warning light CHEVROLET IMPALA 2009 9.G Owner's Guide

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with
DOT 3 brake uid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-14
for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level in
the reservoir might go down:
The brake uid level goes down because of normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are installed,
the uid level goes back up.
A uid leak in the brake hydraulic system can also
cause a low uid level. Have the brake hydraulic
system xed, since a leak means that sooner
or later the brakes will not work well.Do not top off the brake uid. Adding uid does not
correct a leak. If uid is added when the linings
are worn, there will be too much uid when new brake
linings are installed. Add or remove brake uid, as
necessary, only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If too much brake uid is added, it can spill on the
engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and the vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
When the brake uid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light comes on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-30.
5-37

Brake Wear
This vehicle has 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 can come and go or be heard all
the time the vehicle is moving, except when applying
the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
the brakes will not work well. That could lead to an
accident. When the brake wear warning sound is
heard, have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates can cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
the 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 torque specications
inCapacities and Specifications on page 5-101.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake pedal does not
return to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign that brake service
might be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time the brakes are applied, with or without the
vehicle moving, the brakes adjust for wear.
5-39

Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and Industry and Science Canada
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) operates
on a radio frequency and complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Vehicles with TPMS operate on a radio frequency and
comply with RSS-210 of Industry and Science Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS). The TPMS is designed to warn the driver when
a low tire pressure condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel assembly, excluding
the spare tire and wheel assembly. The TPMS sensors
monitor the air pressure in the vehicle’s tires and
transmits the tire pressure readings to a receiver located
in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure
condition is detected, the
TPMS illuminates the low
tire pressure warning light
located on the instrument
panel cluster.
At the same time a message to check the pressure in a
specic tire appears on the Driver Information Center
(DIC) display. The low tire pressure warning light and the
DIC warning message come on at each ignition cycle
until the tires are inated to the correct ination pressure.
5-63

Using the DIC, tire pressure levels can be viewed by the
driver. For additional information and details about the
DIC operation and displays seeDIC Operation and
Displays on page 3-42andDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-49.
The low tire pressure warning light may come on in cool
weather when the vehicle is rst started, and then turn off
as you start to drive. This could be an early indicator that
the air pressure in the tire(s) are getting low and need to
be inated to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label, attached to
your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle’s original
equipment tires and the correct ination pressure for
your vehicle’s tires when they are cold. SeeLoading the
Vehicle on page 4-20, for an example of the Tire and
Loading Information label and its location on your vehicle.
Also seeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-60.
Your vehicle’s TPMS can warn you about a low tire
pressure condition but it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-67andTires on page 5-53.
Notice:Liquid tire sealants could damage the Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) sensors. Sensor
damage caused by using a tire sealant is not covered
by your warranty. Do not use liquid tire sealants.TPMS Malfunction Light and Message
The TPMS will not function properly if one or more of
the TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the low tire warning light
ashes for about one minute and then stays on for the
remainder of the ignition cycle. A DIC warning message
is also displayed. The low tire warning light and DIC
warning message come on at each ignition cycle until the
problem is corrected. Some of the conditions that can
cause the malfunction light and DIC message to come
on are:
One of the road tires has been replaced with the
spare tire. The spare tire does not have a TPMS
sensor. The TPMS malfunction light and DIC
message should go off once you re-install the road
tire containing the TPMS sensor.
The TPMS sensor matching process was started but
not completed or not completed successfully after
rotating the vehicle’s tires. The DIC message and
TPMS malfunction light should go off once the TPMS
sensor matching process is performed successfully.
See “TPMS Sensor Matching Process” later in this
section.
5-64

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power............................................2-21
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-18
Active Fuel Management™...............................2-23
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-72
Additional Required Services, Scheduled
Maintenance................................................. 6-6
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-96
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-21
Air Conditioning..............................................3-20
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment....................3-23
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-28
Airbag System................................................1-57
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-72
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-63
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-65
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-71
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-63
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-64
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-62
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-59Airbags
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-29
Antenna
Backglass...................................................3-96
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System......................................................3-96
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Warning Light.............................................3-31
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-94
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-92
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-95
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-93
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-90
Finish Care.................................................5-93
Finish Damage
............................................5-95
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-91
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-89
Leather......................................................5-91
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-95
Tires..........................................................5-95
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-95
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-92
Weatherstrips..............................................5-92
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-94
1

Ashtray.........................................................3-19
Assistance Program, Roadside........................... 7-8
Audio System.................................................3-63
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-94
Setting the Clock.........................................3-64
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-96
Audio System(s).............................................3-66
Audio Systems
Radio Reception..........................................3-95
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-93
Automatic Door Lock.......................................2-10
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-24
Operation...................................................2-24
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-96
Battery..........................................................5-40
Electric Power Management..........................3-17
Run-Down Protection...................................3-18
Belt Routing, Engine.......................................6-14
Bluetooth
®.....................................................3-82
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Brake Fluid....................................................5-37Brakes..........................................................5-37
Antilock....................................................... 4-5
Parking......................................................2-26
System Warning Light..................................3-30
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-19
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-51
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-14
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-45
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-45
Headlamps.................................................5-45
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-46
License Plate Lamps....................................5-51
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps.................................5-49
Buying New Tires...........................................5-69
C
Calibration.....................................................3-47
California
Perchlorate Materials Requirements................. 5-4
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
2

Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-101
Carbon Monoxide
Engine Exhaust...........................................2-30
Trunk.........................................................2-12
Winter Driving.............................................4-17
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-92
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-77
Center Console Storage...................................2-43
Center Seat...................................................1-10
Chains, Tire...................................................5-74
Charging System Light....................................3-30
Check
Engine Lamp..............................................3-36
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-12
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-95
Child Restraints
Infants and Young Children...........................1-37
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-45
Older Children.............................................1-34
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-50
Securing a Child Restraint in the Center
Front Seat Position...................................1-53
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-54
Systems.....................................................1-41
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-43Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-19
Circuit Breakers..............................................5-97
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-94
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-93
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-90
Finish Care.................................................5-93
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-91
Interior.......................................................5-89
Leather......................................................5-91
Tires
..........................................................5-95
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-95
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-92
Weatherstrips..............................................5-92
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-94
Climate Control System...................................3-20
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-23
Clock, Setting.................................................3-64
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-12
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-88
Compass.......................................................3-47
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-16
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Convenience Net............................................2-43
Coolant
Engine.......................................................5-28
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-34
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-34
3

Cooling System..............................................5-26
Courtesy Lamps.............................................3-15
Courtesy Transportation...................................7-11
Cruise Control.................................................. 3-9
Cruise Control Light........................................3-40
Cupholders....................................................2-43
Customer Assistance......................................... 7-6
Offices......................................................... 7-6
Text Telephone (TTY) Users........................... 7-6
Customer Information
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-17
Customer Satisfaction Procedure........................ 7-2
D
Damage Repair, Collision.................................7-12
Data Recorders
Event.........................................................7-18
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic Headlamp
System......................................................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Entry Lighting.....................................3-16
Delayed Exit Lighting.......................................3-16
Delayed Locking.............................................2-10
DIC Compass.................................................3-47
Disc, MP3......................................................3-77Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp ...................................................3-15
Door
Automatic Door Lock....................................2-10
Delayed Locking..........................................2-10
Locks.......................................................... 2-9
Power Door Locks.......................................2-10
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-11
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-42
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-42
DIC Vehicle Customization............................3-57
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-49
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-13
Before a Long Trip......................................4-15
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunk.......................................................... 4-3
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-15
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-16
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-14
Loss of Control...........................................4-11
Off-Road Recovery......................................4-11
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-20
Winter........................................................4-17
Driving for Better Fuel Economy......................... 4-2
4

E
E85 Fuel......................................................... 5-8
EDR .............................................................7-18
Electrical Equipment
Add-On Equipment......................................5-96
Electrical System
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-97
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-97
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-97
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-97
Underhood Fuse Block.................................5-98
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-97
Electronic Immobilizer
PASS-Key
®III+...........................................2-17
Electronic Immobilizer Operation
PASS-Key
®III+...........................................2-18
Electronic Stability Control................................. 4-6
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-21
Check and Service Engine Soon Lamp...........3-36
Compartment Overview................................5-14
Coolant......................................................5-28
Coolant Heater............................................2-22
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-34
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-34
Cooling System...........................................5-26
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-14
Exhaust.....................................................2-30
Oil .............................................................5-17Engine (cont.)
Oil Life System...........................................5-20
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-34
Overheating................................................5-31
Starting......................................................2-21
Entry Lighting.................................................3-15
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-18
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-33
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-12
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-21
Finish Damage...............................................5-95
Flashers, Hazard Warning.................................. 3-6
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-75
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-76
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-85
Fluid
Automatic Transmission................................5-24
Power Steering...........................................5-34
Windshield Washer......................................5-35
Fog Lamp
Fog ...........................................................3-14
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-40
Folding Rear Seat...........................................1-10
5

Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
E85 (85% Ethanol)........................................ 5-8
Economy Driving........................................... 4-2
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-12
Filling the Tank...........................................5-10
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-9
Gage .........................................................3-41
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Fuel Management, Active.................................2-23
Fuses
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-97
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-97
Underhood Fuse Block.................................5-98
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-97
G
Gage
Speedometer..............................................3-26
Tachometer.................................................3-26
Gages
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-34
Fuel..........................................................3-41
Garage Door Opener.......................................2-36Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-43
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-7
H
Halogen Bulbs................................................5-45
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-2
Headlamp
Aiming .......................................................5-45
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-97
Headlamps
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-45
Daytime Running Lamps/Automatic Headlamp
System...................................................3-14
Exterior Lamps............................................3-12
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-46
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
Heated Seats................................................... 1-6
Heater...........................................................3-20
Engine Coolant...........................................2-22
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-40
6