Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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228 Driving and Operating
equipment installation instructions.
Contact your dealer for more
information.
Caution
Do not use portable or stationary
backup generating equipment to
charge the vehicle. This may
cause damage to the vehicle's
charging system. Only charge the
vehicle from utility supplied
power.
Fuel
GM recommends the use of TOP
TIER detergent gasoline to keep the
engine cleaner and reduce engine
deposits. See www.toptiergas.com
for a list of TOP TIER detergent
gasoline marketers and applicable
countries.
Do not use any fuel labeled E85 or
FlexFuel. Do not use gasoline with
ethanol levels greater than 15% by
volume.
Use regular unleaded gasoline
meeting ASTM specification D4814
with a posted octane rating of 87 orhigher. Do not use gasoline with a
posted octane rating of less than 87,
as this may cause engine knock and
will lower fuel economy.
Prohibited Fuels
Caution
Do not use fuels with any of the
following conditions; doing so
may damage the vehicle and void
its warranty:
. For vehicles which are not
FlexFuel, fuel labeled
greater than 15% ethanol by
volume, such as mid-level
ethanol blends (16 –50%
ethanol), E85, or FlexFuel.
. Fuel with any amount of
methanol, methylal, and
aniline. These fuels can
corrode metal fuel system
parts or damage plastic and
rubber parts.
(Continued)
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Driving and Operating 229
Caution (Continued)
.Fuel containing metals such
as methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT), which can damage
the emissions control
system and spark plugs.
. Fuel with a posted octane
rating of less than the
recommended fuel. Using
this fuel will lower fuel
economy and performance,
and may decrease the life of
the emissions catalyst.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal specifications, but emission
control system performance may be
affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp could turn on and the vehicle
may not pass a smog-check test.
See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0114. If this
occurs, return to your authorized
dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is
caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post
fuel octane ratings in anti-knock
index (AKI). For fuel not to use in a
foreign country, see “Prohibited
Fuels” inFuel 0228.
Fuel Additives
To keep fuel systems clean, TOP
TIER detergent gasoline is
recommended. See Fuel0228. If TOP TIER detergent gasoline is
not available, one bottle of GM Fuel
System Treatment Cleaner added to
the fuel tank at every engine oil
change, can help. GM Fuel System
Treatment Cleaner is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Filling the Tank
{Warning
Fuel vapors and fuel fires burn
violently and can cause injury or
death.
. To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow
all the instructions on the
fuel pump island.
. Turn off the engine when
refueling.
. Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away
from fuel.
(Continued)
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Driving and Operating 231
4. After refueling, reinstall the fuelcap by turning it clockwise until
it clicks. Close the fuel door.
{Warning
Overfilling the fuel tank by more
than three clicks of a standard fill
nozzle may cause:
. Vehicle performance issues,
including engine stalling and
damage to the fuel system.
. Fuel spills.
. Potential fuel fires.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Wait a
few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the
nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care 0315.
{Warning
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Caution
If a new fuel cap is needed, be
sure to get the right type of cap
from your dealer. The wrong type
of fuel cap may not fit properly,
may cause the malfunction
indicator lamp to light, and could
damage the fuel tank and
emissions system. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0114.
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container
{Warning
Filling a portable fuel container
while it is in the vehicle can cause
fuel vapors that can ignite either
by static electricity or other
means. You or others could be
badly burned and the vehicle
could be damaged. Always:
. Use approved fuel
containers.
. Remove the container from
the vehicle, trunk, or pickup
bed before filling.
. Place the container on the
ground.
. Place the nozzle inside the
fill opening of the container
before dispensing fuel, and
keep it in contact with the fill
opening until filling is
complete.
(Continued)
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232 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.Fill the container no more
than 95% full to allow for
expansion.
. Do not smoke, light
matches, or use lighters
while pumping fuel.
. Avoid using cell phones or
other electronic devices.
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
The vehicle is neither designed nor
intended to tow a trailer or another
vehicle.
For information on towing a disabled
vehicle, see Towing the Vehicle
0 311. For information on towing the
vehicle behind another vehicle such
as a motor home, see Recreational
Vehicle Towing 0313.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine
Light) 0114. A device connected
to the DLC —such as an
aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
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234 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 235
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 236
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 242
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 243
Cooling System (Engine) . . . . . 245
Cooling System (High Voltage Battery) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Cooling System (Power Electronics and Charger
Modules) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 250
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Battery - North America . . . . . . 253
Electric Drive Unit Shift Lock
Control Function Check . . . . . 255
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 256
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 256
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 260
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Electrical System Overload . . . 261
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 262
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 273
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 289
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
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Vehicle Care 235
Storing the Tire Sealant andCompressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 305
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
{Warning
Most motor vehicles, including
this one, as well as many of its
service parts and fluids, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and
systems, many fluids, and some
component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0253
and Jump Starting - North America
0 306 and the back cover.
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Vehicle Care 237
Warning (Continued)
High voltage components are
identified by labels. Do not
remove, open, take apart,
or modify these components.
High voltage cable or wiring has
orange covering. Do not probe,
tamper with, cut, or modify high
voltage cable or wiring.
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have
the proper knowledge, service
manual, tools, or parts. Always
follow owner’s manual procedures
and consult the service manual
for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the proper service manual, see
Service
Publications Ordering Information
0 351.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Airbag System
Check 077.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0337.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Turn the vehicle off before opening the hood. If the vehicle
is on, the engine will start when the hood is opened.
See
Electric Mode 0176 and
Extended Range Mode 0177.
2. Pull the release handle with
this symbol. It is below the
instrument panel outboard of
the steering wheel.
3. Go to the front of the vehicleand locate the secondary
release lever under the front
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Vehicle Care 239
Engine Compartment Overview