CHEVROLET IMPALA 2007 9.G Owners Manual

Using these settings together for long periods of
time may cause the air inside of your vehicle
to become too dry. To prevent this from
happening, after the air inside of your vehicle has
cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.
The air conditioning system removes moisture
from the air, so you may sometimes notice a small
amount of water dripping underneath your
vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine.
This is normal.
Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of the windows is a result of
high humidity (moisture) condensing on the
cool window glass. This can be minimized if the
climate control system is used properly. There are
two modes to clear fog or frost from your
windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the
windows of fog or moisture and warm the
passengers. Use the defrost mode to remove fog
or frost from the windshield more quickly.Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows
are clear.
Turn the right knob clockwise to select the defog
or defrost mode.
-(Defog):This mode directs air equally to the
windshield and the oor outlets. When defog
is selected, the system turns off recirculation and
runs the air conditioning compressor unless
the outside temperature is below 40°F (4°C).
0(Defrost):This mode directs most of the air to
the windshield with some air to the side window
vents and the oor vents. When defrost is selected,
the system will automatically force outside air into
the vehicle. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this setting, unless the outside
temperature is below 40°F (4°C).
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Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
<(Rear Window Defogger):The rear window
defogger will turn off automatically after it has
been activated for 10 minutes. It can be turned off
manually, by pressing the button again or by
turning the ignition to the OFF position. If additional
window clearing is required, the rear window
defogger can be turned on again for additional
window clearing. The length of defogger operation
will increase if the vehicle is being driven.
If your vehicle has heated outside rearview mirrors,
the mirrors will heat to help clear fog or frost
from the surface of the mirror when the rear
window defog button is pressed. SeeOutside
Power Mirrors on page 127.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows
are clear.
Notice:Do not use anything sharp on the
inside of the rear window. If you do, you could
cut or damage the warming grid, and the repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Do not
attach a temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal
or anything similar to the defogger grid.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the thumbwheel located below or to the side of
the outlet, to change the direction of the air ow.
Operation Tips
Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the
air inlets at the base of the windshield that
may block the ow of air into your vehicle.
Use of non-GM approved hood deectors may
adversely affect the performance of the
system.
Keep the path under the front seats clear of
objects to help circulate the air inside your
vehicle more effectively.
If the airow seems low when the fan is at the
highest setting, the passenger compartment
air lter, if equipped, may need to replaced.
For more information, seePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 173and
Scheduled Maintenance on page 408.
If fogging reoccurs while in vent or bi-level
modes with mild temperature throughout
the vehicle, turn on the air conditioner
to reduce windshield fogging.
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Passenger Compartment Air Filter
This vehicle has a passenger compartment
particulate air lter. It is located underneath the
hood just below the windshield wiper arm on
the passenger’s side of the vehicle, under the air
inlet grille.
The lter traps most of the pollen from air entering
the Climate Control System. Like your engine’s
air cleaner/lter, it may need to be changed
periodically to ensure system performance. For
information on how often to change the passenger
compartment air lter, seeScheduled Maintenance
on page 408.
To change the passenger compartment air lter,
use the following steps:
1. Turn off the ignition when the windshield
wipers are in the up position.
2. Raise the vehicle hood.
3. Peel back the hood weatherstrip from the
passenger’s side of the vehicle halfway
to center.4. Remove the air inlet grille retainers.
5. Lift the air inlet grille and disconnect the
washer hose at the quick-connect.
6. Remove the air inlet grille.
7. Remove the water deector plate.
8. Remove the old passenger compartment
air lter.
9. Reverse the steps to install the new air lter.
For best climate control system performance,
be sure to re-install the air lter.
For the type of lter to use, seeNormal
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 419.
173

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and
gages on your vehicle. The pictures help to
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that
something is wrong before it becomes serious
enough to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to the warning lights
and gages could also save you or others from
injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or
is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As the details show on the next few pages,
some warning lights come on briey when you
start the engine just to let you know they are
working. If you are familiar with this section,
you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often
gages and warning lights work together to let you
know when there is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and
stays on as you are driving, or when one of the
gages shows there may be a problem, check
the section that tells you what to do about
it. Please follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to
do repairs can be costly and even dangerous.
So please get to know your vehicle’s warning lights
and gages. They can be a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a Driver Information
Center (DIC) that works along with the warning
lights and gages. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 190for more information.
174

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You
will know how fast you are going, about how much fuel is in your tank and many other things you need to
drive safely and economically.
United States Uplevel shown, Base and Canada similar
175

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour
(km/h). Your odometer shows how far your vehicle
has been driven in either miles (used in the United
States) or in kilometers (used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer.
If you see ERROR, you’ll know someone
has probably tampered with it and the numbers
may not be accurate.
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle
needs a new odometer installed. If the new
one can be set to the mileage total of the old
odometer, then that will be done. But if it can’t,
then it will be set at zero and a label must be put
on the driver’s door to show the old mileage
reading when the new odometer was installed.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm).
Notice:If you operate the engine with the
tachometer in the shaded warning area, your
vehicle could be damaged, and the damages
would not be covered by your warranty. Do not
operate the engine with the tachometer in
the shaded warning area.
176

Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime
will be provided for several seconds to remind
people to buckle their safety belts. The driver safety
belt light will also be provided and stay on for
several seconds, then it will ash for several more.
You should buckle your seat belt.
This chime and light will
be repeated if the driver
remains unbuckled
and the vehicle
is in motion.
If the driver’s belt is buckled, neither the chime nor
the light will be provided.
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
Several seconds after the key is turned to RUN or
START, a chime will sound for several seconds to
remind the front passenger to buckle their safety
belt. This would only occur if the passenger airbag
is enabled. SeePassenger Sensing System on
page 77for more information. The passenger
safety belt light will also come on and stay on for
several seconds, then it will ash for several more.
This chime and light will
be repeated if the
passenger remains
unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither
the chime nor the light will come on.
177

Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument panel, which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag’s electrical
system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there
is an electrical problem. The system check
includes the airbag sensors, the airbag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic
module. For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on page 68.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after
you start your vehicle, it means the airbag
system may not be working properly. The
airbags in your vehicle may not inate in
a crash, or they could even inate without
a crash. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have your vehicle serviced right
away if the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN.
If the light does not come on then, have it xed so
it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
178

Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
Your instrument panel has a passenger airbag
status indicator.
When you start the vehicle, the passenger airbag
status indicator will light ON and OFF, or the
symbol for on and off, for several seconds as a
system check. If you use remote start to start your
vehicle from a distance, if equipped, you may
not see the system check. Then, after several
more seconds, the status indicator will light either
ON or OFF, or either the on or off symbol to
let you know the status of the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag.If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it means that
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag is enabled
(may inate).
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have
a rear-facing child restraint installed in the
right front passenger’s seat, it means that
the passenger sensing system has not
turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the right
front passenger’s airbag inates. This is
because the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to the
inating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front passenger’s
seat if the airbag is turned on.
United StatesCanada
179

{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag if the
system detects a rear-facing child restraint,
no system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in
the rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the
airbag status indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has turned off the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 77for more on this,
including important safety information.If, after several seconds, both status indicator
lights remain on, or if there are no lights at
all, there may be a problem with the lights
or the passenger sensing system. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the
instrument panel cluster ever comes on
and stays on, it means that something may
be wrong with the airbag system. If this
ever happens, have the vehicle serviced
promptly, because an adult-size person
sitting in the right front passenger’s seat
may not have the protection of the
airbag(s). SeeAirbag Readiness Light on
page 178for more on this, including
important safety information.
180