warning light CHEVROLET IMPALA 2003 8.G Owner's Manual

Notice:
·Using the wrong ¯uid can badly damage brake
system parts. For example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake system
parts so badly that they'll have to be replaced.
Don't let someone put in the wrong kind of ¯uid.
·If you spill brake ¯uid on your vehicle's painted
surfaces, the paint ®nish can be damaged. Be
careful not to spill brake ¯uid on your vehicle. If
you do, wash it off immediately. See
ªAppearance Careº in the Index.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal ®rmly).
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes won't work well. That could
lead to an accident. When you hear the brake
wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are ®rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque speci®cations.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See
Brake System Inspection on page 6-15.
5-47

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a speci®ed government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signi®cantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction ± AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on speci®ed government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
5-68

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-19
Adding Washer Fluid.......................................5-44
Additional Program Information........................... 7-9
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-94
Adjusting the Speakers
(Balance/Fade)............................3-57, 3-67, 3-79
Air Bag Systems.............................................1-51
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?....................1-57
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle.........1-60
What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?....................1-57
What Will You See After an Air
Bag In¯ates?...........................................1-58
When Should an Air Bag In¯ate?...................1-56
Where Are the Air Bags?..............................1-54
Air Bag .........................................................3-33
Readiness Light..........................................3-33
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-22
ALARM (Content Theft Operation).....................2-50
AM ...............................................................3-91
Antenna, Backglass.........................................3-93
Antenna, XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . 3-94
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)............................ 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-35Appearance Care............................................5-85
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-88
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-91
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-85
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-88
Finish Damage............................................5-90
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-90
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-91
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-91
Weatherstrips..............................................5-88
Arming with the Power Lock Switch...................2-16
Arming with the Remote Keyless
Entry Transmitter.........................................2-17
Ashtrays........................................................3-21
Audio System(s).............................................3-53
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-90
Backglass Antenna......................................3-93
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player................3-91
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-92
Care of Your CDs........................................3-92
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-94
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-75
Radio with Cassette.....................................3-54
Radio with CD............................................3-64
Setting the Time..........................................3-53
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-89
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-91
Vehicle Customization Settings......................3-94
XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-94
AUTOLOCK (Automatic Door Lock
and Unlock)................................................2-47
Automatic Transaxle Check..............................6-11
Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock Control
System Check.............................................6-12
Automatic Transaxle........................................5-24
Fluid..........................................................5-24
Operation...................................................2-23
Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)...........3-20
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-93
Backing Up....................................................4-38
Battery Replacement......................................... 2-7
Battery Rundown Protection.............................3-18
Battery Warning Message................................3-42
Battery..........................................................5-48
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Body Lubrication Service..................................6-11
Brake Fluid....................................................5-45
Brake Wear...................................................5-47
Brake............................................................3-47
Low Fluid Warning Message.........................3-47
Parking......................................................2-27Brake (cont.)
System Inspection.......................................6-15
System Warning Light..................................3-34
Brakes..........................................................5-45
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-18
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-56
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-59
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-56
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-55
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps.........................................5-56
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-59
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps...................................5-58
Buying New Tires...........................................5-67
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canada ± Customer Assistance.......................... 7-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Canadian Roadside Assistance........................... 7-7
Capacities and Speci®cations..........................5-103
Carbon Monoxide...................4-25, 4-34, 2-10, 2-31
Care of.........................................................5-88
Safety Belts................................................5-88
Your Cassette Tape Player............................3-91
2

Compact Spare Tire........................................5-84
Compass Variance..........................................3-50
Console Shift Lever.........................................2-29
Content Theft-Deferrent....................................2-16
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Convenience Net............................................2-43
Coolant.........................................................3-36
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-36
Heater, Engine............................................2-22
Hot Temperature Warning Message................3-42
Cooling System..............................................5-33
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-17
Cruise Control Light........................................3-39
Cruise Control................................................3-11
Current and Past Model Order Forms................7-12
Customer Assistance Information........................ 7-7
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities................................................ 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors........................................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-10Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
D
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic Headlamp
System......................................................3-15
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-24
Delayed Entry Lighting.....................................3-17
Delayed Exit Lighting.......................................3-18
Delayed Headlamps........................................3-16
Dinghy Towing................................................4-31
Disarming with the Remote Keyless Entry
Transmitter.................................................2-17
Disarming with Your Key..................................2-17
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dolly Towing..................................................4-32
Dome Lamp...................................................3-18
Door.............................................................3-45
Ajar Warning Message.................................3-45
Locks.......................................................... 2-8
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-9
4

F
Filter.............................................................5-22
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-22
Finding a PTY Station
(RDS and XMŸ).........................3-58, 3-68, 3-80
Finding a Station............................3-56, 3-66, 3-78
Finish Care....................................................5-89
Finish Damage...............................................5-90
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-72
Flat Tire........................................................5-71
Fluid.............................................................5-24
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-24
Power Steering...........................................5-43
Windshield Washer......................................5-44
FM Stereo.....................................................3-91
FOB HORN (Remote Audible Veri®cation)...........2-49
FOB LIGHT (Remote Visual Veri®cation)............2-48
FOB PROG (Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter
Programming).............................................2-53
Fog Lamps....................................................3-16
Folding Rear Seat............................................ 1-7
Following Distance..........................................4-38
Front Storage Area.........................................2-43
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6Fuel (cont.)
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-6
Gage.........................................................3-40
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Speci®cations.................................. 5-5
Low Warning Message.................................3-47
System Inspection.......................................6-15
Fuses...........................................................5-95
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-95
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-94
G
Gage............................................................3-36
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-36
Fuel..........................................................3-40
Speedometer..............................................3-31
Tachometer.................................................3-32
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-39
Gasoline......................................................... 5-5
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Speci®cations............................................... 5-5
Gate Operator and Canadian Programming........2-41
Glove Box.....................................................2-43
GM Mobility Program for Persons with
Disabilities.................................................... 7-5
6

H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-6
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer.................... 3-8
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-94
Headlamp......................................................5-55
Aiming.......................................................5-55
Headlamps....................................................5-56
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-56
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-56
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-56
Heated Outside Mirrors....................................2-36
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Highbeam Out Warning Message......................3-48
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-23
Hitches..........................................................4-37
HomeLink Transmitter, Programming..................2-39
HomeLink
žTransmitter....................................2-39
Hood............................................................5-10
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-10
Horn............................................................... 3-7
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning Message........3-42
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank............................................5-35
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator..................5-38
How to Add Fluid............................................5-26How to Check Power Steering Fluid..................5-43
How to Check........................................5-24, 5-62
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter..............................................5-22
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-14
Hydroplaning..................................................4-19
I
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine..........5-32
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine...............5-31
If the Light Is Flashing.....................................3-38
If the Light Is on Steady..................................3-38
If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow.......4-30
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer.....................4-35
If You're Caught in a Blizzard...........................4-28
Ignition Positions.............................................2-18
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check..........................6-13
Illumination on Remote Activation........................ 2-6
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-33
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure..................................5-62
Inspection......................................................6-15
Brake System.............................................6-15
Engine Cooling System................................6-15
Exhaust System..........................................6-14
Fuel System...............................................6-15
Part C - Periodic Maintenance.......................6-14
Steering, Suspension and Front
Drive Axle Boot and Seal..........................6-14
7

Inspection (cont.)
Throttle System...........................................6-15
Instrument Panel Brightness.............................3-17
Instrument Panel.............................................3-29
Cluster.......................................................3-29
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Interior Lamps................................................3-17
J
Jump Stating..................................................5-49
Key Lock Cylinders Service..............................6-11
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-3
Keys............................................................... 2-2
L
Lamps...........................................................3-14
Exterior......................................................3-14
Interior.......................................................3-17
Lap Belt........................................................1-24
Lap-Shoulder Belt...................................1-15, 1-26
LATCH System...............................................1-43
Child Restraints...........................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint Designed
for the LATCH System..............................1-45
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running . . . 2-29Leaving Your Vehicle.......................................2-10
Light.............................................................3-33
Air Bag Readiness.......................................3-33
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-35
Brake System Warning.................................3-34
Cruise Control.............................................3-39
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-37
Safety Belt Reminder...................................3-32
TCS Warning Light......................................3-35
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning..........3-35
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-32
Lockout Protection..........................................2-10
Locks............................................................. 2-8
Door........................................................... 2-8
Leaving Your Vehicle....................................2-10
Lockout Protection.......................................2-10
Power Door.................................................. 2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-9
Loss of Control...............................................4-14
Low Brake Fluid Warning Message....................3-47
Low Engine Oil Level Message.........................3-43
Low Fuel Warning Message.............................3-47
Low Oil Pressure Message...............................3-43
Low Tire Message..........................................3-44
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message.................3-46
LT DELAY (Delayed Headlamp Illumination)........2-47
Lumbar........................................................... 1-3
Manual Controls............................................ 1-3
8

M
Maintenance, Normal Replacement Parts..........5-105
Maintenance Schedule.....................................6-10
At Each Fuel Fill.........................................6-10
At Least Once a Month................................6-10
At Least Once a Year..................................6-11
At Least Twice a Year..................................6-11
Brake System Inspection..............................6-15
Engine Cooling System Inspection.................6-15
Exhaust System Inspection...........................6-14
Fuel System Inspection................................6-15
How This Section is Organized....................... 6-3
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services......... 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services.............6-10
Part C - Periodic MaintenanceInspections......6-14
Part D - Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . 6-16
Part E - Maintenance Record........................6-17
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-5
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection..........................6-14
Throttle System Inspection............................6-15
Using Your................................................... 6-4
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing.....................4-40Making Turns.................................................4-38
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-37
Manual Lumbar Controls.................................... 1-3
Manual Operation...........................................3-22
Manual Seats................................................... 1-2
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle............... 2-6
Message.......................................................3-42
Battery Warning..........................................3-42
Center.......................................................3-40
Change Engine Oil......................................3-44
Door Ajar Warning.......................................3-45
Highbeam Out Warning................................3-48
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning..................3-42
Low Brake Fluid Warning..............................3-47
Low Engine Oil Level...................................3-43
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-47
Low Oil Pressure.........................................3-43
Low Tire .....................................................3-44
Low Washer Fluid Warning...........................3-46
Security.....................................................3-46
Service Traction System Warning...................3-41
Service Vehicle Soon...................................3-48
Traction Active............................................3-41
Trunk Ajar Warning......................................3-45
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands/
Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin
Islands) ± Customer Assistance....................... 7-5
9

Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-4
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-31
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-3
Remote Trunk Release....................................2-11
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare
Tire ...........................................................5-76
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-73
Removing the Wheel Covers and the
Wheel Nut Caps..........................................5-75
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-59
Replacing Brake System Parts..........................5-48
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash . . 1-62
Reporting Safety Defects.................................7-10
Canadian Government..................................7-10
General Motors...........................................7-10
United States Government............................7-10
Reprogramming a Single HomeLink
žButton.......2-42
Resetting Defaults...........................................2-42
Resetting the Trip Computer.............................3-52
Restraint System Check...................................6-11
Checking Your Restraint Systems...................1-61
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash..........................................1-62
Restraint Systems...........................................1-61
Checking....................................................1-61
Replacing Parts...........................................1-62
Resynchronization............................................. 2-7Retained Accessory Power (RAP)......................2-19
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts......1-23
Roadside......................................................... 7-5
Assistance Program....................................... 7-5
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out...................4-30
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked.......2-32
S
Safety Belt.....................................................3-32
Reminder Light............................................3-32
Safety Belts...................................................5-88
Care of......................................................5-88
Center Front Passenger Position....................1-23
Driver Position............................................1-15
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly................1-14
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.....1-13
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults......................................1-28
Rear Seat Passengers.................................1-25
Right Front Passenger Position......................1-23
Safety Belt Extender....................................1-30
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy.................1-22
Safety Belts Are for Everyone......................... 1-9
Safety Chains.................................................4-37
Safety Warnings and Symbols.............................. iii
Scheduled Maintenance..................................... 6-5
12