Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
2019 - CRC - 4/26/18
214 Vehicle Care
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.Damage to suspension components
caused by modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 071.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{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
Publication Ordering Information
0 315.
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
2019 - CRC - 4/26/18
Vehicle Care 261
Treadwear indicators are one way to
tell when it is time for new tires.
Treadwear indicators appear when
the tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining.
SeeTire Inspection 0259 andTire
Rotation 0259.
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies to the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple factors
including temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation pressure
maintenance affect how fast aging
takes place. GM recommends that
tires, including the spare if
equipped, be replaced after six years, regardless of tread wear. The
tire manufacture date is the last four
digits of the DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN) which is molded into
one side of the tire sidewall. The
first two digits represent the week
(01–52) and the last two digits, the
year. For example, the third week of
the year 2010 would have a
four-digit DOT date of 0310.
Vehicle Storage
Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park
a vehicle that will be stored for at
least a month in a cool, dry, clean
area away from direct sunlight to
slow aging. This area should be free
of grease, gasoline, or other
substances that can deteriorate
rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tires that
may result in vibrations while
driving. When storing a vehicle for
at least a month, remove the tires or
raise the vehicle to reduce the
weight from the tires.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec)
system rating. When
replacement tires are needed,
GM strongly recommends
buying tires with the same TPC
Spec rating.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec
system considers over a dozen
critical specifications that impact
the overall performance of the
vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire
pressure monitoring
performance. GM's TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire's
sidewall near the tire size. If the
tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC spec number
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
2019 - CRC - 4/26/18
Vehicle Care 263
The Tire and Loading
Information Label indicates the
original equipment tires on the
vehicle. SeeVehicle Load Limits
0 171.
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If wheels or tires are installed that
are a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction
control, electronic stability control,
or All-Wheel Drive, the performance
of these systems can also be
affected.
{Warning
If different sized wheels are used,
there may not be an acceptable
level of performance and safety if
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
tires not recommended for those
wheels are selected. This
increases the chance of a crash
and serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems
developed for the vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires 0261 and
Accessories and Modifications
0 214.
Wheel Covers
Installation
Tighten the wheel nut caps by hand
while pressing on the center of the
wheel cover with the other hand.
Then tighten an additional
one-quarter turn with the wheel
wrench.
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
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
2019 - CRC - 4/26/18
264 Vehicle Care
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 tiregraded 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
specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all
passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Warning: The
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
2019 - CRC - 4/26/18
266 Vehicle Care
Used Replacement Wheels
{Warning
Replacing a wheel with a used
one is dangerous. How it has
been used or how far it has been
driven may be unknown. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash.
When replacing wheels, use a
new GM original equipment
wheel.
Tire Chains
{Warning
Do not use tire chains. There is
not enough clearance. Tire chains
used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes,
suspension, or other vehicle
parts. The area damaged by the
tire chains could cause loss of
control and a crash.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Use another type of traction
device only if its manufacturer
recommends it for the vehicle's
tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that
manufacturer's instructions. To
avoid vehicle damage, drive slow
and readjust or remove the
traction device if it contacts the
vehicle. Do not spin the wheels.
If traction devices are used, install
them on the front tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out
while driving, especially if the tires
are maintained properly. See Tires
0 247. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if there ever is a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect
and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop, well off the
road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction as
used in a skid. Stop pressing the
accelerator pedal and steer to
straighten the vehicle. It may be
very bumpy and noisy. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.
{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been
driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
(Continued)
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
2019 - CRC - 4/26/18
272 Vehicle Care
8. Attach the hook to the liftgatelatch.
9. Tighten the strap and secure it using the buckle.
The compact spare tire is for
temporary use only. Replace the
compact spare tire with a full-size
tire as soon as you can. See
Compact Spare Tire 0272.
Compact Spare Tire
{Warning
Driving with more than one
compact spare tire at a time could
result in loss of braking and
handling. This could lead to a
crash and you or others could be
injured. Use only one compact
spare tire at a time.
If this vehicle has a compact spare
tire, it was fully inflated when new;
however, it can lose air over time.
Check the inflation pressure
regularly. It should be 420 kPa
(60 psi).
Stop as soon as possible and check
that the spare tire is correctly
inflated after being installed on the
vehicle. The compact spare tire is
designed for temporary use only.
The vehicle will perform differently
with the spare tire installed and it is
recommended that the vehicle
speed be limited to 80 km/h
(50 mph). To conserve the tread of the spare tire, have the standard tire
repaired or replaced as soon as
convenient and return the spare tire
to the storage area.
When using a compact spare tire,
the AWD (if equipped), ABS, and
Traction Control systems may
engage until the spare tire is
recognized by the vehicle,
especially on slippery roads. Adjust
driving to reduce possible
wheel slip.
Caution
When the compact spare is
installed, do not take the vehicle
through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact
spare can get caught on the rails
which can damage the tire, wheel,
and other parts of the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
2019 - CRC - 4/26/18
Index 333
Child RestraintsInfants and Young Children . . . . . 74
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86, 88
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . 159 Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Clutch, Hydraulic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 312
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Connected Services Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Connections Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 328 Control
Traction and Electronic
Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Coolant Engine Temperature
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Cover Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Covers
Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 308 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Customer Information Publications Ordering
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 312
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 2
Data CollectionOnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 317
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Diagnostics Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 330
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 304
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 197
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Driving
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 23
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 169
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12146335) -
2019 - CRC - 4/26/18
336 Index
K
Keyless EntryRemote (RKE) System . . . . . 27, 29
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 249
Lamps Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 126
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Lane Departure Warning
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 LATCH System
Replacing Parts after a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Lighting Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 129
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 107
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning . . . . . . . . 111
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . .112
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Lights (cont'd)
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 126
Hood Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Lane Departure Warning . . . . . . 109
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Operate Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Reduced Engine Power . . . . . . .113
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . 103
Service Vehicle Soon . . . . . . . . . 107
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Ultrasonic Parking Sensor . . . . 109
Up-Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Warning, Power Steering . . . . . 109
Locks Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 112