Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349113) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
156 Climate Controls
Pressing any of the air delivery
buttons cancels automatic air
delivery control and the direction of
the airflow can be controlled
manually. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation.
To change the current mode, select
one or more of the following:
0:Air is directed to the
windshield.
d: Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
c: Air is directed to the floor
outlets.
0MAX : Air is directed to the
windshield and the fan runs at a
higher speed. Fog or frost is cleared
from the windshield more quickly.
When the button is pressed again,
the system returns to the previous
mode setting.
For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting. If
0MAX is selected in eco or
MAX mode, air conditioning or
electric heat may turn on and have
a noticeable effect on vehicle
electric range and fuel economy.
@: Press to turn on recirculation.
An indicator light comes on. Air is
recirculated to quickly cool the
inside of the vehicle or to reduce the
entry of outside air and odors. The
recirculation mode is not available in
Defrost or Defog modes.
Pressing this button cancels
automatic recirculation. Press AUTO
to return to automatic operation;
recirculation runs automatically as
needed.
Auto Defog : The system will
monitor high humidity inside the
vehicle. When high humidity is
detected, the climate control system
may adjust to outside air supply and
turn on the air conditioner or the
heater. The fan speed may slightly
increase to help prevent fogging.
When high humidity is no longer
detected, the system will return to
its prior operation. To turn Auto Defog off or on, see
“Climate and
Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization 0137.
LorM:If equipped, pressLorMto heat the driver or passenger seat.
See Heated Front Seats 056.
Auto Heated Seats : If equipped,
the controls can be accessed while
the vehicle is on by pressing
Lor
Mon 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.
See Heated Front Seats 056 and
Vehicle Personalization 0137.
Rear Window Defogger
K:Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light
on the button comes on to show that
the rear window defogger is on.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Climate Controls 157
The defogger only works when the
vehicle is on. The defogger will turn
off if the vehicle is turned off.
If equipped with heated outside
rearview mirrors, they turn on when
the rear window defogger button is
on and help to clear fog or frost from
the surface of the mirror. See
Heated Mirrors048.
Caution
Do not try to clear frost or other
material from the inside of the
front windshield and rear window
with a razor blade or anything
else that is sharp. This may
damage the rear window
defogger grid and affect the
radio's ability to pick up stations
clearly. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Remote Start : The climate control
system may be started by using the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. The climate control system will default to an appropriate
heating or cooling mode. See
Remote Start
038.
If equipped, the heated seats will
turn on if it is cold outside. The
heated seat indicator light may not
come on during a remote start.
If equipped, the heated steering
wheel will come on if it is cold
outside. The heated steering wheel
indicator light may not come on
during a remote start.
The rear window defogger turns on
if it is cold outside.
Compressor
The vehicle has an electric powered
air conditioning compressor. This
allows for continuous air
conditioning and/or high voltage
battery cooling operation, without
running the engine.
The compressor operating speed is
not tied to the engine speed, so
some noise may be heard from the
compressor, especially when air
conditioning use is high and the
engine has turned off. This is
normal.
Sensors
Solar Sensor
The solar sensor is on top of the
instrument panel, near the
windshield, where it monitors solar
intensity.
The climate control system uses the
sensor information to adjust the
temperature, fan speed,
recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort.
Do not cover the sensor; otherwise
the automatic climate control system
may not work properly.
Humidity Sensor
The humidity sensor is near the
base of the inside rearview mirror.
The climate control system uses the
sensor information to adjust the
temperature and recirculation for
best comfort.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349113) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
158 Climate Controls
Outside Air Temperature Sensor
The outside air temperature sensor
is behind the front grille of the
vehicle. The vehicle uses the sensor
information to display outside air
temperature. The climate control
system uses the information to
adjust the climate system operation.Air Vents
Use the louvers on the air vents to
change the direction of the airflow,
or to open and close off the airflow.
Operation Tips
.Keep all outlets open whenever
possible for best system
performance.
. Keep the path under all seats
clear of objects to help circulate
the air inside the vehicle more
effectively. .
Clear snow off the hood to
improve visibility and help
decrease moisture drawn into
the vehicle.
. Do not use non-GM approved
hood deflectors. They can
adversely affect the performance
of the system.
. Do not attach any devices to the
air vent slats. This restricts
airflow and may cause damage
to the air vents.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Climate Controls 159
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The filter removes dust, pollen, and
other airborne irritants from outside
air that is pulled into the vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part
of routine scheduled maintenance.
SeeMaintenance Schedule 0327.
To find out what type of filter to use,
see Maintenance Replacement
Parts 0336.
1. Open the glove box door (1)
completely. Grasp the edges of
the side instrument panel
trim (2) and pull to remove from
the instrument panel.
2. Remove the five screws and
pull the entire glove box toward
you to release completely. The
service door can now be
accessed.
3. Release the retainer clipsholding the service door. Open
the service door and remove
the old filter.
4. Install the new air filter.
5. Close the service door and attach the retainer clips.
6. Reverse the steps to reinstall the glove box.
See your dealer if additional
assistance is needed.
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Driving and Operating 161
Utility Interruption ofCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Electrical Requirements for Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 229
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep
your eyes on the road, keep your
hands on the steering wheel, and
focus your attention on driving.
. Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
. Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices. .
Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
. Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
. Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
. Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
. Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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166 Driving and Operating
.Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For slippery road driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0189.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner than when on dry pavement.
See
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0185.
. 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.
Stay with the vehicle unless there is
help nearby. If possible, use
Roadside Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0345. 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.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
(Continued)
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 167
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0182.
To save fuel, start the vehicle 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 the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
The Traction Control System (TCS)
must be turned off by pressing the
TCS/ESC button. Traction control is
not completely off, but will only
engage if the maneuver can cause
damage to the electric drive unit.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, spinning the wheels as little as
possible. The Traction Control
System prevents the tires from
spinning at high speeds. To prevent
electric drive unit wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the electric drive unit is in
gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see
Towing the Vehicle 0311.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it may
properly carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.
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288 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
developed for the vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires 0286 and
Accessories and Modifications
0 236.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in
the United States. The grades
are molded on the sidewalls of
most passenger car tires. The
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) system does not apply
to deep tread, winter tires, compact spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production
tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they
must also conform to federal
safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition To
These Grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test
course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and
one-half (1½) times as well on
the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and
differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from
highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on