2023 CHEVROLET BOLT EV brake fluid

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16404388) - 2023 - CRC - 3/7/22
Instruments and Controls 85
Service Vehicle Soon Light
This light comes on if a condition exists that
may require the vehicle to be taken in for
service.
If the light comes on, take the vehicle to
your dealer for service as soon as possible.
Brake System Warning Light
MetricEnglish
This light comes on briefly when the vehicle
is turned on to show that the light is
working. If it does not come on then, have
it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if
there is a problem. If the light comes on and stays on, there is
a brake problem. Have the brake system
inspected right away. This light may come
on if the brake fluid is low. See
Brake Fluid
0 219.
If the light comes on while driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. The brake pedal
might be harder to push, or the brake pedal
may go closer to the floor. It could take
longer to stop. If the light is still on, have
the vehicle towed for service. See
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle 0258.
{Warning
The brake system might not be working
properly if the brake system warning
light is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a crash.
If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully
stopped, have the vehicle towed for
service.
Electric Parking Brake Light
MetricEnglish
This light comes on when the parking brake
is applied. If the light continues flashing
after the parking brake is released, or while
driving, there is a problem with the Electric
Parking Brake system. A message may also
display in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the light does not come on, or remains
flashing, see your dealer.
Service Electric Parking Brake
Light

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16404388) - 2023 - CRC - 3/7/22
Instruments and Controls 101
Timer :This display can be used as a timer.
To start the timer, press the thumbwheel
while this display is active. The display will
show the amount of time that has passed
since the timer was last reset. To stop the
timer, press the thumbwheel briefly while
this display is active and the timer is
running. To reset the timer to zero, press
and hold the thumbwheel while this display
is active.
Driver Assistance : If equipped, shows
information for ACC, Follow Distance, Lane
Keep Assist (LKA) and Forward Collision
Alert (FCA).
Blank Page : The Blank Page display allows
for no information to be displayed in the
cluster info display areas.
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC indicate the
status of the vehicle or some action that
may be needed to correct a condition.
Multiple messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be acknowledged and
cleared by pressing the thumbwheel. The messages that require immediate action
cannot be cleared until that action is
performed.
All messages should be taken seriously;
clearing the message does not correct the
problem.
If a SERVICE message appears, see your
dealer.
Follow the instructions given in the
messages. The system displays messages
regarding the following topics:
.Service Messages
.Fluid Levels
.Vehicle Security
.Brakes
.Ride Control Systems
.Driver Assistance Systems
.Cruise Control
.Lighting and Bulb Replacement
.Wiper/Washer Systems
.Doors and Windows
.Seat Belts
.Airbag Systems
.Propulsion and Transmission
.Tire Pressure
.Battery
Propulsion Power Messages
PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the vehicle's
propulsion power is reduced. A reduction in
propulsion power can affect the vehicle's
ability to accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no observed reduction in
performance, proceed to your destination.
Under certain conditions the performance
may be reduced the next time the vehicle is
driven. The vehicle may be driven while this
message is on, but maximum acceleration
and speed may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, or displays repeatedly,
the vehicle should be taken to your dealer
for service as soon as possible.
Under certain operating conditions
propulsion will be disabled. Try restarting
after the vehicle has been off for
30 seconds.
PROPULSION POWER REDUCED DUE TO
TEMPERATURE
This message displays when the vehicle is
on, the battery temperature is low, and
when the vehicle’s performance is limited.
The duration of the limited vehicle
performance depends, in part, on the high

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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154 Driving and Operating
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious—or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.
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.
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.
Variable Effort Steering
The vehicle has a steering system that
varies the amount of effort required to steer
the vehicle in relation to the speed of the
vehicle.
The amount of steering effort required is
less at slower speeds to make the vehicle
more maneuverable and easier to park. At
faster speeds, the steering effort increases
to provide a sport-like feel to the steering.
This provides maximum control and stability.
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power steering.
It does not have power steering fluid.
Regular maintenance is not required.

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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156 Driving and Operating
warning clues—such as enough water,
ice, or packed snow on the road to make
a mirrored surface —and slow down
when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle
speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid only
the braking skid.
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.
{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. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
.Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through mountains
is different than driving on flat or rolling
terrain.
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in good
shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires,
cooling system, and electric drive unit.
.Keep the vehicle in gear when going
down steep or long hills.

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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212 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 213
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . 213
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Underhood Compartment Overview . . . 216
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Electrical System
High Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . 227
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Underhood Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Self-Sealing Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 237
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 240
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . 241
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 245
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 247
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 247
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 248
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . 250
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 256
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . 258
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . 260
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Vehicle Care 217
1. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWasher Fluid 0218.
2. Cabin Heating Coolant Reservoir. See Cooling System 0217.
3. High Voltage Battery Coolant Reservoir. See Cooling System 0217.
4. HPDM (High Power Distribution Module).
5. APM (Accessory Power Module), OBCM (On-Board Charging Module).
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid
0 219.
7. SPIM, APM, and Charger Module Coolant Reservoir. See Cooling System 0217.
8. Battery. See Battery - North America
0 220.
9. Underhood Compartment Fuse Block. Underhood Compartment Fuse Block
0229.
Cooling System
It is not necessary to regularly check coolant
unless a leak is suspected or an unusual
noise is heard. A coolant loss could indicate
a problem. Have it inspected and repaired
by your dealer.
The following explains the cooling systems
and how to check coolant levels.
.High Voltage Battery
.Single Power Inverter Module (SPIM),
Accessory Power Module (APM), and
Charger Module
.Cabin Heating
High Voltage Battery
During vehicle operation and also during
charging, the high voltage battery cells in
the vehicle are kept within a normal
operating temperature range. If the
temperature rises above this temperature,
the battery cooling system turns on the air
conditioning compressor and cools the
coolant until the correct temperature is
reached. If the temperature falls below this
temperature, a high voltage heater, located
outside the battery on a cradle, heats the
coolant until the correct temperature is
reached.
Single Power Inverter Module (SPIM),
Accessory Power Module (APM), and
Charger Module
The SPIM, APM, and charger module are
cooled using a separate coolant loop. These
modules are kept below a maximum
temperature. If the temperature rises above
this temperature, the electric cooling fan will
turn on to cool the coolant.
Cabin Heating
Cabin heating is maintained by coolant
heated by the Coolant Heater Control
Module (CHCM), separate from the power
electronics and battery coolant loops. This
module heats the coolant based on
temperature inputs from the cabin climate
control systems.
Hybrid Cooling System Pressure Caps
The hybrid cooling system reservoirs have
tamper resistant pressure caps. The coolant
should only be serviced by a qualified
technician.
Checking Coolant
The coolant needs to be replaced at the
appropriate interval. See Maintenance
Schedule 0271.
The coolant reservoirs are in the underhood
compartment. See Underhood Compartment
Overview 0216.

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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218 Vehicle Care
1. Cabin Heating Coolant Reservoir
2. High Voltage Battery Coolant Reservoir
3. SPIM, APM, and Charger ModuleCoolant Reservoir
1. Park on a level surface and turn thevehicle off.
2. After the system has completely cooled, check that the coolant level is at the cold
fill mark on the reservoirs.
3. If the coolant level is not visible or needs to be adjusted within the reservoirs,
contact your dealer.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is needed, be
sure to read the manufacturer's instructions
before use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature may fall below
freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the tank is full. See
Underhood Compartment Overview 0216 for
reservoir location.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid that contains
any type of water repellent coating.
This can cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip, and may also clog the
washer nozzle.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze)
in the windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield washer system
and paint.
.Do not mix water with ready-to-use
washer fluid. Water can cause the
solution to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other parts of
the washer system.
.When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer instructions
for adding water.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is very cold.
This allows for fluid expansion if
freezing occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is completely full.
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.

Chevrolet BOLT EV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
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Vehicle Care 219
{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
applications. 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 0277.
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
Underhood Compartment Overview 0216 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.
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.
When the brake fluid falls to a low level,
the brake warning light comes on. See Brake
System Warning Light 085.