Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461811) - 2019 - crc - 11/5/18
172 Driving and Operating
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Curve Tips
.
Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461811) - 2019 - crc - 11/5/18
Driving and Operating 175
Caution
During a first time track or racing
event, high rear axle
temperatures can occur. Damage
could be caused to the rear axle
and would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Do not drive as
long or as fast the first time the
vehicle is driven on the track or
raced.
Brake Fluid
For track events or competitive
driving, it is recommended that the
brake fluid be replaced with a high
performance brake fluid that has a
dry boiling point greater than 279 °C
(534 °F). After conversion to the
high performance brake fluid, follow
the brake fluid service
recommendations outlined by the
fluid manufacturer. Do not use
silicone or DOT-5 brake fluids.
Brake Burnishing
To prepare the Camaro brake
systems for track events and racing,
complete the appropriate high
performance brake burnishing
procedure described below.
New brake pads must be burnished
before racing or competitive driving.
Caution
These procedures are specific to
the Camaro SS, or LT with Y4Q
Heavy Duty Cooling System that
is equipped with J55 brakes. This
procedure should not be run on
other Camaro models as damage
may result.
Caution
The new vehicle break-in period
should be completed before
performing the brake burnishing(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
procedure or damage may occur
to the powertrain/engine. See
New Vehicle Break-In0190.
When performed as instructed, this
procedure will not damage the
brakes. During the burnishing
procedure, the brake pads will
smoke and produce an odor. The
braking force and pedal travel may
increase. After the procedure is
complete, the brake pads may
appear white at the rotor contact.
Run this procedure in a safe
manner and in compliance with all
local and state ordinances/laws
regarding motor vehicle operation.
Run this procedure only on dry
pavement.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461811) - 2019 - crc - 11/5/18
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-
12461811) - 2019 - crc - 11/5/18
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-
12461811) - 2019 - crc - 11/5/18
200 Driving and Operating
all the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then
press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever into another
gear. SeeShifting out of Park 0196.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0186.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is needed for
passing, press the accelerator
pedal down.
Powertrain Braking
When driving on steep descents
with the shift lever in D (Drive)
where frequent braking is required,
the transmission will shift down a
gear to help hold vehicle speed and
reduce brake wear. If the brake
continues to be pressed, the
transmission will downshift until
3 (Third) gear is reached.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461811) - 2019 - crc - 11/5/18
204 Driving and Operating
Shift Pattern–L4 and V6 Engines
These are the shift patterns for the
6-speed manual transmissions.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the manual transmission
fluid is too hot. Driving at high
speed under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Drive at a
slower speed, or stop and idle the
engine to cool the manual
transmission fluid. The message (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
clears when the vehicle has
slowed and the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
To operate the transmission:
1 : Press the clutch pedal to the
floor and shift into 1 (First). Then
slowly let up on the clutch pedal
while pressing the accelerator
pedal.
Shift into 1 (First) when going less
than 65 km/h (40 mph). If the vehicle
comes to a complete stop and it is
hard to shift into 1 (First), put the
shift lever in Neutral and let up on
the clutch. Press the clutch pedal
back down to the floor. Then shift
into 1 (First).
2 : Press the clutch pedal to the
floor while letting up on the
accelerator pedal and shift into
2 (Second). Then, slowly let up on
the clutch pedal while pressing the
accelerator pedal. 3, 4, 5, and 6 :
Shift into 3 (Third),
4 (Fourth), 5 (Fifth), and 6 (Sixth) the
same way as for 2 (Second). Slowly
let up on the clutch pedal while
pressing the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brake pedal.
Just before the vehicle stops, press
the clutch pedal and the brake
pedal, and shift to Neutral.
Neutral : Use this position when
starting or idling the engine. The
shift lever is in Neutral when it is
centered in the shift pattern, not in
any gear.
R : To back up, press the clutch
pedal to the floor and shift into
R (Reverse). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the
accelerator pedal.
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 217
Automatic Transmissions
.The brake pedal must be firmly
pressed to the floor, equivalent
to a panic brake event.
. The accelerator pedal is rapidly
applied to wide open throttle. (If
the vehicle rolls due to wide
open throttle, release the
throttle, press the brake pedal
more firmly, and re-apply the
accelerator to wide open
throttle.)
After the vehicle is launched, the
system continues in Competitive
Driving Mode.
Competitive Driving Mode and
Launch Control are systems
designed for a closed course race
track and not intended for use on
public roads. The systems are not
intended to compensate for lack of
driver experience or familiarity with
the race track.Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Vehicles with a limited-slip rear axle
can give more traction on snow,
mud, ice, sand, or gravel. When
traction is low, this feature allows
the drive wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle. The
limited-slip rear axle also gives the
driver enhanced control when
cornering hard or completing a
maneuver, such as a lane change.
For vehicles with limited-slip
differential, driven under severe
conditions, the rear axle fluid should
be changed.
See Competitive Driving Mode (SS,
ZL1 and 1LE Models Only) 0215
and Maintenance Schedule 0320.
Cruise Control
When using cruise control, the
vehicle can maintain a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more
without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. Cruise control does not
work at speeds below 40 km/h
(25 mph).
{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.
If equipped with a manual
transmission, the cruise control will
remain active when the gears are
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12461811) - 2019 - crc - 11/5/18
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 246
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 248
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Engine Air Filter Life System (2.0L LTG and 3.6L LGX
Engines Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 249
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 255 Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Battery - North America . . . . . . 260
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 261
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 261
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 262
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 263
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 266
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 266
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 267 Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 277
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291