maintenance CHEVROLET IMPALA 2005 8.G User Guide

Change Engine Oil Message
When this message comes on, it means that service is
required for your vehicle. It will appear for 60 seconds.
SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4and
Engine Oil on page 5-18for more information.
Once the engine oil has been changed, the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL message must be reset. Until it is
reset, this message will be displayed for 60 seconds
each time you start the engine. For more information on
resetting the system, see “How to Reset the Change
Engine Oil Message” underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
Low Tire Message
Your vehicle may be equipped with the tire pressure
system which monitors the ination pressure of the tires.
After the system has “learned” the tire pressure with
properly inated tires, the LOW TIRE PRESSURE
message will be displayed and four warning chimes will
sound if the tire pressure in one tire becomes 12 psi
(83 kPa) lower than the other three tires.
When you have checked the tire pressures, be sure to
reset the tire ination monitor. See “Tire Pressure
Monitor System” underTires on page 5-60. United States
CanadaUnited StatesCanada
3-44

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

Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-70
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-71
Buying New Tires.........................................5-72
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-73
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-74
Wheel Replacement......................................5-74
Tire Chains..................................................5-76
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-77
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-78
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-79
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire................................................5-80
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-86
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-88
Appearance Care............................................5-89
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-89
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-91
Leather.......................................................5-92
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces..................................................5-92
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-93
Weatherstrips...............................................5-93
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-93Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-93
Finish Care..................................................5-94
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-94
Aluminum Wheels.........................................5-95
Tires...........................................................5-95
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-96
Finish Damage.............................................5-96
Underbody Maintenance................................5-96
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-96
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-97
Vehicle Identication......................................5-98
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................5-98
Service Parts Identication Label.....................5-98
Electrical System............................................5-99
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-99
Headlamp Wiring..........................................5-99
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................5-99
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-99
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-99
Instrument Panel Fuse Block........................5-100
Underhood Fuse Block................................5-103
Capacities and Specications........................5-106
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

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 7-11.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting
to do your own service work, seeServicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-58.
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 6-14.{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.
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.
5-4

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.
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.
5-5

Supercharger Oil
Unless you are technically qualied and have the proper
tools, you should let your dealer perform this maintenance.
When to Check
Check oil level every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or every
36 months, whichever occurs rst.
What Kind of Oil to Use
Use only the recommended supercharger oil.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
How to Check and Add Oil
{CAUTION:
If you remove the supercharger oil ll plug
while the engine is hot, pressure may cause
hot oil to blow out of the oil ll hole. You may
be burned. Do not remove the plug until the
engine cools.Park the vehicle on a level
surface. Check oil only
when the engine is cold.
Allow the engine to
cool two to three hours
after running.
1. Clean the area around the oil ll plug before
removing it.
2. Remove the oil ll plug.
3. The oil level is correct when it just reaches the
bottom of the threads of the inspection hole.
4. Replace the oil plug with the O-ring in place.
Tighten to 88 lb-in (10Y).
5-24

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the engine air cleaner/lter.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/lter at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace it at the rst oil change after each
50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4for more information. If you
are driving in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the lter
at each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/lter, remove the lter from
the vehicle and lightly shake the lter to release
loose dust and dirt. If the lter remains caked with dirt,
a new lter is required.To inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/lter, do the
following:
1. Loosen the two clips on the top of the engine air
cleaner/lter housing and lift the lter cover tabs
out of the housing.
2. Push the lter cover housing toward the engine.
3. Pull out the lter.
5-25

Then, without shutting off the engine, follow these steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag
or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
then pull it back out again.
3. Check both sides of
the dipstick, and
read the lower level.
The uid level
must be in the
cross-hatched area.
4. If the uid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transaxle uid to use. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 6-12.
If the uid level is low, add only enough of the proper
uid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough uid at the
dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It does not take much uid, generally less than
one pint (0.5 L). Do not overll.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic transaxle
uid may damage your vehicle, and the damages
may not be covered by your warranty. Always
use the automatic transaxle uid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
3. After adding uid, recheck the uid level as
described under “How to Check Automatic
Transaxle Fluid,” earlier in this section.
4. When the correct uid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way. 3400 V6 engine shown,
3800 V6 and
3800 V6 Supercharged
engines similar
5-28

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 vehicle has a maintenance free 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
®replacement 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.
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 5-49
for tips on working around a battery without
getting hurt.
5-48

Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for wear
or cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4
for more information.
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. For proper type and length,
seeNormal Maintenance Replacement Parts on
page 6-13. Here’s how to remove the wiper blades:
1. Turn on the wipers to the LO wipe setting.
2. Turn off the ignition while the wipers are at the
outer positions of the wiper pattern. The blades
are more accessible for removal/replacement while
in this position.
3. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from the
windshield.4. While holding the wiper arm away from the glass,
push the release clip from under the blade
connecting point and pull the old blade assembly
down toward the glass to remove it from the
wiper arm.
5. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper
arm until you hear the release clip click into place.
5-59