Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14622955) -
2021 - CRC - 8/17/20
124 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 125
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Ignition Positions (Key Access) . . . . . . . . . 134
Ignition Positions (Keyless Access) . . . . . 136
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 140
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Parking (Manual Transmission) . . . . . . . . . 141
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . 142
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 142
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 146
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . 155
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . 156
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 160
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . 160
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14622955) -
2021 - CRC - 8/17/20
132 Driving and Operating
if the "XXX" amount equals 1400 lbs.
and there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)
5.Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity calculated in
Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your
vehicle.”
This vehicle is neither designed nor
intended to tow a trailer.
Example 1
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 1 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant Weight @
68 kg (150 lbs) × 2 = 136 kg
(300 lbs).
3.Available Occupant and Cargo
Weight = 317 kg (700 lbs).
Example 2
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 2 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant Weight @
68 kg (150 lbs) × 5 = 340 kg
(750 lbs).
3.Available Cargo Weight = 113 kg
(250 lbs).
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14622955) -
2021 - CRC - 8/17/20
156 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
vehicle. AEB will not brake outside of its
operating speed range and only responds
to detected vehicles.
AEB may not:
.Detect a vehicle ahead on winding or
hilly roads.
.Detect all vehicles, especially vehicles
with a trailer, tractors, muddy
vehicles, etc.
.Detect a vehicle when weather limits
visibility, such as in fog, rain, or snow.
.Detect a vehicle ahead if it is partially
blocked by pedestrians or other
objects.
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.
AEB may slow the vehicle to a stop to try to
avoid a potential crash.
A system unavailable message may
display if:
.The front of the vehicle or windshield is
not clean.
.Heavy rain or snow is interfering with
object detection.
.There is a problem with the StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system.
The AEB system does not need service.
{Warning
AEB may automatically brake the vehicle
suddenly in situations where it is
unexpected and undesired. It could
respond to a turning vehicle ahead,
guardrails, signs, and other non-moving
objects. To override AEB, firmly press the
accelerator pedal, if it is safe to do so.
AEB can be disabled through vehicle
personalization. See “Collision/Detection
Systems” underVehicle Personalization 088.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
If equipped, LDW may help avoid crashes
due to unintentional lane departures. LDW
uses a camera sensor to detect the lane
markings at speeds of 56 km/h (35 mph) or
greater. It may provide an alert if the
vehicle is crossing a lane without using a
turn signal in that direction. LDW light will
not alert if the turn signal is active in the direction of lane departure, or if LDW
detects that you are accelerating, braking or
actively steering.
{Warning
The LDW system does not steer the
vehicle. The LDW system may not:
.Provide enough time to avoid a crash.
.Detect lane markings under poor
weather or visibility conditions. This
can occur if the windshield or
headlamps are blocked by dirt, snow,
or ice; if they are not in proper
condition; or if the sun shines directly
into the camera.
.Detect road edges.
.Detect lanes on winding or hilly roads.
If LDW only detects lane markings on one
side of the road, it will only warn you
when departing the lane on the side
where it has detected a lane marking.
Always keep your attention on the road
and maintain proper vehicle position
within the lane, or vehicle damage,
injury, or death could occur. Always keep (Continued)
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14622955) -
2021 - CRC - 8/17/20
160 Driving and Operating
Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{Warning
Never fill a portable fuel container while
it is in the vehicle. Static electricity
discharge from the container can ignite
the fuel vapor. You or others could be
badly burned and the vehicle could be
damaged. To help avoid injury to you
and others:
.Dispense fuel only into approved
containers.
.Do not fill a container while it is
inside a vehicle, in a vehicle's trunk, in
a pickup bed, or on any surface other
than the ground.
.Bring the fill nozzle in contact with
the inside of the fill opening before
operating the nozzle. Maintain contact
until filling is complete.
.Keep sparks, flames, and smoking
materials away from fuel.
.Avoid using electronic devices while
pumping fuel.
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information
{Warning
Never tow a trailer with your vehicle.
It was not designed or intended to tow a
trailer.
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is used for
vehicle service and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) 075.
A device connected to the DLC —such as
an aftermarket fleet or driver-behavior
tracking device —may interfere with
vehicle systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information stored in the
vehicle’s systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can damage
the vehicle or cause components to not
work and would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check with your
dealer before adding electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the vehicle's
12-volt battery, even if the vehicle is not
operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to add anything electrical to the
vehicle, see Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 045 and
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 045.
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14622955) -
2021 - CRC - 8/17/20
214 Vehicle Care
Caution (Continued)
wheel/tire. Use tire skates or dollies
under any locked wheel/tire while
loading the vehicle. Do not use a sling
type lift to tow the vehicle. This could
damage the vehicle.
Caution
Improper use of the tow eye can damage
the vehicle. If equipped, use the tow eye
to load a disabled vehicle onto a flatbed
tow truck from a flat road surface, or to
move the vehicle a short distance. Use
caution and low speeds. The transmission
must be in (N) Neutral when moving the
vehicle.
GM recommends a flatbed tow truck to
transport a disabled vehicle. Use ramps to
help reduce approach angles, if necessary.
A towed vehicle should have its drive wheels
off the ground. Contact Roadside Assistance
or a professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed. If the vehicle is equipped with tow eye, only
use the tow eye to pull the vehicle onto a
flatbed car carrier from a flat road surface.
Do not use the tow eye to pull the vehicle
from snow, mud or sand.
Front Tow Eye
The tow eye is in the spare tire and tools
kit, in the storage compartment in the rear
of the vehicle.
Carefully open the cover in the fascia by
using the small notch that conceals the tow
eye socket.
Install the tow eye into the socket and turn
it until it stops. When the tow eye is
removed, reinstall the cover with the notch
in the original position.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing refers to towing
the vehicle behind another vehicle, such as
behind a motor home. The two most
common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as dinghy towing and
dolly towing. Dinghy towing is towing the
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground.
Dolly towing is towing the vehicle with two
wheels on the ground and two wheels up
on a device known as a dolly.
Here are some important things to consider
before recreational vehicle towing:
.Before towing the vehicle, become
familiar with the local laws that apply to
recreational vehicle towing. These laws
may vary by region.
.The towing capacity of the towing
vehicle. Be sure to read the tow vehicle
manufacturer's recommendations.
.How far the vehicle will be towed. Some
vehicles have restrictions on how far and
how long they can tow.
.The proper towing equipment. See your
dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment
recommendations.
Chevrolet Spark Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14622955) -
2021 - CRC - 8/17/20
226 Service and Maintenance
Because of the way people use vehicles,
maintenance needs vary. There may need to
be more frequent checks and services. The
Additional Required Services - Normal are for
vehicles that:
.Carry passengers and cargo within
recommended limits on the Tire and
Loading Information label. SeeVehicle
Load Limits 0131.
.Are driven on reasonable road surfaces
within legal driving limits.
.Use the recommended fuel. See
Recommended Fuel 0157.
Refer to the information in the Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required Services -
Normal chart.
The Additional Required Services - Severe are
for vehicles that are:
.Mainly driven in heavy city traffic in hot
weather.
.Mainly driven in hilly or mountainous
terrain.
.Frequently towing a trailer.
.Used for high speed or competitive
driving.
.Used for taxi, police, or delivery service. Refer to the information in the Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required Services -
Severe chart.
{Warning
Performing maintenance work can be
dangerous and can cause serious injury.
Perform maintenance work only if the
required information, proper tools, and
equipment are available. If they are not,
see your dealer to have a trained
technician do the work. See
Doing Your
Own Service Work 0163.
Maintenance Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
Check the engine oil level. See Engine Oil
0 166.
Once a Month
.Check the tire inflation pressures. See Tire
Pressure 0195.
.Inspect the tires for wear. See Tire
Inspection 0199.
.Check the windshield washer fluid level.
See Washer Fluid 0174.
Engine Oil Change
When the:% CHANGE DIC message
displays, have the engine oil and filter
changed within the next 1 000 km/600 mi.
If driven under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system may not indicate the
need for vehicle service for up to a year.
The engine oil and filter must be changed at
least once a year and the oil life system
must be reset. Your trained dealer technician
can perform this work. If the engine oil life
system is reset accidentally, service the
vehicle within 5 000 km/3,000 mi since the
last service. Reset the oil life system when
the oil is changed. See Engine Oil Life
System 0168.
Air Conditioning Desiccant (Replace Every
Seven Years)
The air conditioning system requires
maintenance every seven years. This service
requires replacement of the desiccant to
help the longevity and efficient operation of
the air conditioning system. This service can
be complex. See your dealer.