Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527526) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
Lighting 155
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a DIC battery voltage
and charging message displays. It is
recommended that the driver reduce
the electrical loads as much as
possible. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) 0134.
Battery Power Protection
This feature helps prevent the
battery from being drained, if the
interior courtesy lamps or reading
lamps are accidentally left on. If any
of these lamps are left on, they
automatically turn off after
10 minutes, if the ignition is off. The
lamps will not come back on again
until one of the following occurs:
.
The ignition is turned on. .
The doors are closed and then
re-opened.
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver
The exterior lamps turn off about
10 minutes after the ignition is
turned off, if the parking lamps or
headlamps have been manually left
on. This protects against draining
the battery. To restart the 10-minute
timer, turn the exterior lamp control
to the off position and then back to
the parking lamp or headlamp
position.
To keep the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, the ignition must be on
or in ACC/ACCESSORY.
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527526) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
156 Infotainment System
Infotainment
System
Introduction
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Introduction
Infotainment
See the infotainment manual for
information on the radio, audio
players, phone, navigation system,
and voice or speech recognition.
It also includes information on
settings.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
If equipped, ANC reduces engine
noise in the vehicle’s interior. ANC
requires the factory-installed audio
system, radio, speakers, amplifier (if
equipped), induction system, and
exhaust system to work properly.
Deactivation is required by your
dealer if related aftermarket
equipment is installed.
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527526) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
Driving and Operating 165
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 174
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 175
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 177
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 182
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 191
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 196
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 197
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 200
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 205
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 213
Assistance Systems for
Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 215
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 225
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 227
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 230
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 230
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527526) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
166 Driving and Operating
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 244
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible.
. Set the climate controls to the
desired temperature after the
engine is started, or turn them
off when not required.
. On AWD vehicles, see Driver
Mode Control 0200.
. Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
. Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
. Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
. When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control.
. Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require. .
Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
. Combine several trips into a
single trip.
. Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
. Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
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.
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527526) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
168 Driving and Operating
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
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering
system, do not drive over curbs,
parking barriers, or similar objects
at speeds greater than 3 km/h
(1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane
dividers and speed bumps.
Damage caused by misuse of the
vehicle is not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
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.
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527526) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
Driving and Operating 171
To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower air
dam. However, driving without the
air dam reduces fuel economy.
Caution
Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the front
fascia lower air dam installed can
cause improper airflow to the
engine. Reattach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.
Loading the Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving
{Warning
.Unsecured cargo on the
load floor can be tossed
about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your
passengers can be struck
by flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Keep cargo in the cargo
area as far forward and as
low as possible. The
heaviest things should be
on the floor, forward of the
rear axle.
. Heavy loads on the roof
raise the vehicle's center of
gravity, making it more likely
to roll over. You can be
seriously or fatally injured if
the vehicle rolls over. Put
heavy loads inside the
cargo area, not on the roof.
For more information about loading
the vehicle, see Vehicle Load Limits
0 178.
Environmental Concerns
.
Always use established trails,
roads, and areas that have been
set aside for public off-road
recreational driving and obey all
posted regulations. .
Do not damage shrubs, flowers,
trees, or grasses or disturb
wildlife.
. Do not park over things that
burn. See Parking over Things
That Burn 0189.
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of
what the vehicle can and cannot do.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep
for any vehicle. Driving up hills
can cause the vehicle to stall.
Driving down hills can cause loss
of control. Driving across hills can
cause a rollover. You could be
injured or killed. Do not drive on
steep hills.
Before driving on a hill, assess the
steepness, traction, and
obstructions. If the terrain ahead
cannot be seen, get out of the
vehicle and walk the hill before
driving further.
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527526) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
172 Driving and Operating
When driving on hills:
.Use a low gear and keep a firm
grip on the steering wheel.
. Maintain a slow speed.
. When possible, drive straight up
or down the hill.
. Slow down when approaching
the top of the hill.
. Use headlamps even during the
day to make the vehicle more
visible.
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high
speed can cause a crash. There
could be a drop-off, embankment,
cliff, or even another vehicle. You
could be seriously injured or
killed. As you near the top of a
hill, slow down and stay alert.
. Never go downhill forward or
backward with the transmission
in N (Neutral). The brakes could
overheat and you could lose
control. .
When driving down a hill, keep
the vehicle headed straight
down. Use a low gear because
the engine will work with the
brakes to slow the vehicle and
help keep the vehicle under
control.
{Warning
Heavy braking when going down
a hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and you or
others could be injured or killed.
Apply the brakes lightly when
descending a hill and use a low
gear to keep vehicle speed under
control.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill: 1. Apply the brakes to stop the vehicle, and then apply the
parking brake. 2. Shift into P (Park) and then
restart the engine.
.If driving uphill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to
R (Reverse), release the
parking brake, and back
straight down.
. Never try to turn the vehicle
around. If the hill is steep
enough to stall the vehicle,
it is steep enough to cause
it to roll over.
. If you cannot make it up the
hill, back straight down
the hill.
. Never back down a hill in
N (Neutral) using only the
brake.
. The vehicle can roll
backward quickly and you
could lose control.
. If driving downhill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to a
lower gear, release the
parking brake, and drive
straight down the hill.
Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527526) - 2020 - CRC - 9/5/19
174 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Driving in Water
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers
could drown. If it is only shallow
water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires.
Traction could be lost, and the
vehicle could roll over. Do not
drive through rushing water.
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive through it slowly. At faster
speeds, water can get into the
engine and cause it to stall. Stalling
can occur if the exhaust pipe is
under water. Do not turn off the
ignition when driving through water.
If the exhaust pipe is under water,
the engine will not start. When going
through water, the brakes get wet
and it may take longer to stop. See
Driving on Wet Roads 0174.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that
has collected on the underbody or
chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard. After operation in mud or sand,
have the brake linings cleaned and
checked. These substances can
cause glazing and uneven braking.
Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage and
check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance service
is required. See
Maintenance
Schedule 0329.
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.