Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163007) - 2019 - CRC - 11/5/18
Driving and Operating 157
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 161
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 162
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 164
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 168
Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Starting and Stopping theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Electric Vehicle Operating
Modes
System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Electric Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Extended Range Mode . . . . . . . 174
Driver Selected Operating Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Out of Fuel/Engine Unavailable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Maintenance Modes . . . . . . . . . . 177
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Electric Drive Unit
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 183
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 184
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 185
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 188
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 191
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 201
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 202
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 210
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 212
Charging
Plug-In Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Delayed Charging Override . . . 216
Charging Status Feedback . . . 216
Charge Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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184 Driving and Operating
flashes continuously, then the EPB
is only partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A DIC
message will display. Release the
EPB and try to apply it again. If the
light does not come on, or keeps
flashing, have the vehicle serviced.
Do not drive the vehicle if the
Yor
PARK light is flashing. See your
dealer. See Electric Parking Brake
Light 0117.
If the
8light is on, press and hold
the EPB switch. Continue to hold
the switch until the
Yor PARK
light remains on. If the
8light
remains on, see your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the
vehicle is moving, the vehicle will
decelerate as long as the switch is
pressed. If the switch is pressed
until the vehicle comes to a stop,
the EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when
the vehicle is not moving. This is
normal, and is done to periodically
check the correct operation of the
EPB system. If the EPB fails to apply, block the
rear wheels to prevent vehicle
movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the
Y
or PARK light is off.
If the
8light is on, release the EPB
by pressing and holding the EPB
switch. Continue to hold the switch
until the
Yor PARK light is off.
If either light stays on after release
is attempted, see your dealer.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
The Hill Start Assist (HSA) feature
will activate when the vehicle is
stopped on a moderate to steep
grade to help prevent it from rolling
in an unintended direction. After the
brake pedal has been released and
before the accelerator pedal has
been pressed, HSA uses braking
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 185
pressure to hold the vehicle
stationary. If HSA is holding the
vehicle, a DIC message displays.
HSA will not activate in a forward
drive gear when facing downhill,
or in R (Reverse) when facing uphill.
Extended Hill Start
Assist (EHSA)
To change the duration of the HSA
feature, see“Extended Hill Start
Assist" under “Comfort and
Convenience” inVehicle
Personalization 0137. When
Standard Hold is selected, the
vehicle is held stationary for up to
two seconds after the brake pedal is
released. When Extended Hold is
selected, the vehicle is held
stationary for up to five minutes
after the brake pedal is released. In
either case, override the hold
feature by pressing the accelerator
pedal and attempting to drive away.
If Hill Start Assist is selected in the
Settings menu, it will hold the
vehicle for two seconds unless the
driver door is opened or the driver
seat belt is unbuckled after releasing the brake pedal.
If Extended Hill Start Assist is
selected, it will hold the vehicle for
five minutes unless the driver door
is opened and the driver seat belt is
unbuckled prior to releasing the
brake pedal. When EHSA is
deactivated after five minutes, or if it
is deactivated when the driver seat
belt is unlatched or the driver door is
opened, the Electric Parking Brake
will engage to prevent vehicle
movement.
Regenerative Braking
Some braking energy from the
moving vehicle is turned back into
electrical energy. This energy is
then stored back into the high
voltage battery system, increasing
energy efficiency.
The hydraulic disc brakes work with
the regenerative braking to ensure
effective braking, such as when a
high braking demand is requested.
The controller interprets the braking
request and uses regenerative
braking, conventional hydraulic
braking, or a combination of both as
necessary.
The brake controller applies the
hydraulic brakes using a pump. The
pump may be heard during some
braking, such as rapid applies. This
is normal.
See
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators 0107 andDriver
Information Center (DIC) 0133.
If there is a controller problem, the
brake pedal may be harder to push
and the stopping distance may be
longer.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 201
Driver Assistance
Systems
This vehicle may have features that
work together to help avoid crashes
or reduce crash damage while
driving, backing, and parking. Read
this entire section before using
these systems.
{Warning
Do not rely on the Driver
Assistance Systems. These
systems do not replace the need
for paying attention and driving
safely. You may not hear or see
alerts or warnings provided by
these systems. Failure to use
proper care when driving may
result in injury, death, or vehicle
damage. SeeDefensive Driving
0 159.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Under many conditions, these
systems will not:
. Detect children,
pedestrians, bicyclists,
or animals.
. Detect vehicles or objects
outside the area monitored
by the system.
. Work at all driving speeds.
. Warn you or provide you
with enough time to avoid a
crash.
. Work under poor visibility or
bad weather conditions.
. Work if the detection sensor
is not cleaned or is covered
by ice, snow, mud, or dirt.
. Work if the detection sensor
is covered up, such as with
a sticker, magnet, or metal
plate.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Work if the area surrounding
the detection sensor is
damaged or not properly
repaired.
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes and/or steer
the vehicle to avoid crashes.
Audible Alert
Some driver assistance features
alert the driver of obstacles by
beeping. To change the volume of
the warning chime, see “Comfort
and Convenience” underVehicle
Personalization 0137.
Cleaning
Depending on vehicle options, keep
these areas of the vehicle clean to
ensure the best driver assistance
feature performance. Driver
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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202 Driving and Operating
Information Center (DIC) messages
may display when the systems are
unavailable or blocked..Front and rear bumpers and the
area below the bumpers
. Front grille and headlamps
. Front camera lens in the front
grille or near the front emblem
. Front side and rear side panels
. Outside of the windshield in front
of the rearview mirror
. Side camera lens on the bottom
of the outside mirrors
. Rear side corner bumpers
. Rear Vision Camera above the
license plate
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing
If equipped, the Rear Vision Camera
(RVC), Rear Park Assist (RPA),
Front Park Assist (FPA), Rear Cross
Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Automatic
Parking Assist (APA) may help the
driver park or avoid objects. Always
check around the vehicle when
parking or backing. Rear Vision Camera (RVC)
When the vehicle is shifted into
R (Reverse), the RVC displays an
image of the area behind the vehicle
in the infotainment display. The
previous screen displays when the
vehicle is shifted out of R (Reverse)
after a short delay. To return to the
previous screen sooner, press any
button on the infotainment system,
shift into P (Park), or reach a vehicle
speed of approximately 12 km/h
(8 mph).
1. View Displayed by the
Camera
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 203
1. View Displayed by theCamera
2. Corners of the Rear Bumper
Displayed images may be farther or
closer than they appear. The area
displayed is limited and objects that
are close to either corner of the
bumper or under the bumper do not
display.
A warning triangle may appear on
the infotainment display to show
that RPA has detected an object.
This triangle changes from amber to
red and increases in size the closer
the object.
{Warning
The camera(s) do not display
children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
crossing traffic, animals, or any
other object outside of the
cameras’ field of view, below the
bumper, or under the vehicle.
Shown distances may be different
from actual distances. Do not
drive or park the vehicle using
only these camera(s). Always
check behind and around the
vehicle before driving. Failure to
use proper care may result in
injury, death, or vehicle damage.
Park Assist
With RPA, and if equipped with FPA,
as the vehicle moves at speeds of
less than 8 km/h (5 mph) the
sensors on the bumpers may detect
objects up to 2.5 m (8 ft) behind the
vehicle and 1.2 m (4 ft) in front of the
vehicle within a zone 25 cm (10 in)
high off the ground and below
bumper level. These detection
distances may be shorter during warmer or humid weather. Blocked
sensors will not detect objects and
can also cause false detections.
Keep the sensors clean of mud, dirt,
snow, ice, and slush; and clean
sensors after a car wash in freezing
temperatures.
{Warning
The Park Assist system does not
detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects
located below the bumper or that
are too close or too far from the
vehicle. It is not available at
speeds greater than 8 km/h
(5 mph). To prevent injury, death,
or vehicle damage, even with
Park Assist, always check the
area around the vehicle and
check all mirrors before moving
forward or backing.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12163007) - 2019 - CRC - 11/5/18
204 Driving and Operating
The instrument cluster may have a
Park Assist display with bars that
show“distance to object” and object
location information for RPA, and on
some vehicles, FPA. As the object
gets closer, more bars light up and
the bars change color from yellow to
amber to red.
When an object is first detected in
the rear, one beep will be heard
from the rear. When an object is
very close (<0.6 m (2 ft) in the
vehicle rear, or <0.3 m (1 ft) in the
vehicle front), five beeps will sound
from the front or rear depending on
object location. Beeps for FPA are
higher pitched than for RPA. Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
If equipped, when the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse), RCTA
shows a red warning triangle with a
left or right pointing arrow on the
infotainment display to warn of
traffic coming from the left or right.
This system detects objects coming
from up to 20 m (65 ft) from the left
or right side of the vehicle. When an
object is detected, three beeps
sound from the left or right,
depending on the direction of the
detected vehicle.
Turning the Features On or Off
PressXon the center console to
turn on or off the Front and Rear
Park Assist and the Rear Cross
Traffic Alert (RCTA). The indicator
light in the button comes on when
the features are on and turns off
when the features have been
disabled.
RCTA can also be turned off
through vehicle personalization. See
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0137. To turn the RPA symbols or
guidance lines on or off, see
“Rear
Camera” underVehicle
Personalization 0137.
Automatic Parking
Assist (APA)
If equipped, APA searches for and
steers the vehicle into parallel and
perpendicular parking spots. When
using APA, you must still shift gears,
and control the brakes and
accelerator. A display and audible
beeps help to guide parking
maneuvers.
{Warning
APA does not apply the brakes.
APA may not detect objects in the
parking space, objects that are
soft or narrow, objects high off the
ground such as flatbed trucks,
or objects below ground level
such as large potholes. Always
verify that the parking space is
appropriate for parking a vehicle.
APA does not respond to changes
(Continued)
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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206 Driving and Operating
required, and there will be additional
instructions. When changing gears,
allow the automatic steering to
complete before continuing the
parking maneuver. Upon successful
completion of a maneuver, APA will
beep and display a PARKING
COMPLETE message. Place the
vehicle in P (Park).
APA may automatically disengage if:
.The steering wheel is used by
the driver.
. The maximum allowed speed is
exceeded.
. There is a failure with the APA
system.
. Electronic stability control or
antilock brakes are activated.
. A high priority vehicle message
is displayed in the DIC.
To cancel APA, press
Oagain.
When the System Does Not Seem
to Work Properly
The APA system may require a
short period of driving along curves
to calibrate.
Assistance Systems for
Driving
If equipped, when driving the
vehicle in a forward gear, Forward
Collision Alert (FCA), Lane
Departure Warning (LDW), Lane
Keep Assist (LKA), Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA), Lane Change Alert
(LCA), and/or Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB) can help to avoid a
crash or reduce crash damage.
Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System
If equipped, the FCA system may
help to avoid or reduce the harm
caused by front-end crashes. When
approaching a vehicle ahead too
quickly, FCA provides a red flashing
alert on the windshield and rapidly
beeps. FCA also lights an amber
visual alert if following another
vehicle much too closely.
FCA detects vehicles within a
distance of approximately 60 m
(197 ft) and operates at speeds
above 8 km/h (5 mph). If the vehicle
has Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), it can detect vehicles to distances of
approximately 110 m (360 ft) and
operates at speeds above 4 km/h
(2.5 mph). See
Adaptive Cruise
Control 0191.
{Warning
FCA is a warning system and
does not apply the brakes. When
approaching a slower-moving or
stopped vehicle ahead too rapidly,
or when following a vehicle too
closely, FCA may not provide a
warning with enough time to help
avoid a crash. It also may not
provide any warning at all. FCA
does not warn of pedestrians,
animals, signs, guardrails,
bridges, construction barrels,
or other objects. Be ready to take
action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving 0159.
FCA can be disabled. See
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0137.