CHEVROLET IMPALA 2004 8.G Owners Manual

But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transaxle uid (don’t overll),
engine oil, drive belts, cooling system and brake system.
Each of these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you nd them quickly. If you’re trailering,
it’s a good idea to review this information before you
start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-32.
4-43

✍NOTES
4-44

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

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-77
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-79
Wheel Replacement......................................5-79
Tire Chains..................................................5-80
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-81
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-82
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-93
Appearance Care............................................5-94
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-94
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-97
Weatherstrips...............................................5-97
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-97
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-99
Finish Damage...........................................5-100Underbody Maintenance...............................5-100
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-100
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-101
Vehicle Identication.....................................5-102
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)................5-102
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-102
Electrical System..........................................5-103
Add-On Electrical Equipment.........................5-103
Headlamp Wiring........................................5-103
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-103
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-103
Fuses and Circuit Breakers..........................5-103
Capacities and Specications........................5-110
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to
be happy with it. We hope you will go to your dealer
for all your service needs. You will get genuine GM parts
and GM-trained and supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain and/or
emit chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and systems
(including some inside the vehicle), many uids, and
some component wear by-products contain and/or emit
these chemicals.
5-3

Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you
will want to use the proper service manual. It tells
you much more about how to service your vehicle than
this manual can. To order the proper service manual,
seeService Publications Ordering Information on
page 7-12.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting
to do your own service work, seeServicing Your
Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-60.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
perform. SeeMaintenance Record on page 6-15.
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. “English” and “metric”
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airow around it. This may cause wind
noise and affect windshield washer performance.
Check with your dealer before adding equipment to the
outside of your vehicle.
5-4

Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of your vehicle.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 3400 V6 engine (VIN Code E) or
the 3800 V6 engine (VIN Code K), use regular
unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of 87 or higher.
If the octane is less than 87, you may get a heavy
knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use a
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
A little pinging noise when you accelerate or drive uphill
is considered normal. This does not indicate a problem
exists or that a higher-octane fuel is necessary. If
you are using 87 octane or higher-octane fuel and you
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
If your vehicle has the 3800 Supercharged V6 engine
(VIN Code 1), use only premium unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane of 91 or higher. In an emergency, you may
be able to use a lower octane — as low as 87 — if heavy
knocking does not occur. Rell your tank with premium
fuel as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might damage
your engine. If you are using 91 octane or higher-octane
fuel and you hear heavy knocking, your engine needs
service.
Gasoline Specications
It is recommended that gasoline meet specications
which were developed by automobile manufacturers
around the world and contained in the World-Wide
Fuel Charter which is available from the
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers at
www.autoalliance.org/fuel_charter.htm. Gasoline
meeting these specications could provide improved
driveability and emission control system performance
compared to other gasoline.
In Canada, look for the
“Auto Makers’ Choice”
label on the pump.
Canada Only
5-5

California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California Emission
Standards (see the underhood emission control
label), it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specications. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions standards,
your vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp may turn on (seeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-37) and your vehicle may fail a smog-check
test. If this occurs, return to your authorized GM
dealer for diagnosis. If it is determined that the condition
is caused by the type of fuel used, repairs may not be
covered by your warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work properly.
You should not have to add anything to your fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the minimum
amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. General Motors
recommends that you buy gasolines that are advertised
to help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean. If your
vehicle experiences problems due to dirty injectors or
valves, try a different brand of gasoline.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and
ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in
your area to contribute to clean air. General Motors
recommends that you use these gasolines, particularly if
they comply with the specications described earlier.
Notice:Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage would not be covered under
your warranty.
5-6

Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors does
not recommend the use of such gasolines. Fuels
containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and
the performance of the emission control system may
be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
service.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard
to nd. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel
not recommended in the previous text on fuel.
Costly repairs caused by use of improper fuel would
not be covered by your warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
Filling Your Tank
{CAUTION:
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel re can
cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow all the instructions
on the pump island. Turn off your engine when
you are refueling. Do not smoke if you are near
fuel or refueling your vehicle. Keep sparks,
ames and smoking materials away from fuel.
Do not leave the fuel pump unattended when
refueling your vehicle — this is against the law
in some places. Keep children away from the
fuel pump; never let children pump fuel.
5-7

Turn your vehicle off to refuel.
The fuel cap is located behind a hinged door on the
driver’s side of the vehicle.While refueling, let the fuel cap hang by the tether
below the fuel ll opening.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
5-8