ignition CHEVROLET IMPALA 2007 9.G Owner's Manual

{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. 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,
use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 284.Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an
automatic transaxle shift lock control system.
You must fully apply your regular brakes rst
and then press the shift lever button before you
can shift from PARK (P) while the ignition is
in RUN. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever and push the shift
lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain
brake application. Then press the shift lever button
and move the shift lever into another gear.
SeeShifting Out of Park (P) on page 123.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage
the transaxle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of
snow, ice, or sand without damaging your
transaxle, seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 276.
117

Parking Brake
The parking brake is
located to the left of the
brake pedal, near the
driver’s door.
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down with your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. When you lift your
left foot, the parking brake pedal will follow it
to the released position.
A warning chime will sound and a brake warning
light located on the instrument panel cluster
will come on, if the parking brake is set, the ignition
is on and the vehicle speed is greater than
5 mph (8 km/h).
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify
that the parking brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on any hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 284.
120

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). See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 121.Ifyou
are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 284.
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) by pulling
the shift lever toward you and moving it up as
far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Console 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) by holding
in the button on the shift lever and pushing
the lever all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
121

Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift
lock control system. You must fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 116.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever by pushing it all the way into
PARK (P) while keeping the brake pedal pushed
down. Release the shift lever button if you have a
console shift. Then move the shift lever out of
PARK (P), being sure to press the shift lever button
if you have a console shift.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still
cannot shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal down until the
end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL.
4. Start the engine and shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle xed as soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot
exhaust parts under your vehicle and
ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves, dry
grass, or other things that can burn.
123

Convenience Net
The vehicle may have a convenience net located
on the back wall of the trunk.
The net is not for larger, heavier loads. Store
those in the trunk as far forward as possible.
Unhook the net so that it will lie at when
not in use.
Sunroof
If your vehicle is
equipped with a
sunroof, the sunroof
switches are located on
the overhead console.
The sunroof can only be operated when the
ignition is in ACCESSORY, RUN, or when
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 113.
Q(Vent/Express-Open):To vent the sunroof
when it is closed, press this switch once.
When using the vent, the sunshade should be fully
opened. The sunshade can be opened or closed
manually by sliding it rearward or forward.
From the vent position, press this switch again to
activate the express-open feature. Press the
close switch to stop movement of the sunroof.
The sunshade will automatically open when using
express-open.
A deector will automatically pop up when the
sunroof is opened. The deector will retract when
the sunroof is closed.
R(Close):To close the sunroof, press and hold
this switch until the sunroof motor stops, or
release the switch when the desired position has
been reached.
145

The main components of your instrument panel are listed here:
A. Air Vent. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 172.
B. Remote Trunk Release Button. See “Remote
Trunk Release” underTrunk on page 102.
C. Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 153.
D. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 175.
E. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 152.
F. Driver Information Center. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) on page 190.
G. Passenger Air Bag status Indicator. See
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 179.
H. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on
page 215.
I. Exterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 160.
J. Instrument Panel Brightness. SeeInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 163.
K. Traction Control On/Off Button (If Equipped).
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 256.L. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on
page 153.
M. Steering Wheel Cruise Control. SeeCruise
Control on page 157.
N. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on
page 305.
O. Horn. SeeHorn on page 152.
P. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped).
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on
page 243.
Q. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on
page 112.
R. Climate Controls. SeeClimate Control System
on page 168.
S. Accessory Power Outlets. SeeAccessory
Power Outlet(s) on page 167.
T. Center Console Shift Lever (If Equipped).
See “Console Shift Lever” underShifting Into
Park (P) on page 121.
U. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 144.
151

Hazard Warning Flashers
The hazard warning ashers let you warn others.
They also let police know you have a problem.
The front and rear turn signal lamps will ash on
and off.
The hazard warning
asher button is located
on top of the steering
column.
The hazard warning ashers work no matter what
position the key is in, and even if the key is not
in the ignition.Press the button to make the front and rear turn
signal lamps ash on and off. Press the button
again to turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, the turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set them
up at the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m)
behind your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on the steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
152

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to
high beam, push the turn signal/multifunction lever
toward the front of the vehicle.
This light on the
instrument panel
cluster comes on if
the high beam lamps
are turned on while
the ignition is on.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low
beam, pull the turn signal lever toward the rear
of the vehicle.
Flash-to-Pass
With the turn signal lever in the low-beam position,
pull the lever toward you momentarily to switch
to high-beam (to signal that you are going to pass).
If the headlamps are on, they will return to
low-beam when the lever is released.
This feature operates even when the headlamps
are off.
Windshield Wipers
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If they are frozen to the
windshield, gently loosen or thaw them. Damaged
wiper blades may not clear the windshield well,
making it harder to see and drive safely. If the
blades do become damaged, install new blades or
blade inserts. For more information, seeWindshield
Wiper Blade Replacement on page 349.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it
cools down. Clear away snow or ice to prevent
an overload.
The windshield wipers are controlled by turning
the band with the wiper symbol.
8(Mist):Turn the band to mist for a single
wiping cycle. Hold it there until the wipers start.
Then let go. The wipers will stop after one wipe.
Hold the band on mist longer, for more wipe cycles.
9(Off):To stop the wipers, move the band
to off.
155

6(Delay):The wiper speed can be set for a long
or short delay between wiping cycles. This can
be very useful in light rain or snow. Turn the band
to choose the delay time. The closer to the top
of the lever, the shorter the delay.
6(Low Speed):Turn the band away from
you to the rst solid band past the delay settings,
for steady wiping at low speed.
?(High Speed):Turn the band further, to the
second solid band past the delay settings, for
high-speed wiping.
Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever, there is a
paddle with the windshield washer symbol on it.
Push the paddle to spray washer uid on the
windshield. The wipers run for several sweeps and
then either stop or return to the preset speed.
The ignition key must be in ACCESSORY or RUN
for this to work. SeeWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 333.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your
washer until the windshield is warmed.
Otherwise the washer uid can form ice
on the windshield, blocking your vision.
When the vehicle is low on washer uid, the
WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC) for 60 seconds.
When the ignition is turned off, this message
displays again for three seconds to remind you
that the uid level is low.
Until the uid reservoir is relled, every time the
vehicle is started, the WASHER FLUID LOW ADD
FLUID message displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) for 60 seconds. Be sure to rell
the tank right away. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 199.
156

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills
depends upon the vehicle speed, load and the
steepness of the hills. When going up steep hills,
you may have to step on the accelerator pedal
to maintain your speed. When going downhill, you
may have to brake or shift to a lower gear to
keep your speed down. Of course, applying the
brake ends the cruise control. Many drivers
nd this to be too much trouble and do not use
cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Press the[(cancel) button on the
steering wheel.
Press theT(on/off) button on the
steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased by
turning off the cruise control or the ignition.
Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps
control is located on
the instrument panel
to the left of the
steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Fog Lamps (if equipped)
160