ignition CHEVROLET IMPALA 2001 8.G Owners Manual

1-31
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or
the right front passenger's air bag, or the air
bag covering on the driver's seatback, the bag
may not work properly. You may have to replace
the air bag module in the steering wheel, both
the air bag module and the instrument panel for
the right front passenger's air bag, or the air
bag module and seatback for the driver's side
impact air bag. Do not open or break the air
bag coverings.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag systems in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing your vehicle and the
air bag systems. To purchase a service manual, see
ªService and Owner Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected,
an air bag can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you are close to an
air bag when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the air bag systems.
Be sure to follow proper service procedures,
and make sure the person performing work for
you is qualified to do so.
The air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2
-4 Keys
2
-6 Door Locks
2
-9 Remote Keyless Entry (If Equipped)
2
-13 Trunk
2
-18 Theft
2
-19 Content Theft-Deterrent (Option)
2
-20 Vehicle Customization Settings
2
-28 Passlock

2-29 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-29 Ignition Positions
2
-30 Starting Your Engine
2
-33 Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
2
-34 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-39 Parking Brake
2
-40 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-43 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-43 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-44 Engine Exhaust2
-44 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-45 Tilt Wheel
2
-46 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-52 Exterior Lamps
2
-55 Interior Lamps
2
-57 Mirrors
2
-63 Accessory Power Outlet
2
-64 Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)
2
-64 Cellular Phone Readiness Package (Option)
2
-65 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-68 Power Sunroof (Option)
2
-69 HomeLink
Transmitter (Option)
2
-74 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-76 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-79 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-88 Message Center
2
-97 Driver Information Center (DIC) (Option)

2-3
Power WindowsSwitches located on the driver's door armrest control
each of the windows when the ignition is in ON, ACC,
or when retained accessory power (RAP) is active. In
addition, each passenger's door has a window switch.
The driver's window switch has an express
-down
feature. This switch is labeled AUTO. Tap the rear of
the switch, and the driver's window will open a small
amount. If the rear of the switch is fully pressed, the
window will go all the way down.
To stop the window while it is lowering, press the front
of the switch. To raise the window, press and hold the
front of the switch.
The driver's window controls also include a lock
-out
switch. Press LOCK to stop front and rear passengers
from using their window switches. The driver can still
control all the windows with the lock on. Press the
other side of the LOCK button to return to normal
window operation.

2-4
Keys
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
Don't leave the keys in a vehicle with children.

2-5
One key is used for the
ignition, the doors and
all other locks.
If you need a new key, contact your Chevrolet dealer for
assistance. In an emergency, contact Chevrolet Roadside
Assistance. See ªRoadside Assistanceº in the Index for
more information.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of features that can
help prevent theft. But you can have a lot of
trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever lock
your key inside. You may even have to damage
your vehicle to get in. So be sure you have an
extra key.

2-8 Rear-Door Security Locks
Your vehicle is equipped with rear-door security locks
that help prevent passengers from opening the rear doors
of your vehicle from the inside.
To use one of these locks:
1. Open one of the rear doors.
2. On the inside of the
rear door will be a
lock. Insert your
key into this lock
and turn it upward.
This will engage
the safety lock.
To disengage the
feature, turn the
lock downward.3. Close the door.
4. Do the same thing to the other rear door lock.
The rear doors of your vehicle cannot be opened from
the inside when this feature is in use. If you want to
open the rear door when the security lock is on, unlock
the door and then open the door from the outside.
Lockout Protection Feature
To protect you from locking your key in the vehicle, this
feature stops the power door locks from locking when
the keys are in the ignition and a door is open.
If a power lock switch is pressed when a door is open
and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors will lock
and then the driver's door will unlock. A chime will
sound continuously until all doors are closed.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.

2-10 Operation
Press UNLOCK once
to unlock the driver's
door and to turn on
the interior lamps.
(See ªIllumination on
Remote Activationº
in the Index for
more details).
Pause for about one second, then press UNLOCK again
within five seconds to unlock the passengers' doors.
To lock all doors, press LOCK. To release the trunk,
press the trunk symbol on the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The shift lever must be in PARK (P) for
this to work.
Operating the remote keyless entry transmitter may
interact with the content theft
-deterrent system (if the
vehicle has this option). See ªContent Theft
-Deterrent
Systemº in the Index.Panic Alarm Button
This feature allows you to activate an alarm by pressing
a button on the remote keyless entry transmitter. The
ignition must be in OFF or ACC for the instant alarm to
work. When you press the horn button on the remote
keyless entry transmitter, the headlamps will flash, the
horn will sound repeatedly and your interior lamps will
illuminate attracting attention if you need it. The alarm
will continue until one of the following occurs:

You press the alarm button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter a second time,

the ignition is in ON or

an alarm period of 110 seconds has elapsed.
Transmitter Verification (If Equipped)
This feature provides feedback to the holder of the
remote keyless entry transmitter that a command
has been received by the keyless entry receiver. The
headlamps and back
-up lamps will flash on every lock
and the first unlock command, and the horn will sound
once for every lock and twice for the first unlock
command. Silent operation and other options may be
selected for this feature (see ªVehicle Customization
Settingsº in the Index).

2-11
If your vehicle has the optional content theft-deterrent
system, the first time the remote unlock is received,
three flashes and chirps will be seen to indicate an alarm
condition has occurred since last arming. See ªContent
Theft
-Deterrent Systemº in the Index.
Illumination on Remote Activation
This feature provides interior illumination when a
remote keyless entry unlock command is received and
executed, the trunk release button is pressed or when
the panic alarm is activated. The interior lamps will
illuminate until the ignition is turned to ON or until an
illumination period of 40 seconds has elapsed or the
doors are locked with the power lock switch or the
remote keyless entry transmitter. If a door is opened
during the illumination period, the timed illumination
will be canceled, and the interior lamps will remain on
since a door is open.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any
remaining transmitters with you when you go to your
dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your
vehicle. Each vehicle can have only four transmitters
matched to it.
If you prefer, you can complete this procedure yourself.
See ªVehicle Customization Settingsº in the Index for
more information.
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless
entry transmitter should last about three years.
You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won't
work at the normal range in any location. If you have to
get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it's probably time to change the battery.

2-16 Trunk Release Sensor TrapAlert
System
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have a sensor located on the underside
of the filler panel inside the trunk.The sensor is designed to open the trunk automatically.
If the sensor detects motion and a difference in
temperature in the trunk, the sensor will sound the horn
if the ignition is in OFF. There will be three short chirps
and a pause repeated for up to two minutes. After one
minute, the trunk latch will release. If the ignition is not
in OFF, the trunk latch will not release automatically
and the horn will not sound.
To cancel the horn alarm and automatically release the
trunk lid before two minutes are up, turn the ignition
to ON.
Do not cover the sensor with items you put into the
trunk or with add
-on accessory equipment. If the
sensor's field of view is blocked, it will not detect
motion and will not function properly.
Be sure to secure items in your trunk so that they
won't move around and cause the trunk to open.

2-17
Disabling the Trunk Release Sensor
A. Sensor Lens
B. Disable Switch
Because the sensor detects motion, there are times when
you may want to turn off the trunk sensor so that the
motion of your vehicle or items in the trunk won't cause
the trunk to open, such as the following:

when your vehicle is transported on a car ferry,

when your vehicle is towed, or

when you will be loading items through the opening
in the split folding rear seat (if equipped).Next to the sensor lens, there is a disable switch you can
use to turn off the trunk release sensor. To turn off the
sensor, turn the ignition to ON and press the switch next
to the lens for two seconds. The horn will chirp once
when the sensor is turned off. When the sensor is off,
the light in the switch will flash. The TRUNK OPEN
message in the message center will flash for one minute
each time the ignition is turned on as a reminder that
the sensor is turned off. See ªTrunk Open Messageº in
the Index.
To turn the sensor on again, press the switch again or
open the trunk. When the trunk is opened, the sensor is
automatically turned back on. If the sensor is turned back
on with the disable switch, the horn will chirp once.
Servicing the Trunk Release Sensor
The sensor lens should be inspected periodically.
If the lens is dirty, wipe it gently with a clean, soft
cotton cloth.
If there is an electrical problem with the sensor, the
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON message will appear in the
message center. There are other possible reasons for this
message to appear. Be sure to see your dealer as soon as
possible. See ªService Vehicle Soon Messageº in the
Index for more information.