Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461811) - 2019 - crc - 11/5/18
Driving and Operating 169
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 183
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 184
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 186
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 190
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Parking (Manual
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Active Fuel Management . . . . . 197
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 199
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 203
Active Rev Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 207
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 209
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 211 Competitive Driving Mode (SS,
ZL1 and 1LE
Models Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . . 217
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 220
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 222
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 226
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Recommended Fuel (3.6L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Recommended Fuel (2.0L L4 Turbo Engine and 6.2L
V8 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Recommended Fuel (6.2L V8 Supercharged Engine) . . . . . . 229
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 230
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461811) - 2019 - crc - 11/5/18
170 Driving and Operating
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
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 Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 173
3. Turn the steering wheel to gostraight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions: .
Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Track Events and
Competitive Driving
{Danger
High-performance features are
intended for use only on closed
tracks by experienced and
qualified drivers and should not
be used on public roads.
High-speed driving, aggressive
cornering, hard braking, and other
high-performance driving can be
dangerous. Improper driver inputs
for the conditions may result in
loss of control of the vehicle,
which could injure or kill you or
others. Always drive safely.
If the vehicle is a Camaro High
Performance model, see the
additional items in the Camaro High
Performance supplement.
Track events or competitive driving
may affect the vehicle warranty. See
the warranty manual before using
the vehicle for racing or other
competitive driving.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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178 Driving and Operating
Goodwrench 12345493). Install
the calipers with two screws (1)
per corner. Torque the caliper
bolts to 200Y(148 lb ft).
13. Reinstall the front wheels using the wheel nut torque. See
Capacities and Specifications
0334.
Caution
After a track event, remove the
tall deflector and the small splash
shield and reinstall the original
deflector and splash shield.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
Failure to reinstall the original
parts may lead to corrosion, loss
of output, noise, premature brake
pad and rotor wear, reduced
high-speed wet braking, and
damage to the tall deflector.
14. After a track event, repeat the steps to reinstall the original
lower control arm deflectors
and splash shields.
15. Reinstall the tire deflectors.
Custom Launch Control (If
Equipped)
Custom Launch Control allows the
following parameters for Launch
Control to be modified:
. Launch RPM
. Slip Target (5%–15%)
. Surface Type To adjust the Launch RPM, all of
these conditions must be met:
.
The vehicle must be in Track
Mode. See “Track Mode” under
Driver Mode Control 0211.
. Performance Traction
Management (PTM) Mode must
be enabled. For convertibles,
and SS equipped with 10-speed
automatic, Competitive Driving
Mode must be enabled. See
Driver Mode Control 0211.
. The steering wheel must be
straight.
. The driver door must be closed.
. The transmission must be in a
gear other than R (Reverse).
It will work in P (Park) or
N (Neutral).
. The parking brake must not be
engaged.
For more information on
Competitive Driving Mode, see
Competitive Driving Mode (SS,
ZL1 and 1LE Models Only) 0215.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 183
applied, Line Lock releases, and
Custom Launch Control will be
disabled.
Ensure the parking brake is
disengaged to re-enter Launch
Control.
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 Tires0273.
. Turn off cruise control.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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184 Driving and Operating
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, crash).
. 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 0209.
. 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) 0206.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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186 Driving and Operating
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 209.
{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. Turn off any traction system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission 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 transmission 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 0306.
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.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle.
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202 Driving and Operating
descending hills, to stay in gear
longer, or to downshift for more
power or engine braking.
The transmission will only allow you
to shift into gears appropriate for the
vehicle speed and engine
revolutions per minute (rpm). The
transmission will not automatically
shift to the next lower gear if the
engine rpm is too high, nor to the
next higher gear when the maximum
engine rpm is reached.
While in the DSC mode, the
transmission will automatically
downshift as the vehicle comes to a
stop. This will allow for more power
during take-off.
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
you may want to shift into second
gear. A higher gear allows the
vehicle to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces.Tap Shift
Tap Shift allows you to manually
control the automatic transmission.
To use Tap Shift, the shift lever must
be in DSC mode. Vehicles with this
feature have indicators on the
steering wheel. The paddles are on
the back of the steering wheel. Tap
the left paddle (−) to downshift, and
the right paddle (+) to upshift. The
Driver Information Center (DIC)
display indicates the gear the
vehicle is in.Holding the left paddle for an
extended time will downshift the
transmission to the lowest
available gear.
While in Manual Mode, the
transmission will prevent shifting to
a lower gear if the engine speed is
too high. If the tap down
−(Minus)
paddle is held while the vehicle
slows down, the M in the DIC will
flash, and the downshift will be
allowed when vehicle speed is low
enough. Continuing to hold the tap
down −(Minus) paddle will not
cause the transmission to continue
downshifting. Each downshift must
be requested separately by
releasing and reapplying the tap
down −(Minus) paddle.
Vehicles equipped with a Head-Up
Display (HUD) may also have shift
timing lights across the top of the
display.
The rows of lights get closer
together as the shift point gets
closer. Shift the transmission before
the lights come together in the
display. Shift immediately if the
lights are flashing.