Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15498927) -
2022 - CRC - 5/27/21
144 Driving and Operating
Starting Procedure (Key Access)1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START. When
the engine starts, let go of the ignition.
The idle speed will go down as the
engine gets warm. Do not race the
engine immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and transmission
gently to allow the oil to warm up and
lubricate all moving parts.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by returning the ignition to the
START position immediately after
cranking has ended, can overheat and
damage the cranking motor, and drain
the battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the cranking
motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in very cold
weather (below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing the accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor and holding it there as you
hold the key in START for up to a
maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try, to allow
the cranking motor to cool down. When
the engine starts, let go of the key and
the accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the
same thing. This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it. Operate
the engine and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Starting Procedure (Keyless Access) 1. Press the brake pedal, then press ENGINE START/STOP on the instrument panel.
The idle speed will go down as the
engine gets warm. Do not race the
engine immediately after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in the
vehicle, if there is interference, or if the
RKE transmitter battery is low, the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will display a
message. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) 090 and
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation (Key Access) 09or
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation (Keyless Access) 012.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by trying to start the engine
immediately after cranking has ended,
can overheat and damage the cranking
motor, and drain the battery. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each try, to let
the cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in very cold
weather (below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing the accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor and holding it there as you
hold ENGINE START/STOP, for up to a
maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to allow
the cranking motor to cool down.
When the engine starts, let go of the
button and the accelerator. If the vehicle
starts briefly but then stops again, follow
the same steps. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
Do not race the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil warms
up and lubricates all moving parts.
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15498927) -
2022 - CRC - 5/27/21
Driving and Operating 163
Recommended Fuel
Regular unleaded gasoline meeting ASTM
specification D4814 with a posted octane
rating (R+M)/2 of 87 or greater is
recommended. Do not use gasoline with a
posted octane rating of less than 87, as this
will result in reduced performance and
driveability. If heavy knocking is heard when
using gasoline rated at 87 or greater, the
engine needs service.Do not use any fuel labeled E85 or FlexFuel.
Do not use gasoline with ethanol levels
greater than 15% by volume.
Prohibited Fuels
Caution
Do not use fuels with any of the
following conditions; doing so may
damage the vehicle and void its
warranty:
.For vehicles that are not FlexFuel, fuel
labeled greater than 15% ethanol by
volume, such as mid-level ethanol
blends (16–50% ethanol), E85,
or FlexFuel.
.Fuel with any amount of methanol,
methylal, ferrocene, and aniline. These
fuels can corrode metal fuel system
parts or damage plastic and rubber
parts.
.Fuel containing metals such as
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT), which can damage
the emissions control system and
spark plugs.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Fuel with a posted octane rating of
less than the recommended fuel. Using
this fuel will lower fuel economy and
performance, and may decrease the
life of the emissions catalyst.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico post fuel
octane ratings in anti-knock index (AKI). For
fuel not to use in a foreign country, see
Prohibited Fuels
0163.
Fuel Additives
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is highly
recommended for use with your vehicle.
If your country does not have TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline, add ACDelco Fuel
System Treatment Plus−Gasoline to the
vehicle’s gasoline fuel tank at every oil
change or 15 000 km (9,000 mi), whichever
occurs first. TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline and
ACDelco Fuel System Treatment Plus
−Gasoline will help keep your vehicle’s
engine fuel deposit free and performing
optimally.
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15498927) -
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Vehicle Care 167
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 168
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 168
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 171
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 174
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . 189
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 193
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . 196
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 198
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 203
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 206
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 206 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 . . . . . . . . . . 212
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 214
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 220
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15498927) -
2022 - CRC - 5/27/21
172 Vehicle Care
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0175.
2. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil0172.
3. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil0172.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0176.
5. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0176.
6. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brakes0180.
7. Auxiliary Fuse Block. See Engine
Compartment Fuse Block 0193.
8. Battery - North America 0182.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid 0180.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0193.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine performance and
long life, careful attention must be paid to
engine oil. Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect your
investment:
.Use engine oil approved to the proper
specification and of the proper viscosity
grade. See “Selecting the Right Engine
Oil” in this section.
.Check the engine oil level regularly and
maintain the proper oil level. See
“Checking Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
.Change the engine oil at the appropriate
time. SeeEngine Oil Life System 0174.
.Always dispose of engine oil properly. See
“What to Do with Used Oil” in this
section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly, every
650 km (400 mi), especially prior to a long
trip. The engine oil dipstick handle is a loop.
See Engine Compartment Overview 0171 for
the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may be
hot; it could burn you. Use a towel or
glove to touch the dipstick handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center (DIC)
message displays, check the oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park the
vehicle on level ground. Check the engine
oil level after the engine has been off for
at least two hours. Checking the engine oil level on steep grades or too soon after
engine shutoff can result in incorrect
readings. Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to starting.
Remove the dipstick and check the level.
.If unable to wait two hours, the engine
must be off for at least 15 minutes if the
engine is warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out the
dipstick, wipe it with a clean paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the tip down,
and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at
the tip of the dipstick and the engine has
been off for at least 15 minutes, add 1 L
(1 qt) of the recommended oil and then
recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for an
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15498927) -
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Vehicle Care 173
explanation of what kind of oil to use. For
engine oil crankcase capacity, seeCapacities
and Specifications 0247.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil levels above
or below the acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful to the
engine. If you find that you have an oil
level above the operating range, i.e., the
engine has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the MAX mark, the engine
could be damaged. You should drain out
the excess oil or limit driving of the
vehicle and seek a service professional to
remove the excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview 0171 for
the location of the engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level somewhere
in the proper operating range between the
MIN and MAX marks. Push the dipstick all
the way back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil depends on
both the proper oil specification and
viscosity grade. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0243. Specification
Use full synthetic engine oils that meet the
dexos1 specification.
Engine oils that have been approved by GM
as meeting the dexos1 specification are
marked with the dexos1 approved logo. See
www.gmdexos.com.
Caution
Failure to use the recommended engine
oil or equivalent can result in engine
damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Viscosity Grade
Use SAE 0W-20 viscosity grade engine oil.
When selecting an oil of the appropriate
viscosity grade, it is recommended to select
an oil of the correct specification. See
“Specification” earlier in this section.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine Oil Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils meeting the dexos1
specification are all that is needed for good
performance and engine protection.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause engine
damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements
that can be unhealthy for your skin and
could even cause cancer. Do not let used oil
stay on your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water, or a
good hand cleaner. Wash or properly
dispose of clothing or rags containing used
engine oil. See the manufacturer's warnings
about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment.
If you change your own oil, be sure to drain
all the oil from the filter before disposal.
Never dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash or pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water.
Recycle it by taking it to a place that
collects used oil.
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15498927) -
2022 - CRC - 5/27/21
174 Vehicle Care
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system that
indicates when to change the engine oil and
filter. This is based on a combination of
factors which include engine revolutions,
engine temperature, and miles driven. Based
on driving conditions, the mileage at which
an oil change is indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life system to work
properly, the system must be reset every
time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life
has been diminished, it indicates that an oil
change is necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON DIC message comes on. Change the
oil as soon as possible within the next
1 000 km (600 mi). It is possible that,
if driving under the best conditions, the oil
life system might indicate that an oil change
is not necessary for up to a year. The
engine oil and filter must be changed at
least once a year and, at this time, the
system must be reset. Your dealer has
trained service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is alsoimportant to check the oil regularly over the
course of an oil drain interval and keep it at
the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, the
oil must be changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever the oil is
changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life System
Reset the system whenever the engine oil is
changed so that the system can calculate
the next engine oil change. To reset the
system:
1. Press the MENU button to show Remaining Oil Life on the display. This
display shows an estimate of the oil’s
remaining useful life. If 99% is displayed,
that means that 99% of the current oil
life remains.
2. To reset the engine oil life system, press the SET/CLR button while the oil life
display is active. After a few seconds,
there will be a single chime and the oil
life will be reset to 100%.
Be careful not to reset the oil life display
accidentally at any time other than after the
oil is changed. It cannot be reset accurately. If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON DIC
message comes back on when the vehicle is
started, the engine oil life system has not
reset. Repeat the procedure.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transmission
fluid level. A transmission fluid leak is the
only reason for fluid loss. If a leak occurs,
take the vehicle to your dealer and have it
repaired as soon as possible.
There is a special procedure for checking and
changing the transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, you should have this
done at your dealer.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage the
vehicle, and the damage may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always
use the correct automatic transmission
fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0243.
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15498927) -
2022 - CRC - 5/27/21
176 Vehicle Care
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt can
easily get into the engine, which could
damage it. Always have the air cleaner/
filter in place when driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the engine to
maintain the correct working temperature.
1. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can start up
even when the engine is not running and
can cause injury. Keep hands, clothing,
and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
{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, see Engine Overheating 0179.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain water or
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
(Continued)
Chevrolet TRAX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15498927) -
2022 - CRC - 5/27/21
Vehicle Care 177
Caution (Continued)
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.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the
coolant surge tank. If the coolant inside the
coolant surge tank is boiling, do not do
anything else until it cools down.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is
not at or above the mark pointed to, add a
50/50 mixture of clean drinkable water and
DEX-COOL coolant.
Be sure the cooling system is cool before
this is done. If no coolant is visible in the coolant surge
tank, add coolant as follows:
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
{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.
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain water or
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.