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172 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park 0171.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the propulsion system on, be sure
the vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you have moved
the shift lever into P (Park), hold
down the regular brake pedal. See if
you can move the shift lever away
from P (Park) without first pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that
the shift lever was not fully locked
into P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of
the vehicle puts too much force on
the parking pawl in the electric drive
unit. This happens when parking on
a hill and shifting the electric drive
unit into P (Park) is not done
properly and then it is difficult to shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park).
If torque lock does occur, your
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
Ensure that the charge cord is
unplugged and the vehicle is on.
1. Press brake pedal.
2. Release the Electric Parking Brake. See Electric Parking
Brake 0183.
3. Press the shift lever button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired gear.
The vehicle has an electronic shift
lock release system. The shift lock
release is designed to:
. Prevent the vehicle from turning
off unless the shift lever is in
P (Park). .
Prevent moving the shift lever
out of P (Park), unless the
vehicle is on, the brake pedal is
applied, and the charge cord is
unplugged.
Parking the vehicle in extreme cold
for several days without the charge
cord connected may cause the
electric drive unit to be locked in
P (Park) until the propulsion system
has warmed sufficiently.
The shift lock is always functional
except in the case of an uncharged
or low charged 12-volt battery (less
than 9 volts).
If the vehicle has an uncharged
12-volt battery or a 12-volt battery
with low voltage, try charging or
jump starting the 12-volt battery.
See Battery - North America 0255
or Jump Starting - North America
0 299.
If the shift lever cannot be moved
out of P (Park): 1. Apply and maintain the regular brakes.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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236 Vehicle Care
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Sealant andCompressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
{Warning
Most motor vehicles, including
this one, as well as many of its
service parts and fluids, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and
systems, many fluids, and some
component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0255
and Jump Starting - North America
0 299 and the back cover.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 241
1. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid
0 252.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0245.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0241.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0241.
5. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System
(Engine) 0246 orCooling
System (High Voltage Battery)
0 250 orCooling System
(Power Electronics and
Charger Modules) 0251.
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0254.
7. Electric Drive Unit Fluid Cap.
8. High Voltage Battery Coolant Reservoir and Pressure Cap.
See Cooling System (Engine)
0 246 orCooling System (High
Voltage Battery) 0250 or
Cooling System (Power
Electronics and Charger
Modules) 0251. 9. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System (Engine) 0246
or Cooling System (High
Voltage Battery) 0250 or
Cooling System (Power
Electronics and Charger
Modules) 0251.
10. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North
America 0299.
11. Power Electronics Coolant Reservoir and Pressure Cap.
SeeCooling System (Engine)
0 246 orCooling System (High
Voltage Battery) 0250 or
Cooling System (Power
Electronics and Charger
Modules) 0251.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0264.
13. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. SeeJump Starting - North
America 0299.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0243.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
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256 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
the State of California to cause
cancer.WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition
65 Warning 0236 and the back
cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. See Jump Starting -
North America 0299 for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt. Up to Four Weeks
.
Plug in the high voltage battery
charge cord if temperatures will
exceed 35 °C (95 °F) and keep
the 12-volt battery cables
connected.
Four Weeks to 12 Months
. Discharge the high voltage
battery until two or three bars
remain on the battery gauge on
the instrument cluster. See
Battery Gauge (High Voltage)
0110.
. Do not plug in the high voltage
battery charge cord.
. Remove the black negative (−)
cable from the 12-volt battery.
Attach a trickle charger to the
battery terminals or keep the
12-volt battery cables connected
and trickle charge from the
underhood remote positive (+)
and negative (−) terminals. See
Jump Starting - North America
0299 for the location of these
terminals.
Caution
The vehicle is equipped with an
AGM/VRLA 12-volt battery, which
can be damaged by using the
incorrect type of trickle charger.
An AGM/VRLA-compatible
charger must be used, with the
appropriate setting selected.
Follow the trickle charger
manufacturer instructions.
Reconnecting the 12-Volt Black
Negative Cable
With the 12-volt black negative (−)
cable disconnected, the hatch
cannot be opened by pressing the
touch pad on the underside of the
hatch. If the hatch is closed and
latched after power has been
disconnected: 1. Use the door key to open the driver door.
2. Manually unlock and open one of the rear doors.
3. Lower one of the rear seatbacks.
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Vehicle Care 299
12. Turn the air only hose (10)counterclockwise to remove it
from the tire valve stem.
13. Replace the tire valve stem cap.
14. Return the air only hose (10) and power plug (9) back to
their original storage location.
15. Return the equipment to its original storage location in the
vehicle.
The tire sealant and compressor kit
has accessory adapters located in a
compartment on the bottom of its
housing that can be used to inflate
air mattresses, balls, etc.
Storing the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit
To access the tire sealant and
compressor kit: 1. Open the hatch. See Hatch
0 45.
2. Lift the cover.
3. Turn the retainer nut counterclockwise to remove the
tire sealant and compressor
kit bag.
4. Remove the tire sealant and compressor kit from the bag.
To store the tire sealant and
compressor kit, reverse the steps.
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North
America
Jump starting is connecting jumper
cables between the two vehicles to
enable vehicle starting. If the Volt or
another vehicle has a run-down
12-volt battery, it can be jump
started using good condition jumper
cables. There are different
procedures depending on if the Volt
has a run-down battery or another
vehicle has a run-down battery.
Read the appropriate procedures
that follow.
{Warning
The high voltage battery cannot
be jump started either with
another vehicle or battery
charger. Personal injury, death,
or damage to the vehicle could
result.
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300 Vehicle Care
{Warning
WARNING:Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition
65 Warning 0236 and the back
cover.
{Warning
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
. They contain acid that can
burn you.
. They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
. They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you.
{Warning
Electric fans can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fans.
Caution
Ignoring these steps could result
in costly damage to the vehicle
that would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Trying to start
the vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage
the vehicle.
Jump Starting the Volt
If the Volt will not start, the 12-volt
battery may be run down. To jump
start the Volt use the underhood
remote positive (+) and negative (−)
terminals.
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Vehicle Care 301
1. Remote Positive (+)Terminal
2. Remote Negative (−) Terminal
1. The other vehicle used to jump start the Volt must have a
12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
Caution
If the other vehicle does not have
a 12-volt system with a negative
ground, both vehicles can be
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
damaged. Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump starting.
2. Park both vehicles close enough so that the jumper
cables can reach both vehicles'
positive (+) and negative (−)
terminals. The vehicles must
not touch each other. It could
cause an unwanted ground
connection that could damage
both vehicles' electrical
systems.
Put both vehicles in P (Park)
for an automatic transmission
or electric drive unit. For a
manual transmission, place the
vehicle in Neutral and set the
parking brake.
Caution
If any accessories are left on or
plugged in during the jump
starting procedure, they could be
damaged. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible, turn
off or unplug all accessories on
either vehicle when jump starting.
3. Turn the ignition off on the other vehicle. Turn off the
radio, all lamps, and
accessories that are not
needed in both vehicles.
Unplug accessories from the
cigarette lighter or the
accessory power outlets. This
avoids sparks and helps save
both batteries and accessories.
4. Locate the positive (+) and negative (−) terminals on the
other vehicle.
5. Open the hood to locate the positive (+) and negative (−)
terminals on your Volt. Open
the access cover for the
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302 Vehicle Care
remote positive (+) terminal (1).
The remote negative (−)
terminal (2) for the Volt is a
stud GND (−) on the driver side
of the engine compartment.
6. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose or missing
insulation or a shock could
result and the vehicles could
be damaged.
Before connecting the jumper
cables, here are some basic
things to know. Positive (+)
jumper cable goes to
positive (+) battery terminal or
a remote positive (+) terminal if
available. Negative (−) jumper
cable goes to negative (−)
battery terminal or a remote
negative (−) terminal if
available. Do not connect
positive (+) to negative (−) or
there will be a short that may
damage the battery and other
parts of the vehicle.Caution
If the jumper cables are
connected or removed in the
wrong order, electrical shorting
may occur and damage the
vehicle. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always connect and remove the
jumper cables in the correct order,
making sure that the cables do
not touch each other or other
metal.
Connecting the Jumper Cables 1. Connect the red positive (+) jumper cable to the remote
positive (+) terminal (1) of your
Volt. Do not let the other end of
the cable touch metal.
2. Connect the other end of the red positive (+) jumper cable to
the positive (+) terminal of the
other vehicle.
3. Connect the black negative (−) jumper cable to the
negative (−) battery terminal of the other vehicle battery. Do
not let the other end touch
anything until the next step.
4. Connect the other end of the black negative (−) jumper cable
to the remote negative (−)
terminal (2) of your Volt.
5. Press POWER
Oto start. This
will wake up the electronics on
the Volt. After the instrument
cluster initializes, the Volt will
use power from the high
voltage battery to charge the
12-volt battery. The jumper
cables can then be
disconnected. If the Volt does
not start, call your dealer or
Roadside Assistance. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0 339.
Disconnecting the Jumper Cables 1. Disconnect the black negative (−) jumper cable from
the Volt. Do not let the other
end of the cable touch anything
until after the next step.