2021 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE traction control light on

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 197
(32 °F) when freezing rain begins to fall.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the
surface under the tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0214.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS) improves
vehicle stability during hard stops, but
the brakes should be applied sooner than
when on dry pavement. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) 0211.
.Allow greater following distance and
watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in shaded
areas. The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden
steering maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
.Turn off cruise control.
.Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode for
vehicles equipped with AWD. Select
Snow/Ice Mode for FWD only vehicles.
See Driver Mode Control 0215 and
All-Wheel Drive 0211.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and signal
for help. Stay with the vehicle unless there
is help nearby. If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program
0 341. To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust under the
vehicle. This may cause exhaust gases to
get inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
.Clear snow from the base of the
vehicle, especially any blocking the
exhaust pipe.
.Open a window about 5 cm (2 in) on
the vehicle side that is away from the
wind, to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on or under
the instrument panel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Adjust the climate control system to
circulate the air inside the vehicle and
set the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0207.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then shut
the engine off and partially close the
window. Moving about to keep warm also
helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive, when
running the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than
the idle speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to signal
for help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to
free the vehicle when stuck in sand, mud,
ice, or snow.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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198 Driving and Operating
If stuck too severely for the traction system
to free the vehicle, turn the traction system
off and use the rocking method. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control
0214.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can
overheat, causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the wheels as
little as possible and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode. See
Driver Mode Control 0215 and
All-Wheel Drive 0211.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to
clear the area around the front wheels. Turn
off any traction system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. To
prevent transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward and
reverse directions causes a rocking motion
that could free the vehicle. If that does not
get the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the vehicle
does need to be towed out, see
Towing the
Vehicle 0311.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how much
weight the vehicle can carry. This
weight is called the vehicle capacity
weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options. Two labels
on the vehicle may show how much
weight it may properly carry, the Tire
and Loading Information label and the
Certification/Tire label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any heavier
than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the maximum
front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). This can cause
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
systems to break and change the
way the vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a crash.
Overloading can also reduce stopping
performance, damage the tires, and
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information Label
Example Label
A vehicle-specific Tire and Loading
Information label is attached to the
center pillar (B-pillar). The tire and
loading information label shows the

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214 Driving and Operating
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control System
(TCS) and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC), an electronic stability control
system. These systems help limit wheel slip
and assist the driver in maintaining control,
especially on slippery road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any of the
drive wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens, TCS
applies the brakes to the spinning wheels
and reduces engine power to limit
wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the vehicle
senses a difference between the intended
path and the direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the vehicle
wheel brakes to assist the driver in keeping
the vehicle on the intended path.If cruise control is being used and TCS or
StabiliTrak/ESC begins to limit wheel spin,
cruise control will disengage. Cruise control
may be turned back on when road
conditions allow. TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC will
automatically turn on when cruise control
is set.
Both systems come on automatically when
the vehicle is started and begins to move.
The systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while performing
diagnostic checks. This is normal and does
not mean there is a problem with the
vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both systems on
for normal driving conditions, but it may be
necessary to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0197 and “Turning the
Systems Off and On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems is in the
instrument cluster. This light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either system
is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on
and stays on to indicate that the system is
inactive and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is safe to
drive, but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
4. Drive the vehicle.
If
dcomes on and stays on, see your
dealer.

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Driving and Operating 215
Turning the Systems Off and On
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and release
gon
the center console. The Traction Off light
i
displays in the instrument cluster.
To turn TCS on again, press and release
g.
The Traction Off light
idisplayed in the
instrument cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
gis
pressed, the system will not turn off until
the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC,
press and hold
guntil the Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC OFF lightgcome on
and stay on in the instrument cluster. To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again,
press and release
g. The Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC OFF lightgin the
instrument cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0256.
Driver Mode Control
If equipped with Front-Wheel Drive (FWD),
the Driver Mode Control may have the
following modes: FWD, Snow, and Tow/
Haul. If equipped with All-Wheel Drive
(AWD), the Driver Mode Control may have
AWD, Two-Wheel Drive (2WD), Off-Road, and
Tow/Haul. There may be Driver Information
Center (DIC) messages displayed for each
drive mode.
Driver Mode Control Knob for FWD
Driver Mode Control Knob for AWD

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Driving and Operating 219
The speedometer reading can be displayed
in either English or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel)099 or
Instrument Cluster (Base Level) 097. The
increment value used depends on the units
displayed.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise
Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the
vehicle speed. When you take your foot off
the pedal, the vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed.
While pressing the accelerator pedal or
shortly following the release to override
cruise, briefly applying SET− will result in
cruise set to the current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on
hills depends upon the vehicle speed, load,
and the steepness of the hills. When going
up steep hills, you might have to step on
the accelerator pedal to maintain your
speed. While on a hill, the transmission may
downshift in order to use engine braking to
slow the vehicle and maintain the set speed.
Also, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your speed down. If the
brake pedal is applied, cruise control
disengages.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
.PressJ.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased from
memory if
Jis pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
(Advanced)
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control
(ACC), it allows the driver to select the
cruise control set speed and following gap.
Read this entire section before using this
system. The following gap is the following
time between your vehicle and a vehicle
detected directly ahead in your path,
moving in the same direction. If no vehicle
is detected in your path, ACC works like regular cruise control. ACC uses camera and
radar sensors. See
Radio Frequency
Statement 0346.
If a vehicle is detected in your path, ACC can
apply acceleration or limited, moderate
braking to maintain the selected following
gap. To disengage ACC, apply the brake.
If ACC is controlling your vehicle speed
when the Traction Control System (TCS) or
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system activates, the ACC may automatically
disengage. See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0214. When road
conditions allow ACC to be safely used, the
ACC can be turned back on.
Disabling the TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC system
will disengage and prevent engagement
of ACC.
ACC can reduce the need for you to
frequently brake and accelerate, especially
when used on expressways, freeways, and
interstate highways. When used on other
roads, you may need to take over the
control of braking or acceleration more
often.

Chevrolet Traverse Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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224 Driving and Operating
Passing a Vehicle While Using ACC
If the set speed is high enough, and the left
turn signal is used to pass a vehicle ahead
in the selected following gap, ACC may
assist by gradually accelerating the vehicle
prior to the lane change.
{Warning
When using ACC to pass a vehicle or
perform a lane change, the following
distance to the vehicle being passed may
be reduced. ACC may not apply sufficient
acceleration or braking when passing a
vehicle or performing a lane change.
Always be ready to manually accelerate
or brake to complete the pass or lane
change.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving Objects
{Warning
ACC may not detect and react to stopped
or slow-moving vehicles ahead of you. For
example, the system may not brake for a
vehicle it has never detected moving. This
can occur in stop-and-go traffic or when a
vehicle suddenly appears due to a vehicle (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
ahead changing lanes. Your vehicle may
not stop and could cause a crash. Use
caution when using ACC. Your complete
attention is always required while driving
and you should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes.
ACC Automatically Disengages
ACC may automatically disengage and the
driver will need to manually apply the
brakes to slow the vehicle if:
.The sensors are blocked.
.The Traction Control System (TCS) or
StabiliTrak/ESC system has activated or
been disabled.
.There is a fault in the system.
.The radar falsely reports blockage when
driving in a desert or remote area with
no other vehicle or roadside objects.
A DIC message may display to indicate
that ACC is temporarily unavailable.
The ACC indicator will turn white when ACC
is no longer active.
In some cases, when ACC will not activate,
regular cruise control may be used. See
“Switching Between ACC and Regular Cruise Control”
previously in this section. Always
consider driving conditions before using
either cruise control system.
Notification to Resume ACC
ACC will maintain a follow gap behind a
detected vehicle and slow your vehicle to a
stop behind that vehicle.
If the stopped vehicle ahead has driven
away and ACC has not resumed, the vehicle
ahead indicator will flash as a reminder to
check traffic before proceeding. In addition,
the left and right sides of the Safety Alert
Seat will pulse three times, or three beeps
will sound. See “Alert Type”and“Adaptive
Cruise Go Notifier” in“Collision/Detection
Systems” underVehicle Personalization
0 115.
When the vehicle ahead drives away, ACC
resumes automatically if the stop was brief.
If necessary, press RES+ or the accelerator
pedal to resume ACC. If stopped for more
than two minutes or if the driver door is
opened and the driver seat belt is
unbuckled, the ACC automatically applies the
Electric Parking Brake (EPB) to hold the
vehicle. The EPB status light will turn on.
See Electric Parking Brake 0212. To release
the EPB, press the accelerator pedal.

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Driving and Operating 253
If equipped, there are four blunt cut wires
inside the front driver side instrument panel.
It will be necessary to have a technician
connect the 12-volt power to the engine
compartment fuse block.
Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps are working at
the beginning of each trip, and periodically
on longer trips.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer turn
signals will illuminate to indicate the vehicle
is turning, changing lanes, or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on the
instrument cluster will illuminate even if the
trailer is not properly connected or the bulbs
are burned out.
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter Tow/Haul
mode, seeDriver Mode Control 0215.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load. See Tow/
Haul Mode 0210.
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and trailer
combined weight is at least 75% of the vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR). See
“Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing 0247.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when pulling
a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load:
.through rolling terrain
.in stop-and-go traffic
.in busy parking lots
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul Mode
when lightly loaded or not towing will not
cause damage; however, it is not
recommended and may result in unpleasant
engine and transmission driving
characteristics and reduced fuel economy.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) have a Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) feature. Trailer sway is unintended
side-to-side motion of a trailer while towing.
If the vehicle is towing a trailer and the TSC
detects that sway is increasing, the vehicle
brakes are selectively applied at each wheel,
to help reduce excessive trailer sway.
If equipped with the Integrated Trailer Brake
Control (ITBC) system, and the trailer has an
electric brake system, StabiliTrak/ESC may
also apply the trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak/ESC warning light
will flash on the instrument cluster. Reduce
vehicle speed by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator. If trailer sway
continues, StabiliTrak/ESC can reduce engine
torque to help slow the vehicle. TSC will not
function if StabiliTrak/ESC is turned off. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 214.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a crash and in
serious injury or death, even if the
vehicle is equipped with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway, reduce
vehicle speed by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator. Then pull over
to check the trailer and vehicle to help
correct possible causes, including an
improperly or overloaded trailer,
(Continued)

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298 Vehicle Care
four digits of the DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN) molded into one side of the
tire sidewall. The last four digits of the TIN
indicate the tire manufactured date. The
first two digits represent the week and the
last two digits, the year. For example, the
third week of the year 2020 would have a
4-digit DOT date of 0320. Week 01 is the
first full week (Sunday through Saturday) of
each year.
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 will be followed
by MS for mud and snow. SeeTire
Sidewall Labeling 0285 for additional
information. GM recommends replacing worn tires in
complete sets of four. Uniform tread
depth on all tires will help to maintain
the performance of the vehicle. Braking
and handling performance may be
adversely affected if all the tires are not
replaced at the same time. If proper
rotation and maintenance have been
done, all four tires should wear out at
about the same time. However, if it is
necessary to replace only one axle set
of worn tires, place the new tires on
the rear axle. See
Tire Rotation0296.
{Warning
Tires could explode during improper
service. Attempting to mount or
dismount a tire could cause injury or
death. Only your dealer or authorized
tire service center should mount or
dismount the tires.