battery CHEVROLET IMPALA 2004 8.G User Guide

Accessory Power Outlets
Your vehicle has a 12-volt
outlet which can be used
to plug in electrical
equipment such as a
cellular telephone,
a compact disc player, etc.
On vehicles with a center console, it is located at the
rear of the console. Lift the cover to access the
outlet. Close the cover when not using the outlet.
On vehicles without a center console, it is located in the
ashtray drawer to the right of the ashtray. Remove
the rubber cover to access the outlet. When not using
the outlet, make sure the cover is on it.Notice:Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain the battery. Always turn
off electrical equipment when not in use and do
not plug in equipment that exceeds the maximum
amperage rating.
Certain accessory plugs may not be compatible to the
accessory power outlet and could result in blown vehicle
and adapter fuses. If you experience a problem, see
your dealer for additional information on the power
accessory plugs.
Notice:Adding any electrical equipment to your
vehicle may damage it or keep other components
from working as they should. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Check with your
dealer before adding electrical equipment.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
proper installation instructions included with the
equipment. Check with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment, and never use anything that
exceeds the amperage rating.
Notice:Improper use of the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by your warranty. Do not
hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket
from the plug because the power outlets are
designed for accessory power plugs only. Console Version shown
3-19

Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be
considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if
you have recently replaced your battery or if your
battery has run down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle
still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD
system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare the
vehicle for inspection.Cruise Control Light
The CRUISE light comes
on whenever you set your
cruise control. See
Cruise Control on
page 3-11.
3-41

Battery Warning Message
When the vehicle is started
this message will be
displayed for three
seconds.
If the message is displayed when the engine is running,
you may have a problem with your charging system.
If there is a problem with the charging system, four
chimes will sound when the message comes on. The
battery display will also stay on while the key is in
ON until the engine is started.
If the message stays on after starting the engine it could
indicate a problem with the generator drive belt, or
some other charging system problem. Have it checked
right away. Driving with this message on could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this message
displayed, it helps to turn off all your accessories.
Hot Coolant Temperature Warning
Message
This message is displayed when the cooling
system temperature gets hot. A chime will sound
continuously, also.
Check the coolant temperature gage and the coolant
level. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-29,Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-36andEngine
Overheating on page 5-32for further information.
United StatesCanada
3-45

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little
faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator
slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and
it keeps the battery charged. You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly
for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all
the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and
repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from
the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel
as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out
of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you do not want to
spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you are stuck, but
you must use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle
can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment re or other damage. When you
are stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible.
Do not spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h)
as shown on the speedometer.
Notice:Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of
your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle back
and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. See
“Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out.”
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
seeTire Chains on page 5-80.
4-29

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...........................................5-4
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under
the Hood....................................................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-18
Supercharger Oil..........................................5-24
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-25
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-26
Engine Coolant.............................................5-29
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-32
Engine Overheating.......................................5-32Cooling System............................................5-35
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-45
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-46
Brakes........................................................5-47
Battery........................................................5-50
Jump Starting...............................................5-51
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-58
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-58
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-58
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and
Parking Lamps..........................................5-59
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps.....................................5-61
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-62
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-62
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-63
Tires..............................................................5-64
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-72
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-73
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-75
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-76
Buying New Tires.........................................5-76
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-46.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-50.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-51.
D. Upper Underhood Fuse Block. See “Upperhood
Fuse Block (Upper)” underFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-103.
E. Lower Underhood Fuse Block. See “Underhood
Fuse Block (Lower)” underFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-103.
F. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-32.
G. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 5-35.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-45.I. Electric Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-35.
J. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
K. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
L. Bleed Valves (underneath engine shield).
See “How to Add Coolant to the Radiator” under
Cooling System on page 5-35.
M. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. SeeAutomatic Transaxle
Fluid on page 5-26.
N. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. SeeBrakes on
page 5-47.
O. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
5-13

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-46.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-50.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-51.
D. Upper Underhood Fuse Block. See “Upperhood
Fuse Block (Upper)” underFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-103.
E. Lower Underhood Fuse Block. See “Underhood
Fuse Block (Lower)” underFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-103.
F. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeRadiator Pressure Cap
on page 5-32.
G. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 5-35
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (low in engine
compartment). SeePower Steering Fluid on
page 5-45.I. Electric Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-35.
J. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
K. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
L. Bleed Valves (underneath engine shield).
See “How to Add Coolant to the Radiator” under
Cooling System on page 5-35.
M. Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. SeeAutomatic Transaxle
Fluid on page 5-26.
N. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. SeeBrakes on
page 5-47.
O. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
5-15

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-46.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-50.
C. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. SeeBattery
on page 5-50.
D. Underhood Electrical Center. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-103.
E. Radiator Pressure Cap. SeeCooling System on
page 5-35.
F. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank. SeeCooling System
on page 5-35.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Below Generator).
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 5-45.H. Electric Cooling Fan. SeeCooling System on
page 5-35.
I. Engine Oil Dipstick. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-18.
J. Engine Oil Fill Cap. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-18.
K. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. SeeAutomatic
Transaxle Fluid on page 5-26.
L. Brake Fluid Reservoir. SeeAutomatic Transaxle
Fluid on page 5-26.
M. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-25.
5-17

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Your vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality
GM brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system — for example, when your brake linings wear
down and you need new ones put in — be sure you get
new approved GM replacement parts. If you do not,
your brakes may no longer work properly. For example,
if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for
your vehicle, the balance between your front and rear
brakes can change — for the worse. The braking
performance you have come to expect can change in
many other ways if someone puts in the wrong
replacement brake parts.
Battery
Your new vehicle comes with a maintenance free
ACDelco®battery. When it is time for a new battery,
get one that has the replacement number shown on the
original battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
battery. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for battery location.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
5-50

Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more, remove the black, negative (−) cable from the
battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly hurt
if you are not careful. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-51for tips on working around a battery
without getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your
vehicle for longer storage periods.
Also, for your audio system, seeTheft-Deterrent
Feature on page 3-92.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
vehicle. Be sure to follow the steps below to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some or
all of these things can hurt you.
Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
5-51