Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10603118) - 2018 - CRC - 1/29/18
Instruments and Controls 153
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action that may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing
V. The messages that
require immediate action cannot be
cleared until that action is
performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously; clearing the message
does not correct the problem.
If a SERVICE message appears,
see your dealer.
Follow the instructions given in the
messages. The system displays
messages regarding the following
topics:
. Service Messages
. Fluid Levels
. Vehicle Security .
Brakes
. Ride Control Systems
. Driver Assistance Systems
. Cruise Control
. Lighting and Bulb Replacement
. Wiper/Washer Systems
. Doors and Windows
. Seat Belts
. Airbag Systems
. Engine and Transmission
. Tire Pressure
. Battery
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's propulsion power is
reduced. Reduced propulsion power
can affect the vehicle's ability to
accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no observed reduction in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may
be reduced the next time the vehicle
is driven. The vehicle may be driven
while this message is on, but
maximum acceleration and speed
may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, or displays
repeatedly, the vehicle should be
taken to your dealer for service as
soon as possible.
Vehicle Speed Messages
SPEED LIMITED TO
XXX KM/H (MPH)
This message shows that the
vehicle speed has been limited to
the speed displayed. The limited
speed is a protection for various
propulsion and vehicle systems,
such as lubrication, thermal,
suspension, Teen Driver if
equipped, or tires.
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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156 Instruments and Controls
.Auto Rear Defog
Auto Fan Speed
This setting specifies the amount of
airflow when the climate control fan
setting is Auto Fan.
Select Low, Medium, or High.
Auto Defog
When set to On, the front defog will
automatically react to temperature
and humidity conditions that may
cause fogging.
Select Off or On.
Auto Rear Defog
If equipped, this allows the Auto
Rear Defog to be turned on or off.
This feature will automatically turn
on the rear window defogger when it
is cold outside.
Select Off or On.
Collision/Detection Systems
Select the Collision/Detection
Systems menu and the following
may be displayed if equipped:
. Alert Type .
Forward Collision System
. Front Pedestrian Detection
. Park Assist
. Rear Cross Traffic Alert
. Adaptive Cruise Go Notifier
. Lane Change Alert
Alert Type
This feature will set crash alerts to
beeps or seat vibrations. This
setting affects all crash alerts
including Forward Collision, Lane
Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise
Control, Parking Assist, and
Backing Warning alerts.
Select Beeps or Safety Alert Seat.
Forward Collision System
This feature will turn on or off the
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) and
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB).
The Off setting disables all FCA and
FAB functions. With the Alert and
Brake setting, both FCA and FAB
are available. The Alert setting
disables FAB. See Forward
Automatic Braking (FAB) 0261. Select Off, Alert, or Alert and Brake.
Front Pedestrian Detection
This feature may help avoid or
reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes with nearby
pedestrians.
See
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
System 0263.
Select Off, Alert, or Alert and Brake.
Park Assist
If equipped, this allows the feature
to be turned on or off. See
Assistance Systems for Parking or
Backing 0256.
Select Off or On.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
This allows the Rear Cross Traffic
Alert feature to be turned on or off.
Select Off or On.
Adaptive Cruise Go Notifier
This feature will give a reminder that
Adaptive Cruise Control provides
when it has brought the vehicle to a
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 207
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 216
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 217
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 219
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 223
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 232
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 237
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 239
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 241
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 246
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 255
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 256
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 265
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 267
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 270
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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216 Driving and Operating
After operation in mud or sand,
have the brake linings cleaned and
checked. These substances can
cause glazing and uneven braking.
Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage and
check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance service
is required. SeeMaintenance
Schedule 0365.
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
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.
Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0318.
. Turn off cruise control.
. Activate All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
mode. See Driver Mode Control
0 241.
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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218 Driving and Operating
.Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
. Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode for vehicles equipped with
AWD. Select Snow/Ice Mode for
FWD only vehicles. See Driver
Mode Control 0241 and
All-Wheel Drive 0235.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0384. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers. .
Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0231.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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234 Driving and Operating
Manual Mode
Electronic Range Select
(ERS) Mode
ERS mode allows you to choose the
top-gear limit of the transmission
and the vehicle's speed while
driving downhill or towing a trailer.
The vehicle has an electronic shift
position indicator within the
instrument cluster. When using the
ERS mode a number will display
next to the L, indicating the highest
gear available for the range
selected.
To use this feature:1. Move the shift lever to L (Low).
2. Press + (Plus) or −(Minus) on
the shift lever to increase or
decrease the gear range
available.
When you shift from D (Drive) to
L (Low), the transmission will shift to
a pre-determined lower gear range.
The highest gear available for this
pre-determined range is displayed
next to the L in the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) 0150. The
number displayed in the DIC is the
highest gear that the transmission
will be allowed to operate in. This
means that all gears below that
number are available. For example,
when 4 (Fourth) is shown next to the
L, 1 (First) through 4 (Fourth) gears
are automatically shifted by the
vehicle. The transmission will not
shift into 5 (Fifth) until the + (Plus)
button is used or you shift back into
D (Drive). If the transmission is in 6 (Sixth)
gear when L (Low) is selected, a
downshift to 4 (Fourth) will be
commanded. If in 5 (Fifth) through
2 (Second) a single downshift will
occur.
While in L (Low), the transmission
will prevent shifting to a lower gear
range if the engine speed is too
high. You have a brief period of time
to slow the vehicle. If vehicle speed
is not reduced within the time
allowed, the lower gear range shift
will not be completed. You must
further slow the vehicle, then press
−
(Minus) to the desired lower gear
range.
Automatic Engine Grade Braking is
not available when the ERS is
active. It is available in D (Drive) for
both normal driving and Tow/Haul
Mode. While using the ERS, cruise
control and the Tow/Haul Mode can
be used. See “Tow/Haul Mode”
following.
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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240 Driving and Operating
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow. TCS and
StabiliTrak will automatically turn on
when cruise control is set.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck 0219
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.
Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
. Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly. If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
4. Drive the vehicle.
If
dcomes on and stays on, see
your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off
and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
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244 Driving and Operating
Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can
be maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph). If the Traction Control System (TCS)
or StabiliTrak
®electronic stability
control system begins to limit wheel
spin while using cruise control, the
cruise control automatically
disengages. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0239.
If a collision alert occurs when
cruise control is activated, cruise
control is disengaged. See Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System 0259.
When road conditions allow the
cruise control to be safely used,
cruise control can be turned
back on.
Turning off the TCS or StabiliTrak
system will disengage the cruise
control.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
J: Press to turn the system on
and off. A white indicator appears in
the instrument cluster when cruise
is turned on.
RES+ : If there is a set speed in
memory, press briefly to resume to
that speed or press and hold to
accelerate. If the cruise control is
already active, use to increase
vehicle speed.
SET− :Press briefly to set the
speed and activate cruise control.
If the cruise control is already
active, use to decrease vehicle
speed.