mirror CHEVROLET IMPALA 2002 8.G Owners Manual

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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
-30 Passlock

2-30 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-31 Ignition Positions
2
-32 Starting Your Engine
2
-34 Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
2
-36 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-40 Parking Brake
2
-41 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-44 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-45 Parking Over Things That Burn2
-45 Engine Exhaust
2
-46 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-47 Tilt Wheel
2
-47 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-54 Exterior Lamps
2
-57 Interior Lamps
2
-59 Mirrors
2
-66 Accessory Power Outlet
2
-68 Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)
2
-69 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-73 Power Sunroof (Option)
2
-74 HomeLink
Transmitter (Option)
2
-78 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-80 Instrument Panel Cluster
2
-83 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-94 Message Center
2
-103 Driver Information Center (DIC) (Option)

2-59
Parade Mode
The instrument panel has an added feature called parade
mode. This feature prohibits the dimming of your
instrument panel displays during the daylight while
the headlamps are on so that you'll still be able to
see the displays.
Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps
Use the switch next to each lamp to turn them
on and off.
Reading Lamps (If Equipped)
The reading lamps are located on the assist handles in
the headliner. These lamps and the interior courtesy
lamps come on when any door is opened. Press the lens
to turn them on. Press it again to turn them off.
Dome Lamp (If Equipped)
The dome lamp will come on when you open a door.
You can also turn this lamp on by turning the exterior
lamps control clockwise as far as it will go. Vehicles that
have the optional sunroof do not have a dome lamp.
Battery Rundown Protection
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery in case you accidentally leave on the
interior courtesy lamps, reading/map lamps, visor vanity
lamps, trunk lamp or glove box lamps.. If you leave any
of these lamps on, they will automatically turn off after
10 minutes, if the ignition is moved to OFF. The lamps
won't come back on again until you do the following:

Turn the ignition on, or

turn the exterior lamps control off, then on again.
If your vehicle has less than 15 miles (25 km) on the
odometer, the battery saver will turn off the lamps after
only three minutes.
Battery rundown protection will also work if the
headlamps are left on. After having been left on for
10 minutes, the headlamps and the parking lamps will
flash three times. They will remain on for one more
minute before being turned off automatically.
Mirrors
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.

2-60 Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror with
Map Lamps
To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, pull the
lever at the bottom of the mirror toward you (to the
night position). To return the mirror back to the day
position, push the lever away from you.
There are two map lamps located on the bottom of the
mirror. Each lamp is turned on and off by pressing the
button next to the lamp.
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror with
OnStar
and Map Lamps (Option)
This mirror has a lever located at the bottom of the
mirror between the two map lamps. This lever is used to
change the mirror from day to night position. To reduce
glare from headlamps behind you while driving at night,
turn the lever 90 degrees. To return to the mirror back to
the day position, return the lever to its original position.
There are two map lamps located on the bottom of the
mirror. Each lamp is turned on and off by pressing the
button next to the lamp.
There are also three OnStar buttons located at the
bottom of the mirror face. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how to subscribe to
OnStar. See ªOnStar

Systemº in the Index for
more information about the services OnStar provides.

2-61
Electrochromic Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror (If Equipped)Your vehicle may have an electrochromic day/night
rearview mirror. Push the button in the center of the
mirror to turn this feature on. The mirror will darken
gradually to reduce glare from headlamps behind you.
This may take a few moments. The mirror will lighten
whenever you shift to REVERSE (R).
There are two map lamps located on the bottom of the
mirror. Each lamp is turned on and off by pressing the
button next to the lamp.
One photocell on the front of the mirror senses when it
is becoming dark outside. Another photocell, facing
rearward, senses headlamps behind you. To turn the
electrochromic feature off, press the button in the center
of the mirror again.
To keep the photocells operating well, occasionally
clean them with a cotton swab and glass cleaner.

2-62 Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
with OnStar

and Map Lamps (Option)
Your vehicle may have an automatic electrochromic
day/night rearview mirror with the OnStar System.
The automatic dimming feature is turned on or off by
pressing the far left button, located on the lower part of
the mirror face, for up to three seconds. When turned on,
this mirror functions exactly like the electrochromic
mirror described previously. See ªMirrors,
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearviewº in the Index for
more information.There are two map lamps located on the bottom of the
mirror. Each lamp is turned on and off by pressing the
button next to the lamp.
There are also three OnStar buttons located at the
bottom of the mirror face. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how to subscribe to
OnStar. See ªOnStar

Systemº in the Index for
more information about the services OnStar provides.

2-63
Power Outside Rearview Mirrors
The power mirror
controls are located
near the driver's side
window, on the armrest.
Use the selector switch located above the four
-way
control panel to choose either the left or right outside
mirror. Then press any of the four arrows located on the
control pad to move each mirror in the desired direction.
Adjust each mirror so you can see the side of your
vehicle and the area beside and behind your vehicle.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger's side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver's seat.
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
Heated Outside Mirrors (If Equipped)
The surface of both outside mirrors will heat when you
activate the rear window defogger. See ªRear Window
Defoggerº in the Index.

2-65
Ashtrays and Lighter
The front ashtray may be on the instrument panel or
on the console. To remove the instrument panel ashtray,
open it, push down on the locking tab and pull out
the ashtray.
To remove the console ashtray, open the ashtray door,
lift up on the ashtray and pull it out.
If your vehicle is equipped with a center console, a rear
ashtray is located behind a small door at the rear of the
console. Push on the right side of the door. The ashtray
will then turn to the right for usage. You can only access
the ashtray by pushing on the door's right side. To
remove the ashtray, push down on the snuffer located in
the middle of the ashtray and lift it out.
NOTICE:
Don't put papers and other things that burn
into your ashtrays. If you do, cigarettes or
other smoking materials could set them on fire,
causing damage.
To use the lighter, just push it in all the way and let go.
When it's ready, it will pop back out by itself.
NOTICE:
Don't hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating. If you do, it won't be able to
back away from the heating element when it's
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can also move them from side to side. The visors also
have extenders that you can pull out for added coverage.
Visor Vanity Mirrors
Open the cover to expose the vanity mirror.
If your vehicle has the lighted vanity mirrors, the lamps
come on when you open the cover.

3-5 Rear Window Defogger
Press the button marked
REAR to turn the
defogger on. An indicator
in the button will light.
When turned on, the rear window defogger uses a
warming grid to remove fog from the rear window.
If your vehicle has the optional heated outside mirrors,
they will heat to clear the surface of the mirrors.The rear window defogger and the outside rearview
mirrors will automatically turn off after about 15 minutes.
If you turn them on again, the defogger and the outside
rearview mirrors will only stay on for about seven and
one half minutes before turning off again. You can also
turn them off by turning the ignition off or by pressing
the button again.
Do not attach anything like a temporary vehicle license
or decal across the defogger grid.
NOTICE:
Don't use a razor blade or something else sharp
on the inside of the rear window. If you do, you
could cut or damage the warming grid, and the
repairs wouldn't be covered by your warranty.
Don't put decals there because you might have to
scrape them off.

4-15

Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)

Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two
-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.

Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing,
it may be slowing down or starting to turn.

If you're being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer and
constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not ªoverdrivingº
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip
and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid,
too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for
a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.

4-16
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
If you have the anti
-lock braking system, remember: It
helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not have
anti
-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels are
no longer rolling), release enough pressure on the brakes
to get the wheels rolling again. This restores steering
control. Push the brake pedal down steadily when you
have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels are rolling,
you will have steering control.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be
impaired
-- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.