
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
Driving and Operating 213
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic
keyless ignition with pushbutton
start.
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the
pushbutton start is not working, the
vehicle may be near a strong radio
antenna signal causing interference
to the Keyless Access system. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation029. To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be on and the brake pedal
must be applied.
Stopping the Engine/OFF (No
Indicator Lights) :
When the
vehicle is stopped, press ENGINE
START/STOP once to turn the
engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0218.
Automatic Transmission
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display a
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). When the vehicle is
shifted into P (Park), the ignition
system will turn OFF.
Manual Transmission
If the vehicle is stationary, the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0218. Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shift to P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or Neutral with a
manual transmission. Turn the
ignition off.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake 0229.

Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
214 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold ENGINE START/
STOP for longer than two seconds,
or press twice within five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber
Indicator Light) : This mode allows
the use of some electrical
accessories when the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing the
button one time without the brake
pedal applied will place the ignition
system in ACC/ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after
five minutes to prevent battery
rundown. ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light) :
This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off, and
the brake pedal applied, pressing
the button once will place the
ignition system in ON/RUN/START.
Once engine cranking begins,
release the button. Engine cranking
will continue until the engine starts.
See Starting the Engine 0214. The
ignition will then remain on.
Service Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding ENGINE
START/STOP for more than
five seconds will place the vehicle in
Service Mode. The instruments and
audio systems will operate as they
do in ON/RUN, but the vehicle will
not be able to be driven. The engine
will not start in Service Mode. Press
the button again to turn the
vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the
proper gear.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment
0 251.
For an 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.

Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
Driving and Operating 215
For a manual transmission, place
the shift lever in Neutral with the
parking brake engaged and apply
the brake firmly. Hold the clutch
pedal down to the floor and start the
engine.
The RKE transmitter must be inside
the vehicle for the ignition to work.
Cell phone chargers can interfere
with the operation of the Keyless
Access system. Battery chargers
should not be plugged in when
starting or turning off the engine.
To start the vehicle:1. For vehicles with an automatic transmission, press the brake
pedal, then press ENGINE
START/STOP on the
instrument panel. For vehicles
with a manual transmission,
press the clutch pedal first,
then press ENGINE
START/STOP.
If there is no RKE transmitter in
the vehicle or if there is
something causing interference with it, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will display a
message.
2. When the engine begins cranking, let go of the button
and the engine cranks
automatically until it starts.
If the battery in the RKE
transmitter is weak, the DIC will
display a message. The vehicle
can still be driven.
See “Starting the Vehicle with a
Low Transmitter Battery” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation 029. If the
RKE transmitter battery is
dead, insert it into the rear
cupholder to enable engine
starting.
3. 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. 4. If the engine does not start and
no DIC message is displayed,
wait 15 seconds before trying
again to let the cranking motor
cool down.
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 while cranking for up
to 15 seconds maximum. Wait
at least 15 seconds between
each try, to allow the cranking
motor to cool down. When the
engine starts, let go of the
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again,
repeat these steps. This clears
the extra gasoline from the
engine.

Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
216 Driving and Operating
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.
Stopping the Engine
If the vehicle has an automatic
transmission, move the shift lever to
P (Park) and press and hold
ENGINE START/STOP on the
instrument panel, until the engine
shuts off. If the shift lever is not in
P (Park), the engine shuts off and
the ignition goes to ACC/
ACCESSORY. The DIC displays
SHIFT TO PARK. Once the shift
lever is moved to P (Park), the
vehicle turns off.
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, move the shift lever to
R (Reverse) and set the parkingbrake after turning off the engine by
pressing and holding ENGINE
START/STOP.
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, before getting out of
the vehicle, shift to 1 (First) or
R (Reverse) and firmly apply the
parking brake. Then turn off the
ignition off by pressing ENGINE
START/STOP and release the
clutch pedal when the engine has
stopped.
If the RKE transmitter is not
detected inside the vehicle when it
is turned off the DIC displays a
message.
Engine Heater
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine block
heater while the vehicle is parked
in a garage or under a carport.
Property damage or personal
injury may result. Always park the
vehicle in a clear open area away
from buildings or structures.
If equipped, 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
coolant 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).
Using the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.

Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
218 Driving and Operating
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
Some vehicle accessories may be
used after the ignition is turned off.
The power windows and sunroof,
if equipped, will continue to work for
up to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
The infotainment system will
continue to work for 10 minutes,
until the driver door is opened,
or until the ignition is turned on or
placed in ACC/ACCESSORY.
Shifting Into Park
To shift into P (Park):1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake.
See Electric Parking Brake
0 229.
2. Hold the button on the shift lever and push the shift lever
toward the front of the vehicle
into P (Park).
3. Turn the ignition off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{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.
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).
See Shifting Into Park 0218. If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, the vehicle must
be in P (Park) and the parking
brake set.
Release the button and check that
the shift lever cannot be moved out
of P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of
the vehicle puts too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. This happens when
parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not
done properly and then it is difficult
to shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park). To find
out how, see
“Shifting Into Park”
previously in this section.
If torque lock does occur, the
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).

Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
Driving and Operating 219
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic shift lock control system.
The shift lock release is designed to
prevent movement of the shift lever
out of P (Park), unless the ignition is
in on and the brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. SeeJump Starting - North
America 0320.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Release the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake
0 229.
4. Press the shift lever button.
5. Move the shift lever to the desired position. If still unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. Hold the brake pedal down and press the shift lever button
again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If the shift lever still cannot be
moved from P (Park), see your
dealer.
Parking
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, before getting out of
the vehicle, move the shift lever to
1 (First) or R (Reverse), and firmly
apply the parking brake. With the
clutch pedal pressed in, turn the
ignition off by pressing ENGINE
START/STOP, and release the
clutch pedal when the engine stops.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Active Fuel Management
Vehicles with V6 and V8 engines
and an automatic transmission have
Active Fuel Management. This
system allows the engine to operate
on either all or four of its cylinders,
depending on the driving conditions.
When less power is required, such
as cruising at a constant vehicle
speed, the system will operate in
four cylinder mode, allowing the
vehicle to achieve better fuel
economy. When greater power
demands are required, such as
accelerating from a stop, passing,

Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
222 Driving and Operating
P :This position locks the drive
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting
the engine 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
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).
See Shifting Into Park 0218.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. The regular brake must be
fully applied first and then the shift lever button must be pressed before
shifting from P (Park) when the
ignition is on. If you cannot shift out
of P (Park), ease pressure 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. See
Shifting out of Park 0219.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. 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 transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0207. N :
In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
(Continued)

Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348325) - 2018 - CRC - 10/23/17
Driving and Operating 223
Caution (Continued)
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is needed for
passing, press the accelerator
pedal down.
Powertrain Braking
When driving on steep descents
with the shift lever in D (Drive)
where frequent braking is required, the transmission will shift down a
gear to help hold vehicle speed and
reduce brake wear. If the brake
continues to be pressed, the
transmission will downshift until
3 (Third) gear is reached.
If the brake is released for some
time, the transmission will upshift a
gear. If the road levels out and the
accelerator pedal is pressed, the
transmission will upshift until the
appropriate gear is reached.
Caution
If the vehicle does not shift gears,
the transmission could be
damaged. Have the vehicle
serviced right away.
Performance Shifting
While driving in Sport Mode
(L4, if equipped or V6, if equipped),
or Sport Mode and Track Mode
(V8, if equipped), if Tap Shift has not
been activated, the transmission
determines when the vehicle is
being driven in a competitive
manner. The transmission may
remain in a gear longer than it
would in the normal driving mode
based on throttle input and vehicle
lateral acceleration. If there is a
rapid reduction in throttle from a
heavy throttle position at high rpm,
the transmission will maintain the
current gear up to near redline rpm.
While braking, the transmission will
automatically downshift to the next
lower gear keeping engine speed
above approximately 3000 rpm.
If the vehicle is then driven for a
short time at a steady speed, and
without high cornering loads, the
transmission will upshift one gear at
a time until the highest available
gear is reached. After shifting to the
highest available gear, the
transmission will return to normal
Sport Mode shifting.