Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11348462) - 2018 - crc - 5/15/17
Climate Controls 191
Manual Operation
O:Press to turn the climate control
system on or off. When off is
selected, the system will stop air
from flowing into the cabin. If on is
selected, any other button press
occurs, or a knob is turned, the
climate control system will turn on
and operate at the current setting.
Fan Control : Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the fan speed.
The selected fan speed is indicated
by a number on the display screen.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
Air Delivery Mode Controls :
Press to change the direction of the
airflow. The indicator light in the
button will turn on. The current
mode appears in the display screen.
Automatic operation is canceled and
manual mode is initiated. Press
AUTO to return to automatic
operation. To change the current mode, select
one of the following:Y:
Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
\: Air is divided between the
instrument panel outlets and the
floor outlets.
[: Air is directed to the floor
outlets.
-: Clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield and floor outlets.
0: Clears the windshield of fog or
frost more quickly. Air is directed to
the windshield.
For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
Do not drive the vehicle until all
windows are clear.
A/C (Air Conditioning) : Press to
turn the air conditioning on or off.
If the fan is turned off or the outside
temperature falls below freezing, the
air conditioning will not work. A/C (Comfort/Eco Air
Conditioning) (For Stop/Start
Vehicles) :
Press to cycle between
the comfort, eco, and off air
conditioning modes. The indicator
will be lit in comfort and eco modes,
and turns off in the off air
conditioning mode. If the fan is
turned off, the air conditioner will not
run and the indicator light will
turn off.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation and the air conditioner
runs automatically as needed. With
Stop/Start vehicles, the A/C will
return to the last selected a/c mode.
For comfort a/c, press A/C. The
indicator will turn amber. This
setting limits Auto Stops to ensure
cabin comfort is maintained and
reduces the likelihood of window
fogging.
For eco a/c, press A/C again. The
indicator will turn green. This setting
balances fuel economy and air
conditioning comfort. In warm
weather conditions, Auto Stops may
occur more frequently and the
vehicle interior may be warmer as
Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 195
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 199
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 200
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 202
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 206
Ignition Positions (KeyAccess) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Ignition Positions (Keyless Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215 Shifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Shifting out of Park (Automatic Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Parking (Manual
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Diesel Particulate Filter
Diesel Particulate Filter . . . . . . . 218
Diesel Exhaust Fluid
Diesel Exhaust Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 219
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 224
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 227
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 235
Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 236
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 240
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 242
Fuel
Fuel (Gasoline) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
California Fuel Requirements (Gasoline) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Fuels in Foreign Countries (Gasoline) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Fuel Additives (Gasoline) . . . . . 245
Fuel for Diesel Engines . . . . . . . 246
What Fuel to Use in the U.S. (Diesel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 209
{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 in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY : This mode has
an amber light and allows some
electrical accessories to be used
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 :
This mode has a
green light and is for starting the
engine and driving. With the ignition
off, and the brake or clutch 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 0209. The ignition will then
remain in ON/RUN.
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
ENGINE START/STOP 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
0 257.
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 Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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212 Driving and Operating
.The engine or transmission is
not at the required operating
temperature.
. The outside temperature is not
in the required operating range:
Above 50 °C (122 °F).
For diesel engines, below 5 °C
(41 °F).
For gasoline engines in US and
Canada, below −10 °C (14 °F).
For gasoline engines in Mexico,
below 5 °C (41 °F).
. The shift lever is in any gear
other than D (Drive).
. The battery has been recently
disconnected.
. The battery charge is low.
. The interior comfort level has not
reached the required level for
the climate control system or
defog settings. Use the eco
(green indicator on) air
conditioning mode for better
efficiency. See Automatic
Climate Control System 0190. .
The Auto Stop time is greater
than two minutes.
Diesel Engine Starting Procedure
The diesel engine starts differently
than a gasoline engine. 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle.
Observe the wait-to-start light.
See Wait-to-Start Light 0135.
This light may not come on if
the engine is warm.
2. Press the ENGINE START/ STOP button with the brake
pedal or clutch pedal applied to
START. The start will be
delayed if the wait-to-start lamp
is illuminated.
The engine has a fast warm-up
glow plug system. The
wait-to-start light will illuminate
for a much shorter time than
most diesel engines, due to the
rapid heating of the glow plug
system.Caution
If the wait-to-start light stays on
after starting the vehicle, the
vehicle may not run properly.
Have the vehicle serviced
right away.
3. If the engine does not start after 15 seconds of cranking,
wait one minute for the starter
to cool, then try the same steps
again.
If you are trying to start the engine
after you have run out of fuel, follow
the steps in Running Out of Fuel
(Diesel) 0253.
When the engine is cold, let it run
for a few minutes before you move
the vehicle. This lets oil pressure
build up. The engine will sound
louder when it's cold.
Cold Weather Starting (Diesel
Engine)
The following tips will help with cold
weather starting.
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226 Driving and Operating
Caution (Continued)
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
L : Electronic Range Select (ERS)
or Manual Mode allows for the
selection of the range of gear
positions. See Manual Mode0226.
Operating Modes
The transmission may operate in a
lower gear. The engine speed may
be higher and there may be an
increase in noise during the
following conditions:
. When climbing a grade.
. When driving downhill.
. When driving in hot
temperatures or at high altitude.
Manual Mode
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
Driver Shift Control (DSC) allows the
automatic transmission to be shifted
similar to a manual transmission. Electronic Range Select (ERS) or
Manual Mode allows the range of
gear positions to be selected. Use
this mode when driving downhill or
to limit the top gear and vehicle
speed. The shift position indicator in
the Driver Information Center (DIC)
will display a number next to the L.
This indicates the highest available
gear under Manual Mode.
To use:
1. Move the shift lever to L (Low).
2. Press + (plus) or −(minus) on
the shift lever to increase or
decrease the available gear
range.
When shifting to L (Low), the
transmission will shift to a preset
lower gear range. For this preset
range, the highest gear available is
displayed next to the L in the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base) 0138 orDriver Information
Center (DIC) (Uplevel) 0141.
All gears below that number are
available to use.
While using ERS, cruise control can
be used. The transmission will not allow
shifting to the next lower gear if the
vehicle speed or engine rpm is
too high.
If vehicle speed is not reduced
within the time allowed, the lower
gear range shift will not be
completed. Slow the vehicle, then
press
−(minus) to the desired lower
gear range.
Second Gear Start Feature
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
you may want to shift into
2 (Second) gear. A higher gear
allows you to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces.
With the DSC feature, the vehicle
can be set to pull away in
2 (Second) gear.
1. Move the shift lever from D (Drive) to L (Low).
2. With the vehicle stopped, press the + (plus) end of the button to
select 2 (Second) gear. The
vehicle will start from a stop
position in 2 (Second) gear.
3. Once moving, select the desired drive gear.
Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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250 Driving and Operating
refueling provides the best
opportunity to have a supply of fresh
fuel. Storage at hot ambient
temperatures will accelerate
biodiesel degradation.
Owners who use very little fuel,
or who have vehicles stored for
extended periods of time, should
avoid the use of biodiesel blended
fuels above 5% by volume. When
vehicles are stored for longer than
one month, they should be run out
of biodiesel to below one-quarter
tank, refueled with Ultra Low Sulfur
Diesel fuel, and driven at least
32 km (20 mi) before storage.
At temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F),
it is recommended to switch to Ultra
Low Sulfur Diesel fuel with no
biodiesel content, or to blends with
biodiesel containing less than 5% by
volume. At these extreme cold
temperatures, biodiesel blends
higher than 5% by volume may
cause fuel filter plugging and
system gelling, which can lead to
vehicle operability problems.Fuels improperly blended for cold
temperature operation may result in
restricted fuel filters and degraded
vehicle performance. GM diesel
vehicles are equipped with a fuel
heating system to provide an extra
level of protection against filter
plugging from gelling or waxing of
conventional diesel fuel and
biodiesel blends. If the operating
temperature is far below the
temperature at which gelling or
waxing of the fuel occurs, the
system cannot prevent all cases of
filter plugging.
If the vehicle experiences a fuel
filter restriction, the on-board
monitoring system will alert the
driver that the fuel filter requires
service. The fuel filter, however, will
not prevent all damage caused by
poor quality biodiesel.
Cold Weather Operation
(Diesel)
In cold weather, the fuel filter may
become clogged by wax naturally
present in the fuel. To unclog it,
move the vehicle to a warm garagearea and allow the filter to warm up.
The fuel filter may need to be
replaced. See
Fuel Filter
Replacement (Diesel) 0254.
At temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F),
it is recommended to avoid using
biodiesel blends above 5% blend.
This blend may cause fuel filter
plugging, system gelling, and
freezing that may affect vehicle
starting. You may need to place the
ignition in Service Mode and off a
few times before the vehicle will
start.
See Ignition Positions (Key Access)
0 206 orIgnition Positions (Keyless
Access) 0208. Also, idle the vehicle
for a couple of minutes before
accelerating.
For additional information for better
cold weather operation, see Engine
Heater 0213.
Water in Fuel (Diesel)
Improper fuel tank inspection or
cleaning, or contaminated fuel from
suppliers, can cause water to be
pumped into the fuel tank along with
the diesel fuel. If a WATER IN FUEL
Chevrolet Cruze Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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252 Driving and Operating
ProblemRecommended
Action
Immediately
after refueling,
message
displays and
stays on. A large amount
of water is in the
fuel tank. Drain
the fuel filter
immediately.
If the message
stays on or
comes back on
without
refueling, then
fuel tank purging
is required. See
your dealer.
If the message
displays and the
engine stalls or
runs rough, do
not drive until
the water
contaminated
fuel is drained.Caution
Driving with this message on can
damage the fuel injection system
and the engine. If the message
comes on right after a refuel,
water was pumped into the fuel
tank. Turn off the engine and
drain the water immediately.
Removing Water from the Fuel
Filter
To drain water: 1. Turn the engine off and apply the parking brake.
2. Place a container under the filter drain valve, which is on
the bottom of the fuel filter.
3. Turn the drain plugcounterclockwise using a
suitable tool.
4. With the engine off, press and hold ENGINE START/STOP
without applying the brake for
five seconds to place the
vehicle in Service Mode. Wait
approximately five seconds,
and then press ENGINE
START/STOP again to turn it
off. This operation will enhance
water flow out of the filter. The
filter is drained as soon as
diesel fuel emerges from
the port.
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Driving and Operating 253
5. Retighten the drain plug byturning it clockwise.
6. Properly dispose of the water contaminated fuel.
7. Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes. During the
draining process, air may have
entered the fuel system. If the
engine stalls, the fuel system
may need to be primed. See
“Fuel Priming” following.
Fuel Priming
For the fuel system to work properly,
air cannot be in the fuel lines. If air
gets in, the engine may not start
and the fuel lines will need to be
primed before operating the vehicle.
If air is present, the following may
have happened:
. The vehicle ran out of fuel.
. The fuel filter was removed.
. The fuel lines were removed or
disconnected.
. The fuel filter water drain valve
was opened while the engine
was running. To prime the fuel system:
1. With the engine off, press and hold ENGINE START/STOP
without applying the brake for
five seconds to place the
vehicle in Service Mode. Wait
for 30 seconds to allow fuel to
fully cycle. Press ENGINE
START/STOP again to turn it
off. Do this step three times or
more while the engine is off.
2. Press ENGINE START/STOP with the brake applied for a
maximum of 40 seconds at a
time, with five seconds
between ignition attempts, until
the engine starts. If the engine
tries to run, but does not run
smoothly, increase the RPMs
slightly by using the accelerator
pedal. This will help force air
through the system.
3. Repeat Step 2 if the engine stalls and will not restart.
4. After a few attempts, if the engine still does not start, see
your dealer.Running Out of Fuel
(Diesel)
{Warning
Diesel fuel is flammable. It could
start a fire if something ignites it,
and people could be burned. Do
not let it get on hot engine parts,
and keep matches or other
ignition sources away.
If the engine has stalled due to
running out of fuel, add at least
7.6 L (2 gal) of fuel if parked on a
level surface, or up to 18.9 L (5 gal)
of fuel if parked on a slope, and
perform the procedure under “Fuel
Priming” previously in this section.