Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
88 Instruments and Controls
If the light is on and not flashing, the TCS,
and potentially the StabiliTrak/ESC system
have been disabled. A DIC message may
display. Check the DIC messages to
determine which feature is not functioning
and whether the vehicle requires service.
If the indicator/warning light is on and
flashing, the TCS and/or the StabiliTrak/ESC
system is actively working.
SeeTraction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0152.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light comes on briefly while starting
the vehicle.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by
your dealer. If the system is working
normally the indicator light goes off.
Caution
The engine coolant temperature warning
light indicates that the vehicle has
overheated. Driving with this light on can
damage the engine and it may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. See
Engine Overheating 0180.
The engine coolant temperature warning
light comes on when the engine has
overheated.
If this happens, pull over and turn off the
engine as soon as possible. See Engine
Overheating 0180.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS), this light comes on briefly
when the engine is started. It provides
information about tire pressures and
the TPMS. When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of the tires
are significantly underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC) tire
pressure message may also display. Stop as
soon as possible, and inflate the tires to the
pressure value shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Tire Pressure
0 205.
When the Light Flashes First and Then Is On
Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute and
then stays on, there may be a problem with
the TPMS. If the problem is not corrected,
the light will come on at every ignition
cycle. See Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
0 207.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
Caution
Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
can damage the engine. Driving with the
engine oil low can also damage the
engine. The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Check the oil
level as soon as possible. Add oil if
(Continued)
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
144 Driving and Operating
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electricalcord. The cord is in the driver side of the
engine compartment, near the battery.
It is shipped from the factory with a tie
holding it in place. Use care in removing
the tie so that the cord is not damaged.
Check the heater cord for damage. If it is
damaged, do not use it. See your dealer
for a replacement. Inspect the cord for
damage yearly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord or an
extension cord can damage the cord and
may result in overheating and fire.
.Plug the cord into a three-prong
electrical utility receptacle that is
protected by a ground fault detection
function. An ungrounded outlet could
cause an electric shock.
.Use a weatherproof, heavy-duty,
15 amp-rated extension cord if needed.
Failure to use the recommended
extension cord in good operating
condition, or using a damaged heater
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
or extension cord, could make it
overheat and cause a fire, property
damage, electric shock, and injury.
.Do not operate the vehicle with the
heater cord permanently attached to
the vehicle. Possible heater cord and
thermostat damage could occur.
.While in use, do not let the heater
cord touch vehicle parts or sharp
edges. Never close the hood on the
heater cord.
.Before starting the vehicle, unplug the
cord, reattach the cover to the plug,
and securely fasten the cord. Keep the
cord away from any moving parts.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was
before to keep it away from moving
engine parts. If you do not it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should remain
plugged in depends on several factors. Ask a
dealer in the area where you will be parking
the vehicle for the best advice on this.
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
178 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator hoses,
or other engine parts. They can be very
hot and can burn you. Do not run the
engine if there is a leak; all coolant could
leak out. That could cause an engine fire
and can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is filled
with DEX-COOL engine coolant. This coolant
is designed to remain in the vehicle for
5 years or 240 000 km (150,000 mi),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling system
and how to check and add coolant when it
is low. If there is a problem with engine
overheating, seeEngine Overheating 0180.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain water or
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the wrong mixture, the engine could get
too hot but there would not be an
overheat warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant. This mixture:
.Gives freezing protection down to −37 °C
(−34 °F), outside temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to 129 °C
(265 °F), engine temperature.
.Protects against rust and corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Caution
Do not use anything other than a mix of
DEX-COOL coolant that meets GM
Standard GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause damage
to the engine cooling system and the
vehicle, which would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Never dispose of engine coolant by putting
it in the trash, pouring it on the ground,
or into sewers, streams, or bodies of water.
Have the coolant changed by an authorized
service center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used coolant
disposal. This will help protect the
environment and your health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level surface when
checking the coolant level.
It is normal to see coolant moving in the
upper coolant hose return line when the
engine is running.
1.4L Engine (LUV) Shown, 1.4L Engine (LE2)
Similar
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
180 Vehicle Care
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with theproper mixture to the indicated
level mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine
cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If the
level is lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge tank until
the level reaches the indicated
level mark.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly. 6. Verify coolant level after the engine is
shut off and the coolant is cold.
If necessary, repeat coolant fill procedure
Steps 1–6.
If the coolant still is not at the proper level
when the system cools down again, see
your dealer.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and
tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to warn of the
engine overheating. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light 088.
If the decision is made not to lift the hood
when this warning appears, get service help
right away. See Roadside Assistance Program
0 253.
If the decision is made to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked on a level
surface. Then check to see if the engine cooling fan
is running. If the engine is overheating, the
fan should be running. If it is not, do not
continue to run the engine. Have the vehicle
serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a leak
in the engine cooling system. This can
cause a loss of all coolant and can
damage the system and vehicle. Have
any leaks fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from the Engine
Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot
cooling system are under pressure.
Turning the pressure cap, even a little,
can cause them to come out at high
speed and you could be burned. Never
turn the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and pressure cap
to cool.
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
200 Vehicle Care
{Warning
.Poorly maintained and improperly
used tires are dangerous.
.Overloading the tires can cause
overheating as a result of too
much flexing. There could be a
blowout and a serious crash. See
Vehicle Load Limits0134.
.Underinflated tires pose the same
danger as overloaded tires. The
resulting crash could cause serious
injury. Check all tires frequently to
maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be
checked when the tires are cold.
.Overinflated tires are more likely
to be cut, punctured, or broken by
a sudden impact —such as when
hitting a pothole. Keep tires at the
recommended pressure.
.Worn or old tires can cause a
crash. If the tread is badly worn,
replace them.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Replace any tires that have been
damaged by impacts with
potholes, curbs, etc.
.Improperly repaired tires can cause
a crash. Only the dealer or an
authorized tire service center
should repair, replace, dismount,
and mount the tires.
.Do not spin the tires in excess of
56 km/h (35 mph) on slippery
surfaces such as snow, mud, ice,
etc. Excessive spinning may cause
the tires to explode.
All-Season Tires
This vehicle may come with all-season tires.
These tires are designed to provide good
overall performance on most road surfaces
and weather conditions. Original equipment
tires designed to GM's specific tire
performance criteria have a TPC specification
code molded onto the sidewall. Original
equipment all-season tires can be identified
by the last two characters of this TPC code,
which will be “MS.” Consider installing winter tires on the
vehicle if frequent driving on snow or
ice-covered roads is expected. All-season tires
provide adequate performance for most
winter driving conditions, but they may not
offer the same level of traction or
performance as winter tires on snow or
ice-covered roads. See
Winter Tires0200.
Winter Tires
This vehicle was not originally equipped
with winter tires. Winter tires are designed
for increased traction on snow and
ice-covered roads. Consider installing winter
tires on the vehicle if frequent driving on ice
or snow covered roads is expected. See your
dealer for details regarding winter tire
availability and proper tire selection. Also,
see Buying New Tires 0211.
With winter tires, there may be decreased
dry road traction, increased road noise, and
shorter tread life. After changing to winter
tires, be alert for changes in vehicle
handling and braking.
If using winter tires:
.Use tires of the same brand and tread
type on all four wheel positions.
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14609828) -
2021 - CRC - 8/21/20
Vehicle Care 205
Treadwear Indicators:Narrow bands,
sometimes called wear bars, that show
across the tread of a tire when only
1.6 mm (1/16 in) of tread remains. See
When It Is Time for New Tires 0210.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards)
:A tire information system
that provides consumers with ratings
for a tire's traction, temperature, and
treadwear. Ratings are determined by
tire manufacturers using government
testing procedures. The ratings are
molded into the sidewall of the tire.
See Uniform Tire Quality Grading 0213.
Vehicle Capacity Weight
:The number
of designated seating positions
multiplied by 68 kg (150 lb) plus the
rated cargo load. See Vehicle Load
Limits 0134.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire
:
Load on an individual tire due to curb
weight, accessory weight, occupant
weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard
:A label permanently
attached to a vehicle showing the
vehicle capacity weight and the original equipment tire size and recommended
inflation pressure. See
“Tire and Loading
Information Label” underVehicle Load
Limits 0134.
Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air
pressure to operate effectively.
{Warning
Neither tire underinflation nor
overinflation is good. Underinflated
tires, or tires that do not have
enough air, can result in:
.Tire overloading and overheating,
which could lead to a blowout.
.Premature or irregular wear.
.Poor handling.
.Reduced fuel economy.
Overinflated tires, or tires that have
too much air, can result in:
.Unusual wear.
.Poor handling.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Rough ride.
.Needless damage from road
hazards.
The Tire and Loading Information label
on the vehicle indicates the original
equipment tires and the correct cold
tire inflation pressures. The
recommended pressure is the minimum
air pressure needed to support the
vehicle's maximum load carrying
capacity. See Vehicle Load Limits 0134.
How the vehicle is loaded affects
vehicle handling and ride comfort.
Never load the vehicle with more
weight than it was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check the pressure of the tires once a
month or more. Do not forget the
compact spare, if the vehicle has one.
The compact spare cold tire pressure
should be at 420 kPa (60 psi). See
Compact Spare Tire 0220.