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Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
2019 - CRC - 4/26/18
160 Climate Controls
fan control to 0 turns the fan off. The
fan must be turned on to run the air
conditioning compressor.
Air Delivery Mode Control :Turn
clockwise or counterclockwise to
change the current airflow mode.
Select from the following air delivery
modes:
Y: Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
\: Air is divided between the
instrument panel and floor outlets.
[: Air is directed to the floor
outlets.
W: This mode clears the windows
of fog or moisture. Air is directed to
the floor, windshield, and side
window outlets.
1: This mode clears the
windshield of fog or frost more
quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and side window outlets.
Do not drive the vehicle until all
windows are clear. In defrost or defog mode, excessive
air conditioning use can cause the
windows to fog. If this happens,
change the air delivery mode to
Y
and reduce the fan speed.
A/C :
If equipped with air
conditioning, follow these steps to
use the system. Turn
Ato the
desired speed. The air conditioning
does not operate when the fan
control knob is in the off position.
Press A/C to turn the air
conditioning on and off. When A/C
is pressed, an indicator light comes
on to show that the air conditioning
is on.
For quick cool down on hot days:
1. Open the windows to let hot air escape.
2. Press
M.
3. Press A/C.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
5. Select the highest
Aspeed. Using these settings together for
long periods of time may cause the
air inside the vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening,
after the air in the vehicle has
cooled, turn the recirculation
mode off.
M:
This mode recirculates and
helps to quickly cool the air inside
the vehicle. It can be used to reduce
the entry of outside air and odors.
Press
Mto turn the recirculation
mode on. An indicator light comes
on to show that the recirculation is
on. Press
Magain to return to
outside air mode.
Using the recirculation mode for
extended periods may cause the
windows to fog. If this happens,
select the defrost mode.
If the air delivery mode is set to
W
or1, A/C operation and outside air
mode will be fixed to defog or
defrost as quickly as possible
regardless of indicator status.
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Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
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Climate Controls 161
Rear Window and Outside
Mirror Defogger
1:Press to turn the rear window
and outside mirror defogger on or
off. An indicator light comes on to
show that the feature is on.
The rear window defogger can
be turned off by pressing
1again
or by turning the ignition off or to
ACC/ACCESSORY.
If equipped with heated outside
mirrors, they turn on with the rear
window defogger and help to clear
fog or frost from the surface of the
mirror. See Heated Mirrors 042.
Caution
Using a razor blade or sharp
object to clear the inside rear
window can damage the rear
window defogger. Repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not clear the inside
rear window with sharp objects.
Air Vents
Adjustable air vents are in the
center and on the side of the
instrument panel.
Move the slats to change the
direction of the airflow. The center
air vent does not close completely.
Additional air vents are located
beneath the windshield and the
driver and passenger side door
windows, and in the footwells.
These are fixed and cannot be
adjusted.
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Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
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162 Climate Controls
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from air inlets at the
base of the windshield that could
block the flow of air into the
vehicle.
. Clear snow off the hood to
improve visibility and help
decrease moisture drawn into
the vehicle.
. Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside of the
vehicle more effectively.
. Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside
of the vehicle.Maintenance
Air Intake
The air intake at the base of the
windshield under the hood must be
kept clear to allow the flow of air
into the vehicle. Clear away any ice,
snow, or leaves.
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The filter reduces the 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.
See
Maintenance Schedule 0291.
To find out what type of filter to use,
see Maintenance Replacement
Parts 0300.
1. Open the glove box completely
and loosen the bolts on the
outboard side.
2. Push in both sides of the glove box and pull to remove.
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Climate Controls 163
3. Open the filter cover byreleasing the tabs on both
sides and pulling up the cover.
4. Replace the air filter.
5. Close the air filter cover and tabs.
6. Reinstall the glove box.
See your dealer if additional
assistance is needed.
Air Conditioning Regular
Operation
To ensure continuous efficient
performance, operate the air
conditioning for a few minutes once a month. The air conditioning will
not operate if the outside
temperature is too low.
Caution
Damage caused by improper
refrigerant usage could lead to
costly repairs and may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Refrigerant systems should only
be serviced by qualified
personnel. Always use the correct
refrigerant.
{Warning
Performing service work to the
climate control system could
cause personal injury or damage
to the vehicle. Climate control
systems are serviced by qualified
personnel only.
Service
All vehicles have a label underhood
that identifies the refrigerant used in
the vehicle. The refrigerant system
should only be serviced by trained
and certified technicians. The air
conditioning evaporator should
never be repaired or replaced by
one from a salvage vehicle.
It should only be replaced by a new
evaporator to ensure proper and
safe operation.
During service, all refrigerants
should be reclaimed with proper
equipment. Venting refrigerants
directly to the atmosphere is harmful
to the environment and may also
create unsafe conditions based on
inhalation, combustion, frostbite,
or other health-based concerns.
The air conditioning system requires
periodic maintenance. See
Maintenance Schedule
0291.
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Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
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164 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 168
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 169
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 171
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 175
Ignition Positions (KeylessAccess) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Ignition Positions (Key Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Parking (Manual
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 186
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 188
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 192
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 197
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 199
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 207
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 207
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
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Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
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Driving and Operating 165
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.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the seat belt. See Seat Belts053.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
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Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
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166 Driving and Operating
.Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
. Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied. 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. See your dealer if
there is a problem.
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.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
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Driving and Operating 167
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. 3. Turn the steering wheel to go
straight 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: