engine CHEVROLET IMPALA 2007 9.G Owner's Manual

Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the
gas carbon monoxide (CO), which you
cannot see or smell. It can cause
unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
The exhaust system sounds strange
or different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a
collision.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Your vehicle was damaged when
driving over high points on the road
or over road debris.
Repairs were not done correctly.
Your vehicle or the exhaust system
has been modied improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows
down to blow out any CO; and
Have your vehicle xed immediately.
124

Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust
into your vehicle. See the earlier caution
underEngine Exhaust on page 124.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your
vehicle even if the climate control fan is at
the highest setting. One place this can
happen is a garage. Exhaust — with
CO — can come in easily. NEVER park in
a garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 272.
{CAUTION:
It can be 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 the parking brake and move
the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 121.
If you are parking on a hill and if you are pulling a
trailer, also seeTowing a Trailer on page 284.
125

Instrument Panel Overview........................ 150
Hazard Warning Flashers.......................... 152
Other Warning Devices............................. 152
Horn.......................................................... 152
Tilt Wheel.................................................. 153
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................. 153
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................. 154
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.......... 155
Flash-to-Pass............................................ 155
Windshield Wipers..................................... 155
Windshield Washer.................................... 156
Cruise Control........................................... 157
Exterior Lamps.......................................... 160
Delayed Headlamps.................................. 162
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System.................. 162
Fog Lamps................................................ 163
Instrument Panel Brightness...................... 163
Courtesy Lamps........................................ 163
Dome Lamp.............................................. 164
Entry Lighting............................................ 164
Delayed Entry Lighting.............................. 164
Delayed Exit Lighting................................. 165
Parade Dimming........................................ 165
Reading Lamps......................................... 165Electric Power Management...................... 165
Battery Run-Down Protection..................... 166
Accessory Power Outlet(s)........................ 167
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter................ 168
Climate Controls......................................... 168
Climate Control System............................. 168
Outlet Adjustment...................................... 172
Passenger Compartment Air Filter............. 173
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators..... 174
Instrument Panel Cluster........................... 175
Speedometer and Odometer...................... 176
Tachometer............................................... 176
Safety Belt Reminder Light........................ 177
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light....... 177
Airbag Readiness Light............................. 178
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............. 179
Charging System Light.............................. 181
Brake System Warning Light..................... 181
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light...... 182
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light........................................ 183
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light........................................ 183
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage............ 184
Section 3 Instrument Panel
147

Delayed Headlamps
The delayed headlamps feature provides a period
of exterior lighting as you leave the area around
your vehicle. The feature is activated when
the headlamps are on due to the automatic
headlamps control feature described previously in
this section, and when the ignition is turned off.
Your headlamps will then remain on until the
exterior lamps control is moved to the parking
lamps position or until the pre-selected delayed
headlamp lighting period has ended.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamps
switch in the parking lamps or headlamps position,
the delayed headlamps cycle will not occur.
To disable the delayed headlamps feature or
change the time of delay, seeDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 208.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)/
Automatic Headlamp System
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully
functional daytime running lamps are required on all
vehicles rst sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel
makes the DRL work, so be sure it is not covered.
The DRL system’s automatic headlamp control
will make the low-beam headlamps come on at a
reduced brightness when the following conditions
are met:
The ignition is in the ON position.
The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
The engine is running.
When the DRL are on, only the low-beam
headlamps, at a reduced level of brightness, will
be on. The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker, and
other lamps will not be on. The instrument
panel and cluster will also not be lit.
162

The battery can be discharged at idle if the
electrical loads are very high. This is true for all
vehicles. This is because the generator (alternator)
may not be spinning fast enough at idle to
produce all the power that is needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger, climate
control fan at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s
output and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It
can increase engine idle speed to generate more
power, whenever needed. It can temporarily
reduce the power demands of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels,
without being noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action, this action
may be noticeable to the driver. If so, a Driver
Information Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as Battery Saver Active or
Service Battery Charging System.If this message is displayed, it is recommended
that the driver reduce the electrical loads as much
as possible. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 199.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This vehicle has a feature to help prevent the
battery from being drained, if the interior courtesy
lamps, reading/map lamps, visor vanity lamps
or trunk lamp are accidentally left on. If any
of these lamps are left on, they will automatically
turn off after 10 minutes, if the ignition is off.
The lamps will not come back on again until
one of the following occurs:
The ignition is turned on.
The exterior lamps control is turned off, then
on again.
The headlamps will timeout after 10 minutes, if they
are manually turned on before the ignition is off.
166

Using these settings together for long periods of
time may cause the air inside of your vehicle
to become too dry. To prevent this from
happening, after the air inside of your vehicle has
cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.
The air conditioning system removes moisture
from the air, so you may sometimes notice a small
amount of water dripping underneath your
vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine.
This is normal.
Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of the windows is a result of
high humidity (moisture) condensing on the
cool window glass. This can be minimized if the
climate control system is used properly. There are
two modes to clear fog or frost from your
windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the
windows of fog or moisture and warm the
passengers. Use the defrost mode to remove fog
or frost from the windshield more quickly.Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows
are clear.
Turn the right knob clockwise to select the defog
or defrost mode.
-(Defog):This mode directs air equally to the
windshield and the oor outlets. When defog
is selected, the system turns off recirculation and
runs the air conditioning compressor unless
the outside temperature is below 40°F (4°C).
0(Defrost):This mode directs most of the air to
the windshield with some air to the side window
vents and the oor vents. When defrost is selected,
the system will automatically force outside air into
the vehicle. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting, unless the outside
temperature is below 40°F (4°C).
171

Passenger Compartment Air Filter
This vehicle has a passenger compartment
particulate air lter. It is located underneath the
hood just below the windshield wiper arm on
the passenger’s side of the vehicle, under the air
inlet grille.
The lter traps most of the pollen from air entering
the Climate Control System. Like your engine’s
air cleaner/lter, it may need to be changed
periodically to ensure system performance. For
information on how often to change the passenger
compartment air lter, seeScheduled Maintenance
on page 408.
To change the passenger compartment air lter,
use the following steps:
1. Turn off the ignition when the windshield
wipers are in the up position.
2. Raise the vehicle hood.
3. Peel back the hood weatherstrip from the
passenger’s side of the vehicle halfway
to center.4. Remove the air inlet grille retainers.
5. Lift the air inlet grille and disconnect the
washer hose at the quick-connect.
6. Remove the air inlet grille.
7. Remove the water deector plate.
8. Remove the old passenger compartment
air lter.
9. Reverse the steps to install the new air lter.
For best climate control system performance,
be sure to re-install the air lter.
For the type of lter to use, seeNormal
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 419.
173

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and
gages on your vehicle. The pictures help to
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that
something is wrong before it becomes serious
enough to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to the warning lights
and gages could also save you or others from
injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or
is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As the details show on the next few pages,
some warning lights come on briey when you
start the engine just to let you know they are
working. If you are familiar with this section,
you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often
gages and warning lights work together to let you
know when there is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and
stays on as you are driving, or when one of the
gages shows there may be a problem, check
the section that tells you what to do about
it. Please follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to
do repairs can be costly and even dangerous.
So please get to know your vehicle’s warning lights
and gages. They can be a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a Driver Information
Center (DIC) that works along with the warning
lights and gages. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 190for more information.
174

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour
(km/h). Your odometer shows how far your vehicle
has been driven in either miles (used in the United
States) or in kilometers (used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer.
If you see ERROR, you’ll know someone
has probably tampered with it and the numbers
may not be accurate.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle
needs a new odometer installed. If the new
one can be set to the mileage total of the old
odometer, then that will be done. But if it can’t,
then it will be set at zero and a label must be put
on the driver’s door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm).
Notice:If you operate the engine with the
tachometer in the shaded warning area, your
vehicle could be damaged, and the damages
would not be covered by your warranty. Do not
operate the engine with the tachometer in
the shaded warning area.
176

Charging System Light
The charging system
light will come on briey
when you turn on
the ignition, but the
engine is not running,
as a check to show you
it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving,
you may have a problem with the charging system.
It could indicate that you have problems with a
generator drive belt, or another electrical problem.
Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good braking,
though, you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected
right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn
the ignition key to RUN. If it does not come
on then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
United StatesCanada
181