Power Electronics Coolant
Reservoir
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the power electronics coolant
reservoir (2). If coolant is visible but
the coolant level is below the cold
fill line on the side of the reservoir,
there could be a leak in the cooling
system.
The power electronics cooling
system supports the operation of
sensitive electronics.
The power electronics cooling
system should only be serviced by a
qualified technician.
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in the
vehicle is filled with GM Premix
DEX-COOL engine coolant. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0334. The coolant
requires changing at certain
intervals. See Maintenance
Schedule 0326. The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see
Engine Overheating 0253.
What to Use
{Warning
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use GM Premix
DEX-COOL coolant.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
256 Vehicle Care
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove
the cap and do not add fluid.
This vehicle has a high voltage
battery and a standard 12-volt
battery. The 12-volt battery is in the
rear hatch under the load floor.
If the vehicle is in a crash, the
sensing system may shut down the
high voltage system. When this
occurs, the high voltage battery is
disconnected and the vehicle will
not start. The SERVICE VEHICLE
SOON message in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will be
displayed. Before the vehicle can be
operated again, it must be serviced
at your dealer.
See“If a Crash Occurs” under
Collision Damage Repair 0348 and
High Voltage Safety Information
0 19. If an airbag has inflated, see
What Will You See after an Airbag
Inflates? 068.
Only a trained service technician
with the proper knowledge and tools
should inspect, test, or replace the high voltage battery. See your
dealer if the high voltage battery
needs service. The dealer has
information on how to recycle the
high voltage battery. There is
also information available at
http://www.recyclemybattery.com.
Keep the vehicle plugged in, even
when fully charged, to keep the high
voltage battery temperature ready
for the next drive. This is important
when outside temperatures are
extremely hot or cold.
A vehicle cover, which can reduce
sun loading on the vehicle and
improve high voltage battery life, is
available from your dealer.
Refer to the replacement number
shown on the original battery label
when a new 12-volt battery is
needed. The vehicle has an
Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) 12-volt
battery. Installation of a standard
12-volt battery will result in reduced
12-volt battery life.
When using a 12-volt battery
charger on the 12-volt AGM battery,
some chargers have an AGM
battery setting on the charger.If available, use the AGM setting on
the charger, to limit charge voltage
to 14.8 volts. Follow the charger
manufacturer's instructions.
{Warning
WARNING:
Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING.
See California Proposition
65 Warning 0236.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Vehicle Care 257
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. SeeJump Starting -
North America 0305 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Up to four weeks
. Plug in the high voltage battery
charge cord if temperatures will
exceed 35 °C (95 °F) and keep
the 12-volt battery cables
connected.
Four weeks to 12 months
. Discharge the high voltage
battery until two or three bars
remain on the battery range
indicator (Battery symbol) on the
instrument cluster.
. Do not plug in the high voltage
battery charge cord. .
Remove the black negative (−)
cable from the 12-volt battery.
Attach a trickle charger to the
battery terminals or keep the
12-volt battery cables connected
and trickle charge from the
underhood remote positive (+)
and negative (−) terminals. See
Jump Starting - North America
0305 for the location of these
terminals.
Caution
The vehicle is equipped with an
AGM/VRLA 12-volt battery, which
can be damaged by using the
incorrect type of trickle charger.
An AGM/VRLA-compatible
charger must be used, with the
appropriate setting selected.
Follow the trickle charger
manufacturer instructions.
Reconnecting the 12-Volt Black
Negative Cable
With the 12-volt black negative (−)
cable disconnected, the hatch
cannot be opened by pressing the hatch release button. If the hatch is
closed and latched after power has
been disconnected:
1. Use the door key to open the driver door.
2. Manually unlock and open one of the rear doors.
3. Lower one of the rear seatbacks.
4. Pull the load floor cover forward to access and
reconnect the 12-volt battery
black negative (−) cable.
5. After the cable has been connected, open the rear hatch
and then tighten the cable.
After the battery cable is
reconnected, it is possible that the
vehicle may not operate in Electric
Mode. If this happens, the high
voltage battery may need to be
charged.

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Vehicle Care 305
Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
Do not mix the compact spare tire or
wheel with other wheels or tires.
They will not fit. Keep the spare tire
and its wheel together.
Caution
Tire chains will not fit the compact
spare. Using them can damage
the vehicle and the chains. Do not
use tire chains on the compact
spare.
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North
America
Jump starting is connecting jumper
cables between the two vehicles to
enable vehicle starting. If the Volt or
another vehicle has a run-down
12-volt battery, it can be jump
started using good condition jumper
cables. There are different
procedures depending on if the Volt
has a run-down battery or another
vehicle has a run-down battery.
Read the appropriate procedures
that follow.
{Warning
The high voltage battery cannot
be jump started either with
another vehicle or battery
charger. Personal injury, death,
or damage to the vehicle could
result.
{Warning
WARNING:Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING.
See California Proposition
65 Warning 0236.
{Warning
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
. They contain acid that can
burn you.
. They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
(Continued)

Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
306 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
.They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you.
{Warning
Electric fans can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fans.
Caution
Ignoring these steps could result
in costly damage to the vehicle
that would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Trying to start
the vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage
the vehicle.
Jump Starting the Volt
If the Volt will not start, the 12-volt
battery may be run down. To jump
start the Volt use the underhood
remote positive (+) and negative (−)
terminals.
1. Remote Positive (+) Terminal
2. Remote Negative (−) Terminal
1. The other vehicle used to jump start the Volt must have a
12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
Caution
If the other vehicle does not have
a 12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be
damaged. Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump starting.
2. Park both vehicles close enough so that the jumper
cables can reach both vehicles'
positive (+) and negative (−)
terminals. The vehicles must
not touch each other. It could
cause an unwanted ground
connection that could damage
both vehicles' electrical
systems.
Put both vehicles in P (Park)
for an automatic transmission
or electric drive unit. For a
manual transmission, place the
vehicle in Neutral and set the
parking brake.