CHEVROLET IMPALA 2000 8.G Owners Manual

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2-38
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:

Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator

Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer

Flash
-to-Pass

Windshield Wipers

Windshield Washer

Cruise Control ON/OFF Switch
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return automatically.
A green arrow on the
instrument panel will flash
in the direction of the turn
or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
If the arrow flashes faster than normal as you signal a
turn or a lane change, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won't see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned
-out bulbs and then check
the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index).

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2-39
Turn Signal On Chime
If you leave either one of your turn signals on and
drive more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km), a chime will sound
to alert you.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change your headlamps
from low beams to high
beams, or high to low, pull
the multifunction lever all
the way toward you.
Then release it.
When the high beams are on, this blue light on the
instrument panel also will be on. This light works only
when the ignition key is in the ON position.
Flash-to-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
It works even if your headlamps are off.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you a little,
but not so far that you hear a click.
If your headlamps are off or on low beam, your
high
-beam headlamps will turn on. They'll stay on
as long as you hold the lever toward you and the
high
-beam indicator on the dash will come on.
Release the lever to turn the high
-beam headlamps off.

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2-40 Windshield Wipers
When the ignition key is in ACC or ON, you control the
windshield wipers by turning the band marked WIPER.
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST. Hold
it there until the wipers start, then let go. The wipers will
stop after one cycle. If you want more cycles, hold the
band on MIST longer.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band to LO. For
high
-speed wiping, turn the band further, to HI. To stop
the wipers, turn the band to OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer to LO, the longer the delay between wipes.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they're frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever, there's a paddle
with the word PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid on the
windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will run for
several sweeps and then either stop or return to your
preset speed. Note: the ignition key must be in ACC or
ON to for this to work. See ªWindshield Washer Fluidº
in the Index.
CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
The LOW WASHER
FLUID message on your
instrument panel cluster
will appear when the fluid
level is low.

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2-41 Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control shuts off.
CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control.
Don't use cruise control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system (optional) begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage. (See ªTraction Control Systemº in the Index.)
When road conditions allow you to safely use it again,
you may turn the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use
cruise control.
1. Press the cruise control ON button on the turn signal
lever to turn it on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the SET button on your steering wheel and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
The CRUISE light on the instrument panel cluster will
come on after the cruise control has been set to the
desired speed.

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2-42
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course shuts off
the cruise control. But you don't need to reset it.
Once you're going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
press the RESUME button
on your steering wheel.
You'll go right back up to
your chosen speed and
stay there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:

Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Press the SET button on the steering wheel, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal. You'll
now cruise at the higher speed.
Press the ACCEL button on the steering wheel. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want and then
release the button. (To increase your speed in very small
amounts, press the ACCEL button for less than half a
second and then release it. Each time you do this, your
vehicle will go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.)
The accelerate feature will only work after you set the
cruise control speed by pressing the SET button on the
steering wheel.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Press the COAST button on the steering wheel until
you reach the lower speed you want, then release it.

To slow down in very small amounts, press the
COAST button on the steering wheel for less than a
half second. Each time you do this, you'll go 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) slower.

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2-43
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your 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
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep hills.Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to cancel the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal,

Press the OFF button on the turn signal lever.

Press the COAST and ACCEL buttons at
the same time.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.

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Exterior Lamps
The lamp controls are located on the instrument panel.
They control these systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

License Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Dome Lamp

Fog Lamps
If you pull the knob out
halfway, it will turn on your
parking lamps and your
other operating lamps. If
you pull the knob all the
way out, your headlamps
will then come on.
Push the knob in all the way to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver's
door when you turn the ignition switch to OFF or ACC
with the lamps on.

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2-45 Daytime Running Lamps
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.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your high
-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:

the ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off,

the gearshift is not in PARK (P) and

the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your high
-beam headlamps,
at a reduced brightness, will be on. The headlamps,
taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps won't be on.
Your instrument panel won't be lit up either.
When it's dark enough outside, your high
-beam
headlamps will turn off and your vehicle's headlamps
and parking lamps will turn on. The other lamps that
come on with your headlamps will also come on.When it's bright enough outside, your headlamps will go
off and your high
-beam headlamps will come on.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Delayed Headlamp Illumination
Delayed headlamp illumination provides a period of
exterior lighting as you leave your vehicle's area. The
feature is activated when your vehicle's headlamps are
on due to the automatic headlamp control feature
described previously in this section, and when your
vehicle's ignition is turned off. Your headlamps will
then remain on until the headlamp switch is moved from
OFF to the parking lamp position or until either a
30 second or 60 second lighting period has ended.
If you turn off the ignition with the headlamp switch in
the parking lamp or headlamp position, the delayed
headlamp illumination cycle will not occur.
To disable the delayed headlamp illumination feature or
change the time of delay, see ªVehicle Customization
Settingsº in the Index.

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2-46 Fog Lamps (If Equipped)
To turn the fog lamps on, press the fog lamps switch
located next to the exterior lamp control on the left side
of the steering column.
A light will glow on the switch to let you know that they
are on. (Your parking lamps must be on or your fog
lamps won't come on.) Press the switch again to turn the
fog lamps off. The fog lamps will go off whenever you
change to high
-beam headlamps. When you return to
low beams, the fog lamps will come on again.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
turning the panel light thumbwheel. Turn the control
clockwise to increase the brightness of the instrument
panel, and counterclockwise to decrease the brightness.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on. These
lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can also turn these
lamps on by moving the panel light thumbwheel all the
way to the right.Some of the lamps have switches so you can turn them
on, even when the doors are closed. These lamps are
reading lamps.
Illuminated Entry (If Equipped)
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever you press UNLOCK on the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it's open
and then turn off automatically about 25 seconds after
you close it. If you press UNLOCK and don't open a
door, the lamps will turn off after about 40 seconds.
Illuminated entry includes a feature called theater
dimming. With theater dimming, the lamps don't just
turn off at the end of the delay time. Instead, they slowly
dim after the delay time until they go out. The delay
time is canceled if you turn the ignition key to ON,
START or press the power door lock switch so the
lamps will dim right away.
When the ignition is on, illuminated entry is inactive,
which means the courtesy lamps won't come on unless a
door is opened.

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2-47 Delayed Entry Lighting
Delayed entry lighting illuminates your vehicle's interior
for a period of time after all the doors have been closed.
The ignition must be off for delayed entry lighting to
work. Just after all the doors have been closed, the delayed
entry lighting feature will continue to work until:

the ignition is in ON,

the doors are locked or

an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.
If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on since a door is open.
Delayed Exit Lighting
This feature illuminates your vehicle's interior for a period
of time after the ignition key is removed from the ignition.
The vehicle's ignition must be off for delayed exit
lighting to work. When the ignition key is removed,
interior illumination will activate and remain on until:

the ignition is in ON,

or the power door locks are activated

or an illumination period of 25 seconds has elapsed.If during the illumination period a door is opened, the
timed illumination period will be canceled and the
interior lamps will remain on since a door is open.
Parade Mode
The instrument panel has an added feature called Parade
Mode to assist you in seeing the instrument cluster and
radio if your headlamps are on in the daylight.
Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps
Use the switch next to each lamp to turn them on
and off.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the assist handles in
the roof. These lamps and the interior courtesy lamps
come on when any door is opened and it is dark outside.
Press the button to turn them on. Press it again to turn
them off.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp will come on when you open the doors.
You can also turn this lamp on by turning the headlamp
knob clockwise.