steering CHEVROLET IMPALA 2004 8.G Owners Manual

Where Are the Air Bags?
The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The right front passenger’s frontal air bag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
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If your vehicle has one, the driver’s side impact air bag is
in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating air bag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. Do not let seat covers block the
ination path of a side impact air bag.
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What Makes an Air Bag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For
both the frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inator, which
inates the air bag. The inator, air bag and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules. Frontal air
bag modules are located inside the steering wheel
and instrument panel. For vehicles with a driver’s side
impact air bag, the air bag modules are located in
the seatback closest to the driver’s door.
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle.The air bag supplements the protection provided by
safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of the impact
more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually. But the frontal air bags
would not help you in many types of collisions, including
rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
the air bag. A side impact air bag would not help you in
many types of collisions, including frontal or near
frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily
because an occupant’s motion is not toward that air bag.
Air bags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belts, and then only
in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions
for the driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal
air bags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions
for vehicles with a driver’s side impact air bag.
1-57

What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inates?
After the air bag inates, it quickly deates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the air bag inated.
Some components of the air bag module will be hot for a
short time. These components include the steering wheel
hub for the driver’s frontal air bag and the instrument
panel for the right front passenger’s frontal air bag. For
vehicle’s with a driver’s side impact air bag, the side of
the seatback closest to the driver’s door will be hot. The
parts of the bag that come into contact with you may be
warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke
and dust coming from the vents in the deated air bags.
Air bag ination doesn’t prevent the driver from seeing or
being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people
from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
can not get out of the vehicle after an air bag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the air
bags inate (if battery power is available). You can lock
the doors again and turn the interior lamps off by
using the door lock and interior lamp controls.
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In many crashes severe enough to inate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inate only once. After an
air bag inates, you’ll need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you don’t get them, the air
bag system won’t be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic frontal
sensor, which helps the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also equipped
with a crash sensing and diagnostic module,
which records information about the frontal air bag
system. The module records information about
the readiness of the system, when the system
commands air bag ination and driver’s safety belt
usage at deployment. The module also records
speed, engine RPM, brake and throttle data.
Let only qualied technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer for
service.
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.
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Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one speed — fast or
slow — for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new
brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops
with new linings can mean premature wear
and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get new brake
linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeTowing
a Trailer on page 4-37for more information.
Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition, you can turn the switch to
four positions.
The ignition switch is
located on the instrument
panel, to the right of
the steering column.
OFF:This position locks your steering column in a
vehicle with a manual transmission. It is a theft-deterrent
feature. You will only be able to remove your key
when the ignition is turned to OFF.
Notice:If your key seems stuck in OFF and you
can not turn it, be sure you are using the correct
key; if so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break the
key or the ignition switch. If none of this works, then
your vehicle needs service.
2-17

Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle may have a shift lever on the
steering column or on the console between the seats.There is also a display, like the graphic above, located
on the instrument panel cluster that will indicate the
gear the vehicle is in.
Maximum engine speed is limited on automatic transaxle
vehicles while you’re in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) to
protect driveline components from improper operation.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your front wheels. It’s
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily. Console Shift Lever
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Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-27. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-37.
Steering Column Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:
Pull the lever toward you.
2-27

Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-52
Trip Computer................................................3-55
Audio System(s).............................................3-56
Setting the Time...........................................3-56
Radio with Cassette......................................3-57
Radio with CD..............................................3-68
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-78
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-92
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-93Radio Reception...........................................3-94
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-94
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-96
Care of Your CD Player................................3-96
Backglass Antenna.......................................3-96
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.............3-97
Vehicle Customization Settings.......................3-97
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-97
Section 3 Instrument Panel
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The main components of your instrument panel are
listed here:
A. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-103.
B. Traction Control On/Off Button (If Equipped). See
Traction Control System (TCS) (3800 V6 Engine) on
page 4-8.
C. Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-7.
D. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (Option). SeeAudio
Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-93.
E. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
F. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-56.
G. Air Vent. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-24.
H. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps
on page 3-14.I. Remote Trunk Release Button. See “Remote Trunk
Rlease” underTrunk on page 2-11.
J. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on
page 3-7.
K. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
L. Steering Wheel Cruise Control (If Equipped).
SeeCruise Control on page 3-11.
M. Ignition Switch. See “Ignition Positions” underNew
Vehicle Break-In on page 2-17.
N. Center Console Shift Lever (If Equipped). See
“Console Shift Lever” underShifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-27.
O. Climate Controls. SeeDual Climate Control System
on page 3-20.
P. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-42.
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