Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
26 In Brief
Driving for Better Energy
Efficiency
Use the following tips to help
maximize energy efficiency and
range.
In colder temperatures, while these
efficiency tips will help, the electric
vehicle driving range may be lower
due to higher energy usage.
Driving Style
Efficiency Gauge (Instrument
Cluster)
The ball indicator should be kept
green and toward the center of the
gauge for efficient operation.
Inefficient acceleration is indicated
when the ball turns yellow and
travels above the center of the
gauge.
Aggressive braking is indicated
when the ball turns yellow and
travels below the center of the
gauge.Acceleration/Braking/Coasting
Avoid unnecessary rapid
accelerations and decelerations.
Electric range is maximized at
80 km/h (50 mph) and below. Higher
speeds use more energy and can
significantly reduce electric range.
Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Plan ahead for decelerations and
coast whenever possible. For
example, do not rush to traffic
signals.
Do not shift to N (Neutral) to coast.
The vehicle recovers energy while
coasting and braking in D (Drive)
or L (Low).
Drive Mode and PRNDL Selection
Use Normal Mode when possible.
Sport Mode provides more
responsive acceleration than
Normal Mode but can reduce
efficiency.
Use Mountain Mode prior to
climbing long, steep grades in
mountainous areas. Be sure to
engage Mountain Mode before
starting to climb. Mountain Mode
reduces electric range and power
but may be needed to maintain
speeds or steep grades.
Use Hold Mode on a trip where it is
expected that all of the electric
charge will be depleted. Use Hold
Mode mainly during highway or high
speed driving to maximize both EV
miles and fuel efficiency.
Use L (Low) in heavy stop-and-go
traffic or when traveling downhill.
L (Low) requires less brake pedal
application and provides a
controlled, efficient way to slow the
vehicle down.
Climate Setting
Using the heat and air conditioning
systems decreases the energy
available for electric driving.
Optimal energy efficiency is
achieved with the heat, air
conditioning, and fan turned off.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Seats and Restraints 55
Auto Heated Seats
If equipped, the controls can be
accessed while the vehicle is on by
pressing
LorMon the center
stack.
When the vehicle is on, this feature
will automatically activate the
heated seats at the level required by
the vehicle's interior temperature.
The active high, medium, low, or off
heated seat level will be indicated
by the manual heated seat button
lights on the center stack. Use the
manual heated seat buttons on the
center stack to turn auto heated
seats off.
If the passenger seat is unoccupied,
the auto heated seats feature will
not activate that seat.
The auto heated seats feature can
be programmed to always be
enabled when the vehicle is on. See
Vehicle Personalization 0141. Remote Start Auto Heated Seats
When it is cold outside, the heated
seats turn on automatically during a
remote vehicle start. If the vehicle
has auto heated seats, the seat
heating level will automatically
change to the level required by the
vehicle's interior temperature when
the vehicle is turned on.
The indicator lights on the heated
seat buttons do not turn on during a
remote start.
The temperature performance of an
unoccupied seat may be reduced.
This is normal.
The heated seats will not turn on
during a remote start unless the
heated seats feature is enabled in
the vehicle personalization menu.
See
Vehicle Personalization 0141.
Rear Seats
Folding the Seatback
{Warning
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
{Warning
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached,
or twisted will not provide the
protection needed in a crash. The
person wearing the belt could be
seriously injured. After raising the
rear seatback, always check to be
sure that the safety belts are
properly routed and attached, and
are not twisted.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Instruments and Controls 97
Horn
Pressaon the steering wheel pad
to sound the horn.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The windshield wiper/washer lever
is on the side of the steering
column. With the ignition in ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN, move
the windshield wiper lever to select
the wiper speed.
HI : Use for fast wipes. LO :
Use for slow wipes.
INT : Move the lever up to INT for
intermittent wipes, then turn the
band up for more frequent wipes or
down for less frequent wipes.
OFF : Use to turn the wipers off.
1X : For a single wipe, briefly move
the lever down. For several wipes,
hold the lever down.
Clear snow and ice from the wiper
blades and windshield before using
them. If frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them.
Damaged blades should be
replaced. See Wiper Blade
Replacement 0258.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the
wiper motor. If the wiper motor
overheats, the windshield wipers will stop until the motor cools and the
wiper control is turned off. See
Electrical System Overload
0262.
Wiper Parking
If the vehicle is turned to
STOPPING THE VEHICLE/OFF
while the wipers are on LO, HI, or
INT, they will immediately stop.
If the windshield wiper lever is then
moved to OFF before the driver
door is opened or within 10 minutes,
the wipers will restart and move to
the base of the windshield.
If the vehicle is turned to
STOPPING THE VEHICLE/OFF
while the wipers are performing
wipes due to windshield washing,
the wipers continue to run until they
reach the base of the windshield.
f: Pull the windshield wiper
lever toward you to spray windshield
washer fluid and activate the wipers.
The wipers will continue until the
lever is released or the maximum
wash time is reached. When the
lever is released, additional wipes
may occur depending on how long
the windshield washer had been
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Instruments and Controls 111
not used to perform an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test or to
service the vehicle may affect
vehicle operation. SeeAdd-On
Electrical Equipment 0234. See
your dealer if assistance is needed.
The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
. The light is on when the engine
is running.
. The light does not come on
when the vehicle is in Service
Only Mode.
. Critical emission control systems
have not been completely
diagnosed. If this happens, the
vehicle would not be ready for
inspection and might require
several days of routine driving
before the system is ready for
inspection. This can happen if
the 12-volt battery has recently
been replaced or run down, or if
the vehicle has been recently
serviced.
See your dealer if the vehicle will
not pass or cannot be made ready
for the test.Brake System Warning
Light
The vehicle brake system consists
of two hydraulic circuits. If one
circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the
vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working.
If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected right away.
MetricEnglish
This light should come on briefly
when the engine is started. If it does
not come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is
a problem.
If the light comes on and stays on,
there is a brake problem.
{Warning
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after
the vehicle has been pulled off
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
Electric Parking Brake
Light
MetricEnglish
This light comes on when the
parking brake is applied. If the light
continues flashing after the parking
brake is released, or while driving,
there is a problem with the Electric
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Instruments and Controls 115
If the light comes on and stays on
while driving, the vehicle may have
a problem with the cooling system.
Stop and turn off the vehicle to
avoid damage to the engine.
A warning chime sounds when this
light is on.
SeeEngine Overheating 0253 for
more information.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the vehicle is
in ON/RUN. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS.
When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated. A message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) may also display. See
Tire Messages
0140. Stop as soon
as possible, and inflate the tires to
the pressure value shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label.
See Tires 0271.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
This indicates that there may be a
problem with the TPMS. The light
flashes for about one minute and
stays on steady until the vehicle is
in OFF. This sequence repeats each
time the vehicle is in ON/RUN. See
Tire Pressure Monitor
System 0280.Engine Oil Pressure Light
Caution
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine oil
low can also damage the engine.
The repairs would not be covered
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
by the vehicle warranty. Check
the oil level as soon as possible.
Add oil if required, but if the oil
level is within the operating range
and the oil pressure is still low,
have the vehicle serviced. Always
follow the maintenance schedule
for changing engine oil.
The oil pressure light should come
on briefly as the vehicle is started.
If it does not come on have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Instruments and Controls 121
Delayed (Electric Rate and
Departure Time) :The vehicle
estimates the charging start time
based on the utility rate schedule,
utility rate preference, and the
programmed departure time for the
current day of the week. The vehicle
will charge during the least
expensive rate periods to achieve a
full battery charge by the departure
time. Electrical rate information from
the utility company for the charging
location is required for this mode.
Also, if the selected electric rate
settings result in a very long charge
completion time, the vehicle will
start charging immediately upon
plug-in. For example, if the electric
rate table is set up with all “Peak”
rates and the rate preference is to
charge during “Off-Peak”rates only,
then the vehicle will start charging
immediately upon plug-in.
Charge Limit Preference Selection
The Charge Limit Preference setting
allows the customer to select their
vehicle’s charge level so it matches
the capability of their charging
location. If the vehicle consistently stops charging after plugging in, or if
a circuit breaker continues to trip,
reducing to a lower Charge Limit
Preference may resolve the issue.
The Charge Limit Preference should
be configured to match the electrical
current rating for the electrical outlet
that the charge cord is connected
to. The Charge Limit Preference
settings are:
.
Maximum: Limits AC current to
12 amps
. Reduced: Limits AC current to
8 amps
Exact current levels may vary from
the values shown in this manual.
Check the vehicle for the current
available levels. The Charge Limit Preference setting
resets to the Reduced 8 amp setting
each time the vehicle is driven.
Location Based Charging can be
enabled to maintain Maximum
12 amp setting at a specified Home
location. See
“Location Based
Charging” later in this section.
The Charge Limit Preference setting
can be changed at any time while
the center stack display is operable.
{Warning
Using a charge level that exceeds
the electrical circuit or electrical
outlet capacity may start a fire or
damage the electrical circuit. Use
the lowest charge level until a
qualified electrician inspects the
electrical circuit capacity. Use the
lowest charge level if the
electrical circuit or electrical outlet
capacity is not known.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9807421) - 2017 - CRC - 11/18/15
Instruments and Controls 131
The Average Fuel Economy display
shows the approximate average
liters per 100 kilometers (L/100 km)
or miles per gallon (mpg). This
number is calculated based on the
number of L/100 km (mpg) recorded
since the last time this menu item
was reset. This number reflects only
the approximate average fuel
economy that the vehicle has right
now, and will change as driving
conditions change. The Average
Fuel Economy can be reset along
with the trip odometer by pressing
and holding
Vwhile this display is
active.
Compass and Speed : Shows the
direction the vehicle is driving and
the vehicle speed in either
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles
per hour (mph).
Total Range : Shows the remaining
distance the vehicle can be driven
combining the electric range and
fuel range. Oil Life :
The Oil Life display shows
an estimate of the oil's remaining
useful life. If REMAINING OIL LIFE
99% is displayed, that means 99%
of the current oil life remains.
When the remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the display.
See Engine Oil Messages 0134.
The oil should be changed as soon
as possible. See Engine Oil0243.
In addition to the engine oil life
system monitoring the oil life,
additional maintenance is
recommended. See Maintenance
Schedule 0326.
Remember, the Oil Life display must
be reset after each oil change. It will
not reset itself. Also, be careful not
to reset the Oil Life display
accidentally at any time other than
when the oil has just been changed.
It cannot be reset accurately until
the next oil change. To reset the
engine oil life system, press and
hold
Vfor several seconds while
the Oil Life display is active. See
Engine Oil Life System 0245. Tire Pressure :
Shows the
approximate pressures of all four
tires. Tire pressure is displayed in
either kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds
per square inch (psi). If the pressure
is low, the value for that tire is
shown in amber. See Tire Pressure
Monitor System 0280 andTire
Pressure Monitor Operation 0281.
Average Speed : Shows the
average speed of the vehicle in
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles
per hour (mph). This average is
calculated based on the various
vehicle speeds recorded since the
last reset of this value. The average
speed can be reset by pressing and
holding
Vwhile this display is
active.
Timer : This display can be used as
a timer. To start the timer, press
V
while this display is active. The
display will show the amount of
time that has passed since the timer
was last reset. To stop the timer,
press
Vbriefly while this display
is active and the timer is running.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Instruments and Controls 133
LOW BATTERY
This message displays when the
12-volt battery voltage is low. See
Battery - North America0256.
SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
This message displays when there
is a fault in the 12-volt battery
charging system. See your dealer
for service.
SERVICE HIGH VOLTAGE
CHARGING SYSTEM
This message displays when there
is a problem with the high voltage
charging system. See your dealer
for service.
Brake System Messages
BRAKE FLUID LOW
This message displays when the
brake fluid level is low. See Brake
Fluid 0254.
RELEASE PARKING BRAKE
This message displays if the Electric
Parking Brake is on while the
vehicle is in motion. Release it
before attempting to drive. See
Electric Parking Brake 0188.
SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message displays when there
is a problem with the brake boost
system. When this message
displays, the brake pedal may be
harder to push and the stopping
distance may be longer. See your
dealer for service.
SERVICE PARKING BRAKE
This message displays when there
is a problem with the Electric
Parking Brake. See your dealer for
service.
STEP ON BRAKE TO
RELEASE PARK BRAKE
This message displays when
attempting to release the Electric
Parking Brake without the brake
pedal applied. See Electric Parking
Brake 0188.
Compass Messages
Dashes may be displayed if the
vehicle temporarily loses
communication with the Global
Positioning System (GPS).
Cruise Control Messages
CRUISE SET TO XXX
This message displays when the
cruise control is set and shows the
speed it was set to. See Cruise
Control 0194.
Door Ajar Messages
DOOR OPEN
A door open symbol will be
displayed on the DIC showing which
door is open. If the vehicle has been
shifted out of P (Park), a DOOR
OPEN message will also be
displayed. The DOOR OPEN
message may also be displayed if
the vehicle starts to move. Close the
door completely.