MichaelH posted on the main topic today, so I want to give some credit to him for mentioning the online manual.

Here is the link to the manual:

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2011/2011_chevrolet_volt_owners.pdf

The manual has been revised from the printed one that many purchased in the last two months.

Here is the link to the warranty:

http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2011/2011_chevrolet_volt_warranty.pdf

While the links work on the computer, the GM web site puts the iPad user on a non-flash web page. The result is the manual is not downloading as normal .PDF files do. Even using GoodReader creates the non-flash page instead of the manual. GM needs to work on their site for iPad and iPhone users. An alternative will be to save the .PDF to the computer and transfer manually to the iPad.

Thanks Mark. My paperback is highlighted, dogeared and postit-noted. It'll be fun finding the updates.

Now I just need my volt to make my manual actually useful!!

As noted on Introduction iii, this is the Second Printing.

Scanning the index of the first and second printing shows that most of the sections have additional pages.

Copying the manual to the iPhone, iPad or other touch screen device allows quicker access and search than thumbing through the paper pages (except for Post-It-Notes indexing!) Being able to tap the table of contents or index and proceed directly to that page will save valuable time when learning the features or brushing up on a subject before the need arises. The diagrams that have the letters pointing to each part don't link, but the lettered descriptions on the following page have active links. Thank you GM for all the links.

Another great feature of the .PDF manual are zoomable graphics. Unfortunately they are scanned images instead of native PDF, but at least they have more resolution than at the original size.

Of course the best thing about having the manual in a portable device is being able to reference it wherever you are. It's going to take practice finding the controls in the center stack, and that learning process should always be done while in Park. Reading ahead of time will save time and be safer. For those who will be pulling the paper manual from the glove compartment, you will save energy that can be used for extra miles in the Volt.

Enjoyable reading everyone!

MichaelH posted on the main topic today, so I want to give some credit to him for mentioning the online manual.


Actually Raymondjram and Terryk posted it first. I got it from them. Thanks anyhow.

These PDFs are now linked from the main Chevy owners manuals page at:

http://www.chevrolet.com/owners/chevy-manuals/

I have linked to that in the brand new forum FAQ, now appearing in my sig below.

Thanks ChrisC. You're providing a useful service.

Scrolling and paging through both versions does indicate changes where a topic was expanded slightly (ex: OnStar on page 2-2), some icons and text added (ex: Remote Start on page 2-8), or where text was removed (see Clock on page 5-42.) These are just a few and I don't intend to search for them all.

For those who bought the paper manual, the main difference will be referencing page numbers. Topics tend to start and end more gracefully on the page or column, rather than being bunched together. That is the major difference in the visual appearance. Both are an excellent reference.

Reading old posts and trying to reference the new page number should be a challenge, but that is a great reason to hold onto the first printing.

It's interesting that the warranty documentation already covers Canada although there will never be any 2011 Volts sold here.

Actually Raymondjram and Terryk posted it first. I got it from them. Thanks anyhow.

Michael, if you hadn't mentioned it further down the thread, I would have missed it. A huge thanks to both Raymondjram and Terryk for examining that GM page and reporting the news.

Thanks Mark. My paperback is highlighted, dogeared and postit-noted. It'll be fun finding the updates.

Now I just need my volt to make my manual actually useful!!

I was just browsing thru the PDF and noted the difference in section numbering in the refuel section.
In the section on refueling steps the PDF added

"Complete the refueling within 30 minutes of pushing the fuel door button found on the driver side door. If refueling more than 30 minutes, push the fuel door botton again"

I wonder what happens if you do not push the button again? Maybe an alarm for fuel tank cap not sealed.

In the Starting and Operating section of the PDF on 9-19 they added a Service Only mode. Essentially it is activated by holding the start button down for 5 seconds without the brake petal being pushed.

In section 9-27 of the PDF Mountain Mode is changed. It recommends switching to Mountain Mode 20 minutes before the hill.

And look, no mention of Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers. :(

In section 9-27 of the PDF Mountain Mode is changed. It recommends switching to Mountain Mode 20 minutes before the hill.

What would have been really cool is if the function were linked to the Nav system, so it would automatically engage as needed depending on upcoming, potential elevation changes. Asking most drivers in America to think even 30 seconds in advance seems to be too much to hope for.

What would have been really cool is if the function were linked to the Nav system, so it would automatically engage as needed depending on upcoming, potential elevation changes. Asking most drivers in America to think even 30 seconds in advance seems to be too much to hope for.

Does the nav system have elevation data? That's a lot of additional information to be stored that I thought most NAV systems didn't have.

Does the nav system have elevation data? That's a lot of additional information to be stored that I thought most NAV systems didn't have.

That's a good question. I had assumed it needed it to accurately track your location on mountain roads, since received GPS data is 3D. But I'm honestly not sure whether it's in a typical nav database. Still, simply marking mountainous areas wouldn't be that data intensive.

If you want TOPO lines on your map display they would have to be in the data disc. Instantaneous elevation could be done from the GPS satellites by a program in the Nav system