
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
130 Driving and Operating
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
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.
Electric Power Steering
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.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is held
against that position for an extended period
of time, power steering assist may be
reduced.
Normal use of the power steering assist
should return when the system cools down.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady speed
through the curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out of the curve
before accelerating gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when steering
around a problem may be more effective
than braking.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
132 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick stop
and could cause pulling to one side. You
could lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car/vehicle wash, lightly apply
the brake pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong
forces. Driving through flowing water
could cause the vehicle to be carried
away. If this happens, you and other
vehicle occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive through
flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build
up under the vehicle's tires so they actually
ride on the water. This can happen if the
road is wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is hydroplaning, it
has little or no contact with the road.There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow
down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather
driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping equipment in
good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir
filled.
.Have good tires with proper tread depth.
See
Tires 0199.
.Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through mountains
is different than driving on flat or rolling
terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in good
shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when going down
steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle on a
long downhill slope can cause brake
overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a loss of
braking. Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the brakes
on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. This can
cause overheating of the brakes and loss
of steering assist. Always have the engine
running and the vehicle in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep the vehicle in
its own lane. Do not swing wide or cross
the center line.
.Be alert on top of hills; something could
be in your lane (e.g., stalled car, crash).
.Pay attention to special road signs (e.g.,
falling rocks area, winding roads, long
grades, passing or no-passing zones) and
take appropriate action.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
166 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . 167
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 167
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 168
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 170
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 175
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . 191
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . 194
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 198
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 203
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 206 Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 207
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 210
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . 212
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 213
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 214
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . 221
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
Vehicle Care 167
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(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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 0183 and
Jump Starting - North America 0221 and the
back cover.
California Perchlorate Materials
Requirements
Certain types of automotive applications,
such as airbag initiators, seat belt
pretensioners, and lithium batteries
contained in electronic keys, may contain
perchlorate materials. Perchlorate Material –
special handling may apply. See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or making
modifications to the vehicle can affect
vehicle performance and safety, including
such things as airbags, braking, stability,
ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic
systems like antilock brakes, traction control,
and stability control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause malfunction
or damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Damage to suspension components caused
by modifying vehicle height outside of
factory settings will not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components resulting
from modifications or the installation or use
of non-GM certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is not
covered under the terms of the vehicle
warranty and may affect remaining
warranty coverage for affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on the
vehicle. See your dealer to accessorize the
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
Vehicle Care 171
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0176.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0173.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0173.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0177.
5. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0177.
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 182.
7. Auxiliary Fuse Block. See Engine
Compartment Fuse Block 0194.
8. Battery - North America 0183.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0181.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0194.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
172 Vehicle Care
1.4L L4 Engine (LUV)
1. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0176.
2. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0173.
3. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0177.
4. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0173. 5. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure
Cap. See Cooling System 0177.
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 182.
7. Auxiliary Fuse Block. See Engine
Compartment Fuse Block 0194. 8.
Battery - North America 0183.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0181.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0194.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
182 Vehicle Care
Brakes
Disc brake linings have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake linings are worn and
new linings are needed. The sound can come
and go or can be heard all the time when
the vehicle is moving, except when applying
the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound means
that soon the brakes will not work well.
That could lead to a crash. When the
brake wear warning sound is heard, have
the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
linings could result in costly brake
repairs.
Some driving conditions or climates can
cause a brake squeal when the brakes are
first applied, clearing up following several
applies. This does not mean something is
wrong with the brakes. Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary
to help prevent brake pulsation. When tires
are rotated, inspect brake linings for wear
and evenly tighten wheel nuts in the proper
sequence to torque specifications. See
Capacities and Specifications
0248.
If the vehicle has rear drum brakes, they do
not have wear indicators. Drum brakes have
an inspection hole to inspect lining wear
during scheduled maintenance. When the
front brake linings are replaced, have the
rear brakes inspected. If a rear brake rubbing
noise is heard, have the rear brake linings
inspected immediately. Rear brake drums
should be removed and inspected each time
the tires are removed for rotation or
changing.
Brake pads should be replaced as complete
axle sets.Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not
return to normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be
a sign that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts with
new, approved replacement parts. If this is
not done, the brakes may not work
properly. The braking performance can
change in many ways if the wrong brake
parts are installed or if parts are improperly
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir is filled
with GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0170 for the
location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a level
surface, the brake fluid level should be
between the minimum and maximum marks
on the brake fluid reservoir.

Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
Vehicle Care 183
There are only two reasons why the brake
fluid level in the reservoir may go down:
.Normal brake lining wear. When new
linings are installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake hydraulic system.
Have the brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap
and the area around the cap before
removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid. Adding fluid
does not correct a leak. If fluid is added
when the linings are worn, there will be too
much fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it can
spill on the engine and burn, if the
engine is hot enough. You or others could
be burned, and the vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake fluid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system. When the brake fluid falls to a low level,
the brake warning light comes on. See
Brake
System Warning Light 086.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time which
degrades the effectiveness of the brake fluid.
Replace brake fluid at the specified intervals
to prevent increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0235.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 4 brake fluid
from a clean, sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 0243.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake fluid
could result in damage to the brake
system. This could result in the loss of
braking leading to a possible injury.
Always use the proper GM approved
brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the vehicle's
painted surfaces, the paint finish can be
damaged. Immediately wash off any
painted surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove the cap
and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number shown on
the original battery label when a new
battery is needed. See Engine Compartment
Overview 0170 for battery location.
{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 0167
and the back cover.